Page 57 of Alone with the Beastly Duke
“Yes, I sent the reply that mother and father could not come back for you,” Cassian said, smiling excitedly.
Jasmine fumed. “How could you?” she seethed.
She knew how mischievous Cassian could be, but she had no idea he could go this far.
Cassian shrugged. “I wanted to make you angry,” he answered.
“Cassian, I…”
“But I did it as revenge for when you cheated me,” Cassian said.
“Cheated? I have never cheated you…”
“Remember when you begged me to tell you all I knew about the Nordic Beast, and you did not give me the five shillings I asked for?” he asked.
Jasmine remembered.
“I cannot believe you made up all this mess because of a mere five shillings,” she huffed.
“I told you that Cassian is the last person you should ever try to outsmart,” Rose reminded her.
Jasmine nodded. “I will not be making that mistake again.”
“There is a new prank I have been working on, Jasmine. Do you think I should play the prank on the Nordic Beast when he comes for dinner today?” Cassian asked.
“No!” Jasmine said a little louder than she had envisaged.
Her siblings all glanced at her in surprise.
“I mean, His Grace is probably already tired of constantly having unscrupulous children playing pranks on him, especially since he is an unpopular person in the Ton. Moreover, would you rather not do something positive for a man who has taken care of your sister?” she asked.
Cassian looked confused. “Playing pranks is positive,” he argued.
Jasmine sighed in exasperation. “Just do not play a prank on him. He is our guest, and we should only make him feel welcome. Playing a prank on him would be hostile.”
“I will think about it,” Cassian said, but Jasmine could tell he was not convinced.
“I will tell Papa that you plan on playing pranks on his guest,” Jasmine said as she acted as though she was leaving to tell her father about Cassian’s plan. “Papa!”
“Fine! Fine!” Cassian surrendered, “I will find someone else to play the prank on.”
“I take it that you find the Nordic Beast more pleasant than what you have been told about him,” Rose asked in a low tone so that only Jasmine could hear her.
Jasmine’s heart skipped a beat.
Does Rose know what happened between Axel and me?
“I...I do not understand,” Jasmine stuttered.
“I mean, you have only said good things about him since you returned. Therefore, he must not have been as terrible as the Ton painted him to be,” Rose said.
“Oh!” Jasmine heaved a sigh of relief as she realized that she had misinterpreted Rose. “Indeed, he is pleasant.”
“Are you all right, Jasmine?” Rose asked. “You looked terrified just now.”
Jasmine smiled. “I think I might just be a little tired. I have missed my bed and…I would like to take a quick nap before dinner. Excuse me,” Jasmine said as she hurried off to her room.
She had only spent a moment with her family and was already flustered and scared out of her wits at the thought of her family finding out the kind of relationship she had had with Axel.
