My Bratty Wife
Chapter 206 - Two Hundred And Six

Chapter 206: Chapter Two Hundred And Six

The morning air held a crisp coolness, though the sun promised warmth later in the day. In the wide, gravelled courtyard of Blackwood Castle, there was a quiet bustle of activity. Sturdy guards oversaw the loading of several travelling trunks and cases into a waiting carriage, its dark paint gleaming softly. Maids hurried back and forth under the watchful eye of Irene, Suzy’s personal maid, who ensured everything was packed securely and logically. Noah stood stoically beside the open carriage door, his gaze scanning the surroundings.

Apart from the flurry of preparations stood Suzy. She was dressed simply but elegantly for travel in a deep blue day dress, a modest hat tied securely beneath her chin, and soft leather gloves covering her hands. Despite her attire, her posture was rigid, her arms crossed firmly over her chest, her expression set in stubborn lines. She watched the proceedings with undisguised disapproval.

Ryan emerged from the main entrance of the manor, looking much stronger than he had even a week ago. The past two weeks had seen a remarkable improvement in his recovery, though a slight stiffness sometimes betrayed the severity of the wound he’d suffered. He spotted Suzy immediately, her defiant stance unmistakable even from a distance. A soft sigh escaped him, but his expression remained gentle yet firm as he walked towards her.

He stopped directly in front of her, his presence commanding yet tender. He reached out and gently took her gloved hands in his, lifting them one by one to press a soft kiss against the leather covering her knuckles. His eyes, full of warmth and care, met hers.

"My Duchess," he began, his voice low and steady, meant only for her ears despite the nearby staff. "I thought we discussed this last night? Agreed upon it?"

Suzy pulled her hands back slightly, though she didn’t break his hold entirely. "We discussed it, Ryan, yes. But I did not agree. I cannot agree." She planted her feet firmly, tilting her chin up. "I’m not leaving."

Ryan’s grip on her hands tightened almost imperceptibly. "Cassandra, please. Be reasonable. You have to go back to the chateau. It’s the only way I can be certain you are completely safe."

"Safe?" she countered, her voice rising slightly with frustration. "And what about you? What about your safety? What about your healing? I need to be here with you, Ryan, to ensure you recover properly. You still need care. If I leave..." she gestured vaguely towards the castle, her eyes filled with worry, "who will make sure you don’t push yourself too hard? Who will change the dressing if it becomes necessary? Who will simply... be here?"

Her voice trembled slightly on the last words, revealing the fear beneath her stubbornness – not just for his physical well-being, but for the dangerous path he seemed determined to tread. She started to elaborate, listing the things she did, the small comforts, the watchful eye she kept... "If I’m not here to remind you to rest, you’ll..."

Before she could finish her sentence, Ryan leaned in swiftly and silenced her protest with a kiss. It wasn’t demanding like the one in the study had become, but it was firm, deliberate, effectively stopping her words and stealing her breath. It spoke of love, but also of an unshakeable decision made for her own good.

After a long moment, Suzy pulled back, her cheeks flushing a bright pink. She darted an embarrassed glance around the courtyard. A few of the younger maids closer to the carriage quickly looked down at their tasks, though Suzy caught the tell-tale signs of suppressed giggles. Irene seemed intensely focused on supervising the placement of a hatbox, while Noah remained resolutely stone-faced, staring straight ahead.

"Ryan!" Suzy hissed, mortified. "We are outside! There are people all around us! Why would you do that?"

A small, unapologetic smile touched Ryan’s lips. He didn’t release her hands, instead pulling her a fraction closer by the waist, ignoring the blush that deepened on her cheeks. "Because," he murmured, his eyes twinkling despite the seriousness of the situation, "whenever you start explaining things so earnestly, with that little frown of concentration... I find myself utterly captivated by your lips. I couldn’t help myself. Forgive me?"

His charm, even now, was potent. Suzy felt her indignation falter, the thread of her argument momentarily lost as she stared up at him, flustered. She opened her mouth, then closed it again, forgetting what she had been about to say.

Ryan took advantage of her momentary distraction, his expression turning serious again, though his tone remained gentle. "Listen to me, Cassandra," he said, responding to her earlier concerns. "I told you last night, and I will say it again now: I am fine. Truly. It has been two weeks since the attack. The wound is healing remarkably well – Mr Abernathy himself said so yesterday. I am careful." He squeezed her hands gently. "And I won’t be entirely alone. Mrs. Madelyn downstairs fusses over me more than enough for ten people," he added with a slight grimace, attempting to lighten the mood. " Davis is also here, Byron visits constantly, and the household staff are loyal. Besides," he added, injecting a note of practicality, "I have already sent Mrs. Agnes a letter. She is expecting your arrival at the chateau this evening. Everything is arranged."

Suzy’s resolve seemed to waver, but she made one last attempt. "But..."

Ryan cut her off, his voice still soft but leaving no room for further argument. "My love, having you safe, miles away at the chateau... it will be a profound relief for me. Knowing you are out of harm’s way allows me to focus on what needs to be done here." He gently released one of her hands and reached up to caress her cheek, his thumb brushing softly against her skin just below her eye. "Think, Cassandra. If you had been here with me that night... if they had found us together... they wouldn’t have hesitated. They would have gotten you too."

He let the stark reality of his words sink in. The memory of the attack, the fear he must have felt knowing she could have been caught in it, hung heavy in the air between them. Suzy’s gaze dropped, the fight visibly draining out of her. She fell silent, understanding the grim truth he spoke. Her presence, while a comfort to him, was also a vulnerability he couldn’t bear.

Seeing her quiet acceptance, Ryan leaned down and pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead. He kept his hand on her cheek for another moment before speaking again, his tone shifting slightly, appealing to another aspect of her life. "Besides," he said softly, "you have postponed the Orphanage Jubilee twice now because of all this. The children adore you. They look forward to it all year. They will be so sad if they find out their celebration is being delayed further simply for my sake."

That struck home. Suzy visibly wilted, her head drooping slightly. She did care deeply for the children at the orphanage, and the thought of disappointing them added another layer of reluctant acceptance to Ryan’s logic. She knew he was right. Staying might endanger them both and disrupt lives beyond their own.

Ryan gently took her arm. "Come," he murmured. He walked her the few remaining steps towards the waiting carriage. Noah opened the door wide, his expression unchanging. Ryan carefully helped Suzy up the steps and into the comfortable interior. Her movements were slow now, resigned. Irene had already placed a small travel cushion, a lap blanket on the seat and a box of cookies and small jar of milk prepared by Mrs Madelyn.

Before Noah closed the door, Ryan leaned in, his eyes holding hers, filled with love and the pain of parting. "I will write everyday," he promised, his voice thick with emotion. "And I will see you soon as soon as it’s safe. I love you, Cassandra."

The door clicked shut, a sound of finality. The carriage lurched slightly as the driver signalled the horses. It began to roll forward, picking up speed as it moved down the long drive. Suzy pressed her face close to the window, watching Ryan’s figure standing tall and solitary in the courtyard. He didn’t move until the carriage turned towards the main gates.

"I love you too," she whispered, her voice barely audible even to herself, tears finally blurring her vision as his figure faded from sight.