Gaius motioned to Caliazo, who eased his heavy boot and both men lifted Malum to his feet.
“It’s over,” Gaius whispered, keeping a firm hold on his arm. “You’re finished.”
* * *
Cassia couldn’t remember a longer, more emotionally taxing two weeks of her life. Her mother was inconsolable, and her father’s letters had been short and gave no details on the situation.
She didn’t believe her eyes when Colonel Caliazo brought both her father and uncle through the doorway.
“Master Retton,” cried Cassia’s mother. Moments earlier she had been moaning, sprawled across the couch, but now she stood without any hindrance. “You are home at last! And my good brother. What news do you have?”
The two men collapsed on the recently vacated couch as Caliazo stood politely, with much more stamina.
“If you’ll allow me, ma’am, to give details, your brother and husband are in need of rest.”
Mistress Retton eyed the man, but glanced at her tired brother and husband. “Why yes, then, go on!” Mistress Retton’s ever present kerchief waved at him.
Cassia tried to ignore the horrendous manners of her mother as she ushered Caliazo to a seat. He removed his hat, revealing his handsome curls. His inviting blue eyes shone across the room. Yet Cassia still did not find herself having feelings for the man. Part of her wished, and knew it wasn’t even possible, that Caliazo’s cousin sat in their parlor instead.
“I will have you know that Mr. Tytus Malum has been found guilty of, and charged with, many crimes.”
“Oh, but he was to marry my dear Alyria!” wailed Mistress Retton.
Cassia bore herself up and sent a scathing stare at her mother. “Mama, do not interrupt our visitor.”
For possibly the first time in her life, Mistress Retton listened to her daughter and closed her mouth.
“His crimes include kidnapping, based on Alyria’s age, plus coercion, stealing of magical property, evil misuse of said magical property, and the creation of a highly illegal potion to hide all said actions. I am sorry, ma’am, that your daughter is not married, but with such accounts against him, Lieutenant Malum has been stripped of all stolen items and is currently aboard a ship to Australia, where he is to remain for the duration of his life, on penalty of death. Had she married him, you would never see her again.”
Cassia watched as Gynelle gasped and Mistress Retton’s triple chin nearly grazed her knees.
“All things considered,” Caliazo said, brushing his hands, “it was a merciful sentence.” He gave a purposeful look toward Cassia.
“What is to become of Alyria, then?” asked Cassia, wringing her hands across her lap.
Mistress Retton leaned forward. Caliazo opened his mouth, but Master Retton sat up. “Dearest, our Alyria was clearly seduced by the evil Malum and therefore does not have any charges against her. But you see, she discovered herself having magical abilities,” he shot an almost guilty look towards Cassia. Had he knownallhis daughters truly had abilities all along? Master Retton drew his eyes tight. “And his awful praise of her magic is what caused her to follow him. I was wrong to let her go. She is so young and thoughtless, and does not yet understand the implications of magic, or of men, or of the world.”
“Then where is she? Without the marriage, this will put scandal on our entire family! My other girls!” Mistress Retton grasped Gynelle’s hand.
Caliazo’s eyes darted from Cassia to Master Retton to Mistress Retton, but Master Retton sat a little taller toward his wife. “Ma’am, you may in full confidence to brag to your friends that Alyria has been found supremely gifted in magic and has gone to a school for it in London. There is a special woman’s establishment there, with strict parameters, which also offers an excellent education. It was founded to protect girls who might be preyed upon, or have been, and who don’t understand how to use their magic to better themselves and the world. When I heard of such a place, I demanded she go at once. It has all been paid for, all arranged.”
“But our family…” protested Mistress Retton.
“Dear, Alyria needed guidance, and we have failed her. This school will help her more than we have. I will not have her ruin her life because she’s too enamored with magic and doesn’t understand it truly. Furthermore, her sisters’ reputations have not been harmed, as hardly anyone has learned of the scandal.” As he spoke, Cassia knew her father thought about his own obsession with magic, and how it had changed his course forever.
After a moment, Caliazo broke in. “And I can tell you, as one whose ability deals with matchmaking, that Malum did not love your Alyria. He just used his power to have fun for a time, then planned to abandon her since she had little money or connections. It’s my belief that she never truly loved him either, rather it was a mix of infatuation and his coercion from the relic’s power. This separation is for the best, and there will yet be hope for your daughter.” This really was wonderful news, and somehow Cassia knew that Alyria would have a better chance there, away from her mother.
Mistress Retton cocked her head to one side, and Cassia wondered how long it would take the woman to digest such information. “Well, I suppose we have you to thank for all of this?”
Caliazo shook his head. “No ma’am. Your brother mostly.”
“Just right!” declared Mistress Retton, looking at her silent brother on the couch. How she could vacillate between moods so quickly horrified Cassia.
Caliazo stood. “I must be going.”
“I shall walk you out,” said Cassia, standing so swiftly and taking him by the arm that they were outside before anyone could object or follow them. “I cannot thank you enough,” she continued. The gratitude she felt for him overwhelmed her. Almost enough to create feelings of regard toward him.
“Miss Cassia,” he said. She dropped her hands as her heart caught. What would he ask her? “You know that I have cared about you.”
