But that did not make him any less inclined to protect her.
He did not understand why that was. He was not supposed to care for anyone but himself; he had made that decision long ago.
The first tenant was Mr. Fenton, a farmer who had written to him about troubles with flooding. But one look was all Cassian needed to know that the solution was simple enough.
“It only needs some better drainage,” he explained. “I shall arrange for that. In the meantime, I will cover your expenses.”
“There is no need, Your Grace, truly. I did not mean for you to?—”
“That is what will be done,” Cassian insisted. “I know that is not what you were asking for, which is precisely why I am happy to give it to you. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Your Grace. Thank you.” Mr. Fenton bowed his head, before turning to Adelaide. “And it is nice to meet you, Your Grace.”
Adelaide had been busy studying the man’s family. He had a daughter and a son, and they were playing together, jumping in the puddles where the flooding had occurred.
“They are lovely,” she noted.
“Thank you. It is nice to see that His Grace has finally settled down. You are more than welcome here, believe me.”
“I certainly feel it. Everyone has been so kind.”
Cassian could hear them talking, but he was also drawn to the two children at play. They could not have been older than ten, and they were laughing brightly, unaware that the puddles they were playing in were what their father was concerned about.
He missed being that carefree, and he had to commend Mr. Fenton for not revealing that they were struggling. He wished his father had been like that.
Once they had finished speaking with Mr. Fenton, they moved on. Cassian watched as Adelaide’s expression grew brighter, her smile remaining genuine. When they returned to their carriage, however, her face fell.
“Are you not happy to return?” he asked.
“I am,” she replied. “I simply enjoyed my time here today. It is a lovely village.”
“It is. But you have not seen all of it yet. If you want to see Ashford in its entirety, I suggest that you come with your lady’s maid. She will show you the best spots.”
“Can I ask you something?” she asked, once as they were seated. “Do you help people here because we cannot do anything in our home?”
It was a bold question, and one that he had never thought about. He had never considered that he would spend his time in thevillage because he was not allowed to do so in his own home, but he could not deny that it made sense.
“I suppose, in a way. Then again, I know just how privileged I am. I feel like I have a duty to protect those who are not.”
“Like me.” Adelaide had said it absent-mindedly, as though she had not intended for him to hear it.
Cassian wanted to refute her claim, but of course, he could not. He had only married her because she had no other choice.
Nor did he, he reminded himself.
CHAPTER 12
Adelaide was beginning to appreciate her new home, even if it remained confusing.
She knew how to navigate it, and she knew who to ask for assistance with each problem she found. It was becoming easier, save for the fact that her heart sank whenever she saw the Dowager Duchess nearby.
There seemed to be a silent agreement between them: Adelaide would not attempt to engage her in conversation, and in return, the Dowager Duchess would not give any further warnings. It was not what she had wanted for her relationship with her mother-in-law, but it was how it was, and she had to be at peace with it.
“So,” Lilly asked that afternoon as she styled her hair, “it has been a week since you got married. How are you feeling?”
“Strange. Sometimes, I feel I would forget that I am married altogether if the household were not so different from my family’s.”
“I see. Is His Grace not a good husband?”
