Ordained

Chapter Fifty-Five

They danced until they were breathless. Cassius enjoyed pushing her abilities, seeing if she could keep up and beaming when she effortlessly did. Emmeline too was enjoying the feeling of showing off, not to the room of people inevitably watching, but to the man who was captivating her attention so entirely. She liked impressing him. They smiled wordlessly at each other over and over as they danced song after song.

Emily leapt on Emmeline at the end of their fifth song, snagging her arms around Emmeline's waist and knocking Cassius' hand out of place. "Come." She said to them both, her cheeks pink from dancing and cocktails.

Emily had had a signature drink made for the evening, a pink concoction that smelt of berries and tasted heavenly. A full glass of it had been almost permanently in her hand all evening and as the baroness was clearly tipsy as she collected up her closest friends and led the way to a table at the edge of the floor.

Cassius walked in step with Emmeline, touching the back of her hand with his fingertips. It wasn't quite the same as holding her hand, but it was close.

Emmelin's friends were joined by others, who were either friends, or hoping to gain access to the hostess, the head of the royal guard, and the king's nephew. They quickly formed a merry band of people, talking and laughing loudly. Cassius quickly found that he and Issac, Lavender's husband, got on famously. Emmeline and Lavender looked pleased as they talked in detail about the latest training regimes Issac was implementing with the royal regiments.

A harsh tap on his shoulder pulled him abruptly from his conversation. He and Issac were discussing the aggression from Listillian forces, a lively debate about theories and potential implications that he didn't appreciate being interrupted.

"Cassius" Carmen's voice, whilst soft, was strangely good at cutting across the music of the room. "Come."

The table jumped to their feet to greet her, bowing and showing the required respect. He wished they wouldn't. At times it was helpful to be the heir to Marcellia, at other times he hated how it set him apart.

Looking over his shoulder, Cassius remained seated as he addressed his mother. "Is it urgent? Lord Carul and I are having a conversation." He drawled, unwilling to be seen to come obediently the very second his mother called.

Carmen's microexpression of frustration was fleeting but not so fleeting that her son missed it. "I have someone I wish to introduce you to. I am sure these new friends of yours will still be here when you return."

Emmeline was watching, her eyes flicking nervously from Cassius to Carmen and back. Cassius knew what she was thinking, his mother's threat in the carriage not having fallen on deaf ears with Emmeline.

Sighing, he rose to his feet. He wouldn't spoil Emmeline's fun by arguing with his mother in front of her friends; he wouldn't embarrass her like that.

"Of course." He exhaled, not bothering to hide his disappointment. "Forgive me Isaac."

Isaac simply nodded his understanding. Emmeline's brow was pinched as she watched him get up to go. "I'll be back shortly." He told her across the table. It might have looked like he was addressing the table, but his words were only for her. She met his gaze for the briefest second and he winked, making her smile a little though the anxiety was still in her eyes.

Following his mother out of the ballroom he felt his irritation slowly creeping through the happy haze that had been colouring his vision up to that point. "Mother, who do I need to meet so urgently that it couldn't wait?"

Carmen gave him a sharp look and he lapsed into grumbled silence.

"While you have been busy drinking, I have been busy finding you a potential wife." She quipped angrily.