Chapter 6
They returned to the estate and Cassian received fresh clothes more suitable to his tastes.
"James is going to cry when he finds out you're a guy," Mary said.
"Well, at least now I can punch him in the nose for kissing me." I am going to enjoy beating that kid to a pulp.
"No need, he'll most likely run off to the nearest church and drink holy water strait from the basin to wash his mouth out."
Mary giggled and Cassian stared at her. "What?"
"Nothing…really. I guess I'm sort of glad you turned out to be a boy. I'm not friends with a lot of girls because I tend to be a rougher than most. That's why many of my friends my age are boys and I get along with older girls to a degree."
"I see," Cassian said, sitting down on the couch.
"It must have been hard pretending to be a girl."
"Huh?"
"You don't seem like the kind of guy that'd enjoy it."
Cassian slumped his shoulders. You've no idea…"Well, you gotta do what you can to survive. I was lucky to have come across a dress and a wig that matched my hair color. But honestly, I really don't want to wear a dress again for as long as I live."
Mary laughed a little stronger this time. "That's too bad. You were really cute."
"WHO'S CUTE?!" Cassian shouted.
"Sorry," Mary said. "I never thanked you for taking care of those boys back at the park."
Cassian groaned. "You're welcome."
"But I have to say, even though you were cute as a girl, you're really cool as a boy."
"DON'T CALL ME—wait…cool?"
Mary nodded, "Very cool."
Cassian blushed. What the hell?! Okay. Yes, that is the first time anyone—let alone a girl—has said I was cool. But why is it affecting me so much? Yes, Mary's adorable, but I'm not attracted to her. Besides…in all things given, I'm actually old enough to be her father…
"Cassian?"
"Er…yes?"
"There's a festival tonight. Would you like to go?"
Wait…would this be a date? Gah! This is starting to get more complicated! But she'd probably bring it up even if she thought I was a girl anyway…heck! She doesn't even seem to be angry about the fact that I snuck into her home pretending to be a girl…Finally, he nodded. "Sounds like it'd be fun."
"Good!"
However…
"Miss Mary, you have lessons."
"Okay," Mary said. She turned back to Cassian. "We'll go after its dark."
Cassian nodded. Oh, what the heck. It's just a festival. It's not like they'll actually be there. Mary left. Though, if they are, they'll be wondering why I'm not wearing a dress…please God! Have mercy on me!
Mary came back. "Cassian, I forgot to mention. It'd probably be better if you still pretended to be a girl when Big Brother gets home. He's less forgiving than I am. The wig can be cleaned quickly though."
"Thanks." Nope. I'm doomed…
The festival was held in the Crimone Garden.
It was so crowded, that Cassian wondered how it was that he and Mary kept together. Perhaps it was because she kept a firm hold of his hand as they battled through the crowd.
"Let's go there!" Mary said, pointing at a carrousel.
Oh God, no! "Sure," Cassian said, trying to sound a little more enthusiastic. Mary didn't seem to notice and pulled him along.
They bumped into a clown.
"Sorry! We're so sorry!"
"Don't worry about it, little ones," the clown said, helping Mary up. "You best be quick on your way home tonight, Cinderella and Prince Charming." The Clown looked closer at Cassian.
Crap!
"Why aren't you wearing a dress?" White Owl hissed.
"Circumstances changed. Due to a little incident, she found out I was a guy. Don't worry. She told me to keep the disguise up when Cain came home."
"Gotcha," White Owl said with a smile. "Really though, you do want to get her home before midnight. The whole place is gonna blow."
"Thanks for the tip," Cassian whispered.
"What was that about?" Mary asked when Cassian joined her.
"The clown told me to be a good Knight-in-Shining-Armor."
Mary smiled wider. "You're already a good Knight-in-Shining-Armor, Cassian."
Cassian blushed and looked away. Damn it…why is this getting so difficult? Why the hell am I having second thoughts about killing the Earl?
Mary took Cassian's hand and pulled him toward the carrousel.
Am I having second thoughts because he's Mary's brother? That's impossible! If that were the case, then who cares? The Doctor's also her brother. That isn't it either. Maybe…no. That can't happen.
Mary climbed on top of a white horse. Cassian, reluctantly, climbed up next to her on a black horse with a golden mane.
Because if it does…
Mary laughed beside him, enjoying the ride.
If it does…
Cassian watched the little girl beside him. He could tell why a lot of her friends were boys.
She'll learn eventually…
Yellow hair, a pretty face, bright blue eyes, spunk that most girls lacked…
That I'm not a child or an adult…
A beautiful smile, a wonderfully clear laugh…
I'm just something in between, even though I'm still a human…
A strength that not many woman could use even if they had it, a rebellious nature to the limitations that high society set for a girl her age…
I don't want to risk…
Mary was so mature for a girl her age. Even full grown men seemed to fall for her…
Being hurt again…
"Cassian? What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Just some dust got in my eyes."
She'll only like me if she thinks I'm a child anyway…
They left just before the fireworks started. It was difficult, but Cassian had convinced her somehow. The moment they had left the Crimone Gardens, an explosion was lit. Mary's eyes widened as the Crimone Garden caught fire and ash blew forth.
Cassian grabbed her hand and they ran, trying to escape the remnant of the explosion. After they had ran as far as they could, Mary almost collapsed onto the ground, if not for Cassian catching her.
"Feeling alright?" he asked.
Mary nodded. "Just a little…out of breath."
Cassian knelt down in front of her. "Climb on. I'll carry you."
Mary blinked, but did so. Cassian hoisted her onto his back with ease and began to walk.
"Are you sure this is alright?"
"It's fine," Cassian said. Sure, they had run a long ways, but Cassian could bear it. He sprinted longer distances. "I've gone through worse."
Mary smiled. "Thanks, Cassian. I didn't think that the Belk Boys would have targeted it."
"The Clown was apparently warning as many people as he could," Cassian said. "I didn't want to scare you, so…"
Mary rolled her eyes. "That's nothing. I've braved worse. Or have you forgotten that mad Doctor."
Cassian shook his head. "I haven't."You've no idea how mad he really is, Mary. If you did, you'd think he'd be better off with a crazy hairdo and in an asylum…At times I wonder why we don't just commit him to one…
Not much time passed afterward until they returned to the Estate. Cassian set Mary down and they walked back inside.