Summary: After a fight with Bertrand, she skips a formal lunch to wander alone at a park and receives an unexpected proposal.
Jade was at a lounge in her train car drinking ice tea while Bertrand, Maxwell, and Justin were discussing the upcoming events of the engagement tour, though she wasn’t really paying attention to it. Suddenly Liam’s name came up on the conversation. She felt something aching inside. She hasn’t seen Liam for days. Not even a quick glance in the middle of a crowded dinner. She missed him more than anything, but he was certainly busy. Being a king on a business trip during his engagement tour surely takes at a lot of his time. Is it how the way things are going to be now? Would it get worse if he married Madeleine and I became the mistress?
“Jade?” Maxwell called Jade out of reverie.
“Yes?”
“We have to prepare for lunch at Da Gelsomina. We’re expected to show up and socialize with other nobles.” Bertrand said.
“Am I supposed to impress anyone in particular there?”
“Not really. It’s a minor event because the King won’t be available to attend, nor the Countess. All of the people expected for the lunch you already know. The press will be outside, but it’s a closed event, so they’ll not be able to see much and most of the reporters will be at the Cornodia’s embassy here waiting for King Liam and Countess Madeleine’s arrival. Just have a meal, be your charming self and mingle and it’ll be just fine.” Justin explained.
“Really? So if I skip it, we’ll not be doomed?”
“Why wouldn’t you attend a court event? You’re a noblewoman, part of Lady Madeleine’s entourage during the engagement tour. You have to be there.” Bertrand scolded.
“Because it’s not an important event. I’d rather be doing something else.” She shrugged
“What else will be more important restore your image and try to figure out how to clear your name in court, Lady Jade?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe I just need to have some time for myself, clear my head, try to keep sane in the middle of all this madness. From where I’m standing, I’m pretty sure that if I have to be on my best behavior during the major events, I should have some alone time to prepare for them.” Jade snapped.
She knows arguing with Bertrand won’t do her any good, but he’s too pushy and she needed to breathe. The pressure to be the perfect noble lady, the shady rumors the press was making about her, the sexist comments all the nobles say about her, missing Liam, the uncertainty of her future. Everything was kicking in, bringing back the anxiety, the fear of failure, all the self-loathing feelings. Suddenly, Jade stood up, walked to her cabin and grabbed a jacket.
“Where do you think you’re going?” Bertrand glared at her from the hallway.
“I’m going for walk,” she said, placing a few things in her clutch bag.
“That’s preposterous. You’re preparing for lunch, like any other dignified lady in court,” he refuted.
“Well guess what? I don’t care. I’ve already been to a dozen of these courtly events and no matter what I do or say, I still am the suitor who cheated on the King. And now that I’m in a foreign country where no one knows me, I am going out.” Jade turned on her heels and made her way out.
“Jade, don’t you dare leave this car,” Bertrand followed her yelling but she didn’t look back. Maxwell and Justin stepped in front of Bertrand as they heard her heels loudly clicking on the sidewalk.
“She’s just tired, Bertrand. Leave her be.” Maxwell said.
“Tired? I’ll show her tiredness if she drags House Beaumont into the mud!”
“What the hell is happening in here?” Drake left his cabin grumbling.
“That commoner!” Bertrand yelled as Maxwell tried to stop him from following Jade.
“Okay, the vein just popped on his forehead. Help me out here and I’ll tell you later.” Maxwell said as he struggled to restrain Bertrand.
…
Jade took a cab and asked the driver to go to a park. Any park. She just wanted to be away from everyone she knew. She barely spoke a few words to the driver, but the driver caught her gloomy eyes from the rear mirror view contemplating them streets and drove to a stunning and peaceful place.
“Questo è i Giardini di Augusto. È un parco molto bello. Ti piacerà qui.”¹ The driver flashed a reassuring smile and she smiled back, even though she just understood a few words he said. She paid and thanked him.
Heading into the park, she walked slowing absorbing every detail of that breathtaking place. Her blissful moment was interrupted by a buzz on her phone. Hmfp. She ignored the phone and strolled in the park. As she walked further inside the park, she found herself in the middle of a garden which was being prepared for a wedding. Wow… A wedding here would be like a dream. Jade wasn’t a sucker for big weddings, but this place made them very appealing.
She discreetly wandered, looking at the spot where the ceremony would be. The guests were in their places as the bridesmaids strolled around them garden giggling. But as she saw the groom waiting by the wedding arch, reality hit back. The man she loved is engaged and soon everything would be over for them. Can I go back to my old life after all this? Another buzz on her phone. There were 10 missed calls and 3 unread messages.
She sighed and texted one of them back.
She arrived at the park and Drake was already at the entrance.
“What the hell, Bourbon? You can’t just stroll in a foreign city without security.” He glared.
Jade narrowed her eyes. “It was a harmless walk in the park, don’t make a fuss about it.”
“Where were you anyway and what were you doing?” he inquired as they walked inside the park.
“I was roaming at Garden of Augustus. I needed to think. Then I saw a spot in the park being prepared for a wedding ceremony,” she looked down, trying to hide her glossy eyes from him.
He stood in front of her, taking her hands in his. “Hey, you’ll have your happily ever after. We’ll find those assholes who schemed against you.”
“But what if we don’t? What am I going to do? Stay and be Liam’s mistress? I can’t go back to my old life.”
“Come away with me.”
“What?” She stared wide-eyed at him.
“You heard me. Come away with me. We can leave Cordonia. We’ll go wherever you want to go.”
“Drake…” she bit her lower lip, unsure of how to respond. He pulled her into a desperate kiss. He held her, pressing her body on his. As she slowly responded to him, a particular memory popped on her head.
She pulled away, her expression sadder than before. She didn’t know what to say. Leaving Cordonia with Drake is a tempting idea. She is attracted to him, it’s undeniable. Still, he’s not Liam. His eyes grew somber. “Are you going to choose him? Are you really going to stoop so low and settle for less than what you deserve?”
Jade could she sense the disappointment and anger in his voice. He was so out of line to say this. He was judging her, just like every else did. “Stoop so low? He’s the man I love. I would do anything for him,” she yelled.
“Even if it means becoming his mistress and be known in the country as the King’s whore?” Drake was on his edge. He didn’t want to hurt her, but she had to know the truth and he wouldn’t sugarcoat it. “Make up your mind, Bourbon. It’s your life. But do it fast. I won’t wait for much longer. Not even for you.”
She didn’t say a word. She was sad and infuriated about what Drake, but she didn’t want to argue with him. They walked out of the park in silence, heading back to the train.
¹ “This is the Gardens of Augustus. It is a very nice park. You will like it here.”
