“What is it now?” Cassian whirled around.
Stopping in her tracks, his grandmother placed her hands on her hips and glared at him. “I am not the one who got you into this mess, Cassian, but I am here to help you out of it. You may want to rethink the way that you speak to me.”
Holding his tongue, Cassian seethed with anger. His grandmother had not forced him onto the balcony with Lady Isabella, but she had been the one who had brought the woman into his life with her blasted little club.
“Was there something that you needed?” he asked stiffly.
Lowering her hand from her hips, she pursed her lips. “As a matter of fact, there is. I have just come from one of my friends, and I regret to inform you that you cannot wait for the banns to be read. We must go to the Queen at once and request a special license for the two of you to be married. All of London seems to think that you compromised Lady Isabella last night.”
“And what business is it of theirs?” He growled angrily.
Raising her hands in surrender, his grandmother scowled at him. “Peace, Cassian, I will not remind you again that this was not my doing. Nor was it my intention. I cannot lie and say that I am not thrilled with the marriage, because I am. Lady Isabella is one in a million, and I cannot think of anyone else in London whom I would rather have you marry. But you hurried things along and made it the business of the ton. You should not have been alone with her.”
“So, you admit that you purposefully thrust her at me?” He demanded angrily.
His grandmother scoffed. “I will not warn you again, Cassian. Do not blame me for your folly. I may have brought her into her life, but I harbored no such ill intentions. This matter is entirely your doing. Now, before you continue with your ridiculous accusations, we must go and fetch Lady Isabella and her stepmother at once. It just so happens that a close friend of mine has the ear of the queen. If we play our cards correctly, we may be able to acquire a special license and permission.”
“Right now?” He froze, dreading the prospect of seeing her so soon again.
“Is that a problem?” She raised an eyebrow and spoke in a stern voice that let Cassian know she would not be entertaining any kind of argument.
“What would it not be better to allow Lady Isabella some time to come to terms with the engagement?” He placed his hands behind his back and lifted his chin.
She held back for a moment, hovering as if the conversation were keeping her back from doing what needed to be done. “Had you courted her like a proper gentleman, I would be inclined to agree, but since everyone’s hands have been forced, I see no need to wait. Unless there is a reason that you do not wish to see her again on such short notice?”
Taking a deep breath, he composed himself. There was no use in arguing with his grandmother. Years of living with her had taught him that.
“No, there is no need to wait. We shall go at once.” His heart began to thrum furiously at the thought of seeing Isabella again.
His grandmother smiled at him. “Very well, I shall be waiting for you in the carriage.” She turned to leave, but paused on her way out. “And Cassian…”
“Yes,” he snapped, his patience beginning to wear thin.
“You must remember that to obtain a special license, you and Isabella must appear utterly in love. There cannot be even a hint of disparity between the two of you. The queen has an eye for these things; she dotes on young love but can spot a ruse a mile away. If you have not yet convinced yourself that you are in love with Lady Isabella, then I suggest you do so as soon as possible.” She turned and left, leaving Cassian to soak in her words.
Love.
There was that word again. Why was every person in his life so obsessed with it? The question did not even matter anymore as he gritted his teeth.
Whether he believed in it or not, he needed to convince the queen that he did. He needed to act like a fool, convince the world of his feelings, and take one for the family. It seemed like a great deal of effort for someone who had annoyed him from the start.
But was that not how most romances start?
Chapter Twenty
“Your Grace,” Isabella greeted him stiffly, curtsying in her finest pink gown that her stepmother and sister had insisted she wear. Her heart thrummed furiously as she met his gaze.
What did he think of her now that they were being forced into a ruse?
Cassian stood stiffly in front of his carriage, his hand behind his back as he looked at her only for a moment, before glancing past her shoulder. “You look lovely, Lady Isabella.” His voice was just as stiff and rigid as his spine.
Her pulse faltered slightly as she measured him against the backdrop of the Queen’s private London home. Not many people were invited to her off-palace lodgings, yet the duke seemed to fit right in. His chiseled profile and neat attire made him look right at home.
He’s so handsome.
She felt her heart aching as she willed him to look at her. Did he blame her for them having to be there? He had been the one to invite her onto the balcony, but she had not refused. She took a step toward him, but found her path blocked by Lady Kendrick and her stepmother.
“I want to thank you again for agreeing to this little outing, Lady Isabella. I know it cannot be easy for you, but I do believe that what we are doing is best. Even if it is not traditional.” She offered her a reassuring smile before shooting Cassian a scathing glare.
