2 - Rejection

Kate covered her nose and quickly walked past his room like it was the plague. She only let out her breath once she reached Olivia's bedroom. She walked in, carefully placed the shopping bags on the huge sized bed and stepped out. Again, she held her breath when she came across his room, her feet made sure not to make any sound nor draw any attention and only let out her breath once she had walked away.

Kate then made her way into the kitchen, she greeted the servants who smiled back at her with warmth. Only Kate treated the help with kindness and equality. She took the line juice on a tray, walked back to the living room and gave Olivia her lime juice.

Harry was stomping the carpeted floor with his boots, making sure to let his mother and sister know how visibly upset he was that they were ordering Kate around like a servant.

Kate smiled all the time and did try to assure him that she didn't mind catering to Olivia's needs. They both took a walk in the fields, the bright afternoon sun blazed so high in the sky.

“Why do you always obey my mother and sister? You know I don't like it when they treat you like you're a part of the servants.” Harry couldn't help but say.

“You worry so much, and that too for just a small little thing.” Kate had a smile. “I've already told that I don't have any problem helping your sister and Mrs Charlotte.”

“But I do have a problem!” Harry replied angrily. “They know that very soon you are going to become my wife and a permanent member of this family. And for that, they should respect you.”

Kate's chest bloomed like a budding flower. She loved it whenever Harry defended her. She felt safe, loved and protected by his side. She smiled, rested her head on his arm and took his hand in hers, their fingers intertwined. “Please, Harry. I don't want you arguing with your mother and sister over me, I feel bad whenever you fight with them because of me.”

“They are the ones who start the fight. They treat you badly and I don't like it.” Harry said with a deep frown.

“Then look at it this way. I'm not a member of your family, Harry. But still, your father brought me to live with you instead of an orphanage, and not once was I treated like part of the servants. I have my own bedroom, Olivia takes me shopping with her and your father even buys nice things for me whenever he returns from his travels.” Kate passed a small glance at him before continuing. “Your father treats me like his daughter, he gave me a basic education too and all of these were given to me for free. So when Olivia or Mrs Charlotte ask me to do small chores for them, how can I refuse? I would seem ungrateful for all that your family has done for me.”

Harry inhaled and exhaled deeply. He didn't want to fight with Kate and simply wanted to spend the next two days with her before leaving for France. Harry nodded. “Fine then, I won't say anything to my annoying sister and mother. But they would have to stop ordering you around by the time I get married to you.”

He then turned to face her, holding both of her hands and Kate smiled at him. “Then you better hurry up in completing your studies in France and return soon to take me as your wife.”

“Yes, ma'am.” Harry answered playfully and they both laughed and smiled at each other, unbeknownst to them that from the corner of the mansion, on the first floor, a window on the right hid behind a pair of sharp gray eyes staring at them intently.

.........

Later that afternoon, Kate was riding her favorite horse named Rue near the stables. Aside from writing secretly, Kate also loved horse riding. Her golden hair flying with the wind as she rode around like a pro.

After riding for an hour and a half, Kate got down and finally took Rue back to the stables to rest. She carried a bunch of hay and set it in front of the horse when one of the servants who was a little boy approached her in the stables.

“Ms Kate....” The little boy called for her attention.

Kate turned around and smiled at the boy. She knew he was one of the servant's sons named Levi.

“Hello, Levi.” Kate smiled at the boy while smoothening Rue's hair with a brush. “What can I do for you?”

“I was sent to give you these,” The boy then took out his hands from behind and revealed some flowers which were recently plucked and bounded together.

And they weren't just any flowers, they were carnations - her favorite flower.

The white carnation was her favorite but the ones Levi had brought for her were dark red in color which signified deep love.

“For me?” Kate blinked in surprise.

The boy nodded smiling.

Kate immediately thought of Harry. She wondered if Harry had returned from the train station after booking his tickets and on the way, brought her favorite type of flower. But then Kate never remembered informing Harry about the Carnation flower being her favorite.

Nonetheless, Kate received the flowers with a wide smile. “And may I know who sent you to come and give me these flowers?” Her mind already told her it was Harry who sent the flowers.

“If you want to know, then head to the back of the mansion.” The boy answered teasingly and scurried away before Kate could ask him another question.

Kate stared at the flowers, her heart swooning. “Harry is so loving,” she whispered to herself and brought the flowers to her nose to sniff its fragrance. But instead a familiar woody cologne swept through her nose.

Her spine tingled and her back got stiff almost instantly. Her whole body slightly trembling as her mind worked quickly and easily figured out who had sent her the flowers. It wasn't Harry at all.

But him, the definition of trouble and one to eschew.

Edmund Monterrey.

Both irritation and annoyance settled in her stomach. Suddenly she didn't like the carnation flower anymore. Her grip around the stem of the flowers tightened, almost snapping it apart. Her chest rose in uneven rhythm as she quickly dashed out of the stables, ran towards the kitchen and stopped in front of the dustbin.

She wasted no time in breaking apart the stems, and squeezing the broad flowers until the beautiful petals all fell apart. She tossed it all into the bin and walked away, satisfied that she didn't have anything that came from Edmund.

..........

During dinner, everybody took their seats at the dining table. Mr Collin Monterrey took his rightful place at the head of the table, Charlotte sat next to her husband and Olivia sat right next to her mother. Harry sat right across from Olivia and Kate sat down next to him.

The servants walked into the dining room with dinner and were beginning to serve the dishes.

“Tell me, son. Are you all set and packed for your trip to France?” Mr Collin asked Harry and Charlotte's face beamed with a proud smile.

Harry nodded as he popped some berries into his mouth. “Yes, father. I'm all set.”

Mr Collin smiled with pride. “I am proud of you, my son.”

Just then the doors opened and Edmund walked in. His presence easily changed the entire atmosphere at the dining table. Even the servants reacted when Edmund arrived. It wasn't everyday that Edmund came down for dinner, but for some reason he decided to show up for dinner tonight.

Kate immediately kept her gaze low, she wanted to avoid looking at him at all costs.

Edmund usually took his seat as the eldest son which was next to his father, but he walked past his chair, rounded up to the other side of the dining table and took a seat right across from Kate.

Kate's body stiffened once she knew he was seated opposite her. She bit her lower lip hard and knew there was no way to fully avoid him when he was seated right in front of her.

“Serve me dinner, I'm famished.” Edmund's stern voice cut through the silence and one of the servants quickly rushed to serve him. Kate raised her head a little and took the opportunity to pass a quick glance at him.

A few strands of his raven hair fell on his angular face which showed his prominent sharp features - strong cheekbones and a defined jawline.

And then his sharp eyes snapped at her right before she could look away, and her body froze when she saw how visibly upset he was. And she bet it was the fact that she hadn't gone to see him after receiving the flowers.

Mr Collin cleared his throat and returned his eyes back to Harry. “I booked first class seats on all your train tickets, son.”

Harry smiled as he wiped his mouth with a clean napkin before placing it back on his lap. “You didn't have to, father. As it is, you've already spent a lot on me.”

“Don't say that, Harry. Your father loves you and that's why he spends so much on your education.” Charlotte touched her husband's hand and squeezed it softly.

Mr Collin nodded and added. “You deserve it, son. You've made me very proud and have achieved a lot so far. Something that my elder son couldn't achieve in his entire twenty-one years of his life.”

Silence again reigned in the dining room after Mr Collin's sneering words.

But it seemed those harsh and cruel words weren't affecting the person in particular as his angry eyes were still solely fixed on Kate.