Page 81 of Ruthless, But for Her

“She always does.”

CHAPTER 46

Cassia

She smoothed her gown, the plainest of those she'd brought with her. Last eve, after the bath had been taken away, she read by candlelight waiting for him… But Ashton never came. Knowing him, he was likely already awake since the sun had risen. But still, she hadn’t seen him.

She tried not to be bothered by it. He had made his feelings clear by not coming close to her, not even discussing their night together, on the way back to Mere's End. Even so, she could admit to herself, her attempt to remain indifferent was an abysmal failure.

He was all she could think about. Scandalously, she had even forgotten when she awoke this morning that she had ever been Roland's wife. Her first thoughts were all about Ashton.

Her door was not secured from the outside. She could open it and walk away. Cassia was no longer a captive. But where would she go? She had enough coin to secure passage back home, but Cassia had already discounted that idea.

A knock at her door interrupted her thoughts. Cassia went to it, opening the lock and sucked in a breath at the sight of him.

He wore plain wool today, no lord's cut to it, sleeves already pushed back. A knife rested at his belt, worn from use. He looked like the man who had first pulled her aboard The Einar.

“You look...refreshed,” he said.

“And you look... fearsome.”

He raised his brows, clearly not expecting that.

“I suppose that could work in my favor for today's task. First, we need to discuss something. May I enter your chamber?”

She hated that he had to ask.

Stepping aside, Cassia let him in, and Ashton closed the door behind him.

“There's a spot—Tam's, we call it. Ryker, Sorren, and I found it when we were boys. Few know of it. Not even Margot. I want to take you there to stay.”

He didn't want her here. Cassia schooled her features to hide her disappointment. She shouldn't feel saddened, but she did.

She had so many questions for him, but all of them would reveal how she felt, so instead, Cassia held her tongue for the first time in days.

“I will stay with you there, of course. There is but one chamber in the loft, so I would have your permission first. It is a safe portion of the docks.”

This was not at all what she'd first thought. He would be staying with her. But also giving her a bit of freedom to explore safely.

“Is it because the Daisy makes me wary?” She had to know. Was he that observant, or was it something else entirely?

“Partly. But also, I, too, need space from it all, which is why my brothers and I made the arrangement with Tam. But also. Even avoiding the second floor, I dislike exposing you to so much traffic. Especially with the type of men that come here. Especially with so many of them not native to Mere's End. Those are the exact people we need to avoid.”

“I want you to feel free to explore beyond these walls,” he said, gesturing toward the chamber door, “beyond the Daisy. But I won't be there every moment, and Mere's End can be a dangerous place. On the ropewalk, you will be safe, even without my escort.”

“You said you would not be in danger here, in Mere's End.” She thought of the price on his head—a large one at that—and on the heads of his brothers.

“I don't worry for myself.” He said that with a gaze leveled at her, and Cassia finally fully understood. He was doing this to protect her. There may not be a price on her head, but there was every possibility she might be recognized, and word sent back to the warden. What the warden would do with that information was anyone's guess.

She walked over to where she’d left her book, picked it up and packed it in her trunk. Looking up at him, she was about to ask a question when he interrupted her.

“Take what you will until midday. Your belongings will be transferred then. The gown you wore here will be laundered and sent along.”

“You thought of everything.” It was so typical of him.

“Not everything. But this should give us time to formulate a plan. There is much yet unknown.”

Now was the time to ask, the time to voice the question running through her mind.