Court of Flowers (Sutherland Book 1)

XV | Green as Grim

"What punishments?" West later asked her during their quiet dinner alone in her bedchamber, after West made the decision that he would rather have a quiet meal than being introduced to the other Belles.

"What?"

"The punishments you get should Belcourt find you guilty of a crime."

She shrugged. "We have the dungeon amongst others."

"Dungeons have long been abolished—"

"Then a prison—is that what you call it now? Anyway, it is located underground—a dungeon."

"Dungeons were proven too harsh—"

"Then whoever committed a crime should have taken caution. Punishment works best when you suffer, is that not right?"

He chewed his food slowly, just looking at her. "What are the crimes that would land you in this dungeon?"

"Murder."

"That is all?"

"Every other crime also punishable by the Kingdom of Sutherland. And a few other things."

"Such as?"

"Looking into records of children born in Belcourt because you were paid to," she replied in a whisper.

He narrowed his eyes at her.

Sasha straightened. "I am not jesting."

He scoffed. "Well, I am certain you always think with caution."

She took a sip of her wine. "I do. Why do you think I am winning our little game?" Before West could open his mouth for a witty rebuttal, she leaned over the table to say in a low voice, "And I have also found that it was indeed a little girl who was borne here in 1781."

West leaned forward until their faces were merely inches apart. "And I believe I also told you I am looking for a sister," he retorted, matching her tone.

"Facts, West. I had to look for facts as a foundation for my search."

He let out a long sigh and leaned away, realizing too late that his heart was hammering against his chest. Hard, resonating. Bloody tarnation, he just stared close into her eyes, nothing more!

"I hope I have satisfied your curiosities," Sasha calmly told him, seemingly unbothered by their short close interaction. "So, please, Your Grace, avoid asking other Belles questions that you could otherwise just ask me. Belles are women. They gossip."

He lifted a finger. "So do men. And you do not know how much."

"I believe you when you say that."

West looked at her for a long time, the silence around them broken only by the constant laughter from downstairs.

"You are cross, are you? Your hands are in fists more often than usual in the course of our interaction."

"I am still cross," she corrected, throwing him a darting look. "I have been for quite a while now since you snatched me out of the streets in Coulway." When he did not reply, she met his gaze. "I told you not to get out of the bedchamber earlier."

"Yes, you did—"

"You claim you do not wish for me to taint your precious reputation, and yet you come down very willingly after Aliya requested you to join her for tea and sandwiches."

"You are not shouting. You can shout if you want. I would not care. It will help with the anger," he said, his mind thinking of a diversion, one that he desperately needed at that point.