How I became the Duchess

He was still holding my waist

Present:

“But you are not the first woman with who he has been engaged ever.” This truthful answer from my future mother in law would hurt me a few days ago, but today, I understood a lot of things already, like that the day I will marry Phillip, she will lose lots of her impact. It does not matter, if she will stay with us in one building (to put the things in its correct place, the building is so large, that it is not an easy task to meet each other), it will be me, who will be invited as Duchess de Ambremó to all of the events, to which she was invited until now. Yes, we will attend lots of the social events together, but it will be me who will be expected by Phillip´s side, while the expectations from her are, that she will slowly, gradually withdraw from the public life.

I saw as Phillip jerked.

“That´s truth Your Grace.” Elena, Phillip´s mother acquired a satisfied facial expression and after that I continued. “But I am still the only one who got pregnant with his child.” I finished my speech in a lower voice, and I did not dare to look at Phillip, I knew he will be angry and will not believe me. Nevertheless, I got at least one thing. His mother lost speech and I got a chance to excuse myself and left.

I was heading to the bar, where the drinks were served. I needed to get some alcohol into my blood circulation. ´I have never meant to tell it Phillip. I wanted to take this with me to grave. I must control myself even more around this people. ´ these thoughts changed my mind to get some champagne and I ordered just a glass of water with ice.

As I took my glass from the barman, I got a feeling someone is behind me, but when I turned around, I could not find anyone. ´Here are to many people hating me. That´s all. ´

I wanted to leave, but not that it would be just impolite, I did not even greet the Queen yet. As I found her by sight (not that it would be hard, she is the Queen after all), I considered it is not the best idea, she was surrounded with lots of people. And I should have to greet her with Phillip. This was our engagement in the end. But I found him surrounded too, but with a bunch of young girls, too young to his age.

I smiled for myself, when I got that feeling again, like I would be having someone´s whole attention. Like someone would be undressing me by sight but I could not find anyone again when I turned around. Then my eyes landed on the opened doors of the balcony, which was leading to the large gardens and I decided to make a small walk so I could come to fresh thoughts and breath some fresh air.

But getting there was not such easy, as when I was not engaged with Phillip.

I had to lead some polite conversation with the mothers of the young ladies, who would want me to learn their daughters how to get engaged with a Duke. Not that they would say it straight, but I learned something since I entered this society.

Then there were the men, with whom I did not decide yet, to which category they belonged. Whether they wanted to start new business with me or with my fiancé.

“Ms. Suckley!” I heard a familiar voice call my name. Too loud I would say, because too many heads turned to his direction.

“Michael!” I answered with a wide smile, no matter what attention we got. He is the prince in the end; nobody would afford to criticize him. “I am sorry, Your Grace.” I corrected myself and made a deep curtsy to greet him. I greeted prince his name when he accosted me with my surname. Great. I wanted to disappear under the ground and do not came back.

“Lucy.” He said to comfort me and stop evil tongues at least a small bit, I guess. “You look fascinating” He continued and offered me his arm. “May I accompany you?” He asked and I nodded. I already understood there is something more important he wants to talk about.

“I was heading to the garden.” I answered and accepted the offered arm and a more convenient smile settled on my lips.

With Michael by my side I got into the gardens without anyone would stop me. He is a prince, nevertheless he is also a gay and not even his nearest family knows. Not that it would matter. He has got an older sister who is the heir.

We did not talk in the ballroom. Everybody around us was eager to hear at least a word. But when we got on the balcony, where mainly the young couples were trying to reach some privacy, his hand touched my waist and he was leading me down the balcony stairs into the garden.

“I thought you will not come.”

"Why I feel as if you would be disappointed, that I came.” I answered, when I thought nobody could hear us and looked on his profile.

“No, I am glad you came, but you should have come on time. My mom was annoyingly shocked and your future mother in law will not forget it either. But tell me” as he wanted to change the topic he stopped and turned around to me. “What changed your mind? I – everyone,” and he pointed to the palace. “knows, that you were not late. You did not fell asleep. You were not putting too much make up on your face. You did not want to come. So? What changed your mind? And I am not asking, because I am dying from curiosity. I am asking, because I care about you.” As he was talking, he touched my cheek with one hand, while his other hand was still holding my waist.