A duel of hearts

Troubled water

Jasmine had accompanied Penelope and Eloise to watch the horse races, initially excited but now in a sour mood. Despite her efforts to lift her spirits, she couldn't shake off the irritation caused by Nathaniel's earlier remarks. She found it frustrating how he seemed untouchable, capable of manipulating situations to his advantage. With a resigned sigh, she kept her gaze fixed on the race, stealing occasional glances at Nathaniel, who was engrossed in conversation with Cressida and a friend. Rolling her eyes discreetly, she muttered under her breath, "I wish I had slapped him earlier..." Her unladylike remark slipped out involuntarily. Just then, Lady Danbury approached, prompting Jasmine to put on a polite facade, though traces of her frustration lingered. "How are you today, Lady Danbury?" she inquired, masking her inner turmoil with practiced civility.

Penelope and Eloise couldn't miss the anger radiating from Jasmine. Eloise's frustration bubbled over, her desire to punch Nathaniel palpable, while Penelope, curious about the cause of Jasmine's ire, listened intently. "What did he do this time? Ugh, look at him with those two. My brother Anthony said that he was just an idiot. I usually don't agree with him, but now I do," Eloise grumbled, offering a reassuring pat on Jasmine's shoulder. As Lady Danbury approached, the two girls exchanged smiles, awaiting Jasmine's explanation. Lady Danbury, ever perceptive, addressed Jasmine directly. "Miss Teaton, you arrived like a hurricane. What is troubling you? I am eager to meet Mr. Sinclair, but first, I want to hear what you have to say. Lady Whistledown doesn't like him much. How arrogant is he?" Meanwhile, Nathaniel conversed with the two girls, drawing the attention of other boys who approached with curious smiles. "The other students said you were great today in class. Honestly, I have never seen something like that. You must come with us later, to the club," one of them insisted, but Nathaniel declined with a gentle smile. "I can't, I'm afraid," he replied, resisting their persuasion. Another boy pleaded, "Please, Mr. Sinclair, tell us about the stories. Tell us about the Battle of Yorktown. I beg you." Nathaniel obliged, regaling them with every detail of the battle, basking in the admiration of his peers.

Jasmine glanced at her friends, preparing to respond, when Lady Danbury's approach diverted her attention. She mustered a small smile at the older woman's inquiry. "If I were you, I wouldn't waste my time meeting him," she advised bluntly. "He may be a guest in my home, but I do not hold him in high regard." Before she could censor herself, she continued, her frustration spilling out. "He is more arrogant than any other man here in London. He thinks he's perfect and the smartest man around, with an ego the size of St. Paul's Cathedral. Always eager to remind everyone of his supposed perfection. And he dared to claim that if I were to speak ill of him, he would emerge victorious. Winning is his specialty. And just earlier, he had the nerve to insinuate that I harbored feelings for him, but was too stubborn to admit it. While I may have entertained the idea for a fleeting moment, his true colors soon became apparent. He even had the gall to declare that he wouldn't like me. I was on the verge of giving him a piece of my mind, but thankfully, my parents intervened." She paused, realizing she had been rambling, but feeling a sense of relief after unloading her frustrations. "Despite knowing everyone in London and having their support, he believes he would prevail if I were to challenge his reputation." With a slight roll of her eyes and a resigned sigh, she concluded, signaling the end of her tirade.

Lady Danbury listened intently to Jasmine's account, casting disdainful glances in Nathaniel's direction. "What a repugnant young man," she remarked with a shake of her head. "I had hoped Lady Whistledown's reports were exaggerated, but it appears she was spot on. He truly is odious." With a tight-lipped smile at the young girls, she excused herself. "Leave him be, my dears. Allow me to put that young ruffian in his place." As Lady Danbury departed, Eloise and Penelope exchanged eager glances. "Minnie, let's move closer. I'm dying to hear what he'll say next," Eloise whispered excitedly.