THE DISAGREEABLE DUCHESS

CHAPTER EIGHT

Everyone in the household was up before dawn. The servants tended to their usual tasks while Colin and Olivia packed their trunks and readied themselves for the long trip ahead.

When the sun rised hours later, everyone gathered upfront to say their last goodbyes bar David who was watching everything from the large window of his study. Both Cecilia and Frank wish their son a good luck. His mother was on the verge of breaking down, but she kept it in, at least till the carriage Colin will be riding was nowhere near their sight. After their long and painful goodbyes, the two boarded their carriage and quickly ordered the driver to go. They didn't want to see their loved ones hurt any further.

They'll be traveling a day and a half for Chester and then another day's ride for Colin to reach Cambridge.

They sat opposite to each other, their eyes permanently darted to the landscapes they pass. The atmosphere was tensed, like the first time they traveled their way to London a week and a half back.

"So," Colin began murmuring. "do you have any plans on returning to London after this?"

"I don't see why." She said. "I wasn't even welcomed the whole time I was there, but I'm glad that I was given answers to all of my questions."

"What can I say... David was never the most affectionate of man, he hates showing his weaknesses, but he cares and he loves you, Olivia. Just have a little faith in him."

Olivia offered him a smirk. "I wish I can agree with you, but I really don't see it."

"You can't always see what God has in store for you before your very eyes. Sometimes, it's better to use your other senses to see love."

Olivia's glance shifted from the window to Colin, then she said. "You always know how to make me feel a hundred times better."

"Well that's what doctors do, right? We cure the sick and bring ease..."

"But I don't think doctors cure these types of aches as well."

"We don't, you're the only exception."

The tensed air lightened up afterwards. The whole trip had mostly been about advices and mental remedies, much to Olivia's peace and ease.

They stopped halfway through the journey and let their night pass with decent sleep and horse tending. The two of them settled in a small inn, where they asked for two rooms. One for Olivia and one for Colin and the carriage driver to share.

They met up at the dining hall for supper after a short rest and cleansing. Both Colin and the driver came down early and settled themselves on a vacant table while they wait for Olivia to come down. They did not wait too long because a few minutes later, Olivia was sitting in front of the two men waiting for their orders.

"What time will we be leaving tomorrow?" Asked Olivia.

"I was planning on going before dawn so that you'll be able to be with family before sun down." Replied Colin who was unsure of

"That's good." Olivia smiled. "I'm sure grandma will be surprised with my unexpected homecoming."

Moments later, their order arrived with heaps and heaps of food on the platter. They were unable to chat for the rest of dinner, they found themselves having a hard time finishing their dishes. After their long, individual battle with the roast beef, they decided to retire for the night. They all agreed on the same thing that particular night, and it was wanting to tie themselves on the canopy of the bed forever, but in reality, they needed to wake up early.

After what seemed to be an hour of sleep, they all redressed and prepared themselves for the 12-hour journey to Chester. It was still night time when they left the inn for an early start on the road.

Colin and Olivia wisely passed most of their traveling time on sleeping, it'd been the most quiet journey till they woke up near the border lines of Chester hours later. Olivia looked far, she thought that it'd be best if she continued on foot since her home was hours away even if they were already in Chester. She wouldn't want to cause Colin any further delays.

"I think this is far enough, Colin." Said Olivia. "I can walk by foot from here."

"No," Colin disagreed. "we can't leave you in the middle of nowhere with trunks and trunks of stuff, stay."

"No, I've already caused you a huge setback and delay, let me walk. My house is just pass those fields, it won't take an hour of walk " She lied, her house was at least another two-hour walk from where they were. "And besides, I've been stiff as a board since the inn, I'd like to go for a little walk, I missed this place."

"Stop the carriage." Ordered Colin, then the driver quickly obliged.

"Thank you." Olivia opened the door and asked their driver to take her luggage down the roof.

Colin quickly followed her out with a gift in his hands. "I guess this is the end of our journey together..."

"Yes, but hopefully not the last." She replied.

"It won't." Colin assured her. "This is the first of our many encounters in the near future."

"So, goodbye?"

"Goodbye." He tried to hand her a box, which she didn't notice earlier. "Here," He said. "it's just a little something to remind you of London."

"You didn't have to..."

"I did anyways." He almost shoved her the box.

"Then, thank you." For the last time, she gave him a smile before he re-entered the carriage.

"I'll see you soon." Said Colin who was peeking from the window.

The horses soon started running again, and Olivia was left with a trunk full of clothes and a box that contained something heavy. She stood in the same spot as before till the carriage was nowhere near her sight. She then sighed, it was going to be a long walk to home.

The sun was barely visible when Olivia reached the gate their front yard. She quickly heard the sound of children laughing, and her grandma's voice as well. She smiled, she missed this.

She knocked three times on the door and waited for an answer, and it was only a matter of time before little Tara excitedly jumped on her arms and called for both Magnolia and Tommy.

Magnolia and Tommy soon comes out of the drawing room with arms wide open.

Magnolia gasps. "Oh, my baby!" She then kissed her on her cheek and said. "I've missed you!"

"Me too, grandma."

They then spent the next hours chatting and regaining the time they've lost during Olivia's trip. After dinner, Olivia went up to her room with the box that Colin gave her and the trunk of clothes she brought along with her.

Olivia sat on the edge of her bed getting ready for rest. She was wearing her usual night gown, and on her lap was the unopened box from Colin.

She gasped.

The box contained a lot of stuff, most of them were from the market trip she and Colin had a few days ago. Everything she touched and everything she tried on was in that box. The doll that she thought Tara would like, a toy train for Tommy and a set of classic novels that Magnolia would love and adore. Apart from those gifts, Colin also bought her a few hair and body accessories, which included a few silk ribbons, bracelets and a gold necklace. And at the very bottom of the box was a beautiful pack of stationary with a not of Colin's address in Cambridge, as well as a few contact details.

She smiled and set aside everything that the box contained. Then she blew the lamp off and positioned herself for sleep, thinking of what she'd like to tell Colin, or what would interest him to write back to her letters. And with that in her mind, she fell asleep.

It took Colin another day's ride until he reached Cambridge a day after Chester. He settled himself in his old apartment, dreaming of letters from Olivia. How he hoped that she received the symbol of the stationary he gave her.