Chapter 286: v3 - 47: count carlo of almery II

Chapter 286: v3 Chapter 47: count carlo of almery II

The carriage eventually turned through a set of iron gates.

Beyond them stood the Kensington residence.

Cassian looked toward the imposing house as the carriage came to a stop.

The doors opened almost immediately.

A pair of footmen approached, followed by the household butler.

Marcus stepped down first.

Cassian followed, carrying his own bag.

One of the footmen immediately stepped forward.

"My lord, allow me."

Cassian gave him a polite smile.

"That will not be necessary. Thank you."

The footman hesitated.

Cassian adjusted the strap over his shoulder.

"I can carry it myself."

There was no arrogance in his tone.

Only quiet certainty.

The footman bowed.

"As you wish, my lord."

Marcus said nothing.

He simply led Cassian toward the entrance.

The household had already been informed that a distant cousin from one of the Kensington family’s cadet branches would be arriving.

Naturally, expectations had formed.

A minor count from a small county was hardly the sort of relative anyone expected to be particularly remarkable.

Perhaps somewhat provincial.

Perhaps overly eager to make use of his connection to the ducal family.

Perhaps simply another distant relation who had come to the capital because life in Almery offered little else.

Then Cassian walked through the doors.

Those expectations changed.

His clothes were modest compared with those of the great houses, but they fit him properly.

His posture was straight.

His movements were measured.

His manner carried none of the uncertainty of a man entering a household above his station.

And his appearance—

That was another matter entirely.

He was striking.

Far more so than anyone had expected.

A few servants glanced at him as he passed, their curiosity quickly giving way to something closer to respect.

Whatever else Count Carlo of Almery might be, he was certainly not some provincial lord who had stumbled into the capital hoping to attach himself to a greater family.

Marcus noticed none of this outwardly.

He approached the butler.

"This is my cousin, Count Carlo of Almery."

The butler immediately bowed.

"My lord Count."

Cassian returned the greeting with a measured inclination of his head.

"It is a pleasure."

"We were informed of your arrival, my lord."

"Everything has been prepared."

"Thank you."

The exchange was brief.

Courteous.

Natural.

Then a voice came from the staircase.

"Marcus?"

Marcus looked up.

A young woman was descending toward them.

She had the same black hair as her brother, though hers fell in soft waves around her shoulders.

Her eyes were hazel.

Mary stopped halfway down the staircase when she saw Cassian.

She stared.

For a moment, she seemed to forget whatever she had been about to say.

Marcus already knew what was coming.

"Mary."

She descended the remaining steps.

"So..."

Her eyes remained on Cassian.

"This is our cousin?"

Marcus nodded.

"Yes."

Mary smiled.

"How lovely."

Cassian turned toward her.

He inclined his head politely.

"Lady Mary."

The effect was immediate.

A faint flush appeared across her cheeks.

"Oh."

She blinked.

"It is—"

She cleared her throat.

"It is a pleasure to finally meet you."

"The pleasure is mine."

Cassian’s tone was perfectly courteous.

But the moment he noticed the expression in her eyes, something in him instinctively withdrew.

Not visibly enough to be called rude.

Only a slight shift of his posture.

A little more distance.

A subtle indication that he had no intention of encouraging the attention.

He knew that look.

He had known it long before the Arena.

Mary, however, seemed not to notice.

Her smile only widened.

Marcus did.

He closed his eyes briefly.

"Mary."

She looked at him.

"What?"

"Leave."

Her expression immediately became indignant.

"But I have only just met him."

"And that is sufficient."

"But he is our cousin."

"Yes."

"So I should welcome him."

"You have welcomed him."

Mary frowned.

"I could show him around."

"You have never shown anyone around this house in your life."

"That isn’t true."

"It is."

Mary looked back at Cassian.

"If you need anything, you can ask me."

Cassian inclined his head.

"Thank you."

There was warmth in the words, but nothing more.

Mary seemed about to say something else.

Marcus spoke first.

"Please ignore her."

Cassian glanced at him.

Then back at Mary.

"As you wish."

Mary’s eyes widened slightly.

Marcus gave his sister a look that left little room for argument.

"Come."

Mary sighed.

"You are impossible."

"And yet you continue to test me."

She gave Cassian one last curious glance before following her brother.

Cassian watched them go for a moment.

Then he turned back toward the butler.

There was no need to think about it further.

He had seen the same reaction countless times before.

And there was only one woman whose attention he had ever wanted.

Everyone else could remain exactly where they belonged.

At a polite distance.

--

Once Mary had disappeared down the corridor, Marcus turned back toward Cassian.

"Come."

Cassian followed him.

The butler stepped forward, but Marcus raised a hand.

"I will take him."

The butler bowed and stepped back.

Marcus led Cassian farther into the residence.

"Your rooms are on the second floor."

"You will have your own chamber and a small adjoining room that can be used as a study."

"The tutor will meet you there this afternoon."

"We have little time to waste."

Cassian glanced at him.

Marcus continued walking.

"The first event where you will be introduced is the evening reception at the Valmieri residence."

"Two days from now."

"That will give you two days to learn enough to present yourself well."

"Your papers are already being prepared."

"The genealogy will be completed through the Kensington records."

"Your connection to Almery will be established."

"And by the time you are presented, Count Carlo will already exist on paper."

Marcus glanced toward him.

"No one should have reason to question the identity."

They continued down the corridor.

"As for your clothing, a tailor will be arriving shortly to take your measurements."

"Most of what you need can be prepared from ready-made garments."

"But for the reception at Valmieri, I want something made specifically for you."

"You will be making your first impression on people who have spent their entire lives judging one another by appearance."

"So we will make sure yours is a good one."

They reached the staircase.

Marcus continued as they walked.

"The afternoon will be devoted to your instruction."

"Formal Milician speech."

"Customs."

"History."

"The principal houses."

"Their alliances."

"Their rivalries."

"And the people you should be careful around."

"You already know how to conduct yourself."

"What you need now is to learn how Milician society expects a man of your rank to conduct himself."

They reached the second floor.

Marcus stopped before a door and opened it.

"This will be your room."

Cassian stepped inside.

The chamber was considerably larger and more comfortable than an ordinary guestroom in a ducal household.

A proper bed.

A writing desk.

A wardrobe.

A large window overlooking part of the gardens.

The furnishings were tasteful rather than extravagant, but there was nothing lacking in comfort or dignity.

Cassian took it in with a quiet glance.

It was suitable.

Marcus remained near the doorway.

"The adjoining room will serve as your study."

"Your wardrobe will be prepared as quickly as possible."

"And in two days, I will take you to Valmieri myself."

Cassian turned toward him.

Marcus’s expression remained serious.

"I will introduce you personally."

"As my cousin."

"Count Carlo of Almery."

Cassian nodded in acknowledgement.

"I understand."

Marcus gave a final nod.

"For now, I will leave you to your own devices."

"The tailor should arrive shortly, and until then, you can settle in."

"I have other matters to attend to."

He stepped away from the doorway.

Cassian inclined his head.

"Of course."

Marcus left.

The door closed behind him.

Cassian remained in the room, looking around at the unfamiliar surroundings.

Two days.

That was all he had before Count Carlo of Almery would take his first steps into Milician society.

--

Tbc