The Duke's Sons

I'm in Love...

“I’m in love…”, I tell sage. I know it is super fast and I barely even know Grant but I know for a fact that we are going to fall in love.

“Sure you are.” She replies over her shoulder.

“No really. I am usually very well grounded but today my head is in the clouds!” I replied.

 “Well, who is it then?” Sage is shocked by my proclamation.

“Grant.” I say quickly looking away towards the rolling hills.

“Are you kidding me? The Duke’s son?” Sage rolls her eyes. “Get real and then we can talk.” She picks up the pace thinking that I am just messing with her.

We are walking into town to buy the necessaties our parents sent us out for. A cart rolls by down the dirt road and the driver recognizes us. “Need a lift?” He offers. Feet sore already from walking we eagerly hop in. Sage starts to ramble on about something or other. I think she wants a new ribbon for her hair? My thoughts drift back to Grant. I hope that he is in town today. Lately whenever he sees me come into town he corners me when alone and flirts with me. Or at least I think he does. He always tells me he likes my hair and the color that I am wearing. Which is usually brown or gray. I huff at myself wishing I could afford the colorful dresses the other girls in town will be wearing.

“Mariella!”

I jerk out of my thoughts. Sage is pulling me down from the back of the cart. We had arrived.

Sage and I are in one of the stores and I wander around by myself hoping that Grant will be able to come find me if he is here. I am slowly making my way down the  spice aisle. I love the way it smells in this section. I reach up to grab a jar of nutmeg when someone presses their lips against my ear.

“Do you know your hair matches the color of this beautifully”

I turn around to Grant holding my jar of nutmeg. My hair is the one thing I am proud of and Grant seems to know it. It is voluminous and has nice thick curls that I like to let fall down around my face.  I blush and step out of Grants embrace afraid someone will see us.

“Oh come on honey.” He laughs and presses even closer.

I laugh and step out of his embrace again. “People cannot see us together. They would get the wrong idea!”

Grant presses me again the shelves. “Good then they will know to stay away from what is mine.” He smiles and presses his lips against my forehead.

“I am yours now?” I question. Turning an even darker shade of red. My eyes fall to the floor as I am surprised by my boldness.

He picks at my skirt with his fingers. One arm still keeping me trapped against the shelves.

“Of course you are. Why is someone else trying to court you as well?” I see jealousy quickly flash through his eyes before vanishing behind his handsome smile again.

“What? NO!” I say too loudly. “ No one else is trying to court me.” I add more quietly this time.  

“Good. You are a beautiful girl. I wouldn’t want some other guy noticing how much so.” He breathes against my ear.

He suddenly pushes back from the shelves and turns to leave.

He is gone before I can even process what happened. A question is still on my lips but I have to blink a few times before I can even see the nutmeg jar he put back into my hands with a small bobble resting on top. Sage finds me a few seconds later and we walk towards the register.