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Mara nodded. “Your impression is correct. I don’t think Rolfe will ever forgive himself for having been away in the Colonies when the Roundheads came to his family’s estate.

He fails to realize that had he been there, he most probably would have been killed as well.

You see, I know this, I understand this because nearly the same tragedy befell my own family in Ireland. ”

Cassia squeezed Mara’s hand as she went on.

“During the wars, Rolfe would accept the most dangerous missions when no other man had the courage. He would never tell you this, but he even managed to be at Cromwell’s bedside when he died, in disguise, of course.”

“So he was one of the ‘Nightmen,’” Cassia said, recalling his costume for the masquerade.

Mara looked at her. “He is bound by duty never to reveal it.”

“I am well-acquainted with his loyalty to duty.”

“I think Rolfe will spend the rest of his life trying to prove himself. That is why he has the loyalty to duty that he has. It is like a shadow that follows him, his family having been taken so unjustly. I do not believe he will ever feel he has paid his debt by them.”

Mara’s explanation explained a lot. But it did not explain it all.

There was still something else, something more that pushed him beyond just duty.

“Can you tell me, why did he leave London? I mean he tells me it is because he was gifted his estate by the king for his service and that had been damaged during the wars. He says he is seeing to its restoration, but I sense there is something more.”

Mara looked at her, nodding. “You are not mistaken. There is something more. Rolfe was a viscount when King Charles returned to the throne. His father had spent his life honoring that title, striving to see to its continuity. Rolfe decided he would honor his father by seeing to that wish. So he decided to set out to take a wife. Unfortunately, he chose poorly. He chose someone who was far too filled with her own self-importance. She dallied with him, leading him to believe she was everything he could want in a viscountess. But when he finally proposed, she refused him. You see, she had her sights set on marrying herself to an earl at the very least. Rolfe, being a viscount at the time, didn’t quite measure up, and she made no secret of her reasons to him.

She had used him as competing bait to net herself a bigger fish. ”

Cassia fell silent as she took this all in.

“I gather from your questioning that he has finally told you?” Mara asked. “That you are his wife?”

Cassia nodded.

“And what was your response when he told you?”

“I was angry, of course, furious actually. Wouldn’t you be if you’d just found out you were married to someone who was, for all intents and purposes, a stranger to you?”

At this Mara had to smile. “I don’t think I’m the one you should be asking this. My husband would more likely be able to understand your feelings.”

Cassia looked at her, confused. “Pardon me?”

“I myself deceived my husband into our marriage. When I married Hadrian, he believed I was someone else entirely. Goodness, I never thought I would have to explain this again. You see, during the wars, my family’s estate in Ireland was confiscated by the Roundhead troops, much like Rolfe’s family home.

Kulhaven was given over to an English supporter of Cromwell, a man named James Ross.

He was Hadrian’s uncle. James Ross did not have any children of his own, so when he died, he left the estate to Hadrian.

I learned that Hadrian was promised in marriage to a girl named Arabella Wentworth, the godchild of Cromwell himself, although he had never before seen her.

So I disguised myself as Arabella and traveled to Kulhaven to marry Hadrian, in order to take my revenge, and regain my family’s estate. ”

Mara looked at Cassia who was staring at her with astonished eyes.

“It’s all rather difficult to believe now, don’t you think?

But, I assure you the tale is true all the same.

So you see, I am not the one to ask about marrying someone under false pretenses, for I am guilty of doing the same thing to my husband. ”

“But how can that be? You are so in love with each other now.”

“Yes, now we are. Like you, Hadrian was furious when he learned of my duplicity, and if you knew anything about my husband, the one thing he insists upon in his wife is honesty. But, in time, he was able to forgive me for fooling him, to understand my reasons, and we have since built a wonderful life together. I had my reasons for what I did, and he realized that after he’d taken the time to consider them.

Which was, of course, after my maid Cyma had knocked him cold with a blow to the head and I had locked him away in my bedchamber, telling everyone he had the smallpox . ..”

Cassia simply stared.

“... but, that, is another story. After Hadrian had thought about it, really thought about it, he understood why I had done what I had.”

Mara took Cassia’s hand. “Promise me this. At least give Rolfe that same consideration. Listen to his reasons for having wed you like he did, I mean really listen to them. I promise you his reasons are only just and honorable. It was not to trap you. It was to protect you. And after you have had the time to think it all through, then you can decide whether you still want to string him up from the nearest tree.”

Mara smiled then, trying to ease Cassia’s very evident resistance.

“I will consider it,” Cassia said. “That is all I can offer Rolfe right now.”

“And that is all I would ever ask of you,” said an unexpected voice from the doorway.

Cassia looked up to see Rolfe suddenly standing there. She wondered how long he’d been listening to their conversation. She’d never even heard him come in.

“How does the queen fare?” Rolfe asked without preamble as he strode into the room.

“She is still on the mend, but appears beyond danger, thank the saints.”

“Owing, I’m sure, entirely to you.”

Cassia looked tired, Rolfe thought as he came around to face her. Actually she looked exhausted. Her eyes were shadowed underneath, and she looked as if she’d lost weight.

He wanted to speak with her, alone. He wanted to somehow weed through all the questions and misunderstanding that stood between them.

He wanted to tell Cassia how he felt about her, that he loved her, that he wanted to make a life with her even though he still shocked himself at this thought.

After Daphne, he’d vowed never to tell a woman how he felt, if he cared, for with that knowledge came power for a woman.

But the thought of losing Cassia, of never having her in his life, was far too dear to risk.

As if sensing his thoughts, Mara stood, ready to quit the room. “I’m sure you two have things you need to talk about privately, and it is nearly time for Dana to wake from her afternoon nap, so I’ll be off. Cassia, you know, if you have need of anything, all you need do is ask.”

Cassia nodded, smiling.

She did not move from the chair. In fact, she did not so much as turn a degree in his direction. She continued to stare at the space where Mara had been sitting, where now there was nothing, chewing her lip.

“Lady Cassia, I ...”

She sighed. “Given that we are now husband and wife, do you not think it proper for you to address me by my name?”

Rolfe paused. “Very well. Yes, Cassia.”

Cassia closed her eyes. “I’m sorry. I did not mean to strike out at you as I did. I am just tired.”

Rolfe came to sit in the chair across from her. “Perhaps we should postpone this discussion until after you have had time to rest.”

“No, let us just be done with it.” She looked at him. “First, I think you should know I went to see Mr. Finchley this morning to see about the possibility of an annulment.”

Something inside of Rolfe tensed, grew cold. “I see.”

“I have learned that given the rather irregular circumstances surrounding my consent to the marriage vows, an annulment would not be all that difficult to attain. Merely a matter of signing a few papers and it would be done.”

Rolfe was amazed at how calmly he answered.

“I cannot for the life of me understand what it is that causes you to seek the road filled with obstacles. I have spent countless hours pondering this, days wondering what it is that makes you behave this way, and I have come up with only one conclusion. You would rather face the possibility of hanging for the murder of your father alone, rather than accept the help of others and prove your innocence.”

Cassia frowned. “I do not need your assistance to prove that which is true. I will find a way to prove my innocence myself.”

Rolfe stood up. “Why do you have to be so damnably stubborn, Cassia? Why is it so difficult for you to just accept my help?”

“Because the cost is too dear.”

“What cost?”

“The cost of my life, my freedom, which I have lost now by becoming your wife.” She looked at him and added, “Unwillingly.”

“Pray, madam, what freedoms exactly have you given up?”

“Before long things will change. Things always change with a husband and wife. A person never does anything without expecting something in return, my lord. There is always a price, a condition. Your price was marriage to me.”