Occasions and a nosy chaperone. Part two.

From time to time, Stanley would whisper things in Isabelle's ear, she would smile and sometimes laugh. If only Stanley knew that Jia could hear his every word loud and clear.

Jia's patience began wearing thin, they had been in the carriage for a while and he could've sworn they passed the same building three times. As Jia was about opening his mouth to slice Stanley yet again with his words, the carriage stopped and Stanley looked at Isabelle;

"A little birdie told me you loved reading books."

Jia's eyes almost rolled to the back of his head, he was the little birdie. 

They had stopped in front of a library in the middle of town. Isabelle was once more surrounded by books, with every turn she took in the library, she had a reason to smile. She was done with the rickety old chair, unhappy with the ending although she believed Miss Wooven puff did deserve the curse that was laid upon her, she needed something fresh and new to read.

"A couple of new books would do." Isabelle said to herself as she goes through a rack of books.

"Have you found anyone you like yet?" Stanley asked from where he sat in the library. A small round table the chaperone in front of him.

"How impatient." Jia commented as he received a cup of coffee and some pastries. It was complimentary, all customers or basically anyone who visited the library received one.

"Would the lady like a cup of coffee and some pastries?" One of the staffs in the library asked the two gentlemen, she didn't know who exactly to ask so her eyes moved back and forth between them both.

"She's over there, you can ask her." Stanley picked up his cup of coffee.

"Do you serve hot cocoa?" Jia asked.

"We do but…

"Then get her hot cocoa and some pastries." Jia placed his mug on his lips slowly blowing before sipping.

"I'll have to go get cocoa from the shed then." The staff said and exited the library.

Stanley looked at Jia, unhappy with the switched that had been made just now.

"You must be forgetting that you are simply just a chaperone." Stanley lowered his voice so as not to get Isabelle's attention. "Meaning you are to stand by and watch until something inappropriate happens and so far so good, nothing of such has happened."

"Well, you are an inappropriate man, so I can input whenever I want to." Jia said with a straight face.

Stanley let out an exasperated laughter, he just wanted some alone time with Isabelle and then he's hearing about a chaperone? He slightly narrowed his eyes at Jia and said;

"Nya never suggested you to be a chaperone now did she?"

 After spending enough of her time going through the racks of books, Isabelle finally found what she was looking for. She walked to the table Stanley and Jia were sitting placing three novels in front of her. The exact same time the library staff returned from the shed.

"Here is your hot coca and some pastries." The staff placed them in front of Isabelle.

"Thank you." Isabelle said using both her palm to hold the mug staring at the floating marshmallows.

"How was the book search?" Stanley asked Isabelle as he watched her stare at the marshmallow and she responded with an answer unrelated to the question asked.

"How did you now I love hot cocoa?" Stanley and Isabelle haven't spent enough time together to know what their tastes are.

"He doesn't, I ordered it for you." Jia responded instead.

Isabelle, not batting an eyelash "What a lovely thing you did, ordering hot cocoa in a hot weather especially when I'm putting on a thick brown dress with many layers underneath. Very lovely indeed." She took a small sip. "And thoughtful too."

This was a first for Jia, Isabelle being sarcastic. He still couldn't believe his ears, she had confidently look him in the eyes and said all that. The same person who would wait for him to turn the other side before sending a death glare.

 "Is a chaperone supposed to be on the same table eating with us?" Isabelle whispered in Stanley's ear after gesturing for him to lean forward.

"Maybe he's a clingy Chaperone." Stanley whispered back and then asked. "Do you like he's being here?"

Stanley wanted to know if he and Isabelle were on the same page, he disapproved of Jia's presence.

"Not on this table."

Jia, who could hear the entire conversation pretended not to and said to Stanley.

"Isabelle needs to retire early."

The whispering of a conversation ended and both Stanley and Isabelle they both looked at Jia.

"Isabelle needs to get back early." He rephrased his statement.

"No I don't" Isabelle retorted.

"Yes you do." Jia brought out his pocket watch. "Cyrene's carriage should be arriving anytime soon."

"Why does she need to get back early" Stanley asked, the smile he had earlier on had faded. "And don't tell me it was Nya who said so because it would've been clearly stated in the letter but none of that was written and the whole Chaperone wasn't included either." A hint of anger in his voice.

Jia rose to his feet, his ears had picked up the slowing down of the clopping of horses and its reins pulling the horse to stay in place.

"Whatever you are thinking and insinuating is true." He turned to Isabelle. "The carriage is outside. Don't forget your books." Jia found his way to the door and exits the library.

"I guess this is goodbye." Isabelle said.

"We would definitely see again, quite sooner than you think." Stanley stood up to help carry the books which she had selected, paid for the books.

Isabelle did not utter a single word to Jia throughout the ride back. She intended on acting like he didn't exist, she didn't realize how hurt she was. It was her first date and you cannot have a first the second time.

 When they arrived back at the mansion, she picked up her books without requesting his help and got down the carriage without taking a hand. She spent the rest of the day in her bedroom.