Chapter 5 5

V. A Somewhat Perfect Charade

"Are you out of your mind?!" she nearly cried out. "One of the reasons why I want to get out of here is to not marry you. Or did that small piece of information pass your mind?"

"And what I am trying to say is that marrying me will not make you a married woman if you get out of here and the same goes with me. No wife, no marriage. Marrying you will also solve my problem once you leave. I will not have to deal with the inconveniences brought about being an eligible bachelor. I will be a married lord, only that I wouldn't have to deal with a wife."

Cressida stomped her foot with frustration. "But I don't want-"

"Me either. But a wedding will happen or you won't have your chance of getting out of here at all."

"Why? Why do we have to wed if I am going away? Is this your way to play with me? Why wed at all when I can just disappear?"

"I already told you. It will give me more convenience."

"People will think you murdered your wife if I disappear."

"Even better than them thinking I killed my bride," he said, flashing a smile at her. It was the first time it actually reached his eyes.

"This is incredulous."

"This is the perfect plan. We marry, we go off to the other side of The Town where I have an estate, I take you to a passage and you will be gone for good. It is the most convenient way by far that I can think of. Getting to one of the passages out of here will take days of travel, even weeks. How do you think will we be able to manage to get there if we are not married? As husband and wife, no one will raise questions if we disappear for a long period of time. We can tell everyone that we will take permanent residence in one of my estates far from Willowfair and no one will know you're gone for months, even years."

"How about my parents? They will come calling. They will want to see me every now and then."

"Let me handle your parents once you're gone."

"You will be investigated. Or worse, they will think I left you, eloped with someone else!"

"Not if I can use my connections as a Leaguer. And as to an elopement with a lover, I guess that is more likely to be the best deduction, which is not something you will have to be bothered with once you're gone. You will have a completely different life in a different world."

Cressida paused. She hated that he was making sense. If they wed, everyone would leave her alone. No one could do anything about it. And if Calan claimed that it would be more convenient on his part, she wouldn't deny that of him, after what he was willing to do for her. The consequences would have to be faced by him, not her. He could deal with it because he was a Leaguer. And Leaguers were powerful and he could get away with an investigation. There wouldn't even be enough evidence to point out that he killed her. Everyone would be left with nothing but measly speculations.

In the end, they'd both acquire what they want. She'd be able to disappear from The Town away from prying eyes and she could not give a care if people would be inclined to think she left her husband for a lover. And he'd get his peace and quiet by being a married man in name. People would fear him if they'd believe he killed her or sympathize him if the elopement story would prove to be stronger, which it probably would considering her scandalous reputation.

But there was one problem. "The wedding's going to be in a month. That's too long a time to wait."

His brows rose. "Do you have something arranged up there already? Someone waiting for you? A party to go to?"

"Don't mock me."

"Then be patient. The wedding day needs to happen, Cressida. The marriage life, on the other hand, cannot."

She finally saw the difference. Of course, she could marry him but didn't have to live the rest of her life with him, the thing they both absolutely agreed on. He gave her consent to leave him in the first place, didn't he?

She sighed. "I guess being your wife for a day or two will not hurt at all."

"Good. Have we reached an agreement?" He asked, peering down at her.

She didn't like the way he was smiling at her. She didn't like how his presence made her feel at all. When she gave a terse nod, he straightened to full height with a satisfied smile and offered her his arm. "Then why don't we start performing like we cannot wait for the wedding day to happen?"

"We don't have to-"

"You will be leaving The Town, Cressida. And I will have to deal with the gossipmongers you'll leave behind. I rather want to give them a sense of uncertainty about your disappearance than be completely judged for it."

"I thought you want them to think badly of you?" She found it hard to comprehend his complicated thoughts!

He shrugged, taking her hand and tucking it in the crook of his arm. "It's far more amusing to witness the ton crack their brains, wondering how a besotted husband could kill his pretty wife." He started to guide her away from the garden.

Cressida groaned. "Or wonder why you never saw it coming that your wife will go off with an unknown lover, leaving you behind to mend your broken heart."

She thought she saw the corner of his mouth tug with amusement.

Well, then, if a charade to be a happy bride was what it would take for her to leave The Town without question, she'd be happy to play the part. She just had to make certain to remind herself that Calan was doing this for the same selfish reasons other than wanting her for a wife.

*****

In the following days after their conversation in the ball, the people all over Willowfair were not used to seeing the Lord of Easton without his bride. Cressida tried to ignore the smiles thrown their way whenever they had to make appearances in the parks or whenever Calan would escort her into a shop like a truly besotted husband-to-be that he was.

And in the days that followed, she couldn't help but know him better. Most often, when they were alone or out of earshot, he was serious and guarded. She'd find him absently staring at her and she'd look away instantly, refusing to give any connotation to his actions. There were also times when he'd be more at ease, even going boldly as taking her hand in his and talk about trivial things and joke about them with her. Sometimes she wondered if he really cared about her being too outspoken at all, because every time she talked he would lean closer and listen to her every word. Either he really liked talking to her or he was simply just a good actor. After all, he was a Leaguer. The fact that no one could point out for sure who a Leaguer was among the citizens of The Town told Cressida that they were the best in acting and role playing.

But in the days she had spent with Calan, never did Cressida allow herself to make assumptions other than he was doing it for their plans. He was merely acting the besotted groom who would soon lose his wife in a tragic event. With that thought in mind, she made it a point that she played her part. Not that it was that difficult as she first thought, because he was really that good in making her feel comfortable when necessary, especially in moments when they were with her mother. Calan always found ways to give her aid in escaping her mother's frustrating talks about the wedding.

There was also one occasion, just two days ago, when Calan surprised Cressida. They were inside a bookshop, trying to waste as much time as possible away from her parents' estate where her mother was making plans for the wedding, and Cressida was alone in one section looking at a new novel while Calan was off somewhere to find something else that was more interesting for his taste.

Belinda came in with her maid and the lady immediately spotted Cressida, taking the opportunity to throw some offensive words under her breath. "Where's your groom, Cressida? Already gone?"

Cressida ignored her, flipping through the pages of the book in her hand without seeing a word. She was more focused on keeping her temper in check.

"Not so very outspoken now, are you? Why? Don't tell me it is about that gossip."

"What gossip are you talking about, Belinda?" she asked dryly, eyes still on the book.

"Please. I know you've read that article on the Herald." When Cressida remained mum, Belinda stepped closer and whispered, "It said that the Lord of Easton keeps a really, really dark secret."

"It's not considered a gossip for nothing, Belinda."

"Are you not the least bit curious?"

Yes, as a matter of fact, she was. "No, not really. We don't know from whom those articles come from."

"Every bit I've read about you thus far are true," Belinda countered and Cressida's hand tightened around the book.

"Why, thank you. I am glad my little scandals entertain such a great number of bored and proper ladies in The Town."

Belinda let out a menacing chuckle. "Oh, trust me, Cressida. Your scandals are like the holy bible to us. They are a great source of learning, really-teach us a thing or two on how not to be like you and all that."

Before Cressida could open her mouth to throw Belinda off guard again, Calan's voice spoke behind them. "I must say, Lady Belinda that your talent in reading has greatly improved considering you read the Herald so religiously." Cressida bit on her lips to keep the chuckle that almost escaped her lips at Belinda's gasp of surprise. The lady had stepped back, almost crashing against her maid when she saw Calan. "But I must ask-why are you here?"

"My Lord? What do you mean?" the lady stammered, obviously not pleased to see Calan there or to be caught on a malicious act by him.

Calan looked around with raised brows. "I don't recall this shop sells a copy of the Herald. And since I assume that it is the only piece of literature you read, I am left to wonder why you are here at all." He stepped closer to Cressida with a smile, his hand holding her elbow. "Or is it because my betrothed is here and you wish to ruin her day to which I am inclined to tell you that you don't have to do so because I have already ruined it for her."

This time, Cressida's eyes widened and she turned to look up at him. "You have?" What the bloody hell was he up to now?

He looked down at her with a smile that meant to dazzle. "Darling, didn't I just tell you that you should at least read one article of the Herald a moment ago? To which you indignantly answered that it is too shallow for your taste."

Cressida immediately caught on and gamely said, "And to which you replied that I should at least pretend I like it over other more sensible reads," waving the book she held in her hand.

Belinda was gaping at both of them in horror, her hand to her chest. But Calan was not through yet because he uttered, "And to which I regret I missed to add that I am rather fond of the idea that I am marrying someone who has good taste in literature. Thank the heavens indeed that I am not marrying a fool!"

"And so now I forgive you. But I am not going to pretend I like the Herald, My Lord, even if you deem it necessary so I can fit in." She turned to Belinda and finished with, "It's the worst kind of literature The Town has created."

Belinda's face had gone scarlet and she stammered as she spoke, "No wonder you both suit each other. You are both...you...you are a pair of...you are both..."

"Prejudicial?" Calan offered.

"Wicked?" Cressida added, now grinning because she couldn't help it anymore.

"Why don't we just settle with well-suited so we can say that no harsh words were spoken here?" Calan finished.

Belinda's chest was heaving as she whirled around and brushed her maid aside to storm out of the shop.

Cressida finally let out a series of giggle, bending low over the book in her hand, tears coming out the corners of her eyes. "That is the best moment of the day so far, Easton," she told him when she finally recovered from her mirth. "Please remind me to thank you for it later."

He chuckled as he reached out to wipe off the moisture from the corner of her eye. And then they both stopped smiling at the same time, lost in each other's eyes. Cressida was quite disappointed to see the laughter in his eyes slowly disappear, but was quite intrigued when it was replaced by something intense although she couldn't point out what for certain.

He cleared his throat and stepped away from her. "No wonder you find The Town frustrating. If I have to deal with another lady like Lady Belinda, I will grab the first rope I could find and climb out the nearest hole out of The Town." And then he turned away from her to inspect the nearest shelf of books.

Cressida blinked and watched his back in consideration. "Is it true?"

"What?"

"What she said. That you keep some dark secrets." She meant to sound chiding but immediately regretted her question when he turned to her wearing one of his usual serious looks.

"Yes." He didn't even deny it, didn't try to offer an explanation either, but that one single word brought a chill up her spine. She was rendered speechless, staring at him, hoping he'd say more or add that he was merely jesting. It didn't happen. He continued to stare at her, his jaw set tightly and finally uttered, "And that's why our little charade has to be perfect so we can go through with the wedding and you live your life away from me."