Chapter 155

Cassandra frowned.

She bent to pick up another stone and tried again.

Plop.

A third.

Plop.

Cassandra selected another stone, weighing it in her fingers.

The stone struck the water.

It bounced.

Once.

Twice.

Three times.

Then it skipped farther across the pond, gliding over the dark surface before disappearing among the lilies.

A grin spread across her face.

“I did it!” She clapped her hands excitedly, turning around with a laugh, thoroughly pleased with herself in a manner that felt almost childish.

Draven remained seated on the bench, watching her with an expression she couldn’t quite decipher. He said nothing until she had finished celebrating, allowing her triumph to run its course before finally speaking.

“So, when are you finally going to tell me the real reason you’ve been attending those lectures?”

Her triumphant smile vanished. Her body went rigid, the last stone still clutched in her hand as she stared at him, momentarily stunned.

Of all the things he could have said, that was the last thing she had expected to hear. She had been so caught up in her little victory that she hadn’t thought to guard herself against the question, and now she had no immediate answer.

The memory of her shooting lesson came rushing back. His question that afternoon, Adrian’s warning glance, the ease with which she had diverted his attention elsewhere. She had been certain the matter was behind them, that her quick thinking had been enough to put an end to the matter.

She was mistaken, it seemed. Draven had merely indulged her, biding his time until he found another opportunity to corner her with the very question she had hoped to escape.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Draven leaned back against the bench.

“You think I didn’t notice the look that his highness gave you when I asked you about it? I did not reach the position I hold by failing to observe what happens around me, Cassandra.”

Draven beckoned her closer. “Please sit with me. I don’t like how you are so close to the water.”

She remained where she was, apprehensive to take even a step in his direction.

“I meant no offence. I merely wish to speak with you about the matter as openly as we have spoken of everything else.” He said, hoping the sincerity in his voice would set her at ease.

After silently deliberating with herself, Cassandra gave in and approached.

When she reached the bench, she looked down at the stone in her hand as though only now remembering she was still carrying it. She dropped it beside her feet before sitting.

Draven waited until she was settled down beside him.

“I want the truth. I have no desire to pry into every aspect of your life,” he said gently. “But if we are to be husband and wife, there must be some level of transparency between us. We cannot hope to build a marriage on a foundation of secrets, especially when they concern matters of importance. This is a partnership. At least, that is what I want it to be. I want us to be candid with one another. If there is something you’re involved in, something that concerns you, I would rather hear it from you than discover it elsewhere.”

He was right of course and Cassandra knew it too.

But she already had a list of people she trusted with her life, people she could depend on without reservation. For all his kindness and generosity, Draven had yet to earn a place among them. And trust was not something she could simply bestow upon someone, no matter how much she might wish to.

Yet Draven wasn’t asking because he wanted to control her actions or interfere with her plans. He was asking because he wanted to understand, to help however he could.

Yet Draven was not asking because he wanted control.

He was asking because he wanted to stand beside her, to help her.

She exhaled slowly.

“All right. I have been trying to get close to one of the professors at the Association of Medicine and Anatomical Studies.”

“Which professor?”

“Professor Mattias Holstoke.”

“Why him?”

Cassandra hesitated.

“Because of Lawrence Whitmore. He is the man that my parents tried to force me to marry.” she answered. “You know that much.”

“I do.” Draven’s face became a gathering storm, his eyes darkening beneath a furrowed brow..

“While I was still helplessly trapped in that chapel, I overheard a conversation between Whitmore and another man. It was a conversation I was never supposed to hear. I can’t tell you everything I heard with certainty. Some of it was deliberately vague. But I have reason to believe Whitmore is involved in illegal activities. Human trafficking among them.”

Cassandra continued before she lost her nerve. “I began looking into him afterward. Everything I found said he was a respectable businessman with an impeccable reputation. Wealthy. Well connected. Charitable. He donates money to institutions. He has connections to the Association. And I knew it couldn’t all be genuine. That man is the devil.”

“What else have you learned about him?” He asked, trying to comprehend all that Cassandra just divulged.

“Nothing conclusive yet, I’m afraid. Every lead I pursued eventually came to a dead end. Either Whitmore was exceptionally careful, or he had someone helping him conceal his activities. Then I discovered that he and Professor Holstoke were close friends. I began to suspect that if anyone knew the full extent of Whitmore’s illegal dealings, it would be Holstoke. That was why I started attending the lectures. I wanted to establish a connection with him and find my way into his inner circle.”

So far, things had been progressing rather smoothly, considering the circumstances. She had already become a patroness of the association, and it was only a matter of time before Holstoke came to trust her completely. After all, she had given him no reason to question her intentions.

“As I’m sure you’re already aware, I use an alias whenever I attend those lectures. Elizabeth Pembroke. For my own protection.”

“My reports mentioned another professor.”

“Professor Bellamy. He knows me as Elizabeth, and nothing beyond that.” A sudden realization struck her, and she turned a sharp glare on him. “You really have been stalking me.”

“As my future wife, your safety is of the utmost importance to me. There is very little I wouldn’t do to ensure you remain unharmed.” His tone was more solemn than she had ever heard it.

“You needn’t concern yourself with me. I always have a trained watch officer accompanying me whenever I go there. I assure you, I’m perfectly safe.”

He appreciated that she had taken precautions before undertaking such a dangerous mission, but that did little to ease his concerns. He had no intention of leaving her to face the risks alone. He doubted he would ever find peace of mind unless he knew he had done everything within his power to keep her safe.

“If your suspicions are correct, Cassandra, Whitmore is more than an ill-mannered man with questionable morals. A man who deals in human trafficking is dangerous.”

“I know.”

“Then why put yourself in his path? After the way you escaped him last time, I doubt he would welcome the sight of you again.”

“Because no one else was willing to do anything about him. If I abandon this now, Whitmore wins. He gets to carry on with his vile trade, free to ruin lives and hurt innocent people for profit. I won’t allow that to happen. He will answer for his crimes.” Her voice was firm, every word carrying the weight of her resolve.

“You should have told me.”

“I wasn’t sure you would understand.”

“Understand what?”

“That I couldn’t simply walk away and pretend none of this was happening.”

“I understand that now,” he admitted. “But I also understand that you shouldn’t have to face him alone. If you’re determined to continue investigating Whitmore, then let me help you.”

“You already have enough responsibilities. The last thing I want is to add to your burdens.”

“Cassandra, when I signed that contract, I agreed to be your partner.” His gaze held hers so she could see how serious he was. “Whatever you discover, you tell me. Whatever I discover, I tell you. We win together. We lose together. I will not have you running off into dangerous situations without allowing me the opportunity to help.”

She opened her mouth to argue but shut it just as quickly.

“And if you are right about Whitmore, having a duke involved is more useful for your course.”

She was still trying to decide how to respond when footsteps sounded along the garden path.

Both of them turned in unison.

Eugenia appeared between the hedges with Marissa beside her. Eugenia waved when she spotted them.

“There you are!” She exclaimed.

Eugenia approached, her gaze moving from Cassandra to Draven. “What are you two doing out here?”

“Cassandra had a little too much to drink,” Draven said. “The ballroom was becoming uncomfortable for her, so I brought her outside to get some air.”

Eugenia’s attention immediately returned to Cassandra.

“Are you all right?”

“Yes.” Cassandra answered, giving her a reassuring smile.

“How are you feeling now?” This question came from Merissa.

“Quite fine, thank you.”

“If you two want, we can leave now,” Eugenia said. “It is well past midnight.”

Cassandra blinked.

“It is?”

“Yes. That is why we came searching for you.”

Cassandra glanced toward the house. She hadn’t realized how much time had passed.

The evening seemed to have slipped away without her noticing. One conversation had led into another, then another, until the hours seemed to merge into each other. She had spent so much of the night beside Draven that time itself seemed to have moved differently.

Seamlessly. She had not wanted the evening to end.

“All right,” she said. “We should leave.”

They returned to the ballroom together.

The musicians were still playing, though the energy of the gathering had begun to die down. Some guests had already called it a night and returned home.

They made their way to Lady Waverly, who received their farewells with all the grace and charm expected of a hostess.

Cassandra thanked her for the evening and accepted another round of good wishes. She smiled, nodded, and tried not to think about the fact that in one week she would no longer be attending these gatherings as an unmarried woman.