Chapter 159: Chapter 159: wedding plans III
"Invitations?"
Marian nodded.
"Invitations."
She picked up the pen.
Then stopped.
Her eyes remained on the blank page.
"Wait."
Cassian looked at her.
"What?"
"We can’t send them yet."
"Why not?"
"Because we haven’t actually secured the venue."
He glanced toward the paper.
"We decided on the cathedral."
"We did."
"But we haven’t reserved it."
Marian nodded.
"The first Saturday of October could already be taken."
Cassian looked toward the clock.
It wasn’t late.
Not even close.
He looked back at her.
"Then let’s go."
Marian blinked.
"Tomorrow."
"Why tomorrow?"
She stared at him.
"Because it’s already afternoon."
"It’s three."
"Exactly."
"The cathedral is still open."
She hesitated.
Cassian’s mouth curved.
"Let’s go now."
"Now?"
"Now."
Marian laughed.
"You really are impatient."
"I’ve been waiting five months."
"That isn’t an answer."
"It is to me."
He stood.
Then offered her his hand.
"Come."
Marian looked at his hand.
Then at him.
A smile slowly appeared.
"All right."
She placed her hand in his.
"Now."
--
They arrived at the cathedral less than an hour later. Thankfully, it was quieter than Marian expected.
They had deliberately avoided bringing a large retinue. A few attendants followed behind them, but there was no procession, no herald, no announcement.
It should have been an ordinary visit.
It wasn’t.
The moment they stepped through the doors, several heads turned.
A priest speaking with one of the cathedral servants stopped mid-sentence.
Two ladies seated near one of the pillars exchanged a quick glance.
Someone whispered.
Marian heard her own name.
Then Cassian’s.
She pretended not to notice.
Cassian apparently did the same.
Neither succeeded particularly well.
After all, they were not difficult people to recognize.
Lady Marian Valmont.
The daughter of one of the Empire’s most powerful dukes.
The former Crown Princess-to-be.
The engagement whose dissolution had occupied the capital for months.
And beside her—
His Grace, Duke Cassian Ashford.
The Emperor’s nephew.
The man who had returned after five months away and, within days, had proposed to her.
Together.
Holding hands.
The gossip practically wrote itself.
Marian glanced sideways at Cassian.
"Everyone is staring."
"I noticed."
"Are you uncomfortable?"
"No."
"Why not?"
He looked at her.
"Because I’m with you."
Her cheeks warmed.
She looked forward again.
They reached the cathedral office.
A senior cathedral official looked up.
His eyes moved from Marian to Cassian.
Then back again.
For one brief moment, he simply stared.
Recognition arrived.
So did surprise.
He stood quickly.
"Lady Valmont."
Then he looked at Cassian.
"Your Grace."
Cassian inclined his head.
"Good afternoon."
"Good afternoon."
The official’s gaze flickered once more between them.
He seemed to realize that whatever questions he might have had were none of his business.
Professional composure returned.
"How may I assist you?"
Cassian answered.
"We would like to inquire about reserving the cathedral for a wedding."
The official paused.
"A wedding?"
Marian could almost see the realization forming.
"Yes," Cassian said.
The official recovered.
"Of course."
He reached for the cathedral calendar.
"May I ask the proposed date?"
"The first Saturday of October."
The official opened the calendar.
His finger moved down the page.
Marian watched him.
The official paused.
Then looked up.
"The first Saturday of October... Eighth of October... yes, it is available."
Marian’s shoulders relaxed.
Cassian’s hand tightened gently around hers.
"Then we’d like to reserve it."
"Of course."
The official began making notes.
"May I ask whose wedding this will be?"
Marian almost laughed.
The question was so formal that it sounded absurd.
Cassian, however, answered without hesitation.
"Mine."
A brief silence.
Then:
"His Grace, Duke Cassian Ashford, and Lady Marian Valmont?"
"Yes."
The official’s expression softened into something approaching a smile.
"Congratulations."
Marian smiled.
"Thank you."
The official turned another page.
"There are several formalities that will need to be completed before the ceremony."
"Of course," Cassian said.
"Most importantly, the banns."
Marian nodded.
She had expected that.
The three public proclamations were not optional.
The cathedral would announce their intention to marry on three separate occasions before the wedding.
Three opportunities for anyone with legitimate grounds to object.
Three public confirmations that this was not merely an arrangement being conducted behind closed doors.
"When can they begin?" Marian asked.
The official looked at the calendar.
"We can arrange the first proclamation for this Sunday."
Cassian nodded.
"And the others?"
"On the following Sundays."
Marian calculated silently.
That would give them three public announcements well before October.
Perfect.
"And once the banns are completed?" she asked.
"The marriage may proceed provided all other requirements have been satisfied."
The official paused.
"Of course, Your Grace, there will also be the formal documentation, the family declarations, and the arrangements concerning the ceremony."
Cassian nodded.
"We’ll provide whatever is required."
Marianne looked at Cassian.
He was smiling.
She smiled back.
"Our date."
"Our date."
For a moment, neither said anything.
The official politely looked down at his papers.
Marian suspected he had already heard enough gossip about them to know when to give two people a moment.
Eventually, he cleared his throat.
"Your Grace, My Lady, if there is nothing else—"
"Nothing else for today," Cassian said.
The official bowed.
"Then congratulations again."
Marian thanked him.
They turned toward the doors.
Marian couldn’t help smiling.
The date was reserved.
The first bann would be announced on Sunday.
Marian looked at Cassian.
"That’s it?"
"For today."
She smiled.
They had come to secure a date.
They had left with something much more tangible.
A wedding was actually being arranged.
As they stepped out of the cathedral, Marian noticed the glances immediately.
A pair of ladies near the entrance whispered behind their hands.
Someone else turned to look at them.
Marian almost laughed.
"They’re already talking."
Cassian glanced toward the small gathering.
"Let them."
"We haven’t even done anything."
"We reserved our wedding."
He looked down at her hand.
"I think that’s enough."
Marian smiled.
And by the time their carriage disappeared down the street, the capital had already begun to talk.
Lady Marian Valmont and His Grace, Duke Cassian Ashford, had been seen at the cathedral together.
The wedding was no longer merely an engagement everyone knew about.
It had a date.
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