The Scoundrel's Tribute

Poisonous tongues

Rene

The day of the birthday party arrived sooner than I expected, but everything was prepared. Dmitry's right hand, Victor came with us in the same carriage and at least ten knight surrounded us while we prepared for departure. Dina hugged Dmitry who came to set us off. I helped her to get into the carriage and was about to get on when Dmitry caught my arm.

- For a word, Duchess. - he said and I walked away with him. We heard how Dina shouted.

- No fighting! - I smiled and nodded to her. I have no intention to get angry about something trivial. I won't hurt his daughter so I was calm as a cucumber. Dmitry stopped when we got far enough for Fina not to hear us.

- If she gets hurt, don't even dream about running away, because I'll hunt you down. - I smiled and wished if these words weren't hitting a nerve in my mind. "I shouldn't have been reading steamy romances in my early teenage years. This is not something to be turned on by. This is a threat Rene, a death threat."

- Noted. Anything else? We will be late if we delay any longer.

- What did you get for her friend? - he asked and I knew he was curious if I've spent the budget for the gift on myself.

- I asked the Little Lady to choose a dress for her friend and I picked a pair of shoes matching that dress. - I handed a pouch and a paper for Dmitry.

- This is the change and the receipt. See you tonight Duke. - I bowed and left the stunned Dmitry alone. I hopped on the carriage and Dina looked at me expectantly but didn't dare to speak. Victor noticed this and smiled at her.

- You can speak freely Little Lady, even in the presence of the Duchess. You are the hair of tye Dukedom. - he said the last part while he looked into my eyes. Victor was a strange man, in all my lives he always knew everything and had the talent to piss others off by the right choice of words. I knew this was a discreet attack against me, what he really said "You can do whatever you want Dina, because this woman in no one." - I smiled at Dinara and elbowed on my thighs resting my chin on top of my hands.

- What is in your mind Little Lady?

- Well, were you arguing with daddy? - she asked straightforwardly and Victor smiled proudly.

- Not at all. He reminded me to take good care of the Little Lady and asked what we prepared for your friend. - she smiled happily and her baby blue dress moved a bit by the gentle breeze that came in through the windows. I looked out and tried to remember how far should I get and what kind of flowers I saw. When the castle of Earl Smhucz was already visible I turned to Victor.

- We haven't agreed on how should I address the Little Lady during today's event. - his eyes widened in surprise.

- Hm... If you keep addressing her as Little Lady it might be a good source of gossips. The Duke won't give importance to this anyway. - he said but Dina looked a bit confused.

- You shouldn't be worried about this Little Lady. If there might be a rumor that would only involve me, not the Little Lady. So, I'll call you as you want me to. - I said and she seemed a bit troubled. She glanced at Victor for assistance but he just smiled.

- Call me Dina today, Duchess. - Dina said and I bowed a bit.

- Thank you for the honor, Little Lady. - we have arrived and after getting off of the carriage a knight held the gifts we prepared while Victor kept his eyes on me. Anna's mother, Lady Lucy greeted us and she couldn't hide her surprise seeing me. After greeting Dina she turned to me.

- Oh my, Duchess Rankin! I didn't expect you to accept our invitation! - she said and I smiled politely.

- Dina needed a guardian to escort her, so we decided to come together. Thank you for the invitation! Please accept this little token as my gratitude. This is a special tea that help you to boost your health and to sleep better. - she looked confused but very grateful. I faintly remembered that Lady Lucy died due to exhaustion. She had severe insomnia and by the end she couldn't even sleep with drugs.

- Thank you very much for this thoughtful gift Duchess. Please follow me! - I reached for Dina's hand and she held mine trembling a bit. I heard Victor whisper her that she doesn't have to do it but she said.

- I want to! - we arrived to the garden. I released Dina's hand and she ran to her friend hugging her.

- Happy birthday Anna!

- Dina! I didn't know you will come! I'm so happy!

-Me too! The Duchess brought me! - Anna bowed kindly and after my best wishes for her birthday and giving her the gifts, the kids ran to play woth the other little ladies, and I joined the table of the mothers.

- Oh Duchess Rankin, what a delightful surprise!

- My pleasure to be here, Viscountess Ruby.

- I didn't know you got along with your stepdaughter so well! - Lady Gertrude said from behind her fan. She was the gossip queen and one of my old enemies from my previous lives. She created rumors as a hobby and tarnished the little honor I had previously. This time, I'll fight her with her own venom. I smiled sweetly and searched for Dina with my eyes, while I've answered.

- I'm lucky that Dina is such an angel, I heard that Lady Gertrude had her issues with your oldest daughter. Hopefully her younger sister won't be so easy-going as her sister, am I right? - I saw Gertrude's face getting red and that was enough for me. Dina played cutely with her friends and I was happy that I could help her.

- Duchess, what about a little one for your own? You seem to be doting of Dina wouldn't it be nice to have a daughter for your own? - Ruby asked.

- That's right! You have been married for two years already and no baby yet, is there any problem with your relationship wit the Duke? - Gertrude asked and I saw that Lady Lucy felt uncomfortable but didn't dare to speak up. I rolled my eyes and caught Victor's glance. He was as curious if not as the ladies.

- Thank you both for your support and worries, but I don't think that we are in a relationship close enough to discuss my private matters. Oh and don't call her by her nickname, for you she is Lady Rankin. - I said with an annoyingly soft smile and drank a bit of my tea. Everything is going smoothly. Dina is playing, these bitches are trying their best to harm me, but, this is nothing compared with the humiliations I've already survived previously. Suddenly, the kids became silent. The mothers chatted leaving me out of their conversation, and I noticed that Dina looked afraid. I got up and walked to them.

- I heard from my mom that the Duchess will throw you out once she has a child with the Duke! - the daughter of Gertrude said and I felt my blood boiling. Anna shouted at her.

- Hey! That's not nice! Dina is the first daughter of the Duke! Dina don't listen to her! - I was glad that Anna didn't inherit her mother's flexible backbone but at that moment I heard Ruby's daughter laugh and push Anna away.

- You are both replaceable since none of your mothers are alive! - she said and I saw tears in Dina's eyes as her glance met mine. I couldn't control myself and I found myself turning the little b***h towards me.

- Lady Laura, do you care to repeat what you just said to Dina into my eyes? - she mumbled and I saw how Gertrude's daughter tried to escape but I grabbed her dress yanking her back next to this b***h.

- You too, Mary, what did you just say to Dina? That she'll be kicked out because she is not my daughter? That she is replaceable because I'm not her mom? - they trembled and their mothers rushed to us.

- Duchess Rankin what are you doing with our daughters?! - Ruby asked and I glanced at her over my shoulder. I could only imagine the face I showed that caused them to take a step back.

- You are right. - I released the kids and walked to Ruby and Gertrude.

- A problem must be fixed from its roots. - with that I've slapped first Gertrude and than Ruby. Lucy gasped and I said.

- Educate your daughters well, so something like this won't happen in the future, or I'll personally show both of you what it really means to be replaceable. - they didn't dare to say a word and I saw the surprised Victor over their shoulders staring. I walked to Dina and gave her a handkerchief.

- Listen to me Dina, you are your father's most treasured person, the apple of his eyes and the most important person in his life. He'll never let anything happen to you, and neither will I. So dry your tears, and smile, because today is a happy day! I'll chase the clouds away. - Dina smiled and hugged me before running back to Anna and as expected Ruby and Gertrude left with their kids. I turned to Lucy and said.

- Grow a backbone.