THE DISAGREEABLE DUCHESS

CHAPTER FOUR

Olivia felt her heart jumping inside her. She sat across the man whom she met not even 24 hours ago inside a carriage on their way to London.

Her heart thumped over and over again.

She was on her way to meet her father, unexpectedly.

"Hey," Colin broke the silent awkwardness. "we're almost there."

Olivia didn't even replied, she just glanced out the window and stared out hard. She quickly noticed the changed of background, unlike Chester, London had too many buildings that it blocked out the fantastic view where they journeyed towards it. She also noticed the drastic amount of people walking in the streets, if this was Chester, she was sure that all of the town folks' eyes would be on this grand carriage that she was riding, but here, it seems that these type of carriages were nothing but the ordinary.

She started mumbling words that didn't even made sense to Colin. "What are you saying?" Asked Colin.

He could only see the worried expression on her eyes. "What if he doesn't like me?"

"How could he not?" He said. "You're beautiful."

"Will he even recognize me?"

"He should."

They both felt the carriage stop.

Olivia looked out the window to see the biggest house on the street. "Welcome home." Said Colin.

They both stood by the door with Olivia deeply pressing his hand. "He will adore you."

"Well, it's too late to back out now." So with a deep breath, she gave Colin a go sign, which was nodding and he proceeded to knocking.

"Just a minute." Replied an elder female voice coming inside the house. They could hear the locks opening one by one, and when the knob twisted, Olivia held her breath. "Colin!" Called the middle-aged woman. "We didn't expect you to be back so soon."

"I didn't either." Colin gave the woman a warm hug and turned to face their guest. "Mama, may I introduce to you, Ms Olivia Whittaker."

The woman looked a bit confused. "Whittaker, is she related to the duke?" Asked his mother.

"She is, but for now, we will not reveal her relationship with the duke." Colin answered his mother's question with discretion. None of them knew who Olivia was, except her, himself and David, for now. "Where is the duke?"

"He is at the garden, you know how he likes to tend to his plants." The woman pointed towards the door at the very end of the long hallway. "I'll have the servants bring your luggage inside."

"Then, we'll be at the garden."

Side by side, they walked towards the door. "My hands are shaking, Colin..." Whispered Olivia.

"David's a nice man. There's no need to worry, really. And besides, you're family."

"What if..." But Colin cut him off.

"Enough with those 'what if's'." He said. "I know he'll love you."

"Colin, boy!" Called David. "You're back!" David felt youthful again, he ran towards Colin, who just stepped out of the back door. He knew that Colin had news of his daughter, which made him excited.

"Lord Whittaker."

"So, how's Chester? And Olivia?"

"The view's breathtaking, sir." Replied Colin. "About Olivia..."

"What happened to my daughter?" David asked. "Is she alright?"

"Yes, sir." Agreed Colin. "But, she's upstairs in the guest room."

"You brought her here?"

"She insisted." He said. "I think she's regretted her decision so far, she ran to her room."

"Let her adjust, I'm sure she'll come out soon."

The next morning, Colin came to Olivia's room to ask her for breakfast, since she's hardly eaten anything since her departure from Chester. "Olivia?" Colin knocked.

"Yes?"

"Will you join me for breakfast?" He asked.

"Is he still there?"

"Who?"

"My father."

"No," He said. "He left for Nottingham earlier this morning, and he won't be back for a couple of days."

"Oh," Olivia opened the door. "then, I'd love to join you for breakfast."

"You look good." He complimented.

Unlike any other day, Olivia let her straight long hair down. She was also wearing a dress she's saved for any type of functions, since her plain once won't fit in London. Her baby blue dress complimented her eyes well, the dress was astoundingly seductive, but at the same time innocent. It was showing a bit of chest which Colin found hard to resist. "Stop staring, you're making me feel weird." Olivia said, trying to raise her dress a bit higher. "Is it alright?"

"Yes." He turned around, a bit stiffened and shocked. She looked like a princess, completely different from those outdated dresses she always wear.

"I can't believe my grandmother touched my trunks, she replaced all of the dresses I've packed."

"It's a good thing she did." He whispered.

"What?" She asked.

"Nothing."

The breakfast had been quiet. It was hard to eat with a lot of eyes staring at them. The two of them were facing each other at the opposite sides of the long oak-wood table. "If you'd like," Colin tried to start a small conversation. "you are free to roam the house. I'll be happy to give you a tour."

"No," She disagreed. "I think I want to explore it by myself, me being here is already a huge hindrance to your activities."

"Then, I'll let you be."

Afterwards, Olivia climb up the stairs staring up, it felt like a tower that she got dizzy. So, she stood straight with her shoulders wide and back, she held her dress up then ran like a little girl.

One by one she opened every door per floor. There were a lot of bedrooms, a library and a lot more facilities that looked a lot like each other. She then finally settled herself in the library with a book she's adored since her childhood days: Little Women.

A large window allowed a huge amount of sunlight that sipped into every corner of the room, and beside that window was a very soft couch which Olivia felt attracted to. So she sat back and opened the book.

Olivia stirred waking, the room she has fallen asleep to was pitch black. Where was she again? Oh, right. The library.

She quickly gathered herself and put a bit of her ruffled hair behind her ears. But she gasped when the door swung open. "We've found her!" The man said.

Then Colin came dashing in, breathing deeply, in and out. "Christ, Olivia!" He yelled.

"What happened?" She asked innocently.

"I thought you ran away."

"I... I fell asleep."

"It doesn't matter." He said. "Come, let's get you to your room."

"Did you look for me long?" They got to her room, Colin closed the door behind them. "I didn't notice that I passed out."

"Everyone went half-crazy looking for you." He replied. "Myself included."

"But if you went to the library and open it's doors, I'm the first thing you will see." She reasoned.

"I should've warned you earlier." Colin covered his face with the palm of his hand. "The library is off linits to everyone except David."

"Why? Is there a particular reason?"

"We don't know." He said. "It's just the way it is."

"Oh," She whispered. "you may go now."

"Then, good night." Colin turned around and opened the door knob.

With a shy grin, she followed him up to the door frame. "Good night." And then she closed the door.

The following days, Olivia grew more comfortable inside the house and she got along with the staffs and servants as well. She engaged them in little conversations, whether it be about her father, David, or just random things like cleaning. She's made a lot of new friends too like their head chef, Martin, or Francesca, the lady maid attending to her. Sometimes, she helps the chamber maids in cleaning rooms spotless.

Today is the fourth day that she's been comfortably roaming around the house. There was still no sign of David's return anytime soon, it's also been four days... He could barge in the door at any moment.

"Would you like another cup of tea, Ms Olivia?" Asked Martin.

"But," She chuckled. "you offered me one not long ago."

"Tea never tastes great if it's lukewarm."

"No, thank you." She gave him a kind smile. "Please, continue working."

"Then, I'll be in the kitchen."

"Alright." She then waited until he's fully left the room before fully immersing herself in the book she managed to take from the library four nights ago.

"Olivia." She was called again, but she didn't need to look to know that it was Colin.

"Yes?" She asked.

"My mother and I are going to town, will you be okay by yourself for a couple of hours?"

"I will, you may go."

"We'll see you later, Ms Olivia." Said Cecilia, his mother.

"See you later."

A few chapters later, she heard the door creak open wide. It must be Colin, she thought. So again, she didn't look and continued reading.

"Hello." Said an unfamiliar male voice.

In curiousity, she looked up. She then stood up with her mouth wide open, involuntarily dropped the book.

David Whittaker.