the Villainess they took for granted

Chapter 156: Chapter 156: Wedding Plans I

By the time Marian’s carriage reached Valmont House, she had already stopped thinking about Adrian.

Not because the conversation had been insignificant.

It hadn’t.

For eighteen years, Adrian had been woven into her life so thoroughly that even speaking to him now carried the weight of everything that had come before.

But she had said what needed to be said.

She had answered him honestly.

And, more importantly, she had walked away knowing that her heart had not changed.

Whatever belonged to the past could remain there.

Marian looked through the carriage window as the gates opened.

She smiled.

She was home.

The carriage stopped.

A footman opened the door.

Marian stepped down, gathering her skirts.

She had barely crossed the entrance hall when the butler approached.

"My lady."

Marian turned.

"Yes?"

"His Grace is waiting for you in the drawing room."

She blinked.

"His Grace?"

"The Duke of Ashford."

For half a second, she simply stared at him.

Then her expression brightened.

"Cassian is here?"

The butler’s mouth twitched.

"Yes, my lady."

Marian didn’t bother hiding her happiness.

She gathered her skirts and walked quickly down the corridor.

The butler watched her go.

He had served the Valmont family long enough to recognize that particular expression.

The young lady had returned in an entirely different mood from the one in which she had left.

She had gone to meet the Crown Prince.

She had returned looking forward to the Duke of Ashford.

The distinction was rather obvious.

Marian reached the drawing-room doors.

She slowed only because she remembered herself.

Only slightly.

Then she opened them.

Cassian was standing beside the tall windows.

He turned at the sound.

For one suspended moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Marian smiled.

Cassian smiled too.

And just like that, whatever remained of the palace disappeared.

She crossed the room.

He moved toward her.

Neither seemed particularly interested in maintaining the appropriate distance between a duke and a newly engaged lady.

Marian reached him first.

She touched his arm.

"I’m back."

Cassian’s smile deepened.

"You are."

She leaned closer.

Then rose onto her toes and kissed his cheek.

His eyes softened.

But Marian noticed something else.

The faint tension that still lingered around them.

The question he hadn’t asked.

The worry he was trying very hard not to show.

She tilted her head.

"What?"

"Nothing."

She narrowed her eyes.

"Cassian."

He sighed.

"What did he say?"

Marian’s lips curved.

"You told me to meet him."

"I did."

"And now you’re worried?"

"A little."

She laughed.

"Jealous?"

"No."

"Not even a little?"

"I wouldn’t call it jealousy."

"What would you call it?"

"Concern."

"Very dignified."

"I am a duke."

"Unfortunately."

He gave her a look.

She laughed again, then slipped her hand into his.

"I told him the truth."

Cassian’s expression softened.

"Which was?"

"That I don’t regret choosing you."

His fingers tightened gently around hers.

"Good."

That was all.

No interrogation.

No demand for details.

Just trust.

Marian smiled.

Something inside her eased.

Marian looked down at their hands.

Then back at him.

"Come."

Cassian raised an eyebrow.

"Where?"

"Sit."

"I thought you liked standing."

She narrowed her eyes.

He smiled.

"Alright."

She pulled him gently toward the sofa.

Cassian allowed himself to be led, sitting beside her.

Marian settled next to him.

Close.

Closer than propriety probably required.

Neither seemed particularly concerned.

For a moment, they simply sat there.

Marian looked at him.

Cassian looked at her.

Then she laughed.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You’re laughing at me."

"I’m not."

"You are."

"I was just thinking."

"About?"

She smiled.

"How strange it is."

"What?"

"That you’re here."

Cassian’s expression softened.

"I’m here."

"I know."

She looked at him again.

"I’ve spent so long wanting you to come back."

"And now I’m here."

"Yes."

She smiled.

"I suppose I should be used to it by now."

"You’ve had me for barely a few days."

"Exactly."

He laughed.

Marian leaned against him.

His arm came around her without hesitation.

For a while, they talked about nothing important.

The ridiculous number of visitors who had appeared at Valmont House.

The flowers that had arrived that morning.

A particularly persistent countess who had somehow managed to ask Marian about the wedding three times in the same conversation.

Cassian laughed when he heard about it.

"Three times?"

"Three."

"Perhaps she thought the answer might change."

"Perhaps."

"What did you tell her?"

"That I didn’t know."

"And now?"

Marian smiled.

"Now I still don’t."

Cassian looked down at her.

"That seems like a problem."

"It might be."

They laughed.

The laughter faded.

Marian’s smile remained.

She looked at him.

Cassian looked back.

Neither spoke for a moment.

He knew exactly what she was doing.

She was waiting.

Not quite asking.

Just leaving the door open.

And suddenly, after five months apart, the question felt almost absurdly simple.

"When do you want to marry me?"

Marian’s eyes widened slightly.

She hadn’t expected him to say it first.

"I..."

Cassian smiled.

"You’ve been wondering."

"Maybe."

"Then I’ll answer."

He took her hand.

"As soon as possible."

Her expression softened.

"Really?"

"Really."

His thumb brushed over her fingers.

"I’ve spent five months away from you."

His voice was quiet.

"I don’t want to spend another five months waiting."

Marian smiled.

"I don’t want that either."

Cassian leaned slightly closer.

"If it were only about what I wanted, now would be the most perfect time."

She laughed softly.

"That sounds dangerously impatient."

"I am impatient."

"I noticed."

He smiled.

"I want to marry you, Marian."

The simple certainty in his voice made her heart flutter.

"Not eventually."

His gaze remained on hers.

"Not someday."

"Then when?"

He squeezed her hand.

"As soon as we can."

Marian’s smile grew.

"Then perhaps we should find out when that is."

"October."

She blinked.

"So quickly?"

"Is that too soon?"

She shook her head.

"No."

A small smile appeared.

"Not at all."

"Then October."

She looked down at the ring.

"October."

Cassian lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles.

"That isn’t far enough away for me."

Marian laughed.

"You really are impatient."

"Only about you."

She looked at him for a moment.

Then smiled.

"Me too."

The words settled quietly between them.

Cassian’s expression softened.

"Then we’re agreed."

Marian nodded.

"October."

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