"Young man, didn't your parents teach you not to spy on people?" Russella's voice caught Cassian off guard. She hadn't turned around, yet somehow, she'd sensed his presence. When she turned to face him, her expression was mildly stern.
Cassian, realizing he'd been caught, stepped into the room with an awkward grin. "Uh… sorry about that. But… I'm actually an orphan, so I guess I missed out on that lesson."
Russela's stern look softened as she turned back to the altar, which Cassian noticed was empty. She gave a small bow before glancing over her shoulder at him. "Well, it's still something you might want to learn. I don't mind, since I was only praying, but next time, be careful—some people might take it personally."
"I understand, and I apologize for spying on you, Lady Russella," Cassian said, bowing respectfully.
Russella gave a slight nod. "As long as you understand, it's fine." But as she rose, Cassian noticed her limbs trembling. She suddenly lost her balance, and before she could fall, Cassian stepped forward, catching her just in time.
Cassian's arm wrapped around Russella's waist, supporting her as she leaned into him, her trembling body settling against his chest. He steadied her with his other hand gently placed on her shoulder, preventing her from falling forward. It was fortunate she was only a few inches taller than him, unlike Cassandra and Dallas, who each towered over him by a foot or more; this way, he could hold her steady without struggling.
"You don't look well, Lady Russella," he said, concern evident in his voice. "Should I call for someone to help?"
Yet as he held her close, Cassian couldn't entirely ignore the softness of her body pressed against him or the light, exotic fragrance she wore, like a blend of citrus and rare fruits. He shook the stray thoughts from his mind, focusing on keeping her upright as she took a steadying breath.
"No, don't…" she blurted out, startling Cassian with the urgency in her voice. He hadn't expected such a strong reaction to his simple offer, but he just nodded, then asked gently, "Can I at least help you to your room?"
Russela tried to stand on her own but struggled, finally nodding with a resigned sigh. "I'd be grateful if you would…"
"Alright, where's your room?" Cassian asked, steadying her as they began to walk. It took nearly a full minute to get her out of the room at her slow pace, with him practically supporting her weight. He thought about carrying her but doubted he was strong enough—and wasn't sure she'd approve of it anyway.
Russela was still trembling, even her lips quivering as she broke into a heavy sweat. She managed to gasp out in a single, hurried breath, "Just across the corridor."
Cassian nodded, tightening his grip around her waist to support her as he slowly guided her down the short hallway. Halfway there, she whispered between labored breaths, "Don't… tell anyone… about this…"
Her voice was faint but determined, each word strained. "Not even… my husband… I do this… for the village's well-being…"
"I won't, don't worry, my lady, just rest," Cassian reassured her with a smile. His eyes briefly glanced over her shapely chest, particularly focusing on the object she held in her hand while praying.
At first glance, it appeared to be a silver necklace—or so he thought. Instead, it seemed like a natural object with a silvery shine, perhaps a piece of tooth or bone. His curiosity was piqued about what she was praying to and the significance of the item, as well as her religion. However, there was no time to ask, so he gently helped her lie down on a nearby bed. He wasn't sure if it was her bedroom, but he was certain it wasn't the room where Aiden had entered, as that was on the opposite side of the house.
'She sleeps away from her husband?' Cassian wondered, glancing at her lying there, trembling and breathing heavily. Concerned, he asked, "Is there anything more I can do to help, my lady?" He pulled a blanket over her, but she quickly pushed it off, shaking her head.
"No...you've done enough... I just need to bear through it. You can...go," she murmured, her voice weak but resolute.
Cassian hesitated. He couldn't just walk away, not while she was clearly in pain, and from what he'd seen, she was a kind woman who didn't deserve to suffer . Ignoring her protests, he gently grasped her leg, surprising her.
"I asked you to leave. What are you doing?" she demanded, startled.
"I can't stand by while a lady is in distress," he replied softly. "Let me help." He then began to apply a massage technique to her leg, hoping it might bring her some relief.
"You can't…ahhh…" Russella's words broke into a gasp, her trembling hand reaching out to stop him before clutching the bed sheets tightly.
Cassian didn't stop, though, even as her cries of pain filled the room. He continued massaging her legs and feet with focused determination. He believed it might help, and he could see it starting to work; her condition reminded him of Lady Katherine's tension, only far more intense. Her muscles were so tight they trembled with the strain, and he knew the only way to ease it was through this deep massage.
Russella kept trembling and gasping, but slowly, her cries quieted, and her legs finally began to relax. With tear-filled eyes, she looked at him, surprised and relieved. "How did you do that?"
"Forget about that—are you feeling better now?" Cassian asked with a smile, wiping his own forehead, a bit sweaty after minutes of focused effort. He'd been massaging her legs so intently that he even forgot his usual wandering thoughts.
Russella nodded weakly, her body still trembling slightly but far less than before. "Thank you… you can stop now," she murmured.
Cassian, still working on her thighs, shook his head. "I can't just yet. I've noticed that the tension in your muscles starts to come back a few minutes after I stop. If I leave it , you might start trembling again."
The relief that had shone in her eyes quickly faded into a hint of sadness as she replied with a forced smile, "Well, it can't be helped. It's not like you can massage me all night."
Cassian would have shocked her if she knew just how long he could go, but he wasn't about to mention that. He didn't want to spend the entire night giving her a massage, either. The only way he could think to help her was with a proper massage, but he hesitated. Lady Katherine had specifically asked him not to give these kinds of massages to anyone else. Sure, he'd made an exception for Lucy since they were close, but this was his first time meeting Russella. He wasn't sure if he should proceed, especially since he needed her to be naked for that and would have to touch areas he doubted she'd be comfortable with.