“Normally, no,” Petra agreed. “But this is Cassian, the most honorable man I know. He will answer your question, maybe even kiss you, then send you back to us.”
“Go and tell him that you are in love with him,” Antonia insisted.
“I have not even confessed such to you.”
Antonia leaned in. “Your aura has confessed for you,” she whispered.
“Quit reading it. It’s quite intrusive.”
“As is your hearing music of a soul.”
“Yes, well, even if we have no control that does not mean we should speak out of turn,” Samantha warned.
“Ah ha, so you are in love.”
“I did not say that.” Goodness, no more wine. She needed to keep her thoughts straight or she would give too much away.
“Nina, come here.”
Cassian’s sister turned and skipped over to them.
“Please, do not say anything,” she quietly begged Maia.
“Samantha thinks Cassian is attractive,” Petra announced.
“She may even be smitten,” Maia giggled.
Nina frowned, wrinkling her brow. “Really? Cassian?”
“I have claimed no such thing.”
“That does not mean it is any less true,” Antonia insisted.
“We are trying to convince Samantha to go ask Cassian why he has not kissed her. A woman should have the right to know, especially when she wants to be kissed and that it’s obvious to everyone else that Cassian wants to do the kissing.”
“I agree that you should!” Nina announced.
“Come on then, Samantha,” Maia pulled her from the temple.
“I do not even know where he lives,” she argued.
“Just wander down that path and you will come to the cottage,” Nina directed her.
“It is too dark to see,” she offered as an excuse.
“If I recall, your fireballs are excellent for lighting the way.” Petra gave her a little shove. “Now go.”
Samantha hesitantly walked to the path and stopped. Did she dare?
Chapter 22
Cassian wished that he could get the image of Samantha's bare legs out of his mind, but he accepted that he may never forget.
When he stepped into the cottage, the darkness enveloped him. It was nearly as suffocating as the loneliness that he had come to associate with his home.
Maybe what he needed was a wife. At least he would have someone to share this cottage with, share his life, and eventually children. There were several families in Bocka Morrow who had daughters of marriageable age. Those parents were merchants, sailors, some were farmers out in the country. All of them used to living in reduced circumstances. Though he was not poor, his life compared to that of a wealthy earl was lacking.
Maybe he could even find the perfect miss who would not mind being poor to banish Samantha from his mind.
