Cassian smiled a little and then pressed a soft kiss to James’s lips.
“Do you think you’ll sell it?” James asked as he pulled away. “It’ll be worth a lot more now. Isn’t that what you said?”
Cassian ran his thumb over the watch’s casing. How horrible it was that one of his first thoughts upon seeing it again had been how much he might sell it for, rather than what the watch represented. Shortly after it had stopped working, Jacob had lost his life. Along with many other people. And then more and more of his fellow passengers had perished as the night continued.
“It is. But I’m not sure if I have it in me to sell it,” Cassian said. “I know this might seem morbid, but perhaps it might be beneficial for me to have this as a reminder of what we’ve been through.” Cassian’s self-centered remark from earlier echoed in his head, and he briefly cringed. “And as a reminder of those who did not make it.”
James huffed a barely there laugh. “I have no need to be reminded of that.”
“I know,” Cassian said warmly. “But I think thatImight need to be.”
James’s expression softened, his eyebrows lifting and pinching, his lips curling into a warm, sympathetic smile, and he reached out and rubbed Cassian’s cheek with his thumb.
“You amaze me sometimes,” he said.
“Only sometimes?” Cassian jested, crooking an eyebrow.
James laughed. “All the time.”
Chuckling with him, Cassian pressed a kiss to James’s lips. As they parted, someone knocked on their stateroom door. Cassian walked over to answer it.
“Good evening, Ethel,” he said when he opened it. John came up beside her. Cassian bowed his head a bit and smiled at his former valet. “And John.”
“Good evening, Cassian,” Ethel said. “Are you ready to be back home?”
“Extremely ready. And yourselves?”
Ethel and John looked at one another.
“We’re mostly ready, but we have something that we wanted to discuss with you before we leave the ship, especially since there might be people waiting for us—friends, family, press, members of our extended social circle—at the pier. And I thought it might be best if we settle something before word of our engagement status starts circulating.”
Cassian hummed. “I’m intrigued.”
“May we come in?” Ethel asked.
“Of course.”
Cassian stepped aside to let both Ethel and John into the stateroom, and then he shut the door. James exchanged pleasantries with both of them. Then, Ethel’s eyes found Cassian’s, and worry lines settled into her forehead.
“Cassian,” she began, her voice sounding slightly tentative, “what if you and I went through with the wedding?”
Cassian reeled back.
“Excuse me?”
Ethel huffed a light laugh. “Sorry. I know that must seem like a strange thing to suggest. But John and I have been talking ourselves blue in the face over these last few hours. Because of my mother’s concerns over our relationshipandthe concern that John and I have for you and foryourrelationship, we thought that maybe the most prudent solution to both of these matters might be for you and me to still get married in the fall.” She paused to take a measured breath. “I think my mother will be relieved. Our marriage would preserve both her reputation and mine, even if, secretly, you and I weren’t really together. And, if I’m not mistaken, our marriage would provide you with the sort of cover that might spare you from the precise kind of scrutiny that you’re worried about, would it not?”
“It... would,” Cassian said, slowly. “But, Ethel, sweetheart—” Cassian’s eyes flittered over to John. “Forgive me for the term of endearment for my potential future wife, John.” He looked back at Ethel. “Anyway, you’re a religious woman, Ethel, last I checked. Aren’t youworried about what our marriage might mean for you? Especially if you and John continue your relationship, as I presume you will want to?”
“It’s hard not to be alittleworried,” Ethel said. “But I’m choosing to believe that our creator will understand the predicament we’ve found ourselves in. Besides, John and I wouldn’t have been able to board that lifeboat had you not intervened.”
“You donotowe me for that,” Cassian countered. “Don’t, even for amoment,think otherwise.”
“I know. Still, though, I’d like to help you and James, if possible.”
“And I’d like to help you two as well,” John said with a soft smile. “Cassian, you and James are both such lovely people. It’s a shame that the world is... less than kind to men like yourselvesright now. I mean, if you feel about James how I feel about Miss Ethel, then... well, then it’s unconscionable to think that you might be forced apart someday, should some rumors either cause you to worry for your safety or else cause friction between you. I can’t imagine that successfully maintaining a romantic relationship would be possible in either of those circumstances.”
Cassian pursed his lips, thinking it over.
