Chapter 20
Percival Who?
Dinner that evening was a pleasant affair with all four of them gathered at the table. The conversation flowed easily—discussion of the market visit, Beatrice's plans for the next phase of decorating, Jasper's amusing commentary on the "witch" rumors.
"You should hear what they're saying," Jasper said, grinning. "Some think Caroline's mastered forbidden beast-charming magic."
"I just fed them treats," Caroline protested. "That's not magic, that's bribery."
"Effective bribery," Beatrice agreed. "Those creatures adore you."
Caspian watched Caroline as she laughed at her brother's teasing. She seemed genuinely relaxed. Happy.
The invitation he'd received that afternoon weighed on his mind. He needed to know how she'd react.
"I received an invitation this afternoon," Caspian said, his tone carefully casual. "To Earl Sinclair's engagement celebration. In three weeks' time."
The table went quiet.
Caroline set down her fork, meeting his eyes. Her siblings' attention shifted to her immediately—Beatrice's hand moving to squeeze Caroline's under the table, Jasper going very still.
"Earl Sinclair's engagement party," Caroline said calmly.
Caspian studied her face, searching for any sign of the devastation he'd expected. Pain. Longing. Barely concealed heartbreak.
He saw none of it.
"Yes," he confirmed, watching her carefully.
Caroline picked up her glass of juice and took a sip, considering. The silence stretched, and Caspian could feel the weight of the moment—her siblings concerned, him assessing, Caroline apparently... unbothered?
The old Caroline would have been devastated. Would have cried, thrown things, begged to attend so she could make a scene or try to win Percival back.
But this Caroline—
"I'm not interested in attending," she said.
Relief hit Caspian like a physical force.
He hadn't expected it. The sheer intensity of it. The way something tight in his chest suddenly loosened, the way his jaw unclenched, the way he felt almost... possessive.
Mine, something primal in him whispered. She's choosing to stay. She's choosing me.
He pushed the feeling down, maintaining his carefully neutral expression. "You're not."
"No." Caroline set down her glass. "Why would I be?"
"You were..." Caspian chose his words carefully. "Previously interested in the Earl."
"I was previously a lot of things," Caroline said. "Miserable. Obsessed. Making terrible decisions. I'm not that person anymore."
Across the table, Beatrice's eyes had filled with tears—relief, clearly. Jasper's shoulders had relaxed completely.
And Caspian felt that possessive warmth spreading through his chest again.
She wasn't going. She wasn't even considering it. Percival Sinclair—the man she'd wanted desperately enough to trap the wrong person into marriage—was getting engaged, and Caroline genuinely didn't care.
"Completely serious," Caroline continued, picking up her fork.
"I have no interest in traveling to the capital to attend an engagement party for a man I used to be obsessed with.
It would be awkward for everyone involved.
Earl Sinclair doesn't want me there. Lady Rosalie certainly doesn't want me there.
And I have better things to do with my time. "
"Such as?" Caspian asked.
"Redecorating your estate. Raising dangerous creatures. Spending your money at markets." Caroline smiled at him, and Caspian felt heat spread through his chest. "Having dinner with my husband."
My husband. The possessive warmth intensified.
"You'd rather stay here," he said, keeping his voice level.
"I'd much rather stay here," Caroline confirmed. "Though we should send our regrets with a generous gift. They were likely socially obligated to invite us, but I'm certain they wouldn't actually want us to attend. A polite decline with a gift maintains courtesy without awkwardness."
Caspian felt impressed by her practical thinking. She understood the social dynamics perfectly. "You've thought this through."
"It's the sensible approach," Caroline said simply.
"What would you suggest as a gift?"
"Something for their household. Silver candlesticks? Exquisite porcelain? Something that says 'congratulations on your engagement, please don't expect us at your party.'"
Caspian's lips twitched again. "I'll have Sterling coordinate something appropriate."
"Perfect." Caroline paused, then added carefully, "Though speaking of celebrations... I was thinking about something."
"Yes?" Caspian asked.
Beatrice leaned forward with interest. Jasper was watching Caroline with curiosity.
"We never had a proper wedding celebration," Caroline said.
"We married quickly, with minimal ceremony, and then I made everyone miserable for two months.
But now..." She met Caspian's eyes. "Now I would like to make this marriage work.
And you're the Duke of Frostmarch. Shouldn't we host some kind of banquet?
Let your vassals and nobles meet me properly? "
"You want to host a wedding banquet?" Bea asked, eyes widening with delight.
"I want to be introduced as your Duchess properly," Caroline said to Caspian.
Jasper was nodding slowly. "That's actually a brilliant idea. Give people a chance to meet the new Duchess."
Caspian felt something shift in his chest at the suggestion. A proper wedding banquet. Introducing Caroline—this version of Caroline who actually wanted to be his Duchess—to his vassals and nobles.
"That would involve significant planning," he said carefully. "Guest lists. Preparations. Social obligations."
"I know. But I think it's important." Caroline leaned forward slightly. "Your vassals need to know I'm taking my role seriously. That I'm not just some awful woman you're stuck with. And I..." She hesitated, then continued honestly. "I want them to see us as an actual partnership. Not a disaster."
Caspian was quiet for a long moment, studying her face. She meant it. She genuinely wanted to stand beside him in front of his nobles and vassals, to be scrutinized and judged, all to prove she'd changed.
The possessive warmth in his chest intensified.
"You'd be on display," he said finally. "Scrutinized by every noble in the northern territories. Judged. Compared to your previous behavior."
"I know," Caroline said. "And I'm ready for that. I've apologized to your staff. I've been kind to your people in town. I want your nobles to see that change too."
"They'll talk about you," Caspian warned. "About us. About the circumstances of our marriage."
"Let them talk," Caroline said with more confidence than she probably felt. "As long as they can see I'm genuinely trying to be a good Duchess, that's what matters."
She's willing to face them all, Caspian thought. For this. For us.
"If this is what you want," he said, "then we'll plan it. A proper wedding banquet. Formal introductions. The full ceremony we should have had."
Caroline's face lit up. "Really?"
"Really." Caspian felt his lips curve into an almost-smile. "Though I should warn you—planning a ducal banquet is more complex than planning a market visit."
"I can manage it," Caroline said confidently.
"I'll help!" Beatrice said enthusiastically. "I've organized dozens of events. This will be wonderful!"
"We'll need to coordinate with Sterling," Caspian said. "Guest lists, protocols, timing..."
"Bea and I can work with Sterling tomorrow," Caroline said. "Start making preliminary plans."
They spent the rest of dinner discussing potential dates and the general scope of the event. Caspian found himself drawn into the planning despite himself, watching Caroline's enthusiasm as she and Beatrice traded ideas.
She was excited. Genuinely excited to be introduced as his Duchess.
The possessive warmth had settled into something deeper now. Something that felt dangerously like contentment.
As dessert was being cleared, Beatrice stretched and stifled a yawn.
"I think I'm going to retire early," she said. "All that market walking tired me out more than I expected."
"Same," Jasper agreed, though Caspian caught the knowing look he exchanged with his sister. "We'll leave you two to your evening."
After the siblings departed with barely concealed smiles, Caroline looked at Caspian.
"They're not subtle," she said.
"No, they're not," Caspian agreed. He stood and offered his arm. "Walk with me?"
Caroline accepted, and Caspian led her through the estate corridors. The evening was beautiful—the sun had set, but the gardens were lit with soft lanterns that created pools of warm light.
Her hand rested in the crook of his arm, light but present. Natural.
"Where are we going?" Caroline asked.
"The gardens," Caspian said. "You mentioned wanting fresh air earlier."
"I did?"
"You said Shadow needed evening exercise."
Caroline laughed, and the sound made something warm unfurl in Caspian's chest. "I think that was an excuse to avoid reviewing household accounts with Sterling."
"Nevertheless, the gardens are pleasant in the evening."
They walked in comfortable silence. Caspian was acutely aware of Caroline's presence beside him—the scent of her perfume, the warmth of her hand on his arm, the way she fit naturally at his side.
She'd dismissed Percival's engagement without a second thought. Had suggested a wedding banquet to be introduced as his Duchess. Had said she wanted to make their marriage work.
She's choosing this, Caspian thought. Choosing me.
The warmth in his chest settled into something deeper. Satisfaction. Perhaps even contentment.
"Thank you," Caroline said quietly.
"For what?"
"For agreeing to the banquet. For not questioning my decision about Earl Sinclair's invitation. For..." She paused. "For giving me a chance to prove I'm different."
"You've been proving it every day," Caspian said. "The banquet is just making it official."
They reached the garden entrance. Moonlight illuminated the pathways ahead, casting everything in silver light.
"Shall we?" Caspian asked.
Caroline smiled up at him, and in the moonlight, she looked almost ethereal.
"Yes."
And together, they stepped into the moonlit garden.
Mine, that possessive voice whispered again.
And for the first time, Caspian didn't push the feeling away.