The Colonel had been right.
There could not beanyonewith a more dissimilar temperament to her own. She could not think of anyone she’d be less willing to marry. Even High Mage Darkwood seemed, well, almost fairly tolerable at the moment.
“You are so kind as to think of me,” she gulped, pulling from her reservoir of politeness that she hoped she still possessed. “But please do not continue...if you were to ask my younger sister ofherdesire to be married...”
“My fair cousin—” he importuned.
“Please stop saying ‘My fair cousin,’” Cassia pleaded too loudly.
“Good evening,” said a familiar voice.
As if from nowhere, Mage Colonel Caliazo appeared from behind a bush. “You are Master Clovis, are you not? From the Rectory at Huntsford?”
Clovis puffed with self-importance. “I am, sir.” Whatever focus he had toward Cassia seemed to vanish with someone acknowledging his greatness.
“I have heard much about you…” said the Colonel.
“By way of my truffles, sir?” she heard him say as Caliazo gestured toward the garden. The strutting peacock Clovis happily followed. Did Clovis really choose to mention his truffles at a time like this? Oh goodness.
Was it possible? Had the Colonel come to save her? He was...brilliant. She liked him even more than when they finished their dance. Cassia stumbled inside, dazed and grateful to be rid of her cousin. How Caliazo distracted him she did not know but was not about to wait around to find out. She searched first for Gynelle, but she was occupied by a second dance with Mage Blythesome. Cidel Lywin would serve as a splendid secondary alternative to relieve her feelings, but Cassia could not see her among the crowd. She had come with Master Lywin, had sat the first dance, and now...vanished.
Cassia moved to push through the crowd toward the music room, in hopes of finding her when a large, charcoal waistcoat moved directly into her gaze. She turned to maneuver around it, and it turned too. Several people pushed past her, causing her gaze to rise. High Mage Darkwood.
“The allemande, Miss Cassia?”
His gaze did not stray from her eyes, but his tone lacked luster.
Master Clovis had just tried to secure her hand. She ought not to be dancing with another man, especially one so loathsome, after having just suffered through such an ordeal. One might burst with so many unfathomable and uncomfortable circumstances so ridiculously close together.
Methodically she placed her hand on his. As the music started, Cassia did not attempt to engage conversation. Her mind whirled far more than her dancing feet. After what must have been several moments, and High Mage Darkwood’s consistent silence, she had to speak.
“You are rather quiet this evening, High Mage Darkwood.”
He gave a grave half-nod. “Oh, do you talk as a rule while dancing?”
She wanted something to distract her from her awful last half hour and this conversation would suit just fine.
She tried to look easy and smiled. “Usually, for there is ample time in the set...do not you think?” She hiccupped a laugh. Speaking, she knew, usually fell within her realm of excellence. Just not at present.
“I do. Forgive me.” He again inclined his head. “My cousin informed me I ought to be more social.” His eyes drew tight and he seemed to study her face.
“Oh yes,” said Cassia, grateful for such an easy avenue of conversation, “How nice it must be to have your cousin here.” If only Mage Darkwood understood what a scrape the Colonel had just rescued her from with her own cousin.
“Yes,” answered High Mage Darkwood. The intensity of his gaze and the firmness of his grip on her hand began to make her temperature rise. “My cousin has easy manners, and has a way with people, you could say.” She wondered if he referred to the man’s ability. Before the night ended, she would seek out the Colonel and thank him. “Though many people have easy manners, yourself included.”
Cassia was nearly certain he had just complimented her, though she assumed that impossible. She redoubled her effort to push away thoughts of Master Clovis and attend to the dance—and man—at hand.
“I thank you.” she said in surprise. “Though I fear mine might be a bit too jovial for your taste, High Mage Darkwood,” she finished, her usual self quickly returning.
A smile threatened his lips, but he would not quite give in to it. “My very name includes my darkness. It is not my nature to be lighthearted. Still, there is a place for proper manners.”
“Yes,” said Cassia. “You seem to surround yourself with exceedingly amiable friends and companions.”
“To whom do you refer, Miss Cassia?” A solitary eyebrow arched in her direction.
He turned her gracefully with an uplifted hand. She had pulled him into her banter now. This was the time to elicit information.
“Mage Blythesome, for one, has the most congenial character around. And your cousin, as well, has impeccable manners.”
