Chapter 167: Of Duties and Parting

Chapter 167: Chapter 167: Of Duties and Parting

The envelope was waiting when they stepped out of the fitting room.

Cassian noticed it immediately.

His secretary rose from his seat.

"Your Grace."

Cassian held out his hand.

The secretary placed the letter in it.

Marian watched the exchange.

She already knew what the seal meant.

Ashford.

Cassian broke it open as they walked toward the carriage.

He read the first few lines.

Then stopped.

Marian’s expression changed.

"What?"

Cassian folded the letter.

"Nothing."

She gave him a look.

"Cassian."

He sighed.

"It’s from Ashford."

"I know."

"They’ve sent another report."

"Another?"

He nodded.

"This time, it’s urgent."

Marian’s smile disappeared.

They had been hearing about the northern situation for days.

At first, it had been reports.

Then a review.

Then a request for him to return.

He had delayed.

There had always been another wedding appointment.

Another fitting.

Another decision that needed his attention.

And, if Marian was being honest, neither of them had wanted to acknowledge what the correspondence might eventually require.

She looked at him.

"What do they need?"

"They want me in Ashford."

"Now?"

"Yes."

Her fingers tightened around her notebook.

"For how long?"

Cassian looked back at the letter.

"They haven’t given me an exact duration."

Marian stared at him.

"Then how are you supposed to know when you’ll return?"

"I’ll know more once I get there."

She looked away.

The carriage had already stopped.

Neither moved toward it.

"How long does it take?"

"To Ashford?"

She nodded.

"About two weeks."

"And back?"

"About the same."

Marian did the calculation immediately.

Four weeks.

Her eyes widened.

"Cassian."

"I know."

"We have less than two months."

"I know."

"The wedding is in—"

"I know, Marian."

His voice was gentle.

She stopped.

He stepped closer.

"I know."

She looked down.

The dress.

The invitations.

The flowers.

The reception.

The fittings.

Everything they had spent the past weeks arranging suddenly seemed frighteningly fragile.

"What will you even do there for two weeks?"

"Whatever is necessary."

"But what is necessary?"

"I don’t know yet."

She looked up at him.

"That’s what worries me."

Cassian reached for her hand.

"I’ll come back."

"You don’t know that."

"I do."

"How?"

"Because I’m marrying you in October."

The certainty in his voice made her chest tighten.

He lifted her hand.

"I have no intention of missing it."

Marian swallowed.

"But what if they keep you there?"

"They won’t."

"What if something happens?"

"I’ll deal with it."

"What if—"

"Marian."

She stopped.

Cassian’s thumb brushed over her fingers.

"Trust me."

She looked at him for a long moment.

"I do."

"Then trust me with this too."

She exhaled slowly.

"I don’t like it."

"I know."

"I really don’t like it."

"I know that too."

She frowned.

"You sound very calm."

"I’m not."

That surprised her.

Cassian looked toward the carriage.

"I don’t want to leave."

The admission was quiet.

"But I have to."

Marian’s expression softened.

She knew.

That was the worst part.

She knew exactly why he had to go.

Ashford was not simply his title.

It was his duchy.

His people.

His responsibility.

Whatever had happened in the north, he could not remain in the capital simply because he was preparing for his wedding.

Especially not when the reports had become serious enough for the administration to demand his presence.

She sighed.

"I suppose this is where I’m supposed to be sensible."

Cassian smiled faintly.

"You don’t have to be."

"I want to be."

She looked at him.

"That doesn’t mean I have to like it."

"No."

"Because I don’t."

He laughed softly.

"I noticed."

Marian folded her arms.

"You could at least pretend to be sorry."

"I am."

"More."

"Very sorry."

She narrowed her eyes.

"Not convincing."

He stepped closer.

"I am deeply sorry that I have to leave you for a few weeks."

"Better."

"And I promise to return."

"Before the wedding."

"Long before the wedding."

She hesitated.

"How long?"

Cassian thought.

"I’ll leave tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?"

He nodded.

"If I leave early, I can reach Ashford as quickly as possible."

Marian looked at him.

"Then you’ll be gone for at least four weeks."

"Perhaps."

She sighed.

"I hate this."

"I know."

She looked at the carriage.

Then at him.

"Are you going to spend the entire journey thinking about Ashford?"

"No."

"Good."

"I’ll be thinking about you."

Her expression softened.

"That’s better."

He smiled.

"I’ll write as soon as I get there."

"You’d better."

"Then, every day if you want."

"I do."

"Then every day."

She smiled faintly.

"And I’ll send you updates."

"About the wedding?"

"Everything."

"Even the flowers?"

"Especially the flowers."

That made her laugh.

"And the dress?"

"Of course."

"You’ll miss the next fitting."

"I know."

"I’ll send you the drawings."

"I’ll look at them."

"Even if you don’t understand them?"

"Especially then."

She laughed again.

For a moment, the heaviness lifted.

Then Marian’s eyes fell to the letter in his hand.

The smile faded.

"Cassian."

"Yes?"

"Come back."

He looked at her.

There was no teasing in her voice now.

No spoiled complaint.

Just a quiet request.

"I will."

He stepped closer and drew her into his arms.

Marian rested her cheek against his chest.

She had spent so much of her life being taught how to behave properly.

How to remain composed.

How to accept duties without complaint.

How to smile through difficult circumstances.

But none of that made this easier.

She didn’t want to be reasonable.

She didn’t want to send him away.

She wanted him beside her.

She wanted him at the fittings.

At the flower appointments.

At the tastings.

She wanted to wake each morning knowing he was in the capital.

And, most selfishly of all, she wanted these last weeks before their wedding to belong to them.

Cassian held her more tightly.

"I’ll be back before you know it."

"That’s what people say when they’re leaving."

"I’m not leaving you."

She lifted her head.

"I’m leaving the capital."

His eyes softened.

"Not you."

Marian looked at him.

Then she smiled.

"Fine."

"Fine?"

She sighed dramatically.

"Go do your duty."

Cassian smiled.

"You make it sound terrible."

"It is terrible."

"Very well."

She stepped back.

"But I’m still angry."

"I expected that."

"And when you return, you owe me."

"How much?"

She considered.

"A lot."

He smiled.

"I’ll pay it."

"Good."

He leaned down and kissed her forehead.

Then her cheek.

Then her lips.

The kiss was gentle.

Nothing like the desperate ones they had shared in the carriage.

This one lingered.

A promise rather than a temptation.

When they parted, Marian looked at him.

"Tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow."

"I’ll see you before you leave."

"Of course."

"And you’re not leaving without saying goodbye properly."

"Never."

She nodded.

Then finally stepped toward the carriage.

Cassian watched her.

She turned once before climbing inside.

He was still standing there.

Still holding the letter.

Still looking at her.

Marian gave him a small smile.

"Come back to me."

His expression softened.

"Always."

The carriage door closed.

And as it began to move, Marian remained by the window, watching him until the last possible moment.

Only when he disappeared from view did she look down at her wedding notebook.

The next appointment was already written there.

The final fitting.

Flowers.

Reception arrangements.

Invitations.

So much remained to be done.

And now, for the first time since they had begun planning, she would have to do some of it without him.

Marian rested her hand over the page.

October was still coming.

The wedding was still happening.

She would make sure of it.

And Cassian—

he had better come home.