by L G Rollins
For several moments, Ju and Mr. Zhi just looked at each other. Then Ju stepped forward and reached out to her father. He held her tight.
Father and daughter—the dragon and the daisy flower—hugged one another for the first time.
Eventually, Ju pulled back. “Jasper said you couldn’t come near us, me or Mama.”
Mr. Zhi nodded his head in agreement. “I couldn’t. However, when Leng was returned to China in disgrace and all his secrets were made known to the emperor, he was cast into prison. As soldiers were clearing out his home, they found many illegal talismans and destroyed them. Doing so has broken the bindings which held his many murdered victims, and his own ancestors, to the afterlife.”
Mrs. Zhi’s eyes sparked. “I’ll bet the Emperor will hardly need to punish Leng now. I have a feeling his own ancestors will haunt him until he joins their ranks. And then, they’ll probably continue at it nonetheless.”
Mr. Zhi smiled. “It’s true. But the best part is, he can’t keep me away from you two any longer.”
The hug that ensued involved the entire Zhi family. Jasper took half a step back and pretended to be busy securing his dreadlocks inside their leather strap; the family needed a few minutes together. Perhaps he should just turn around and march back into his townhouse and leave the Zhis to themselves. He only stayed because he had no way of contacting or summoning Mr. Zhi and that meant this might be the last time he would see the ghost until who knew when.
Jasper took a deep breath. He needed to take this opportunity to ask him the one question that had been burning against his tongue every day for the past several weeks, since Leng was dragged away by the authorities.
Mrs. Zhi began speaking in Chinese again, then her husband responded. Ju said something in English and they continued their fast-paced conversation, jumping between the two languages as fast as Jasper jumped between art projects.
He waited. But waiting was like holding a burning ember in his mouth. Jasper caught Ju bringing up Ginevra’s and that she’d been accepted. Master Chandler had visited her with the news only twelve days ago and she hadn’t stopped glowing since then.
Could he interrupt now? No. Mrs. Zhi was saying something in Chinese, her hands moving almost as fast as her mouth. Jasper tried to occupy himself by focusing on not scratching his stitches. Not that it helped.
For once in his life, Jasper couldn’t be distracted. Blast it all, the gears above probably made life ironic on purpose. Jasper, who could never stay focused, now, could not be distracted.
The conversation between the three Zhis slowed and Jasper opened his mouth, unable to stop himself anymore. “Excuse me, sir, but there is something I would like to ask you.”
They all three turned toward him. He hadn’t exactly planned on asking this in front of an audience, but when his gut said it was time to do, he did.
“I’d like to ask for your permission to marry your daughter.”
There, he’d said it. All three Zhis before him stilled immediately. Jasper kept his gaze firmly on Mr. Zhi, not daring to look at Ju.
The man tipped his head back, eying him carefully. “You are not the type of man I had hoped her to find.”
Blast—that was not what he had hoped to hear. Jasper’s hands clenched and unclenched at his sides.
Mr. Zhi continued. “You are brazen and impetuous. You make no plans for tomorrow, nor bother yourself with thoughts of the future.”
“Ju is my future,” Jasper stated. “Of that I am certain.”
Mr. Zhi leaned forward as though to argue. But then he stopped, rocked back, and let out a sigh. “I know. I have seen as much for myself.” He glanced down at his wife, patting her hand in his. “Jasper Wimple, I give you my permission to ask Ju to be your wife.” He lifted a single finger. “But understand this. I am not consenting because you saved her, though I will be eternally thankful for that, but because you have shown yourself to be a man who is honorable and good to those you love.”
“Thank you, sir.” Jasper inclined his head forward. Should he place his hands, palms together, like he’d seen so many Chinese do? No; he’d probably do it wrong and offend Mr. Zhi.
“We’ll give you two some time to talk,” Mr. Zhi said, he and his wife moving up the walk toward Jasper’s townhouse.
Standing straight once more, Jasper turned for the first time toward Ju.
She was smiling.
That had to be a good sign.
Granted, they hadn’t discussed marriage. They hadn’t discussed much of a future at all. The past few weeks had just been them, together every day; him healing and making art, her training and helping at Wei shu’s. It had been the most amazing few weeks of his life and he wanted it every day, forever.
Taking Ju’s hand, Jasper dropped to one knee ignoring the zip of discomfort up his side when his knee hit the pavement.
“Zhi ju, my sweet, you are lovely and beautiful. But more than that, you are fiery and spirited. Your focus and determination inspire me. I love you. Would you, please, marry me?”
He waited. A breath, then two. She was still smiling; she hadn’t said no yet.
Ju opened her mouth, a light laughter coming out before any words could. “Yes,” she said. “Yes, absolutely.”
Jasper jumped to his feet. Taking Ju in his arms, he twirled her around. Once her feet touched the ground again, he proceeded to place kiss after kiss up her neck and beneath her ear.
An idea struck him and he pulled back suddenly.
Ju listed her head. “What is it, Jasper? Bored of me already?”
“Oh, never that my love. Never that. No, I just thought . . .” He took both of her hands in his and crouched down a bit so he could see her more eye to eye. “Only, how would you feel if, say, we added someone else to this small family of ours?”
“What do you mean?” Then her eyes brightened. “Tom?”
Jasper shrugged. “I can’t seem to shake him. So, I thought maybe it was time I stopped trying.”
“I think that is a perfectly lovely idea.”
He took her in his arms again. “Are you sure?”
“About Tom? Absolutely,” she said, wrapping her arms gingerly around his middle.
“Actually, I meant about marrying me. I don’t have gobs of money, and I’ve been told I’m a very trying person to put up with.”
“And you think being married to me is going to be a walk through the garden?” Ju rose up on tiptoes, bringing their faces closer together. “Remember my overly protective mother will be living with us and my father will probably insist on haunting the house day and night.”
“Lud,” he said, unable to keep his eyes off her lips for long. “Maybe I should reconsider.”
“If you aren’t willing to accept my parents, or any of my ancestors which may or may not decide to visit, then you don’t get to have me.”
“Sounds fair. Since I’m asking you to take me and Tom and all the uncertainties of my future.”
“I guess there were a lot of people before us who made sure we could find happiness now.”
“And there’s a lot of happiness in our future to look forward to.”
Ju’s hand wound up the front of his shirt and she took hold of him. “What a barmy pair we’ll make.”
Jasper kissed her soundly. “The barmy-est of them all.”
She laughed and he kissed her again.
The End
When it comes to defending her family,
Adaleigh Dubois backs down from no one.
Not a competitor caught cheating—
Not from fear while stranded in a barn during a full moon—
Not even from a crazed werewolf.
Because no matter what,
Family takes care of family.
Download Your Free Copy at
LGRollins.com/freenovella
Other Books By
L. G. Rollins
Steam and Shadow Series
Stolen Bloodline
Clockwork Image
Waltz of the Crows
Buried In Blue
Masked By Moonlight (available at LGRollins.com)
Zaad Stone Series
Shadows of Angels
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Thank you to all those who have helped me with Clockwork Image.
A special thank you goes to my loyal readers, Beta readers, and all those great people in my critique groups. Thank you to those who have helped make this manuscript a beautiful book: my cover artist, Les, and my line editor, Jen Proctor.
My husband, as always, has helped with many a late night writing sprints, and all the emotional ups and downs that come along with this whole process.
Thank you.
For L. G. Rollins, conversations regarding Schrodinger’s cat, the effects of scientific advancements on politics, and whether Infinity is better categorized as a number or an idea are all quite commonplace. To be short, she is an unapologetic nerd. Mix in her love of whimsy and the unusual, and you get Steam and Shadow, a steampunk series of science, sweet romance, and unexpected adventures.
Follow along on all the adventures, visit:
WEBSITE: LGRollins.com
FACEBOOK: facebook.com/lgrollinsauthor
