Chapter 184

Cassandra looked ahead, biting back a smile. "He did save Merissa from a rather unpleasant fall."

"I am aware of what he did."

"And you are displeased with him for doing it?"

"I am displeased that he has managed to make himself look like a hero when he ought to have been on his way out of my estate."

The earnestness with which Draven delivered the complaint made it difficult for Cassandra to hide how amusing she found him. He sounded less like a duke addressing an unwelcome family matter and more like a man indulging in petulant whining.

She gave him a sidelong look. His attention remained on the path ahead, but the set of his mouth betrayed his displeasure. There was an almost boyish indignation in his manner, so at odds with the grave, imposing figure he presented to the rest of the world that Cassandra found it unexpectedly endearing.

"Are you pouting, Your Grace?" She teased. It occurred to her that she was beginning to discover more layers of the man beneath his formidable reputation, a man who could be kind and attentive but also petty and stubborn.

The discovery pleased her more than she wished to examine too closely.

Draven gave her a fleeting glance. "I beg your pardon?"

"You are pouting." Her smile broke through before she could suppress it. "How adorable."

"Adorable is not a word people would ordinarily use to describe me." He groused.

"Perhaps not. Handsome would be more appropriate."

His grievances against Simon momentarily were forgotten as he considered her words.

"So you do consider me handsome." It was more of a statement than a question.

Cassandra immediately regretted giving him such an easy opening. She had meant to tease him, not offer him an admission he could use against her.

Yet the unmistakable interest in his eyes made it difficult to retreat without appearing to concede defeat.

"Not with that attitude, you aren’t." She quipped.

Draven showed no intention of letting her off so easily. "I didn’t know I married a liar."

"Me? A liar?" Cassandra scoffed. "I think not."

"Yes, you are, and a terrible one at that." He smirked. "What would it cost you to admit that you find me attractive?"

Everything, she thought, but she couldn’t bring herself to say it aloud.

"I’m sure your chambers have no shortage of mirrors. You know perfectly well what you look like," she retorted.

"True, but it’s not quite the same as hearing you say it. That would make it twice as delightful."

His gaze proved distracting, and she struggled to keep her attention fixed straight ahead. It still baffled her how he had managed to turn the situation around to the point that he now had the upper hand.

For several minutes, they continued along the path without speaking. The trees grew thicker overhead, their branches filtering the sunlight into scattered patches across the ground. Cassandra found the quiet pleasant. She felt no need to fill it with conversation, and Draven seemed equally content to let their horses determine the pace.

Every so often, she stole a glance at him from the corner of her eye. His profile was just as striking as the rest of him, or at least the parts she had seen. There was still so much of him she had yet to uncover, and the thought brought an unwelcome awareness with it.

As though compelled by that very thought, her gaze travelled down his figure, taking in the breadth of his shoulders and the way he filled out his clothes so nicely.

Cassandra quickly shook her head, determined to rid herself of such unhelpful thoughts. She had only been teasing him a moment ago, yet somehow, she was the one who had ended up flustered.

They continued along the winding path before turning back towards the stables. Cassandra was eager to check on Merissa.

The stable yard was quieter when they arrived.

Draven dismounted first and approached Cassandra’s horse, extending his hand to assist her down.

She placed her gloved hand in his. He steadied her until her feet were firmly on the ground, then released her once he was satisfied she had regained her balance.

"Thank you," she said.

Draven inclined his head before turning towards a stable hand who was waiting nearby. He gave the man instructions concerning the horses, then followed him a short distance towards the stable entrance to ensure the arrangements were made properly.

Cassandra remained near the spot where she had dismounted, smoothing her riding habit and preparing to follow. Something caught her eye, a tiny metallic glint against a small patch of grass.

She might easily have overlooked it. But her curiosity won, drawing her attention downwards.

Bending carefully, she picked up the object between her gloved fingers. It was a slender needle. A dark reddish stain marked the metal near its point. It looked like blood.

Cassandra turned it slightly, trying to make sense of what she was seeing. The needle could have been dropped by a servant or a stable hand.

Looking around, she noticed that this was the spot where Merissa was thrown off her horse.

At the time, Cassandra had been concerned with keeping her own horse under control and ensuring that no one was injured. There had been no opportunity to consider the cause beyond the immediate confusion.

Now, with the needle resting between her fingers, she wondered if there was more to the case.

Cassandra looked towards the stable entrance and heard Draven speaking to the stable hand.

Moments later, footsteps approached her from behind.

Without thinking, she lowered her hand and let the needle fall back onto the ground near the place where she had found it. She straightened and turned towards her husband as he came closer.

"Shall we?" He asked.

She offered him the best smile she could muster. "Of course."

He offered his arm, and she accepted it as they made their way towards the house. Cassandra kept her attention on the path, though her mind remained occupied by the small object she had left behind.

She could have mentioned it to Draven. Ordinarily, she would have but without full confirmation, she would just be spouting out absurd speculations her overactive imagination conjured up.

She spoke up as they approached the entrance.

"Did the stable hand discover what caused the noise?"

"He has spoken with the groundskeeper," Draven replied. "Apparently, the man spotted a fox creeping towards the livestock enclosures near the stables. He fired shots to frighten it away."

"That would explain the sound." She reasoned.

"It would." Draven agreed. "The man says the animal fled. I have instructed the staff to make certain there is no damage to the enclosures and that no one was injured."

Cassandra considered the explanation. It was entirely plausible, and a groundskeeper firing to drive it away was hardly cause for alarm.

"Did anyone else see the fox?" she asked.

"Not that I am aware of. The groundskeeper was the one who spotted it."

There was nothing unusual in that, either.

They entered the house together, and Draven directed her to where Merissa was being attended to.

Draven was content to put the entire matter behind them. Even so, she could not entirely shake the feeling that something about it had escaped her notice.