章 12: Another Crazy Encounter (2)

"Based on the fact you've uttered a few panicking words, I can't say you've lost your tongue overnight, but it is fair since you decided to ruin my carriage." Remarked Cassian as he stepped down from his half destroyed carriage.

He shook his head in pity as he observed the carriages' poor condition, 'Amade might come down with a stroke if he sees this.' Thought Cassian before letting his indecipherable gaze settle on the lady who had her back against him, shoulders tensed up in alarm.

"I...I...d_didn't know there_was_"

"You..d_didn't know the_there wa..was.." he parodied her gibberish accent, "to be frank, I get easily irritated when people speak like there's hot food burning their mouth, speak normally before I lose my patience. Did you plan on stealing my carriage, or perhaps you planned on stealing the gentleman inside the carriage?"

"No!" Madeline spun around to look at him, waving her hands in a gesture that indicated he mistook her intention, "I promise I only wanted to lend the carriage." She quickly explained before shutting herself up, knowing she couldn't possibly return the carriage with its current condition.

She should have checked the carriage properly before taking it earlier, but her shady situation at that moment didn't give her that chance, and now she's brought this embarrassing encounter upon herself.

While Madeline was silently worrying about how she was going to fix her mistake, she didn't notice the surprised look in the young lad's eyes as he stared at her.

His Amber-brown eyes checked her out from head to toe, then it widened slightly when he guessed who the lady in a wedding dress was.

'It's the same lady.' thought Cassian in silent surprise, but if she's here and not his coachman, where's Amade??

"I'm very very sorry for ruining your carriage," she bowed her head in apology, bringing Cassian's searching gaze back to her, "I promise I'll fix your carriage when I get the money, I'll get you two fancy carriages of the same type if it makes you feel better."

"Two carriages?" Cassian tried not to laugh as he leaned his back against the carriage, "can a lady of your caliber afford two carriages like this one's?"

His eyes didn't leave her, it was finally interesting to meet the woman who looked him in the eyes, and not to mention, having her in his arms even if it was only for a split second.

Madeline gave him a subtle frown, not finding his choice of words appealing. She might have ruined his carriage by mistake, but that doesn't mean he would depreciate her because of her standard in the society.

Regardless, she truthfully shook her head, "you are right, I can not, but since a man of your caliber has more to spend, then I suppose you let this lady go Scot free and you can get the carriages yourself?"

Finally looking at the young man in the eyes again, Madeline took a few seconds to study his appearance.

His Amber-brown eyes that didn't hide his cavalier, his tall nose, sharp jawline, and those round naturally pink lips that were beautifully curved into a cynical smile. His tawny dark hair was a mess on his head, but it did nothing except enhance his good-looks.

He surely didn't look like someone from her caliber.

"I am a poor man you see," he corrected her assumptions like he had read her mind, "someone like me can't afford such carriages, then how is milady capable of doing so?"

"Forgive me sir but I am not you." Madeline politely uttered those words with her head bowed. He was no poor man and she knew.

A carriage like his could only belong to those of the upper east quarters. She had peeked through the gates leading to the upper east quarters to know what their standards are. She was only a woman with the title of a Baroness, and nothing more, his standards were high above hers.

"Lord Cassian!" At the right time, the sound of a carriage stopping not too far from where they stood drew their attention, and Cassian couldn't be more surprised to see it was Amade.

The coachman quickly stepped down from the carriage that had brought him here, and he hurried to stand beside Cassian who wasn't the least surprised that his personal coachman would discover his whereabouts.

"As much as I'm genuinely touched that you came in search of me, how did you figure out I was here?" He asked.

"I saw the carriage leaving," Amadeus quickly explained, looking relieved he found his Young Lord, "I was on my way back, but then this lady_" his eyes settled on the young lady who was now deliberately staring at the tree.

"This lady!" He pointed at Madeline who flinched a bit at his accusing tone, "she took the carriage away without permission, and so I had to follow it in order to get here, not to mention a group of men were chasing the carriage on my way here, I'm a bit shocked to see they haven't gotten here yet."

"A group of what??" Cassian returned his demanding gaze to the young lady, knowing she hadn't made mention of strange men chasing her. Meanwhile, Madeline had frozen again at the mention of a group of men looking for her.

Her uncle never gives up, will he??

"W_when you saw them, were they h_heading in this... direction?" She pointed at where they stood, and Amadeus, being truthful, nodded.

"It appeared so."

"Please sir, you have to hide me." She quickly moved to Cassian for help, "those men are after me. That's why I took your carriage so I could run away, I'm being forced to get married. I_I don't want to get married, save me this once and I'll forever be in your debt."

She kept glancing from time to time at the route she was sure they would make an entrance from, still pleading to the young lad who wasn't moved by her words.

"And what can you possibly offer me?"

"Are you single?" She asked out of the blue, still keeping watch in case they show up.

Meanwhile Cassian and Amadeus were thrown off guard by her question.

"And what does my relationship status have to do with any of this?"

"If you can help me get rid of these men, then I'll marry you."