The remark earned him a quiet laugh from Morgan.
Cassian heard the same sound leave him, unguarded and brief, and was surprised by how natural it felt.
They reached the far edge of the green and paused, the noise of the market muffled by the distance.
Levi rolled his shoulders, as though easing out of long-held tension. “This was worthwhile,” he said.
“Yes,” Cassian agreed without thinking.
The word came easily. So did the sense of belonging that followed. He had not considered how he was perceived. He had simply been present.
As they turned back toward the road, Cassian felt the familiar weight settle once more, though it did not press as heavily as before. He walked beside them now rather than behind them, his steps matching theirs without conscious effort. Yet, as the house came into view, a different awareness stirred.
He wondered why this ease deserted him the moment he saw his wife, and why the part of himself that had spoken freely in the village could not seem to follow him home to Adelaide.
The house felt different, with so many voices in it. Cassian became aware of it the moment they crossed the threshold—the echo of laughter from the drawing room, the subtle disorder of cloaks and gloves handed off to servants. It was not unpleasant, though it unsettled him all the same.
They entered together, and the conversation paused only briefly before resuming at once.
Emma was seated near the window, her posture elegant but unguarded, one hand resting idly on the arm of her chair as she spoke with Adelaide. Dorothy stood nearby, examining a small figurine on the mantel with quiet interest, while Cecilia and Beatrice occupied the sofa opposite, deep in animated conversation.
“You survived,” Beatrice declared as Owen approached. “I am impressed.”
“You sound disappointed.”
“Only mildly,” she quipped. “I had wagered that you would return with at least one unnecessary purchase.”
“Ah, then it would seem you won,” he drawled, presenting her with the figurine he had purchased.
Morgan moved to Dorothy’s side without comment, leaning in to murmur something that made her smile. Levi crossed the room to Emma, who reached for his hand without looking, their exchange effortless and quiet.
Cassian lingered for a moment longer than necessary.
Adelaide noticed it first. Her gaze found him, as though she had been waiting. He looked at her, uncertain what expression he wore, only that he felt oddly exposed.
“You found the village agreeable, I hope,” she offered.
“Yes,” Cassian replied. “It was a most pleasant outing.”
The conversation flowed around him, drawing him in despite himself. Cecilia asked him about the estate, about the history of the house, questions delivered with genuine interest rather than obligation, and he answered each one without fear that she was interested in gossip.
At one point, Adelaide moved closer, close enough that he could feel her warmth against his side.
“You seem less burdened than this morning,” she noted quietly.
“I do. My head is clearer.”
She studied him, searching his face for something he could not quite identify. Whatever she found there seemed to satisfy her, for her expression softened.
“Well,” he announced, “it is long past time for drinks.”
“That is the first sensible suggestion you have made all day,” Owen teased.
As servants were summoned and glasses served, Cassian found himself seated among them rather than apart from them. The conversation turned lively, anecdotes traded freely, laughter rising and falling with ease. At one point, he laughed aloud before he could stop himself.
The sound startled him.
Adelaide turned toward him at once. For a brief moment, she looked as though she might speak, then thought better of it. Instead, she gave a small smile and looked away.
