Ordained

Chapter Fifty-Seven

"I enjoyed tonight." Emmeline smiled, dropping Cassius' hand and walking slightly ahead. She spiralled slightly as she walked, staring at the star studded sky with a smile. With her arms held out at her sides, she half danced as they travelled along the path, the faint music of the manor audible in the distance.

Cassius chuckled at the sight of her, ethereal in the grey flowing fabric of her dress. The gold and silver embroidery glinted in the dim light when she passed by a lantern.

Beautiful.

"Your brother is more..." He began, trying to fish for the right word to sum up the exuberance of Atticus.

Emmeline laughed loudly. "More of a show off than you were expecting? More obnoxious?" Her eyes creased with humour.

Cassius shook his head, humour etched across his face. "More fun than I had expected."

Emmeline nodded. "Oh Atticus definitely knows how to have fun, that's for sure. It was a problem when he was younger. Too much fun." She mocked what Cassius only assumed was supposed to be her father, scrunching up her features into a look of deepest disapproval and wagging her finger at him. Sighing she giggled to herself. "Atticus is the best." She beamed, returning to her slow spinning as they walked.

So busy watching her, Cassius didn't see the stick in his path before he tripped over it. Stumbling he almost fell but Emmeline rushed to steady him, her tiny frame grabbing him around the middle suddenly. It didn't really do much to help keep him upright but he didn't mind in the slightest as he looked down at the trembling frame below him. "You're cold." He accused, seeing the fine goosebumps across her skin now that they were so close.

Emmeline shrugged, but threw her hands up to protect her hair as he began to remove his jacket. "Don't drop it on me." She complained, tensed with her eyes closed waiting for him to dump it on her as he had by the lake weeks ago.

Emmeline untensed suddenly when he placed it gently around her shoulders, looking up at him in surprise before smiling at the floor and tucking her arms into the sleeves.

"Would I do that to you?" He teased.

Emmeline gave him a suspicious look. "Yes, you would." She grumbled, wrapping the too big jacket around her more tightly. She looked adorable.

Cassius gestured for her to give him her arm, rolling up the sleeve for her whilst she watched him mutely. The air felt suddenly tense, not uncomfortable but more... expectant.

Blue eyes met blue as they glanced up at each other at the same time. The seconds stretched, Cassius's hand no longer rolling up the fabric but simply holding her sleeve.

Clearing her throat Emmeline pulled a little away but was stopped by a gentle tug on her sleeve. Cassius returned his attention to his task with a grin, folding up the fabric till her hands were visible.

They walked in step till they approached the front of the manor, lines of carriages were waiting for them, the drivers chatting merrily to one another as they waited for their employers to appear. Several great fire pits had been erected outside, people gathered around them as they waited for their transport to arrive, or else just taking advantage of the warmth as they said their extended goodbyes.

"Wait here for me." He breathed against her ear before loping away. Emmeline nodded to his turned back, watching him as he disappeared off towards the carriages. She had no idea what Emily's carriage looked like, the one she had used before her marriage having been returned to her family once this new one had been delivered.

Sighing a little she wrapped her arms around herself, Cassius' jacket smelt divine. Hoping it didn't look too weird, but too tipsy to restrain herself, she sniffed the collar. His cologne was rich and spicy, and she dipped her shoulders a little to let the too big jacket rise up closer to her ears, revelling in the sensation of having his scent all around her.

The sounds of amusement pulled her from her own thoughts. Straightening up she followed the pointed fingers to see a man hanging off the edge of a moving carriage. As they moved closer into the light of the fires, Emmeline saw Cassius holding onto the edge of the carriage with one hand, his muscled arm tensed as he swung easily. As it slowed to a halt he jumped off dramatically, dropping into an elaborate bow for her that caused a light smattering of applause from onlookers.

"Your carriage, my lady!" He declared to the floor, still bowing flamboyantly.

Emmeline tipped her head back to laugh, holding her stomach as he looked up at her boyishly. A sober Emmeline would have found this extremely foolish, dangerous even, but a tipsy Emmline found it very funny.

Cassius snapped to attention, holding the door open for her. "Allow me to assist you, your grace." He offered, like the world's best coachman.

Tumbling into the carriage, because one could hardly call their uncoordinated movement anything else, Emmeline and Cassius deposited themselves unceremoniously into the Baroness' personal carriage. If Emmeline had been sober she would have admired the pale pink interior, the elaborately decorated sides that displayed tiny painted birds and woodland fauna. None of this was noticed by either occupant as Cassius banged a fist against the ceiling and shouted garbled instructions for the driver to head to Marcellus Manor.

Emmeline giggled as the carriage bumped along, the alcohol making her unstable. Cassius's hair was messy now, pushing it back from his face he grinned widely at her as she struggled to sit up properly on the seat.

"Well, you said we should just enjoy ourselves and worry about the other stuff later ." She chuckled a little breathlessly.

"And we did." He agreed.

"We did." She breathed. Free from the usual inhibitions that held her back Emmeline's eyes roved freely over her ordained pair, the scent of his cologne still in her nose as his jacket swamped her small frame. Cassius' expression shifted as he noticed her staring.

"Emmie." He purred, half a warning, half an invitation.

"Cassius I-" But whatever she was going to say was cut short by a harsh bump in the road. Emmeline was pitched forwards, being caught by a strong pair of arms before she could hit the floor.

There was a long second where they looked at once another, his strong straight nose mere centimetres from her own. Her eyes fluttered from his lips to the intense blue of his eyes for the briefest second before he closed the space between them.

Bundling her desperately up into his arms he pulled her bodily onto his lap, crushing his lips to hers she grabbed him with equal fervour.

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Author's Note:

Talk about a slow burn, an I right? Only took us 57 chapters to get this far. 

I'd say I'm sorry it took so long, but I'm not.

Vote, comment, share. Let me know your thoughts.

Sophie x