"He's a good man!" Cassandra flared, folding her arms against her chest as she glared at the other occupants in the room.

"Cassandra, you can't mean that." Ethan said gently as though he were trying to calm her down which only proved to enrage her more. "He's the most feared man in England."

"And your father was the biggest bastard in all England, but did that stop you from giving him a second chance?" She snapped. "Honestly, you haven't even talked to him yet, and I really won't care when you do. I don't need your permission to 'mean' something." She narrowed her eyes fiercely. "And when I say he's a good man, I mean it in every sense of the word. I mean I'm going to marry him."

Charles groaned, putting his head in his hands, and Ethan threw his hands up in the air. A heavily pregnant Lavinia looked at her with big, concerned eyes. Her father remained silent.

"Cassie," Lavinia said. "You've been through a lot. Why don't you give this a few days to calm down?"

"You're right, Livy. I have been through a lot, but I wouldn't have come out on the other side if it wasn't for Nickolas, and I don't care what he was. I know who he is." Cassandra's voice turned almost pleading as though she could make her sister understand.

They hadn't let her argue yesterday, because she'd needed rest. They'd sent Nickolas away and sent her to her room to rest. The plan had been to discuss it today—or that's what they'd told her. She knew they'd been hoping to put her off.

The whole situation seemed to unnerve them. At some point during her disappearance, they'd gotten a note explaining that 'Graham McRoberts' was not who he'd said he was. It had gone on to inform them that if they didn't find her, her body would probably be found in a ditch somewhere, because he was the most notorious killer in the land.

"You also would never have been in danger if it hadn't been for him. Besides, you can't let gratitude guide you. Yes, he's done a lot for you, but it's not enough to throw your life away for him!" Charles was exasperated. "He's an animal!"

Cassandra got quickly to her feet. "He never wanted to put me in danger. All he ever wanted to do was make sure I was safe. He didn't care what happened to him. I'm not just grateful, Charles. I'm in love with him."

Charles and Ethan stood up, too, looks of confusion and something close to outrage on their faces. "You—"

"That's enough." Ezra Antrucha got slowly to his feet as well, looking around the room at the occupants. He looked the longest at Cassandra, his gaze steady and searching. "We all need to calm down."

"Please, Father." Cassandra closed the distance between the two of them and took his hands in hers. "He'll be here soon, and you have to listen to him. It's vital!"

Ezra opened his mouth just as a footman opened the door. Every eye in the room went to the uniformed man, and the tension was almost palpable.

"Lord Fergus, there's a man at the door who says he must speak with Lord Antrucha. Urgently." The young man looked almost uncertain.

"Insolent—" Charles began.

"Please, see him to the study." Ezra interrupted.

The footman nodded and slipped out of the room. Cassandra had no doubt that her reappearance was providing entertainment to the servants' lives. No doubt, it would be much discussed over the next several days.

"The rest of you, I'm sure there are things you needs to see to. I'll take care of this." He turned to the door. "Cassandra, come with me."

There was no room for objection in his voice, and Cassandra followed him without a word. It had been a long time since she felt like a child who needed scolding, but that's how she'd felt the whole day. For some reason, they didn't seem to trust her anymore.

"Did you mean what you said in there?" Ezra turned to face her. "Do you love him?"

"Yes." Was all she could say.

Ezra combed a hand through his hair. "Has he asked you to marry him?"

"Not in so many words." She whet her lips. "It was sort of a mutual agreeing that that's what we wanted. He wanted to ask you about it." She felt so small under her father's scrutiny, and though she had missed being with him, the feeling was entirely unwelcome.

Ezra nodded. "Don't go too far. I want to talk to you next." And he disappeared into the study.

Finding a chair, Cassandra sat down to wait. And wait. And wait. Occasionally, she heard movement from within the study, but she couldn't hear what was going on.

After the first hour, she couldn't take it anymore and began to pace the hall, chewing her lip. What if her father didn't approve of the match? Ethan and Lavinia certainly didn't. Was she prepared to turn her back on her family for Nickolas? Or would they have to put off the wedding until they could prove he was a good man?

"Cassie?" Lavinia's voice startled her. She'd been too absorbed in her thoughts to notice her sister. "I don't want to disturb you, but I've brought some tea."

"Thank you." Cassandra murmured, taking her seat again.

A footman appeared out of nowhere with another chair, and Lavinia sat down with a heavy sigh. Cassandra studied her sister. Her simple beauty was still there, and the weeks of worry hadn't worn all the color off her cheeks. Lavinia appeared to be in excellent health.

"You've changed too, you know." Lavinia smiled, noticing her scrutiny. "You're a little thinner, and you do look like you've seen a lot, but I can't deny that you look happy, too."

Cassandra smiled. "I am. Or I was. In a way. It's really hard to explain." She didn't have the mental wherewithal to tell the whole story at the moment.

Lavinia laughed, and Cassandra realized how much she'd missed the sound. She was glad to see her sister again, even if that joy was overshadowed by the whole mess they were in. She would like to sit with Irene and Lavinia and just talk and laugh again.

"Where's Irene?" She sipped her tea, relishing the warmth of the cup. "I haven't seen her since I got back."

Lavinia's face turned suddenly sad. "She's. . ." She paused, heaving a sigh. "Married."

"What?" Cassandra sat bolt upright in surprise, frowning in confusion.

"She's married." Lavinia repeated. "None of us really knew him, and Charles was against it until she told him that it was the only thing that would make her really happy."

"So they finally met back up?" Cassandra smiled brightly, overjoyed to think of Irene finally being able to be with her love.

"'Met back up'?" Lavinia frowned. "No, he came from London to visit here. He's a lord of some sort. I don't remember his title, but it's something fancy."

That wasn't right. Irene had said the man she loved wasn't a noble. Cassandra frowned.

"But—I don't understand." She said slowly.

"None of us did." Lavinia shrugged. "She didn't seem the least interested in him at first. Although, he paid her an almost inappropriate amount of attention." She took a sip of her own tea. "Oddly enough, there was a young man visiting the area that we all thought she was rather fond of. They were spending a good deal of time together, and we all thought he was winding up to ask for her hand. Charles was prepared to agree, too—provided they wait until the young man could support Irene without assistance." Lavinia's eyes narrowed, and she chewed on her lip.

"I don't understand." Cassandra said again.

Lavinia chuckled. "You're taking it better than the rest of us. Charles was infuriated. He almost didn't allow her to marry the other man, because he thought she was only choosing him for the stability his money would provide."

"Irene would never do that." Cassandra cut in.

"No, that's what we told him. Her choice remains a mystery to all of us, though." Lavinia shrugged. "Still, it was her choice, so I suppose we should be happy for her."

Cassandra opened her mouth to reply, and the study door swung open on quiet hinges. She got to her feet quickly, the teacup in her hand forgotten as Nickolas stepped into the hallway.

He looked at her for a long moment before offering a weak grin. Whatever had been said behind that door had affected him in some way. Cassandra wanted nothing more than to hug him tightly, but she merely touched his hand.

"Don't let it get to you." She whispered. "I see you. I love you."

His eyes twinkled slightly. "I love you, too."

"Cassie?" Her father's voice interrupted. "Could you come in here, please?"

She sighed, realizing she was nervous. Nervous to speak to her own father! It was ridiculous but true. Perhaps, it had something to do with the fact that she felt a strange protectiveness rise within her where Nickolas was concerned, and knowing that her father had probably given him the hardest time imaginable in there made her feel wonderfully valued and strangely angered all at once.

Stepping into the room, she turned for a last look at Nickolas before shutting the door.

Unlike the stereotypical study, Charles's was full of windows. It was a bright, airy room that probably made the stacks of paperwork far less daunting. There was no dust to be seen here. The few bookshelves in the room were immaculate, and everything seemed to be in its place.

Her father was sitting on a couch near the windows, his hands steepled under his chin as he looked at her. She contemplated again what she would do if he forbade her marrying Nickolas, and the thought almost broke her heart. She didn't want to choose between them.

"Come sit next to me, girly." His voice was so familiar, so gentle Cassandra couldn't help but love it.

"Father, I know he's not what you would want for me." She settled next to him on the couch. "But he is so good—so, so good to me." She was ready to get down on her knees and beg if it would make a difference.

Her father merely tipped his head to the side slightly, like a bird trying to understand something. "Lavinia wrote to me of the two of you. She said you hated him. I admit I wasn't expecting this." He sighed.

"I—" Cassandra sighed, too, trying to think how to explain everything. "I never hated him." She whet her lips. "I didn't like him at first. I thought he was arrogant and rude, and I was infuriated by him. He knew just how to talk to me, just how to outwit me. I'd never experienced that before with someone, and even while it was annoying, it intrigued me. He intrigued me."

"And after you found out what he is—was?" Her father raised a brow.

"I don't know." She bit her lip. "He tried to keep me as uninvolved as possible, so I didn't know everything until I had some semblance of understanding to offer him. I know that he's not blameless, but he's working to make it right, and I respect him for it."

"And what if I say I don't want you to marry him?" His look turned almost calculating.

"Father," tears welled in her eyes. "Please, don't make me choose between you. It would break me. I don't think my heart could take it."

He reached out and took her hand in his, massaging it lightly. "I won't force you to do anything, Cassie. If you say you love this man, then be with him." His eyes were so sincere.

"You mean—you're giving your consent?" Cassandra was almost incredulous.

Ezra sighed, rising and shoving his hands into his pockets. "I know what it's like to love someone and not be able to be with them. If I told you I didn't want you to marry him, I have no doubt you wouldn't. You would argue with yourself for days, but in the end, you would choose me—your family. I can't do that to you—not least because I know how miserable you would be. In the end, you would hate us all."

He went silent for a moment, moving closer to the windows. "He is a good man whatever Ethan and Charles think. I'll be glad to have the opportunity to get to know him more. I had to be sure you loved him. Livy's letters were so descriptive in your vehement hatred of him that I was astounded by your confession this morning. I had to be sure it was real before I could agree to anything."

"I've never felt something so real." Cassandra's brows drew together slightly as she looked at her father. There was something in his posture that spoke of. . .sadness? She didn't know. "Honestly, it shocked me, too, when I realized what was going on. By then, it was too late." She smiled softly, remembering.

Ezra turned to face her, and yes, that was sadness in his eyes. "You know, I kept thinking you would come back to the house soon. I wouldn't have to face the empty rooms alone anymore." He chewed on his lip. "But now," he shrugged with a sad smile. "You and Lavinia have flown, and you're not coming back." He said it so simply, like that was that. Like it was some kind of ending.

"Father, we'll come see you often." She rose, a sudden pain blossoming in her chest. She hadn't realized it would be this hard to say goodbye to the last bit of her old life.

"Of course." He shook his head. "Of course, you will. You shouldn't listen to me. It's just the prattling of an old man. I—"

There was a crash as the bullet shattered the window. Cassandra didn't have enough time to think or move as blood soaked the front of her father's waistcoat. He looked at her with such confusion. She screamed as the second bullet tore through his flesh.

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. . .whew. There we have it. I don't have much to say here, because I'm afraid to give away any spoilers 😉. What do you think will happen next? Who shot Ezra? Gosh, I keep almost writing stuff that's coming up, and then the story would be ruined for you 😝, so this is gonna be it from me for now! I hope you enjoyed this chapter!!