Page 37 of Alone with the Beastly Duke
Jasmine frowned. “But you can do this menial labor despite being the Lord of the house?” she asked.
“That is because I like to do these things. It is activities like this that bring me joy,” he explained.
“And I want to do them too. Papa and Mama never allowed me to water the garden at home even when I wanted to,” she said.
Axel was at a crossroads; as much as he wanted to let her water the garden, he also did not want her family to ever think that he was treating her less than the noble person she was. However, when he glanced at her and saw her looking up at him with her doe-eyes, his resolve melted.
“Fine,” he replied.
He watched her fill the watering can, and they headed to the flowers. Excited at the activity, Jasmine lifted the can and began to pour the contents on the flower.
“No! Not like that,” Axel said, holding her hand to stop her. “There is a method to watering flowers.”
“Is that so?” Jasmine looked apologetic, “I had no idea.”
“It is fine. Now, let me show you how to properly water flowers,” he said. “Exposing plants to too much water can have the opposite effect instead of helping them.”
“So, a precise amount of water must be supplied to a flower?” she asked.
“Indeed. When you tried to water the flowers earlier, you poured the water on the top of the flower. That is not the correct way to water a flower,” he continued.
“Oh, I had no idea.”
“The correct way is to water the root, not the head of the flower,” he explained. Jasmine nodded, and Axel could tell she was listening with rapt attention. Holding the watering can by the handle, Jasmine sprayed just about an inch of water into the root.
Axel smiled as he watched her.
“How did I do?” she asked.
Axel smiled again. “You did just great,” he replied. “Now, I want you to water the flowers from the other end while I do it from this end. That way, we would both meet in the middle.”
Jasmine nodded, and they both got to work. As Axel watered the flowers, he could not help but steal glances at Jasmine. She looked happy watering the flowers, like a child left alone to her own devices. She looked so peaceful and happy, and Axel wished she could remain this happy forever.
He sighed as he realized he was slowly becoming consumed by thoughts of her again. Indeed, it was hard for him not to think about her. It was even harder because the more he tried to stay away from her, the more he found himself drawn to her.
He finally got to focus on the task at hand; soon enough, the only thing on his mind was watering the flowers. A while later, he realized that he had used up all the water in the can. He headed back to the pond, and on getting there, he saw Jasmine, who was also filling up her watering can with water.
“I had no idea you had already…” he started.
His voice, however, must have startled Jasmine because she gasped and dropped the bowl in her hand into the water, and it immediately began to glide off in the water. She turned and saw him. She smiled.
“I did not mean to startle you,” he apologized.
“You do not have to apologize. I just did not know you were there. I guess I am still a little fearful after what happened with the intruder,” she replied.
Axel’s heart went out to Jasmine. He could not imagine just how scared she must constantly be whenever she heard even the tiniest noise.
“I understand, My Lady,” he replied. “Now, let me get that bowl.”
“Oh, I will get it for you, Your Grace” Jasmine replied, and before Axel could protest, Jasmine reached her hand far into the water for the bowl.
“You can call me my first name, Axel,” he suggested.
Her hand did not quite touch the bowl, so she inched forward even more, hoping to get the bowl without having to step into the water. This did not quite work because one moment, Jasmine was at the bank of the pond trying to get her hands on the bowl, and the next moment, she slid into it. Jasmine struggled to wade in the water, but it was deeper than she thought, and her clothes were quite bulky, so their weight dragged her down.
“Jasmine!” Axel cried out before he jumped into the pond without even giving it a second thought.
ChapterTwelve
