The music came to an end. She curtseyed, while he bowed, and then they stepped off the dance floor.
Cassian thought about whether he could ever be a good man. He had done something so vile that he was convinced he would never be able to escape it, but his wife did not know that.
Adelaide saw a man who was stern, rough around the edges, but she had convinced herself that there was a soft side to him that he had hidden for years.
Cassian did not want to think about that side of him, the one that caused trouble. It was easier to be a shell, to not have to concern himself with anyone else. That way, it would not hurt as much when he was left alone once more.
And frankly, it was beginning to grate on him that she was so insistent on cracking his façade. He did not want to be left exposed and at risk of her ruining him all over again. It had taken him years to leave his home again, and the moment he had, he had been left with no choice but to marry her.
While he had accepted that, it did not mean that he was content for her to waltz in and change everything. He liked the way things were well enough.
Which was why he had lied to her about so many things.
“You seem troubled,” his mother noted when Adelaide left to speak with some other ladies.
“I am anything but. That dance was most pleasant.”
“Indeed. You have found a good wife, Cassian.”
“I am inclined to agree with you.”
“Though I must say, the circumstances under which you met leave a lot to be desired.”
His heart thudded. He had kept it all from her in the hope that she would not admonish either of them, but of course, they were surrounded by the ton, which meant they were surrounded by gossip.
“I do hope that the gentleman keeps his distance this evening. I would not like to speak with a man like him.”
“Hargrave?” he asked. “I do not see why he would be invited tonight.”
“Well, he was. I saw him moments ago.”
Immediately, Cassian glanced around the room in search of Adelaide. He wanted to be certain that she was safe. He found her surrounded by other young ladies as they admired her ring and spoke with one another.
Assured by that, he searched the room for Hargrave and found him lingering by the refreshments table.
He had half a mind to storm over and demand to know why he was there, but of course, it was perfectly acceptable. Hargrave had been invited like everyone else, which meant that he was allowed to be there, whether Cassian liked it or not.
“Did you speak with him, Mother?”
“Indeed,” his mother replied, her voice deceptively soft. “He told me the true circumstances of your marriage. Truly, Cassian, I thought better of you. Not only did you harm an innocent man, but you also lied to me about it.”
“I did not lie, I—we will discuss this at home. Now is not the time.”
“No, it is not.”
Sometimes, he was grateful that his mother insisted on observing etiquette.
Content that she would not cause a scene, he looked for his wife again, deciding that she would not leave his sight for the rest of the event. It was too great a risk to have her in Hargrave’s vicinity, for the man could easily damage their reputation. Not only that, but he also did not want the bastard near her.
The circumstances of their marriage did not matter. She was his wife. She washis, and no one would change that. He would not let her be treated the way that man had done before, so he would do everything to prevent it.
When he found her, she was standing in front of none other than Hargrave. Her hands were clasped and lowered, her shoulders hunched. She was almost cowering, and Hargrave was grinning as though he was proud of that.
Rage flooded Cassian in that moment, and he stormed over.
Halfway there, it occurred to him that he could not cause trouble. Their situation was precarious, and he could not allow the night to be ruined, but he did not know what else to do besides pulling his wife away.
He reached them, and he noticed at once how Adelaide straightened at his presence.
