Jewelry Box

Ch. 15 The Mysterious Man

James Kendrick

I stumped my way back into the house. Anger and annoyance filled my heart and mind. How dare Victoria treat me like that?

As I started heading up, the family butler was standing right in front of my room.

“Lord Kendrick,” the butler greeted.

I opened the doors, ignoring his presence completely. Then I stepped into my room, which was being cleaned by two of the servants.

“Is something the matter?” I asked, while taking my coat off. I had my back to him, so I couldn’t see his expression.

“You have a guest,” my butler responded, making me halt.

I turned to face him just to find his face with a crease. He seemed uncomfortable and worried at the same time.

“Where is he?” I asked.

“The tearoom,” the butler answered.

Untying my tie, I threw it on the floor and headed straight to the room where my guest was waiting.

I frowned as I started approaching the place. Why were there so many guards?

As they opened the door, I walked in.

“You’re late,” he said, while sipping on the cinnamon tea that filled the air.

I eyed him, scoffing his way.

“I thought I could only call you when I needed a word with you. This is surprising, if I can call it that,” I said sternly, making him eye me carefully.

“I don’t like that tone of yours,” he said and continued drinking the tea. “I came to see how you’ve been doing. Victoria hurt you.

I raised an eyebrow as I noticed his smug smile. This bastard was railing against me.

“I just visited her. She’s moving today with that bastard,” I retorted.

“Yes, I heard so. But did you know Alexander signed a contract?” he said, making me frown.

“Excuse me?” I asked, confused. What was he talking about?

“Alexander Graham signed the magic contract which Duke Lombardy offered without hesitation,” he explained. “I’m surprised he offered that if he trusted his words.”

“Impossible,” I said, knowing exactly what he was talking about.

The magic contract binds someone to a family and makes them loyal. It’s a strange contract that is punishable by death. Not anyone dares to sign it, and I don’t think Alexander Graham signed that so easily. There had to be something else this bastard wasn’t saying.

“He signed it,” he explained, smiling. I frowned.

“What?” I asked, taking a scone from the plate and leaning on my chair. I waited for his response.

“The contract binds two persons,” he smirked devilishly. His eyes were glued to my face for any reaction. “Victoria and Alexander are under a contract. His loyalty is to her and not the Lombardy duchy.”

My eyes widened. Laughing, I leaned over the table, spilling some of the tea.

“Be serious,” I said.

“Indeed, a priest from the temple was the witness. Also, rumors started going around about that incident. A few of the servants were gossiping about it,” he explained. “What will you do now?”

I eyed him.

“I will get Victoria back,” I answered and stood from my seat.

“It won’t be easy,” he said, making me clench my hands on the side. “Alexander seems serious about her.”

“You think that?” I looked over my shoulder. “That man had never been interested in women.”

“I know, but he is also interested in what they have,” he commented, picking up my interest.

“The Lombardy jewels,” he whispered, smirking. That smile was devilish, and I hated it.

“He doesn’t know about it.” My voice came out in barely a whisper. It was already dangerous what we were doing, but speaking of it here, it was more dangerous than anything else.

“I got word he had visited a store and bought a jewel.”

“So?” I spat coldly.

“It wasn’t an ordinary one,” he said, the chair screeching on the floor.

His men gathered and helped him with his long cloak that draped elegantly over his broad shoulders.

Ruffling his hair, he walked closer until his close to my ear. I could feel the stinking odor of cigarettes in his mouth.

“Alexander is aiming for the jewels,” he said and walked away, leaving me boiling with anger. “Be sure to get those, at least.”

“Have my men keep tabs on Duke Graham. Keep a distance as always,” I ordered my knights, who stood in between the shadows outside the trees.

Walking over to a mirror, I stood and gazed at my reflection. My eyes stared at his face. Flashbacks of old nightmares appeared in my mind, making me grimace in distaste.

“You should be dead,” I whispered while staring at my reflection. “I will kill you again[DA1] .”

***

Victoria

“Get up Victoria,” Alexander ordered. His voice echoed on a cool morning.

I groaned and stood, dusting my clothes off. Taking a step back into my position, I lifted my sword.

“Grab that sword with all your strength and stand firm,” Alexander ordered once again.

It was dawn and, just as promised, Alexander started training me a week ago. I have to admit; I didn’t expect things to be this hard. That all my weaknesses would be revealed to him.

I could barely keep up with his strength.

“Stand straight and stop getting distracted,” Alexander said, and attacked head-on.

I barely blocked his attack. My arms ached from all the training.

“Again!” Alexander boomed. I groaned and lifted both my arms.

The weight of the sword made it harder for me to block his attacks. As I make a turn, Alexander bumps into my shoulder and hits me on the back, using his sword.

I coughed as the handle of the sword hit me near a rib. The excruciating pain made me get teary.

“Can you go easy?” I barked.

Alexander walked closer, while I remained on the ground.

I gasped for some fresh air. The pain got worse by the second.

“Let’s stop for today,” Alexander stated, crouching by my side. I looked up and found his worried gaze staring into my body.

Offering his hand, I took it with trembling hands. Suddenly, I yelled in surprise.

“What are you doing?” I screeched as he picked me in his arms.

“Taking the duchess back up to her bedroom,” Alexander mumbled without looking at me.

I kept my arms around his neck, embarrassed at who might see us.

I could smell his cologne mixed with his sweat. It smelled manly enough to make my heart flutter.

Alexander seemed unfazed by our positions, but I was, and I couldn’t hide it well from him.

“I won’t be in the duchy today. So stay inside,” Alexander quickly added. I raised my face to look at him.

“You’re going out?” I asked curiously.

“Yes, I have to check things around the duchy. Might come back in the afternoon,” Alexander explained.

“Can I go?” I asked, feeling hyped. I’ve been dying to check the duchy. “I promise I won’t be distracting you.”

Alexander’s eyes moved to mine. We were so close our breath tickled our faces.

Clearing my throat away, I looked somewhere else. It wasn’t him. His intense gaze made me feel smaller.

“It’s not that, but because of the danger that’s out there, Victoria,” Alexander frowned. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”

I blushed at his words. I understood he had a duty, an obligation to protect me. But I was tired of being protected. Giving up, I lowered my head, and I dejectedly sighed.

We walked into the mansion to find the butler and others staring at us in shock. I kept my head lowered.

“Fine,” Alexander sighed as we headed up the stairs. I snapped my head up. “But we will ride a horse together. And I need you in my sight all the time. Are we clear?”

“Yes,” I beamed.

Alexander gave me a broad smile, and I thanked him. The heat of my cheeks makes me conscious of what I feel when he smiles.

Distracting myself with my excitement. I think back on the duchy’s history I read from the files Bee shared with me. I couldn’t wait to go around. The place is enormous and there’s a lot to see. And it’s my duty as the duchess, even if it’s temporary, to do my job correctly.