The Girls from Downstairs

Seventeen: a change of heart

New chapter, yay!

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“Tell me your plan,” he begged.

“For the last time, Adrian, I am NOT telling you my plan!” I exclaimed.

“Why not, Harlow? You always ruin my fun,” he pouted. I shifted my grip around his waist. We were getting closer to the paddock.

“I don’t want to talk about that,” I argued. “And if you keep asking me I’m going to slap you! No, I wanted to tell you it’s over.”

“What’s over? Your sick obsession with my brother?” he laughed.

“No. Us. This whole fake courting thing is over!”

He stopped the horse, making me grip tighter around his waist. He didn’t turn around, but kept his head staring forward. His voice was tense and almost sad.

“You don’t want me to court you?”

“No! It was fake from the beginning, anyway!” I said. “Besides, Jasmine said she wasn’t going to go any further into her investigation to prove whether or not we truly are related if I get into any more trouble. She actually likes me and wants us to be related; she feels sorry for us.”

“Wait. She found out you’re related? Your great-uncle wasn’t crazy?” He started moving the horse again.

“Apparently not! She wouldn’t tell me the whole story of what it was exactly she found out, but it’s so good to know that she is staring to recognize and accept me. Heaven knows my family has been waiting to be recognized by her. Aladdin never had too big of an issue with us. For some reason it was always her.”

“She saw you as a baby and, like the step-mother in Snow White she became jealous of your insane beauty and intelligence.”

“Adrian! We both know that’s not it! She denied my family centuries before my grandmother was even thought of!”

He stopped the horse in front of the stables and offered a hand for me to get down. I took it, without thinking, and allowed his help.

“Now, I - Adrian. You can let go. I’m down.”

He kept my hand in his. “I know. Your hands are so soft.”

I shrugged. “Your point?”

His thumb rubbed the back of my hand as I stared at him like he was a crazy person. Ha! What am I saying? He is a crazy person! This is Adrian, here! Slowly, at first, he leaned forward and brushed his lips against the back of my hand.

“Are you done?” I asked with a fierce blush.

He smirked. “Yes. Good night, Harlow.”

“Yeah... night, Adrian,” I managed. He turned his horse and entered the stables, leaving me to walk back to the castle alone.

“Oh, before I forget. We’re having dinner with my parents. I’d wear that pretty blue number I like - my mom likes that one best on you,” he stuttered. Before I could reply he turned the horse into the stables, hiding his blush. I caught myself smiling and wiped it off my face.

“What was that about?” I pondered.

Adrian has sure been acting strange lately. Ever since Esmerelda showed up he’s become much kinder and strangely attractive. Granted I’ve never looked at him the way I have lately, nor have I ever spent so much time with him willingly and not gotten into a huge argument before. But why? Why was he acting this way? Was he truly jealous of his brother marrying before him? Or was there some other secret trick he was going to play on the lot of us?