CHAPTER 07

"May I have this dance Lady Cassie," he asked. Cassie swollen the lump in her throat and nodded. People moved out of the way as they went to the center of the room. The orchestra seeing Nathan was dancing with his soon to be bride changed the music to a beautiful soft melody. Nathan pulled Cassie into his arm holding her tightly to him. Cassie felt uncomfortable with how tight he was holding her. She did not want to make a scene, but she could hardly breath.

Laura and Jake watch from the side. Laura had worried about whether she had made the right choice for Nathon but seeing them together she realized she had made the right choice Nathan seemed smitten with her. Cassie's parents watched from another table Marcella watched Cassie carefully making sure she did not embarrass them in anyway.

Laura and Jake walked over and to Marcella and Victor. Jack pulled out a secondary contract he and Laura signed it then Marcella and Victor signed it.

"You will have your copy in the morning," Jake told Victor then he walked away with Laura to talk to some other guests. Marcella smiled. It was sealed. On the dance floor Cassie put her hands on Nathan chest.

"Please, could you not hold me so tight." Cassie asked. Nathan loosened his hold on her.

"I'm sorry did I hurt you?" He asked.

"No, I'm fine it was just a bit uncomfortable." She told him. He scolded himself he was enjoying holding her close he never realized he was hurting her. He was lucky he thought she did not bolt away from him right there.

"Cassie, if I do something that makes you uncomfortable please tell me. I want to get to know you but at your pace. I will not be demanding of you. That is one reason I gave your own chambers, so you did not be afraid I would be jumping your bones every night. I want us to learn about each other we have eternity for the rest,” Nathan said put his cheek to hers as they danced. They were both lost in their world together talking softly. Nathan twirled her out and then back to him steeling a peck on the lips.

"Next time I will ask your permission to kiss you. Let's go and sit down for a bit can I get you anything?" Nathan asked her.

"No, I'm fine thank you." Cassie said as she sat down on the same couch. Nathan sat closer to her now, but it made her smile.

"Cassie I have to tell you something," Nathan said. Cassie put her hands in her lap and her head down. She held her breath.

"I have to leave for work a couple of days after the wedding," Nathan told her.

"How long will you be gone?" Cassie asked.

"Three weeks or more. It is important." He told her.

"What is it you do?" Cassie asked curiously.

"It would only bore you." Nathan said smiling at her.

"You don't know that I should know what my husband does for work," Cassie said.

"Do you really want to know?" Nathan asked.

"Yes, of course I do." Cassie told him.

"Ok come with me," he said taking her hand and leading her out of the ballroom and up the stairs to the second floor to his office he lit the hearth and the lanterns then took her to the large table in the middle of the room. Cassie saw the maps notes and books open. She was fascinated by everything. Nathon watched as Cassie looked at his notes and then at the map a few times. Then at the footprints of a old building. Is this where you are planning on going Cassie asked pointing to a spot Nathan had marked on the map.

"Yes, why?" He asked interested in what she was doing. You will not find it there Nathon it is a waste of your time others have already been there and found nothing." Cassie said.

"How do you know," Nathan asked.

"I have read every publication on this. The Lady Vaccaro broach from 1624 right?" Cassie asked. She relaxed and felt like she was in the world she always dreamed of.

"From everything I have studied you will find it here." Cassie said point to a spot on the map.

"Cassie we looked there, we found nothing," Nathan said.

"It is there you just did not did in the right area." Cassie said. Nathan walked up behind her and looked at where she was pointing on the footprint. He gently took her in his arms.

"Would you like to come with us?" Nathan asked.

"Really?" Cassie asked in return.

"Yes," Nathan said. Cassie threw her arms and his neck and hugged him. Nathan could not control himself he gently pulled her head from his shoulder and kissed her passionately. Cassie automatically returned the kiss with as much passion. There was a bang of someone hitting the door.  There stood their fathers.

"What exactly is going on in here." Jake asked. Cassie turned a million shades of red and put her head down as she stepped out of Nathan arms.

"It was just a kiss father, our first actually, I was showing Cassie my work.

"There will be no more kissing tonight or until you are wed " Cassie’s father said. Taking Cassie by the hand dragging her back to the ballroom. Victor made her stand with him and her mother.

"Where did you go?" Marcella asked

"Nathan was showing me his work." Cassie said.

"Looks like he was trying to get a little bit before the wedding" Victor said to her.

"Father it was just one little kiss," Cassie said.

"One little kiss! You have no idea how long his father and I had been standing there watch the two of you it is a good thing the two of you are getting married in two days. Until then you are not permitted to be alone with him He does not get the milk without buying the cow!" Victor told her angry she had gone off with Nathan.

"What does that even mean father?" Cassie asked her own temper starting to flair.

"No free samples!" Her father said. But Cassie's eyes were on the Nathan who had just walked in with his father. The smiled at each other. When They reached his mother he kept his eyes on her. She could only imagine what his mother was yelling at him about. Jake came over to them.

"You must forgive Nathan; it was just an innocent stollen kiss. He had no intentions of going any further.

"You were making out with him?" Marcella asked furious.

"Mother, it was just one kiss," Cassie told her.

"You will definitely not be alone with him until after the wedding, Marcella told her shocked that Cassie would follow him.

Cassie and Nathan stood with their parents saying good night to their guests who were traveling home. Nathan walked Cassie up to her chambers with his mother.

"I will see you in the morning, beautiful." He said kissing her hand. Cassie went into her chambers to find Susan waiting for her. There was a warm fire in the hearth, her bed was turned down and her night gown lay on her bed. Cassie sat at the dressing table and chatted with Susan about her night with Nathan.