the Villainess they took for granted

Chapter 160: Chapter 160: wedding plans IV

The carriage rolled through the capital beneath the warm light of the summer evening.

Marian sat beside Cassian, their hands joined loosely between them.

For a while, neither spoke.

There was simply too much happiness between them to put into words.

They had a date.

A cathedral.

A wedding that was no longer some distant possibility.

October.

Marian looked out the window, watching the familiar streets pass by.

Then she turned toward him.

"We’re really getting married."

Cassian smiled.

"We are."

She laughed softly.

"It still feels strange."

"Does it?"

"A little."

He looked at her.

"Does it feel wrong?"

"No."

Her smile immediately returned.

"Not even slightly."

Cassian’s expression softened.

"Good."

Marian rested her head against his shoulder.

"I think I’m still getting used to it."

"Take your time."

She looked up.

"We have less than three months."

"That isn’t much time."

She laughed.

"You’re the one who chose October."

"I know."

"And now you’re worried?"

"I’m not worried."

"You look worried."

"I’m thinking."

"About?"

Cassian looked at her.

"How quickly I can get through the next three months."

Marian laughed.

"You really are impatient."

"Only about one thing."

She knew exactly what he meant.

Her cheeks warmed.

Fortunately, the carriage turned onto another street before she had to answer.

After a moment, Marian smiled.

"We should have dinner."

"Yes."

"Before you take me home."

Cassian’s arm slipped around her.

"Agreed."

--

Dinner was quiet.

The restaurant was one of the few places in the capital where they could sit without an entire room pretending not to watch them.

They ate slowly.

Talked about nothing important.

Laughed about things neither of them would remember the next morning.

It was only after the main course had been cleared that Marian looked at Cassian thoughtfully.

Marian rested her elbow against the table, thinking through everything they had already settled.

"The cathedral is done."

Cassian nodded.

"The date is done."

"First Saturday of October."

She smiled.

"And now we need to settle the reception venue."

Cassian leaned back slightly.

"Yes."

Marian picked up her pen.

"We have several possibilities."

"More than several."

She looked at him.

"You’re right."

They both knew the capital well enough to understand the problem.

There were too many choices.

They could use a Valmont property.

Or an Ashford one.

Both had the space.

Both were beautiful.

Neither, however, was what she wanted.

"I don’t think I want to use either of our family properties."

Cassian nodded immediately.

"Neither do I."

Marian looked at him.

"You agree?"

"I’d rather have somewhere that belongs to neither of us."

She smiled.

"Why?"

"Because this is our wedding."

The answer was simple.

Neither of them needed their family names to dominate the occasion.

They already carried those names everywhere they went.

Marian looked back at her paper.

"Then the palace is out too."

Cassian was quiet for a moment.

"Yes."

She didn’t need to explain.

The palace would have been the obvious choice if she had married Adrian.

The thought belonged to another life.

She drew a neat line through it.

"Good."

"Good."

Marian tapped her pen against the page.

"Then we need the neutral venues."

"There are several."

"How many?"

Cassian thought.

"At least five worth seeing."

Marian looked up.

"Five?"

"The Grand Ducal Estate on the western side of the capital."

"That’s the one with the gardens?"

"Yes."

"And the enormous ballroom?"

"That one."

She made a note.

"Second?"

"The old Beaumont residence."

"That’s beautiful."

"And has an indoor gallery connecting the ballroom to the gardens."

"Useful."

"Especially in October."

Marian nodded.

"Third?"

"The Armand Hall."

"The one used for diplomatic receptions?"

"Yes."

"Very grand."

"Very."

She wrote it down.

"Fourth?"

"The Saint-Clair Estate."

Marian’s eyes brightened.

"I’ve heard the gardens are extraordinary."

"They are."

"And the ballroom?"

"Large enough."

"Good."

"Fifth is the Montreuil House."

Marian paused.

"The one with the glass conservatory?"

"Yes."

She smiled.

"That could be beautiful."

"It could."

She looked at the list.

Five.

Five genuinely beautiful possibilities.

All neutral.

All capable of hosting the kind of wedding they were planning.

"We’ll see all five."

Cassian nodded.

"All five."

"And then we’ll decide."

"Together."

Marian smiled.

"Good."

She glanced down at the list again.

"I want somewhere beautiful."

"So do I."

She looked at him.

"I thought you didn’t care much about the venue."

"I care about the venue."

"Really?"

"Of course."

He leaned back slightly.

"I want you to walk into it and love it."

Her expression softened.

"That’s a very high standard."

"It should be."

Marian smiled.

"And if we can’t find one?"

"We keep looking."

"Until?"

"Until you find the one."

She laughed softly.

"You make it sound as though we’re choosing a wedding dress."

"Perhaps the venue is important enough to deserve the same treatment."

Marian considered that.

Then nodded.

"I think you’re right."

Cassian glanced at the list.

Marian smiled.

"Then tomorrow we inspect all five."

Cassian nodded.

"All five."

"And after that, we decide."

"Together."

She looked down at the list one last time.

Five possibilities.

One wedding.

And tomorrow, they would begin finding the place where they would celebrate it.

--

The carriage ride back was quieter.

The city had darkened around them, though the summer sky still held the last traces of light.

Marian sat close beside Cassian.

His arm rested around her.

She looked out the window for a while.

Then, almost casually, she asked,

"Where do you think we’ll live?"

Cassian looked down at her.

"After the wedding?"

"Yes."

He considered it.

"Ashford."

Marian smiled.

"I’ve never even been there."

"I know."

"I’ll have to see it."

"You will."

"And then I’ll have to get used to everything."

"Perhaps."

She looked at him.

"Would you change anything?"

"About Ashford?"

"About where we live."

Cassian thought for a moment.

"No."

Then he smiled.

"I’ll just make sure you have everything you need."

Marian leaned against him.

"And if I want something ridiculous?"

"I’ll consider it."

"Consider?"

"Then probably give it to you."

She laughed.

"You’re too indulgent."

"Perhaps."

A few moments passed.

Then Marian’s thoughts wandered somewhere else.

"How many children do you want?"

Cassian went silent.

Marian immediately looked up.

"What?"

He was thinking.

Very seriously.

She narrowed her eyes.

"Why are you taking so long?"

"I’m considering the question."

"How difficult can it be?"

"More difficult than you think."

She waited.

Cassian’s mouth curved slightly.

"I suppose I’d like..."

He paused again.

Marian watched him.

"Two?"

"Maybe three."

She smiled.

"Three?"

"If you want."

"I don’t know."

"Then we’ll decide together."

Marian nodded.

Then, after a moment, she asked,

"And what if we have more?"

Cassian looked at her.

A distinctly mischievous light flickered in his dark eyes.

"Then we will simply have more."

Marian opened her mouth to reply, but the heat in his gaze made the words catch in her throat. Her face flushed a sudden, brilliant pink. "Oh."

"I see you’ve caught up," Cassian murmured, his voice dropping an octave.

"You’re impossible. You didn’t even say anything!"

"I didn’t have to."

She hid her face against the lapel of his coat, feeling the low vibration of his chest as he laughed. But as the carriage rocked rhythmically beneath them, she lifted her head back up, her eyes bright.

"You know... I don’t think I’m very good at waiting either."

The humor vanished from Cassian’s face instantly. His breath hitched. "Marian. Don’t say things like that unless you mean them."

"Perhaps I do."

Cassian didn’t give her a chance to retract it.

He leaned in, his hand sliding behind her neck, his fingers threading into the soft hair at the nape of her neck to draw her flush against him.

What began as a soft, lingering pressure dissolved the second her hands tangled into his coat. Cassian parted her lips with a low growl, pulling her body flush against his chest. The kiss deepened—demanding, heavy, and intoxicating.

His thumb pressed firmly against her jawline, tilting her face higher as he drank her in, erasing every inch of space between them until her lungs burned and her pulse thrummed wildly in her ears.

When he finally pulled back, both of them were breathless.

The carriage lurched to a slow halt. Outside, the grand iron gates of Valmont House gleamed under the gas lamps.

Marian let out a small, breathless sigh. "Already?"

Neither moved. The footman knocked once on the exterior, but they paid it no mind.

Marian looked up at his darkened eyes, her heart hammering against her ribs. "Come inside."

Cassian closed his eyes for a brief, agonizing second, tightening his jaw. "You’re testing me."

"You could stay," she whispered, leaning closer until her lips brushed the corner of his jaw.

Cassian let out a rough, gravelly breath, his hand tightening almost painfully on her waist before he forced himself to release her. "If I step over that threshold tonight, Marian, I am not leaving. And we both know it."

Her skin tingled at the dark promise in his voice.

He leaned down, pressing a hard, reverent kiss to her forehead, then her cheek, before finally pulling away with visible effort. "October is less than three months away. I can exercise restraint until then."

"You’re terribly disciplined," she murmured, a wicked little smile touching her lips.

"Don’t push it," he warned, though his eyes softened. "Tomorrow."

"Tomorrow."

Marian stepped out into the cool night air, pausing at the threshold of her home to look back.

Cassian remained at the carriage window, his gaze following her.

"Goodnight, Cassian."

"Goodnight, Marian."

She smiled.

Then she disappeared through the doors.

Tomorrow, they would spend the day looking at ballrooms, gardens, galleries, and estates.

They would discuss flowers.

They would consider decorations.

They would probably change their minds several times.

And somehow, he already knew he would enjoy every moment of it.

Because this time, there was no uncertainty.

They were planning their wedding.

Together.

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