The Rising (The Rising #4) - Kristen Ashley Page 0,97
waited until Mars and Aramus dismounted, for he’d prearranged that Mars take hold of Aelia and put her to her feet while Aramus did the same for Dora.
When this happened, only then did he swing off his steed allowing a page to rush up and take the reins.
He saw Theodora round Caelus’s rump as the horse walked away, this the big sister doing in order to get to Aelia and take her hand, whereupon Aelia imparted on a loud whisper, “I want to marry a man just like Uncle Mars one day.”
“Well, I want to marry a man just like Cassius,” Dora replied.
At her words, Cass stood stock still, a burning warmth he did not mind sweeping through him.
Mars chuckled, Silence giggled and Ha-Lah laughed.
Aramus took affront.
“Do neither of you wish to marry the likes of me?”
Aelia’s eyes became huge before she broke from her sister, rushed to him and threw her arms around his legs, crying, “Me! I do! I want a husband just like you too! It was just that you didn’t help me off Papa’s horse and I forgot!”
Aramus put his hand to her head and grinned down at her, teasing, “You wish two husbands?”
“Yes!” she cried.
“Greedy minnow,” Aramus muttered on a laugh.
“Trust me, my lovely,” Ha-Lah entered the conversation, taking hold of Aelia’s hand and drawing her away from Aramus. “You’ll find one is more than enough.”
Mars boomed with laughter again, Silence giggled and Aramus took further affront.
“I’ll show you more than enough,” Aramus warned.
“Promise?” Ha-Lah asked on a cheeky smile.
“Absolutely,” Aramus said low.
Good gods.
“Why the laughter?” Farah asked, arriving with True at her side, as well as Jorie, who approached Silence and Mars.
She was smiling brightly at them all.
“Aelia wants two husbands,” Silence shared.
Farah’s eyes grew large.
“And I do not take that reaction as a compliment,” True jested.
Farah’s expression melted to adoration as she turned her face to her king.
“I forgot, I want a husband like you too, Uncle True,” Aelia declared.
“How about you grow up first, my beauty, and then see what you wish,” True suggested.
“I don’t need to grow up,” she told him. “A boy asked me to marry him on the way here. I’ll be married in no time.”
“You will not,” Cass decreed.
His daughter whirled on him. “Papa! I want to wear a gown just like Ellie’s.”
“And you can,” he allowed.
She beamed.
“In forty years,” he finished.
She frowned.
He smiled at her.
She stopped frowning.
“Let us reach the top of the steps so we can watch Elena arriving,” Ha-Lah proposed.
“Yes!” Aelia hopped up. “Let’s!”
Still holding Ha-Lah’s hand, they started up the steps.
Dora moved to follow.
But Cassius stopped her by touching her shoulder.
She looked up to him.
He offered his arm. “The groom needs an escort, little bean.”
She looked to his arm, her cheeks got rosy, her eyes got wet, then she tucked her fingers in his elbow and shot him a trembling smile.
In turn, he moved to her and tucked her to his side before they began their stroll up the steps.
He almost immediately noticed Silvanus, and his clan of Zees, as they were dressed more audaciously than normally.
He tipped his chin to the man, who had his shirt undone all the way down to his navel, but at least his chest was partially covered by his copious, doubtlessly purloined necklaces.
In return, a broad, white smile on his lips, Silvanus tipped his hat.
As they ascended, there were well-wishes extended, bows and curtsies bobbed, and Cassius accepted these with dips of his chin.
But his attention was on his girl.
“I’m glad we have this time, for me it gives me the opportunity to thank you,” he said.
“For what?” she asked.
“For much, my Dora,” he answered, covering her gloved hand at his elbow with his. “For I had Aelia, and I had my brothers, but unless I was with them, and sometimes even when I was, I wasn’t very happy.” He cast his gaze down to her. “And then I met you and Ellie, and now, both Aelia and I have a family. So now, we are both happy. But being happy, and seeing Aelia happier, and making Ellie the same, and you, makes me very happy.”
“We are. We’re happy too,” she assured him.
“I hope so, love.”
“We are, Cass,” she repeated. “Ellie especially. She loves you lots.”
He smiled down at her. “And I love her lots.”
“I know,” she whispered, her eyes speaking words that made Cass take her fingers from his elbow as he bent so he could touch his lips to them.