3 What Was She Up To?

The woman glared at her husband who cowered under her piercing gaze as he tried to act normal by sipping the tea.

The whole room was dead silent as if they were mourning. All but only the girl who was dressed black was sitting happily while munching like she was hungry for ages or had seen food for the first time.

Garrison could not help but steal glances at her. She was a higher noble. How could she eat like that? Stuffing one muffin before she could finish the earlier one while her eyes were filled with pure joy and bliss!

Even his son did not eat like that!

"You must like muffins very much, my lady." He exclaimed when she shot him a cold look as if he had asked her to give him all the food. He was taken aback by her look when she winced and shot a glance at her mother this time who had kicked her from under the table.

"My dear! Why don't you show our garden to the lord?" Her mother asked with a smile but her eyes were glaring at her daughter who wanted to refuse. But Ana suddenly paused and then smiled brightly as she nodded her head.

"Of course, mother! I would love to." Ana stood up with a bashful smile on her face as she waited for Garrison.

He realized something was amiss. Even their family who suggested looked shocked with her change of attitude but the matter was already suggested.

They could only see walking them together and sighed.

"Wasn't she the one who wanted to marry the duke? Why is she behaving like that then?" asked Diana as she elbowed her husband who looked more than happy at the strange behavior of his daughter.

"Maybe she had finally realized that, that fool did not deserve her."

"...."

—--

The silence was eerie when Garry stared at Ana but she kept walking as if she was on a mission.

The moment they entered the garden, she turned to look at him, making him stumble.

"I do not want to marry you and I know you do not want to marry me too. So, let's stop the act here. We are going to stand here for exact ten minutes then you can go and tell my family that i am a crazy woman, so you can not marry me." finishing her words, she did not wait for him to respond as she walked away and sat under the gazebo ordering the maid for tea and scones.

'She was eating again!?' rather than thinking about how strange her idea was or how a noble did not care about declaring herself as mad, the thought that passed his mind was… she was still eating and that also in that very strange way!

"My lord, this is your insult! How could a daughter of the marques behave brazenly in front of you and rub on your face that she did not want to marry you. You must punish her and then leave from here! Or allow me to teach her a lesson!" Oscar, the assistant was already holding the hilt of the sword when Garrison raised a brow and then laughed shocking him.

He stared at Garry with horror. It has been ages since he was working for him, but this was the first time he had seen him laughing like that.. Freely! Carelessly.. That placed him in a daze.

"You are right! We do not need to wait here anymore." He said once his laughter ceased but his eyes were still twinkling when he gave the last glance to the girl who was moaning while taking a sip of the tea without caring a damn about him.

When he reached back, the marquees and Monique were smiling at each other. They were surprised to see him back so early and more when he was alone.

"My lord.. Did you not like the garden?" asked marques in a worried voice but his expression was goading, completely opposite of his voice and words.

"Or did my daughter misbehave again? '' asked the lady in a calm voice as if she was not worried about it at all.

He was right! The whole family was strange.

"No! Both are not the case but i have to reach somewhere urgently. So, i need to leave.'' His calm voice brought a hint of disappointment on both of their faces when his doubts were confirmed.

"And before leaving, I wanted to give my reply." He added, bringing both of their attention.

"Oh.. already?"

"Well, I understand that you did not like my daughter. She is a bit immature. But I promise that I will discipline her and punish her for her today's behavior!" her father tried his best to sound like a strict man when Garry shook his head.

"No! You are misunderstanding. Your daughter, Anastasia, is a kind woman. She is cute and sweet just like I wish my wife to be. I wanted to inform you that I am ready for marriage.

I will go and set a date and inform you. I hope you will start the preparations too. It was nice meeting you lord Welenshire.'' The shock registered on their face did not fade until the man left and they slumped back on their seats.

"Did you not say that she had realized that he was not for her and was ruining her image?"

"Did you not see how she behaved too?" he asked back to her frowning wife who took a big sigh.

"In the end, we are fooled again!"