“Why?” she asked.
“Because you would never do anything to make me do so. Would you?”
She could not look away from his intense gaze. She did not know what to do, for it was the very opposite of what she had been told to expect, but she knew that she liked it.
“No,” she whispered. “No, of course not.”
He chuckled, stepping back, and her heart flipped.
She wondered how she was going to cope with the evening ahead, for she would be unable to look at her husband without remembering the way he had made her feel in that moment.
But as she left the study, she was struck by another thought.
She had not wanted to think about it again, but she could not help herself.
How did Iris get that scar? And, more to the point, why was Cassian so unsettled by the fact that she had seen it?
CHAPTER 19
Cassian wanted to like events.
Seeing his position, it was important for him to partake in them, and because of that, he wished he enjoyed them more. It would have made things easier. But as it was, it was the worst part of his role.
The ballroom was stifling, and the rustling of skirts and the mingling perfumes was causing a headache that was growing more difficult to ignore. What was worse was that his wife was by his side, looking completely ravishing, while his mother glared at him every now and then.
He did not know what had convinced her to attend that night, but he was aware that she could easily cause trouble.
He pushed the thought aside, knowing that it would show on his face. He could not allow that. He had to be perfect; they alldid. Fortunately, that was something his mother had always held above everything else, so she would not dare put a foot wrong.
“Are you all right?” he whispered to Adelaide when they had a moment alone.
Her hands were clasped in front of her, and she was not quite able to meet his eyes. Instead, she was looking around the room, seeing the dozens of people watching them.
“I believe so. What do you suppose they are all thinking?”
“They are likely asking one another if they think we shall dance this evening.”
“And will we?”
There was no mistaking the excitement in her tone. Cassian wanted to ignore it, to believe that she did not like the prospect, for he did not want her to feel that way about him, but it was there.
And, despite his better judgment, he did not want to disappoint her.
“That is the proper thing to do, I suppose.”
“Oh my, I have not danced in so long. What if I stumble?”
“Do try not to. But if you do, I will catch you. It is as simple as that.”
“What is it?” his mother asked suddenly, appearing beside them. “Are you all right, dear?”
“Yes, Mother,” he replied. “I was only?—”
“Not you. I was asking her.”
Cassian exchanged a brief look with his wife, who seemed just as surprised by the term of endearment.
“Yes, thank you,” she replied. “I was merely saying that it has been a while since I attended an event like this.”
