Last Chance [Extra #2]

Part 20

While Celosia was unperturbed by the prospect of meeting someone like the Grand Duke, Cassian was a nervous wreck. He could hardly stay still as his maids helped him dress up and his butler continued to playfully tease him about marriage.

He'd only just invited the lady for dinner, how could the man already plan their future?

It was too early for that.

After spending hours on making himself presentable - dressed up from head to toe like he was attending a royal ball and not a dinner with the daughter of a count, Cassian was finally ready to meet the only person he'd been thinking about lately.

The butler was the first to greet young Lady Heroux when she entered the grand foyer, while Cassian stood completely frozen in shock. He could tell she was a beautiful woman back at the tavern, but seeing her in person exceeded his expectations. Her midnight black hair was so strikingly beautiful he couldn't take his eyes off it, and when those golden eyes of hers that scrutinized everything around her eventually landed on him, he forgot how to breathe. Never before had he met a woman who'd be brave enough to look him dead in the eye without flinching.

"Welcome, dear Lady Heroux," he greeted politely once he got over his shock, knowing that the lady couldn't say anything unless he spoke first. It was known to be a matter of manners, although Cassian found it illogical.

"I greet Your Grace the Grand Duke," Celosia curtsied elegantly, completely ignoring how the Duke said 'dear lady' instead of just 'lady'. Perhaps it was just his manner of speech.

The Duke offered his arm to the lady and led her to the drawing room, where they were supposed to talk. Celosia once again marveled at the decor and didn't hide her admiration for all the hard work that was put into the place. Cassian found it cute and shamelessly smiled at the lady until she caught him.

"You live in a beautiful place, Your Grace," Celosia commented when she noticed Cassian looking at her.

The man immediately thought, 'you can live here too if you want,' but stopped himself from saying it out loud. First, he needed to speak to the lady before coming forward with his proposition.

"Thank you, Lady Heroux. And please, call me comfortably. Cassian."

Celosia hesitated then smiled. "Cassian. Then I would be honored if you called me Ellie," she deliberately didn't say 'Elena', not wanting to be called by a name that was not her own. It was one thing with the girl's family, but this was an entirely different setting and she didn't like being associated with someone else.

"Ellie," Cassian smiled, "If you'd like, I can show you around the palace later, but first, I'd like to speak with you about something."

"Of course."

Joined by the butler, Stefan, the two of them sat down, patiently waited for the maids to bring their tea and refreshments, then once they were gone, Cassian began. "Do you maybe remember going to a tavern a couple of days ago?"

"Yes, I do."

"I was there as well," Cassian revealed, earning a slight quirk of the lady's brow as she acknowledged that fact. "I happened to hear you talk to the owner's son about the rumors that surround me," he paused for a moment to check Ellie's reaction, only to see her calmly waiting for him to continue.

'The lady is truly admirable for keeping calm in front of the Young Master,' the butler thought as he watched the two of them, then glanced unsurely at Cassian, who was unusually quiet.

"If my words have offended you in any way, I will apologize. However, I don't believe that what I've said is wrong. The rumors surrounding you are vicious enough to be suspicious. Although, what I shared that day with Edgar and Rufer was simply my speculation."