Page 53 of Alone with the Beastly Duke
“Thank you, Your Grace,” Jasmine replied, curtseying before taking her seat. Axel waited patiently for her to take her seat before he did.
There was a moment of silence as they stared at each other, eyes boring into each other. While Axel could not quite read Jasmine’s mind, he knew that her train of thought was similar to his, and what he was thinking about as he looked at her was how to get her out of the dress later in the day. However, none of them could quite act on their passion because of the footmen waiting at the table. One action out of character from either of them could get the whole Ton talking about them by dusk.
They both ate in silence before Axel finally broke it.
“What do you wish to do today, Lady Jasmine?” he asked.
Jasmine chewed the food in her mouth before responding.
“I wish to read quietly in the library like I usually do,” she replied.
Axel nodded. “If you need me to get more books for you, all you have to do is mention it,” he offered.
Jasmine shook her head. “Your Grace, you are far too kind. However, I am content with the books in the library.”
“It is my duty to ensure that you, my guest, are as comfortable as possible,” Alex responded.
“And I have been more than comfortable. You have made my stay here easy and pleasant,” she replied.
“I am elated to hear that,” he said before they continued eating in silence again. It was important that they acted in the typical guest-host manner as it would keep the servants from ever suspecting that there was more to their relationship than met the eye.
“Your Grace,” Maxwell said, coming in with a stack of mail.
“Thank you,” Axel responded as he collected the letters.
Most of the mail was from his business partners, but one piece of mail piqued Axel’s interest as it looked nothing like the rest. Axel opened it, and his blood ran cold when he began to read. He quickly glanced at Jasmine, but thankfully, she was busy wolfing down her breakfast, not noticing how perturbed he was by the missive he had just received.
“Excuse me, My Lady,” Axel said, springing to his feet with the letter and its envelope, “I have to go.”
Jasmine looked confused but did not say anything out of the ordinary. “Of course, Your Grace.”
Once Axel left the dining room, he ran the rest of the way to his study where he could have his privacy.
He opened the letter again. The handwriting was a familiar one that he had read time and time again.
Dear Axel,
Before reading on, I would implore that you read the second sheet of paper first.
Axel searched the missive and saw another sheet of paper. He pulled it out.
The Ton is not a stranger to its favorite outcast, the Nordic Beast, who has had his own fair share of controversy. From being the primary suspect in the death of his wife to totally shunning the Ton.
Well, he seems to have even further courted controversy this time because the beastly giant seems to have not only managed to kidnap a young maiden of marriageable age but has also found a way to get her not to recoil at the beastly sight of him.
While we do not know for sure who she is, we can state that she is a daughter of a member of the Ton. Whichever one it is, it is safe to assume that the Nordic Beast misled and has taken advantage of this young maiden.
As a community, we can only hope that the parents of this young maiden shall protect what is left of her dignity and that the Ton can also protect the innocence of our other children by banishing this man once and for all.
Axel’s hands shook as he lay the letter on the table, his heart beating fast. He could not believe what he had just read, and above all, he could not believe that Dorothy would go this far just to hurt him.
What had Dorothy just done?
He now knew that“Hell hath no fury than a woman scorned”was not just a statement. He turned his attention to the first letter and continued reading.
Axel, I am sure you already know who sent this letter and that you enjoyed reading that. It is simply a little present I plan to leave for you in the newspaper.
“Newspaper?”
