George was on the verge of saying something stupid again when his mother gripped his hand. The panther had come to sit so close to Mrs Edler that she had to bring her legs up on the chair. It was utterly unladylike, but she was scared to her bones right now to think about what looked nice about her and what did not.
"If you have done it George, just apologise," Mrs Edler sneered at her son. It was unbelievable to her that they might have to bend their heads in front of a stable girl.
But their life was on the line, and Lady Fiona doubted that His Grace was going to show any mercy. When they had left the house, she had been expecting something big for her son. Maybe a chance to wave as his proud mother. However, looking at the current circumstances, she utterly regretted coming here. Somewhere, Drakos had misled her belief in the way he had sweet-talked with her, and Lady Fiona had been smitten by that man as usual. As charming as a vampire he was, he was cunning as a fox.
"But mother, I had never made advances at the girl," George whispered back to his mother. They were foolish enough to whisper in front of the night creatures because Vincent was hearing every word of it and his patience was running thin.
Vincent sighed in a bored expression before he turned to Prudence, "Prudence, does this man charm you?"
Prudence quickly bowed and sincerely replied, "No, His Grace, not one bit. As long as Master George understands and accepts that, he would keep his distance from me in the future. There is no need for an apology." Prudence did not want something that can possibly worsen Edler's relation with her because once she returns to the horse farm she did not want to be on a wrong footing with them.
Vincent immediately understood her train of thought and smirked, "Prudence, you are with me now and, of course, my woman needs an apology, isn't that right, George?"
Prudence's eyes widened at the sudden words. What did he mean by his woman? Did he mean one of his supported mistresses?
Prudence did not say anything to that she simply remained silent and left the matter to be dealt with in absence of the guests. George, on the other hand, had his jaw slacking and his mother was equally shocked to see His Grace having taken a liking to this girl. No doubt in an expensive stitch her beauty came out, but they had never expected the king to have taken a stable girl under his care. Prudence knew gossips were going to fly in the air about her now.
George bowed from his seat, not wanting to cross paths with the Mafia King. "Lady Prudence, my sincere apologies for approaching you. I misunderstood your formal talks to be an attempt to entice me-"
"I did not ask an explanation, George," Vincent snapped with his words as he leaned forward to remove a pistol from his pocket and point at George, "I said a simple apology for the lady here, I well aware of what is and what isn't"
The colour on George's face drained seeing how angry the Mafia King looked with his weapon.
That pistol was nothing for him. If Vincent wanted, he could snap the Edlers like a twig with a twist of his wrist. But the reaction he got and the scent of fear that engulfed the air was something which he most certainly loved and that was the reason why he carried a pistol around most of the time.
George hurried his words as he looked at Prudence, "I apologise, Prudence, for the trouble I have caused you. I promise to not make any passes at you ever in the future."
Vincent smiled at his words as he loosened the hold on the pistol and let it fall slack in his hold, "The future won't be a problem at all, George. If that day comes to pass, I am sure the last thing you would be seeing is my upside-down head when your neck is twist off your body."
"U-Understood, His Grace," George said as he wiped the sweat off his forehead.
"Very well," chimed Vincent as he got up, "Let's leave Prudence. I am sure the guests have had enough for their one visit."
Prudence almost glared at Vincent for the way he called her familiarly. If anything, she had come to know about this man, then that would be Vincent Dominick loved to see people in fear and Prudence was already in fear of the night creatures. A little part of her still wondered how was he able to change his eye colour, but she did not let that curiosity be the reason to be held back here.
But she was glad that George would not be around her anymore. Unless Vincent one day decides to discard of her and the Edler's son came for some sort of revenge.
When Vincent turned to leave, Prudence still looked at the mother and son, who were still occupied with fear.
"His Grace," Prudence muttered in a low voice, as Vincent had already come to stand close to her. Vincent hummed in question, and Prudence's eyes carefully moved to Mrs Edler and Vincent followed her gaze, "I think you should let Shadow give them some space to leave."
Vincent looked back at Prudence and looked his eyes into hers, "Shadow... come here."
Prudence quickly knitted her brows and was about to move back when Vincent grabbed her wrist. The black panther made its way sluggishly to Vincent and Vincent, not for one moment, left his eyes away from Prudence. "His Grace!" Prudence whispered as her breathing fastened.
Vincent finally looked at the panther and showed it his open palm, seeing which the big cat sat down to receive the caressing of his master. "Are you here for some more entertainment, Mrs Edler?" Vincent asked.
"No, His Grace," Lady Fiona got up from her seat, "We will be taking our leave." She bowed and scrammed out of the place immediately with her son.
Vincent looked back at Prudence, whose eyes were fixated on the black panther and she looked utterly tensed, wanting to get out of his hold. "Shall we go for a walk, Prudence?" Vincent whispered, and Prudence looked into his devil red eyes. No, was not an option here and Prudence had to nod her head, knowing the animal was still here, hungry and waiting for lunch.