“Cassian…”
He stilled at the warning tone of the woman who had raised him.
“Yes?”
“We are in need of your assistance.”
Bloody hell! “How may I be of help?”
“We must organize the entire night for the men and the women. As much as I love my son, I am not certain Chedworth will do everything that is necessary.”
“I will,” Chedworth ground out.
“And Cassian will assist you.”
This was not at all what he was expecting. Since when was he needed for anything? And why not Simon, who was a brother by blood to Chedworth?
“Samantha, her mother and father will instruct us on what needs to be done during the meditation, and any supplies that we might need. We will then decide how to incorporate the festival of Haloa into the evening.”
That still did not explain why he was needed.
“Once a schedule is decided upon, and a list of items that will be needed, we will set to gathering them and storing them away until the time comes.”
“Today?” he asked.
“Yes. With Christmas approaching, the wedding and all other plans over the next few days, I want to leave nothing to chance.”
“I will assist where needed.”
“Good!” She smiled. “For those items that we do not have, I will add them to the list already prepared for the next trip into Bocka Morrow.”
He simply nodded.
“Now that everything is settled, shall we leave Samantha to visit with her family and return in an hour.”
“I will attend you at that time.” With that, Cassian turned and marched from the room still wondering what had happened.
He would always do whatever Lady St. Alban requested, but this was especially odd. She did have sons and daughters, as well as her sister, Cassandra Norcott, Marchioness of Chandos, was in residence, along with their sister-in-law, Iris Drakos, the Countess of Wharton. Why could they not make all the necessary plans?
Was it because he had simply been present since he had just accompanied Samantha from the Romani camp?
He pinched the bridge of his nose and went up the stairs and into the billiards room. He had expected to find some of the male brothers and cousins in here but it was empty. Not that it mattered. He hadn’t gone there for company, but for brandy.
After he poured a glass, Cassian wandered to the window to look out over the gardens of Nightshade Manor and reflected on his visit with Iza and her reading of him.
If he were being honest, she had been correct that he was unsatisfied, anxious and wanted more…something beyond. No doubt she knew about the estate in France, but is that what she was speaking of?
Also, what did he need to let go of to claim what was beyond, whatever that was?
Even more worrisome, what crossroads and when would he come to them? What truth did he have to admit and how must he humble himself or forever be bound?
Bound to what?
Whose other future relied on the decisions he would make besides his own?
With list in hand, Samantha set out with Cassian for Bocka Morrow feeling much better after having spoken with her mother privately.
She had confessed her concerns in not being able to hear Cassian’s music, but her mother assured her that it did happen on occasion and that there had been people she could not hear. It was an oddity, but nothing to become concerned about and she assured Samantha that there was nothing wrong with him.
