Cassian watched her for longer than he should have. He felt the old restraint tug at him again, subtle but insistent, urging him back behind familiar walls.
But this time, he did not retreat at once. And though he said nothing of it, a quiet thought took root and refused to be dismissed: somewhere between the village and this crowded room, he had loosened his grip, and Adelaide, more than anyone, had noticed it.
CHAPTER 32
Adelaide noticed the change in Cassian the moment he returned.
She had been watching him since he returned from the village, careful not to let her gaze linger too long, though it required effort.
There was something different in the way he held himself, a willingness to be present rather than withdraw. He spoke when spoken to, but he also listened differently, as though no longer braced for interruption or judgment.
The afternoon passed pleasantly. Tea was shared, and the chairs were pulled closer together than usual, conversation flowing easily between subjects of little consequence.
Adelaide found herself laughing more than she had in a long time, though part of her remained fixated on Cassian. Herhusband had always captured her attention, but after everything that had happened, she found him more alluring than ever.
When he excused himself, summoned away by his steward, Adelaide felt his absence at once. She waited until the sound of his footsteps had faded before speaking.
“He is different,” she murmured.
Emma glanced up from her teacup. “Your husband?”
“Yes,” Adelaide replied. “Since this morning.”
“Different how?”
Adelaide hesitated, searching for the right words. She knew her friends would not judge her, but she still did not want to express herself incorrectly.
“Less contained, as though something has eased.”
Cecilia leaned back in her chair, looking at her knowingly. “That is quite the change.”
“Indeed.” Adelaide nodded. “And I do not understand it. Everything has been so sudden.”
“Well, when did you first notice?”
“When he returned,” Adelaide answered. “Before that, it was as though he never saw me, as though he were never truly here. Now he is, and there is no denying it.”
Emma set her cup aside, and all four ladies turned to look at her kindly.
Adelaide knew that their marriages had not had a smooth start, but most of the time, it felt as though they all had perfect lives, while she could never quite attain anything resembling them.
“Did anything happen while he was gone?”
“I-I do not know. He did not speak of it. He had only just returned when you all arrived. In any case, he has not told me anything of note.”
“Regardless, that does not mean he has nothing to say,” Beatrice said lightly. “Men tend to find it easier to discuss such matters among themselves than with their wives.”
Adelaide frowned. “I do not like that answer. I would prefer for him to come to me about such things.”
Cecilia smiled at her. “Then consider this: perhaps he needed to be reminded of who he is, and it took seeing other gentlemen for him to recognize it.”
“So you believe that reminder came from them?”
Dorothy shook her head. “No.”
All eyes turned to her.
Adelaide tilted her head to the side. Dorothy was the quieter one, but when she did have something to say, she made it known.
