"They have scouted the areas and haven't found much. Just some abandoned make-shift campsites."
Dre sipped from his glass as he listened to Roy's report of what is being done about the situation by the borders where the bodies are being found.
"The last thing I need is the king making me go across the country just to do someone else's job. How hard can it be to find the culprits when they are leaving trails all over the place," said Dre with irritation. If the findings in the case did not improve, he would be forced to take over the entire operation, which will include going to the sites in person to investigate.
What a pain, he thought.
"It can't be helped, Dre. You saw the fools that they gave the job to," said Roy with a sigh. He too was not looking forward to traveling across the country.
Tufan then appeared at the door of the study and made his way to where Dre was seated on a couch.
"Have you taken care of the Lady's dress?" he asked the butler while he swirled the dark liquid around in his glass. Roy raised an eyebrow at the question.
"Yes Master Dre, it has been sent to the seamstress for mending," reported Tufan.
"Good, " said Dre, leaning his head back to let it rest on the couch while closing his eyes.
It had been some time since they had arrived at the mansion after he picked her up from the tea party she had attended. When they stepped out of the carriage, Rose rushed into the mansion. She had been quiet the entire ride back and could not help but flee to her room, embarrassed.
For some reason, he felt bad for her. She was too young to know how to deal with such things that she never had to go through in the countryside. Also, it was possible that the woman at the party envied her because of her staying in the mansion. He wouldn't be surprised if they pretended to like her just to get on the good side of his family.
Normally, his family wouldn't allow someone who is not part of the family or is not an important official to stay in the mansion as a guest.
Well, what happened to her is none of his business, thought Dre. After finishing with Roy, Dre decided to go to bed. He was exhausted from working more than usual lately.
Going up the stairs, he arrived in the corridor where his room was. He took a few steps and then paused. Where his door was, he saw Rose pacing slowly back and forth with his coat folded neatly over her arm.
He carried on walking but slowly as he observed her. She looked worried, he noted. Her bottom lip was caught in between her teeth. She was in what seemed to be a white nightdress which covered her modestly, he noticed it had some lace here and there and couldn't help but grin at how different she was from what he was used to.
He then noticed how her hair was no longer tied up but let down. It tumbled down her back in waves. Under the candlelit corridor, it shone like it was glazed with honey.
Finally reaching her, Rose jumped once she realized that Dre was standing right in front of her.
"Ah, Mr R- I mean, Dre. Thank you for today," she said, looking down at her feet. How cute, he thought. He was used to women seeking him out but not like this.
"Looks like someone didn't like you at the tea party." he said as he watched her. Her cheeks were a rosy pink even under the candlelight. Suddenly he felt like teasing her again.
Rose looked up at the expressionless Dre. "A lot of them didn't like me. It's funny how I hardly said a word and yet they all made up their minds about me."
Looking down again she remembered his coat, "Oh, here you go, Dre. Thank you for lending it to me." she said as she handed it over to him.
He then smirked and said, "If it was one of those women at the tea party, they would have kept it."
Rose blushed at his vanity, "Well those women are easily floored."
"And you are not?" he asked her, enjoying her honest reactions.
"Of course not!" said Rose, "I can't understand why they are that way."
Ah, so innocent, he thought. Taking a step closer, Dre leaned towards her, "Then I supposed you were not floored by me the other night in the garden?" he said to her, his voice coming out husky.
A gasp escaped her lips at how she felt his voice reverberate in her chest and the hair on her neck threatened to stand. Was he trying to seduce me, she asked herself feeling frantic.
"You think too highly of yourself," she said, trying to control her breathing.
"Do I, Miss Woods?" he whispered, this time closer, their faces inches apart. Rose did not understand why she did not step away. Was she really entranced by him?
Suddenly Dre caught a stray lock of hair that hung on the side of her face and slowly tucked it behind her ear. Rose held her breath when she felt his finger lightly graze on the shell of her ear as it went down. The back of his index finger then glided teasingly along her jaw and Rose felt her body grow warm.
Finally, he reached her chin and slowly lifted it so that she was looking directly into his eyes.
He gazed down at her, eyes hooded, "And now, Rosette?" his voice came in a whisper and when she heard her name leave his lips, she felt butterflies in her stomach.
Somehow, Rose felt as if she was in a trance and all she could pay attention to was his deep voice and mesmerizing black eyes.
It wasn't until Rose saw the knowing smirk on his face that she realized that once more, he was making fun of her.
Stepping away quickly and exhaling the breath she was holding, she looked up at him accusingly. "Mr Rickhorn that is very inappropriate!" she scolded him but he laughed, amused at how flustered she had turned.
Turning on her heel, she stomped off to her chambers, and though frustrated with Dre's teasing, she could not help but think that this was the first time she heard him laugh.