Page 12 of Alone with the Beastly Duke
“But you did not answer my question,” Jasmine responded.
“I did,” Cassian argued.
“You did not. You said no one truly knows,” she pointed out. “I will not be giving you the five shillings.”
Jasmine smiled with mischief while Cassian looked shocked that she had, somehow, beat him at his own game.
“I will get my pound of flesh,” Cassian said. Jasmine laughed.
“Consider this my pound of flesh for the times when you played pranks on me,” she smiled.
Cassian stormed off in anger.
“I would not mess with Cassian if I were you,” Rose said to Jasmine. “The last time I tried to outsmart him, I regretted it.”
Jasmine could remember vividly how Cassian had taken his revenge. It was at the time when their parents would often seize Rose’s science books, so she would not confuse her head. When Rose refused to make good on a promise she made to Cassian, however, Cassian “accidentally” let it slip that Rose hid her books and science equipment in the floorboard underneath her bed. Their parents seized all of Rose’s equipment, but when Rose gave Cassian what he had asked for, he helped her steal back her equipment and even helped her hide them from the prying eyes of their parents.
“I lost an experiment that I had been working on for so long during the process, but I learned a valuable lesson: never try to outsmart or cheat Cassian,” she said.
Jasmine was not bothered. “I have nothing that Cassian can ruin.”
“Girls, why are you standing around doing nothing?” the Countess’ voice scolded. “It is time for dinner. Go up to your rooms and get ready.”
Rose and Jasmine headed to their rooms, but Jasmine could not help but notice that her mother did not say anything about her being missing earlier. It was almost like her mother never really cared.
Jasmine went into her room and changed into a green dress for dinner. She also combed her hair and washed her face to appear refreshed.
She hopped down the stairs happily to eat with her family. She was, therefore, disappointed when she got to the dining room moments later and saw that her family were already halfway into the meal, talking and laughing amongst themselves. They had not even bothered to wait for her.
She slowly approached the dining table, and when her mother saw her, her eyes widened in surprise, but then, she continued speaking excitedly about their upcoming trip and how they would decorate the castle.
Jasmine knew then that her mother had not even noticed that she was missing from the dining table. She took her seat and ate while blinking away the tears that brimmed in her eyes.
Jasmine had never felt so much like an outsider as she did at that moment.
ChapterFour
Axel’s carriage stopped in front of his house, and his coachman opened the door for him.
He took a deep breath in the chilly late-night atmosphere. He felt a lot better than he was when he had left the house. His good mood was not unconnected with the woman he had met at the bookshop, the same one that had snatched his money and made a run for it.
He entered his house still in a good mood and even acknowledged his butler’s greetings.
“Your Grace, you have a guest,” his Butler said.
“Is that so?” He turned around to see one of his dear friends, Fillmore, sitting in his drawing room.
Fillmore was a muscular man who was one of his few friends in London. He was not a member of the Ton, which was one reason Axel grew so close to him. Unlike members of the Ton, Fillmore simply spent time with him because he wanted to, not because he was hoping to get something out of their friendship. For this reason, Axel valued Fillmore dearly.
“I was beginning to think that you had forgotten about our sparring match,” Fillmore remonstrated.
“Sparring match?” Axel muttered in confusion before he suddenly remembered.
Axel and Fillmore often boxed together, which was a good way for Axel to keep his body active and mind healthy. He had, somehow, forgotten that they were supposed to box on this day.
“You must forgive me, Fillmore. I had totally forgotten all about it,” Axel apologized.
“Should I be concerned? You never forget about our boxing sessions,” Fillmore responded, concern evident on his face.
