The Duke is a Liar

An annoying clicking sound echos through the dinning room as Yasmine stares at her parents with wide eyes and lips apart.

The spoon dropped on the soup plate causing the soup to splash on the dinning cloth creating a a red damp on the white dinning cloth.

"I do not understand father" Yasmine spoke after moments silence in the room.

James looked up from his plate, patted his mouth with a white handkerchief and dropped it on the table.

"You are a woman Yasmine, you should act like it if you do not want your husband to send you back" he responded with a deep and loud voice leaving no room for her to complain.

Her mother put her hand on he's and shot a look at her, one she couldn't understand.

"We gave you three years Yasmine,the ladies you grew up with are already mother's and wife's of barons and counts from all over the country" she lets out a sigh as she finished the sentence.

She slide her chair back causing the wood of the chair and the ground to create a screeching sound that echoed through the room. She stood up and walked towards the door, her father following suit.

"Your father arranged for you marry a duke. He is young, close to your age. You will meet him soon, so please Yasmine, behave"

They walked out of the dinning room leaving Yasmine in complete disbelief. She had originally wanted to experience love on her own without being forced into marriage like ever other girl in the country.

She stared at the already cold soup lost in thoughts on how to escape her already set future. She dragged herself up from the chair and walked to her room.

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"After much thought and consideration I have accepted your offer mother" Leo looked up from his papers and landed his eyes on a beautiful woman with black hair tied in a slick bun.

"Offer? I wasn't suggesting,child, the arrangements have been made" she laughed.

Leo watched his mother walk gracefully to the chair across his table and sat down. She lifted a hand fan, flung it open waved it across her face.

"I have arranged a schedule for you to meet your fiancee. You will only need to come down to the Mansion" she continued.

Leo looked down at his papers and sighed, he took off his glasses and leans on the chair.

"Is that all mother?" he asked while pinching the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index finger.

"You are too young to use those glasses" she quickly got to her feet and walked out of the room leaving. Leo stared at the door and chuckled.

He looks down at the papers and shook his head, he shot up and grabbed his coat heading out of the room.

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Yasmine sat in the moving carriage staring outside and viewing the town she would soon have to leave. She brought her head inside and smiled.

Within the four days that had passed she sort out a plan to break off the engagement between her and the Duke. She knew it wasn't going to be easy but she had to try.

"Stop here Edward" she tapped on the carriage causing a halt. The door sprung open and she stepped out scanning through the streets and shops open.

"Wait here Edward, I'll be back" the man besides her nodded.

Plan a, make him believe she's crazy.

Yasmine looked up at a signboard that read *Costumes For Theatre.* She smiled and walked into the shop.

Her mother planned to escort her to buy cloths which she would use to woo the duke but Yasmine convinced her not to.

"Are you sure you want this my lady" the woman stared at her dumbfounded.

"Yes" Yasmine replied with a wide grin on her face. She looked at the woman and grabbed the already packed dress and struts out of the shop.

Yasmine strolled down the streets with a smile on her face. She could already picture the moment she would be rejected by the Duke.

Her thoughts were cut short when she saw a speeding carriage heading towards her direction. She looked closer to see a little girl walking in the middle of the street and the carriage looked like it had no intention of slowing down.

She ran towards the child shoving both her and the child away from the charging carriage which stopped with a screech and neighing of the horses.

"Are you al-" she flinched. She felt a sharp pain on her arm as she tried to stand up. She glared at the carriage and pushed herself up causing the little girl to stand up and run away.

She stomped towards the carriage and stretched out her hand to open the door.

Before she could touch the handle the door opened. She was faced with a young woman with black hair slicked back and tied to a bun.

"Are you okay dear" Laura asked; her brows furrowed with concern. She got down from the carriage and closed the door behind her. Before the door closes Yasmine catches a glimpse of a man with long black hair.

She could tell it was long because it was tied up in a ponytail and still fell to his chest.

"Edmund, what is this?" she yelled and the driver ran towards them.

"I'm so sorry My lady, I didn't get enough sleep and i-"

"Enough, I'm really sorry dear, can we compensate you for this, we have somewhere to be" Laura asked.

"It's alright, the child wasn't hurt" Yasmine replied.

Laura smiled then quickly shot a glare at Edmund causing him to run back to the horses.

"Thank you dear" she entered back into the carriage and closed the door.

Yasmine looked back as the carriage, replaying the image of the heartless man who was too proud to come down and apologize for the mistake his servant made.

"At least his wife had manners" she sighed.

"Nngh" when winced at the sharp pain that came from her arms. The dried up blood on her arms and blue dress annoyed her. She rolled her eyes and walked away.

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"Yasmine" Madeline's voice caused her to jolt in shock. She roughly packed the bandages and threw it into her dresser.

"Yes mother" she replied with a smile. Her smile turned into an awkward one when noticed her green thorn dress in plain sight.

"There has been some slight changes, you will be meeting the Duke tonight. Dress up and come down in an hour." her mother ordered and turned back to leave.

Yasmine used to opportunity to kick the green dress under her bed and walked towards her door. Madeline turned back quickly and eyed her from her legs up.

"I'll send Daphne up for your make up" she added and walked away. Yasmine closed the door and looked at her room. She had enough time to process the information that was just passed on.

"Oh sh*t" she cursed.

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Chattering echoes in the dinning room as Yasmine walked in. Her plan had been ruined after the incident. The dress she bought was a rainbow coloured dress with a huge hat but during the incident it was run over by the carriage and ripped in ways that couldn't be repaired.

She walked into the room dressed in a long black dress with red flowers. Her long brown hair was tied in a low bun. She scanned the room and met eyes with a man, a very beautiful man.

He stood up walked up to her. He was much taller than her. His long black hair was tied in a ponytail which fell down to his back.

"Lovely evening my lady, I am Leo Mayfield, the Duke of Windson" he lifts up her hands and kissed it.

"Yasmine Penelope Williams" she replied.

They walked towards the dinning table together and he pulled a chair back for her causing her parents to smile and whisper to each other.

"Have we met before my lord" Yasmine asked staring at him across the table.her eyes trailed down his long black hair as she narrowed her eyes in suspicion.

He looked familiar to her. Her thoughts were interrupted by the door opening. She looked up to see the young woman she encountered at the town.

"I see you've met my son already, I've heard so much about you from your mother Yasmine, I can finally put a face to the name" Laura said with a smile.

"Hold on, You-"

"From this afternoon, wait, son?" Yasmine cuts her off as she looks back at Leo who was sitting in confusion.

"F*ck" She cursed at her realization.