iv. ad prandium

[ the lunch ]

Victor narrowed his stare, eyes darting from one person to the next around the table.

When his father had insisted on lunch as a formal introduction for Jenessa, he certainly hadn't been expecting this.

This referring to the booming laughter that his father gave nor the wide grins his brother sported. His wife-to-be was nodding enthusiastically, red lips pursed as she gestured wildly.

He couldn't remember when was the last time his family had spoke so freely—and animatedly, especially when there was a stranger around.

"You have to be lying about that!" Callum accused teasingly across the table.

Jenessa shook her head, eyes wide. "No! It did happen! You must have missed it. I do remember you attended the Blackwoods' Christmas party two years ago!"

Victor shifted his eyes towards his brother who frowned as he tapped the convex side of the spoon against his mouth.

"Did I?"

"Yes! You were wearing that outrageous red and green tie along with those red loafers and Lady Sarah was so shocked from your attire that she refused to go near you. Don't you remember that?"

Philippe let out a hearty laugh. "Yes! I do remember that! I received quite a letter from her questioning my parenting abilities." 

Jenessa gasped, eyes going impossibly round. "No, she did not!"

"Oh," his father nodded. "She did."

"What did she say?" She exclaimed, giving her full attention to Philippe who was sitting at the head of the long dining table.

Victor had been taken aback when his father had waved eagerly at her to sit on his left when she'd just arrived. Usually, that seat was meant for Callum but everyone had acted so naturally that he'd remained silent.

It was...disconcerting that Jenessa had so easily found her place in his family. Odd but he guessed it was a good thing, seeing that she would be one of them soon.

His chest tightened.

Callum snorted and shrugged. "It is certainly not my fault that she had a problem with my attire. I was sticking to the dress code."

Victor remained silent and took a leisurely sip of his wine, eyes studying his fiancée.

Despite his attempts, his eyes have never strayed far from her. And when they did, they always went back to wherever she was.

He can't quite decide how to feel about that. Irritated? No. Intrigued? Maybe. Conflicted? Yes.

Perhaps it was the fact that she was nothing like he'd expected. What exactly had he thought of her? Prissy, cold and spoilt?

How wrong he'd been.

Jenessa Caldwell was witty, had a smart mouth with answers for everything, freely spoke her mind and it was one of the things he most appreciated about her.

It was refreshing.

Although he had been absent for roughly a decade, he knows that his name means power. And with that came a lot of unwanted attention. If he'd been paired with anyone besides Jenessa, he was pretty sure said woman would be too agreeable, too grating—too boring.

Fortunately, his fiancé was nothing like he'd pictured, certainly nothing like her. Maybe that made it all the more easier for him to accept this—accept Jenessa.

She reminded him of sunshine, of gold beams of starlight. The warmth she radiated and the sincerity of her smile and most of all, her honesty with him had played a huge part in him being less chilly and curt with her.

"What about you, Victor?"

He blinked at the sudden attention three pairs of eyes brought. Feeling discomforted, he tugged at the collar of his shirt. "I beg your pardon?"

Jenessa tucked a curl behind her ear. "What did you think of the Christmas party that year?"

"I wouldn't know. I was still in the States," he answered shortly before taking a sip from his glass.

"Oh," her smile faded just a tad, her cheeks blooming pink. "Right."

Silence settled around the table and Victor rubbed the back of his neck before clearing his throat. Brilliant, just fucking brilliant.

The sensation of someone kicking his shin entered his brain first. And then, the pain followed.

Victor hissed through clenched teeth to glare at Callum, who in return was grimacing and jerking his head towards Jenessa who was now quietly eating, head bowed.

Bloody hell.

What was he supposed to do?

It wasn't his fault that he was bad at making conversation, especially when the topic was about an event he hadn't even attended. How was he supposed to feign interest in that?

"Well," his father cut in, beaming broadly. "Miss Caldwell—"

"Oh, you can definitely call me, Jenessa, especially when you sternly instructed me to call you with your first name."

Victor furrowed his brows. When exactly had that happened?

Honestly, he'd been expecting this whole lunch meeting to be quiet and formal. Not once had he thought his future wife would so easily charm his father and brother. Both whom had their own respective reputations. He wasn't an idiot. He knew what they were all known for.

Callum was known to be wild, played by his own rules and had the cheek and grace to pull it off without being reprimanded.

Philippe Ashford, on the other hand, was known to be cunning, dangerous. He ruled both his business and family with an iron fist—never known to compromise on anything.

And yet here they both were, utterly charmed and taken with the newest addition to their family.

"Alright, then," his father agreed indulgently with a smile. "Let it be said that you are very welcome to drop by the Ashford Manor whenever you like, my dear, after all, it'll be your home soon enough."

Jenessa smiled, painted red lips stretched wide. "You are very kind, Philippe. Thank you so much for being so utterly welcoming. I've never thought that lunch with your family would be this delightful."

Callum grinned cheekily. "Do you actually mean to include Victor in that statement?"

Almost immediately, Victor shot his younger brother a withering look, hoping that for once, he would actually shut up and bugger off.

She paused, eyes flittering to his and her cheeks reddened. "Yes, I...I actually do."

He cleared his throat and turned away, straightening in his chair, uncomfortable with the way she was smiling and looking at him like that.

Did she have to smile this much?

"Ahh it's great that the both of you are getting along," Philippe declared heartily, clapping a hand on his back eagerly and Victor did his very best to not react at the sudden display of affection.

With the last dish carted off and back into the kitchens, Philippe had done some sly manoeuvring by suggesting that the two of them—both Jenessa and he—take a walk around the gardens, for weren't the carnations in bloom this time of the year?

Simultaneously, it would be mere impossible for him to miss the meaningful stare his father sent him.

When he stood, the weight of the small black velvet pouch in his inner jacket pocket felt like it weighed a tonne.

Jenessa rose to her feet, brown eyes darting at all of them before finally settling on him unsurely and his stomach clenched.

Yes, he was well and truly fucked.

* * * * *

The carnations were beautiful this time of the year, Jenessa agreed inwardly. Philippe hadn't been bluffing.

Lunch hadn't been the awkward and cold affair she thought it would be. Philippe had been charming, treating her as though she was his long-lost daughter and Jenessa had wondered how much of the cool aloof front he'd had on at her house prior was a facade.

Callum, had been roguishly endearing with his dry quips and carefree attitude. She could clearly see why he'd always been a favourite of the papers.

However, despite being thoroughly entertained by her future in-laws, her eyes couldn't help but drift to the man seated opposite her.

Victor had been mostly silent, only contributing to the conversation when someone directly addressed him. But she hadn't missed the way he'd taken everything in. Those blue eyes of his had been assessing, absorbing every detail as he ate his food.

She wouldn't be surprised if he remembered how she had her coffee.

"Uhm...Thank you," she started softly, taking a quick glance upwards at him.

It should be unfair how the side view of his face looked as good as his profile. The sun shone, highlighting his angular features, aristocratic nose, turning his dark hair into a lighter shade of brown. His pale skin looked lightly tanned and the planes of his face were shadowed.

Her breath hitched as he faced her, a brow arched in question.

"For yesterday when you told me to be myself at lunch," she clarified when his brows furrowed.

"I see."

"I would have been all formal and awkward if you didn't tell me otherwise and lunch with your family would have been vastly different," she finished, her left hand sliding to her right elbow to fidget with the white hem of her sleeve.

"I doubt that would have happen. You have a...certain way with my family." He sounded a little on edge and was he clenching his jaw?

Before she could respond, he stopped abruptly and she halted, turning to him.

A moment of silence passed and she blinked up at him. The expression on his face was something one made when they were inwardly debating about something. Hence, she waited patiently, eyes focused on him.

"I'm not good at making conversation," he finally stated, shoving his hands into his pockets. "So I apologise if I made you uncomfortable earlier."

Bizarre. That was the only word that came to mind.

"You didn't," she murmured, tilting her head up to meet his eyes. "I just forgot that you weren't around for awhile."

Victor gave a quick jerk with his head that she supposed was a nod of acknowledgement before starting his gait once more.

They turned to the left trail, shoes crunching over the grey-hued gravel and it wasn't long before a fountain came into view. Quietly, she admired it, the elaborate three-tiered marble carved fountain had two wolves holding on to the signet of the Ashford crest. Around its base, various flowers were planted, perfectly complimenting the marble fountain.

Gently, Victor guided her to one of the numerous benches facing the fountain and they sat down in comfortable silence.

Victor, she was starting to learn, would remain quiet if he had nothing to say. In a world full of meaningless words and broken promises, she was starting to appreciate it.

"Well, I can assure you that the States weren't as interesting as Lady Sarah at that Christmas party," he offered.

Jenessa forced herself to hide her surprise that he was actually initiating a conversation and acted as though nothing was amiss.

"Really? What else did you do there besides work? You must have done some sightseeing at one point. You were there for close to a decade."

Victor furrowed his brows. "I honestly don't believe I have."

She drew back, mouth falling open. "Not even once?"

"No."

"Wow," she murmured clasping her hands together, her eyes caught onto a pair of butterflies fluttering over the flowers.

"What about you?"

She faced him. "Hmm?"

"Have you travelled?"

"No, but if I ever had the chance, I would love to go to Italy."

The dark haired man arched a brow. "Why? What's so special about the country that makes it the first place you want to visit?"

She could tell he was really trying and she appreciated it. Especially when he'd confessed that he wasn't particularly good at making unnecessary conversation.

"I just love it. The food, the culture, the language—just all of it," she said smiling.

"Well, why haven't you gone before? You have the means to."

She shrugged and stretched her legs out, idly eyeing the glossy finish of her modest two-inch heels. "There never was a right time," she murmured softly.

Feeling the mood shift, she quickly adjusted her posture and smiled up at him. "Perhaps in the future."

She observed as Victor nodded, almost hesitantly, she thought, before he abruptly jerked and shifted his jaw.

"There is something I intend to give you," he said as he reached for something in one of the inner pockets of his jacket.

Jenessa blinked, speechless and widely taken aback by the glittering ring he'd produced a few scant seconds later. 

"Your engagement ring," he pointed out albeit uselessly in a matter-of-fact tone.

In her humble opinion, it was stunning.

A five carat sapphire gemstone was in the centre, its facets sparkling heavily from the sunlight reflected off it. A smaller ring of diamonds surrounded it and a silver band accompanied it, and the vintage setting gave the piece of jewellery a very distinguished look.

"That looks heavy," she blurted out and turned bright red.

Victor stared at her for a moment too long—a moment which she had already planned out her excuses to leave and bury her head in the ground so that she would never be seen again, but before she could open her mouth to do so, his face broke out into a laugh. "Yes, I—I suppose it is."

She was mesmerised.

It should be strange how laughter could transform one's face, but here it was—proof in the flesh. Her heart skipped a beat at the way the corners of his eyes crinkled, the lightness in those blue eyes fo his and—oh. He even had dimples!

"You should smile more," Jenessa pointed out, her heart fluttering at the way his smile caused him to look incredibly dashing and even more handsome than he already was.

Instantaneously, his smile vanished and he frowned. "I'd rather not."

"Why not? You look...nice when you smile," she said, brows creasing.

Victor grimaced. "I'm not known to be nice."

At that, she snorted and rolled her eyes before shifting her position on the marble bench. Only her fiancé would make being pleasant as something to look down on.

"Anyway," Victor arched a brow. "Would you accept the ring?"

Right, he was in the middle of proposing. Inwardly, she cringed at her faux pas and tucked her hair behind her ears and nodded.

Wordlessly, he took her left hand and Jenessa can't help but notice that his hand felt...nice against hers.

Yes, apparently 'nice' was the only adjective she knew.

With bated breath, she watched as Victor slid the ring onto her finger. The cool metal and the warmth of his hands were such stark differences that it sent her brain into overdrive.

Or maybe, it was the scent of his cologne.

She couldn't tell.

Eyes never leaving her hand, she watched as his thumb hovered over the gemstone on her finger before the pad of the digit began rubbing the surface slowly. To her, it was almost like a caress.

Breath hitching, lips parting, mouth turning dry, Jenessa slowly lifted her eyes to meet his.

An inscrutable expression was on his face as he was fixated on the ring on her finger.

At this point, she would have given anything to know what was going on in his mind.

Was he actually realising the realness of this whole situation? Was he suddenly dreading for her to be his wife? Or was he secretly pining over someone else and wished that he was giving the ring to her?

Somehow, that made her stomach churn.

Really, she wanted to say she loved the ring and something along the lines but in her usual fashion, another sentence came out.

"It is heavy."

His head jerked up and he blinked and shook his head a smile playing on the corner of his mouth. When his hands released hers, a small pang went lanced through her. It was odd, she missed the feel of them on hers.

"I mean it's gorgeous and thank you," she quickly murmured, her voice turning into a mumble as she avoided the amusement in his eyes.

Sneaking a quick peek at the ring, she marvelled at it; from the perfect fit, its vintage setting and lastly, the sapphire stone.

"Why use sapphires?"

Victor shrugged and slid the black velvet pouch back into his jacket pocket. "It's tradition," he offered mildly. "All Ashfords use sapphires in their jewellery."

"Oh." She glanced back down at the ring, admiring the way it sparkled from the sunlight reflected off it.

It was beautiful and something that she would have picked out herself, given the choice. Not that she would have chosen something so big and ostentatious, but nonetheless, she loved it.

"I do hope it is alright with you."

She looked up and nodded quickly. "Yes, it is. I-It's very beautiful."

Victor shifted his jaw and not for the first time, Jenessa realised that this was as difficult and strange for him as it was for her.

She licked her bottom lip. "Thank you for making an effort-"

"Why is it when you open your mouth, a 'thank you' always comes out?" He said wryly, ice blue eyes glinting with bemusement and mild exasperation.

She huffed and made a face at him, tilting her head. "Very clever of you."

Victor made an elegant movement that she guessed was a shrug before he ran a hand through his hair. "Well, I try."

She snorted and laughed, covering her mouth with her hand, unaware of the way Victor gazed at her, a certain look flashing over his face before it disappeared for good.

"It looks lovely on you," he offered quietly.

"Thank you."

Her face flushed and Victor shook his head, a smile gracing his lips. "That just proves my point."

"I was thanking you for complimenting me, you prat," she huffed playfully, bumping his shoulders with her own.

If she was paying attention, she would have noticed the flash of surprise on his face at that particular action. But she hadn't.

"Did you actually just call me a prat?"

She pursed her lips. "Yes."

Victor simply shook his head and rolled his eyes. "I haven't been called that since I was in school."

"I highly doubt that. I'm sure everyone calls you that, but not to your face," she retorted teasingly.

Her heart did a little flip in her chest at the smirk he gave.

"I might concede to that."

She grinned in response, quickly tucking an errant curl behind her ear.

A moment of ease and comfortable silence passed and Jenessa leaned back, enjoying the warm sunshine on her face and the scent of summer and flowers in the air.

Even though her eyes were closed, she could still sense that there were things Victor wanted to get off his chest.

So, she waited.

Finally, Victor changed his position on the bench, the seat shifting from his movement. "I know I may come off as..." he paused, face grimacing as he searched for the words to use. "Cold or emotionless but I will do my best to work with you," he finished, deep voice cutting through the silence as he turned his head, half-lidded eyes glancing down to meet hers.

"What?"

He exhaled. "The first day we met and you suggested that we have an amiable relationship."

Her lips parted. "You remember that?"

In response, he shot her a flat stare and quickly, she tamped down the laughter wont to bubble from her throat.

"Actually, I said 'partnership' not 'relationship'," she corrected, grinning.

Victor glowered at her. "It's the same bloody thing."

Jenessa ducked her head down so that he wouldn't see the broad smile on her lips. However, there was no denying the lightness in her heart nor the way the organ seemed to work even harder.

Picking up on his impatience and exasperation, she peered up at him through her eyelashes. 

"Yes," she smiled. "I'll like that very much."

He gave a short nod and glanced away from her, but she didn't miss the way the corners of his mouth tugged up just a little.

* * * * *

A/N: UhMMM I'm seriously shocked that you guys are enjoying this so much?? like??? Its incredible! Tysm everyone for reading and voting and just loving this as much as I do! Let me know your thoughts! They are ever much appreciated! <3

P13/3/19