Isidore was still away, in truth — he had not been apprised of what had occurred at home.
Returned, he would surely beat Iona if he discovered that she had hurt Astrid. More than the whippings however, Iona feared Isidore disposing of her from the Bennett family- so more than anything before Isidore returned she needed to make it up with Astrid.
Even in his anger, Isidore wouldn't say anything if the person in question forgave him. "If I want everyone's understanding, I still need to maintain my humility even when Astrid is being petty and not forgiving me," Iona mumbled.
Astrid stole a look at the tray of four different taste cakes that Iona held in her hands. She never did like this type of cake, it was too sickly sweet for her and she wasn't hungry seeing as she had just awoken.
She told me she had ordered sandwiches and a glass of milk before leaving for the library.
She looked cold, and this made Iona nervous. Iona rushed forward to stop her. "Astrid, please try it. It's so delicious. I made it specially for you.
Iona was trailed by a pretty maid who interjected, "Yes, Miss Astrid, do try it." This morning Miss Iona rose at four o'clock to bake the cake for you. She didn't know what kind you liked so she made four different kinds."
Ignoring the two of them Astrid strode by Iona and to the door.
She was immediately met with Iona's emotionally heated questioning from behind the door. Do you still hate me, Astrid?
Astrid scowled at herself. She believed the past should stay in the past and was not one to hold grudges. They had put that subject to bed earlier in the day, she would think no more on it.
But Iona appeared to be spending an awful lot of time thinking on it.
Once Astrid had a moment to think she turned and said "No. Everything is in the past now.
"So why won't you eat the cake that I made?" Iona continued her questioning.
Astrid scowled at herself. Her face looked a bit angry, but her beautiful eyes looked cold. She got mad as Iona insisted. "That's not the same thing at all!" Not to eat that cake had nothing to do with hating Astrid. Iona stepped up to Astrid holding the platter and looking kindly and eagerly into her face. "Astrid, I was wrong before and I was mistaken now. If you can forgive me, will you please?"
She smiled sweetly at Astrid and tilted her head.
The onlookers around all looked over at them, waiting for Astrid's reply. The pretty maid continued for Iona, "Miss Iona spent quite a lot of time and effort to make these cakes."
It would be as if Astrid was rejecting Iona's goodwill if she did not eat the cake.
Astrid wasn't exactly one for petty politics or making a fuss over nothing, but that wasn't to say she was defenceless.
Whether or not she ate this cake honestly didn't bother her. She usually had no appetite in the mornings, so it could have gone either way. But since Iona had been badgering her, Astrid wouldn't eat even if someone forced the issue.
With a soft laugh, Astrid turned to fill two glasses on the dining table with only an inch of water, pouring them about three-quarters full.
Everyone looked puzzled and watched her closely.
After a moment, Astrid got up and went to the cupboard to get two wineglasses. She filled them with water and carried them carefully over to Iona.
Astrid picked up a glass of water and nudged the other one into Iona's reach, along the counter, with her fingertips. "I'm sorry for before," she said. Her left hand waved in apology; she never took her eyes off Iona. "Here's me apologizing—I'm taking it back. Come on over."
Afterward she held the empty glass out for Iona to take while dropping the one in her right hand into the sink.
"If you don't eat my cake, it means you won't forgive me," the woman told Iona. "And that isn't a sincere regret. It's not reasonable."
Astrid made no effort to make her voice sound ironic — her voice in general had a neutral levelness to it, as if facts were being described.
She had a casual jeans and a basic white T-shirt on. But, still she looked distant and frigid. However, she had worn such and cozy kind of clothing.
But she seemed to have such a powerful presence even if she just stood there silently.
She had an academic authority that was aloof and impossible to argue with.
Astrid ended the lecture, looked out over the audience, and walked out of there leaving nothing behind but a bony back for everyone to remember her by.
Everyone in the kitchen seemed to hold their breath. They glanced at Iona, then quietly left, well after Astrid had gone.
But right now they were too focused on Iona's masterpiece of a cake to realise.
"It's not a real apology," Who says things like, "You won't forgive me if you don't eat my cake." It's ridiculous.
"Astrid is right. This is not an apology at all. It's just a threat, they think to themselves
Iona stood there, her fingertips faintly holding onto the plate, but gradually increased in force.
"Her resilience, I underestimated her! An orphan living by herself like a weed; I thought she would be weak and helpless. I didn't even consider Astrid as an opponent for this entire time. Last time right before, Cecily was sent to threaten or forcefully take her, that's because it's Cecily making the move on her own." Iona thought.
She never thought that Astrid would be better than her.
Iona was the best out of all of them. She had spent eighteen years in a rich house with top-of-the-line meals and enatertainment daily after all. Iona hadn't even suspected but she really had grasped at the pistol.
She was exceptionally talented, great academic accomplishments and stunning look. It was an attributes all expected of a well- breed woman.
She was among the group of well to do woman arrogant ones. She was one of the top girls. Proficient with fire arms both raffle and horses. She made millions in stock market while she was still a teenager.
In all these years, she hadn't been exploited by anyone else.
She grinned slyly and gazed at the cake in her hands. "It's only Astrid Bennett, nobody." She's like a plant. No matter how hard she struggles, she can't escape being dug up.
She walked into the dinning room with a wide smile, but the pretty maid by her side noticed something a bit… "off".
Ginevra's new etiquette tutor came- just as Astrid had concluded reading a book and eating breakfast in the room.
"Hello, my name is Rowena Hawke." The woman with poised self-confidence extended her hand to Astrid.
Astrid shook it briefly. "Astrid Bennett."
I've known you for a very long time, Miss Bennett." Rowena smiled warmly, and her eyes were friendly. "The pearl of Bennetts, concealed from the world."
"Pearl?" said Astrid.
Feeling undeserving of such a title, she shook her head and laughed at the way the Bennett family treated her. They're beautiful, powerful people. It sounds like a lot of responsibility!
But she didn't feel like explaining that to Rowena right now, so she just skipped to the second part.
Rowena. Let's get to work.
Rowena nodded then turned to Astrid. She asked a mean and hostile question, removed her friendly and welcoming mask and said "Ms. Bennett, you wouldn't even know how to use a knife and fork properly! And I bet you've not had any foreign food either in your life!"