THE DISAGREEABLE DUCHESS

CHAPTER NINE

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 tIt was a couple of days after New Years that Olivia came home from Chester after a day and a half's ride with Colin from London. And after that short trip, Magnolia noticed changes in her granddaughter.

Olivia no longer dedicated her time secluding herself from the world, her time is wisely spent on children like Tommy and Tara, who were both street kids, and now are well provided with shelter, food and basic education for their future.

Magnolia being a governess before she started a family, enjoyed teaching children out in their home. They accepted everyone who comes willingly to learn a thing or two. They do it every Saturday and Sundays, with almost a class of twenty everytime they do so.

And of course, there's the ongoing suitors from men nearby. Almost every men wanted her as a wife, because not only is she beautiful, but kind and affectionate as well. But each and every time, she'd politely decline their offer of courtship because of an unknown reason. Even Magnolia didn't know why her granddaughter rejects their offer.

Today, Olivia wrote a reply to Colin's letter from a couple days back. It was only a few hours ago when she read the contents of it since they've been busy with the children.

They never lost contact, Colin and Olivia.

And during the past six months that they were apart, they've been writing letters to each other at least once every week. They would tell each other anything, sometimes, Colin would even send Olivia a book that he found interesting and would discuss it through letters. Through this letters, their relationship grew a tad bit closer from being strangers. It wasn't intimate, even though they're courting, but it was friendly. And that's how they keep it.

Colin and Olivia even once discussed about their future plans, they were still courting. They called it as a long-distanced relationship. That's the reason why Olivia kept on turning her suitors down, and at the same time, she kept it a secret from Magnolia as well.

"Olivia! Olivia!" Tara came dashing in with a handful of beads in her tiny hands.

"What is it, Tara?" Asked Olivia who was sealing her letter.

"Tommy broke my necklace." Tara replied in a worried tone. "It's the one that came from London... The one that you gave me."

"It's alright, sweetheart." Olivia tried to comfort the sad little girl. "We can still fix this." Olivia held her hand out and asked if she could have the beads and string.

"We can?" Suddenly, the sad tone in Tara's voice livened, as she gave out one big smile.

"Yes." Olivia chuckled. "All we need is a new string for the chain."

Tara thought of it hard in desperation to save her necklace. Then suddenly, an idea pops in her head. "Grandma has a lot of them in her knitting basket!"

"Then go get a string and we'll fix this up."

"Alright." Tara dashed out of the room with glee.

Olivia admired Tara's optimism, she was a bright and happy child despite what she's been through, and Olivia was glad that they kept them here instead of the dangers of the streets.

Since Tommy was a few years older than Tara, he knew of what he's willing to do for his sister. He's mostly serious all the time. He dedicated himself in caring for his eight-year old sister and Olivia thinks that Tommy would do anything for her.

They're both nice kids, but somehow, fate lead them to orphanhood, even though their drunkard of a father was somewhere out there. And Olivia was scared that one day, the man would look for these children that they've come to love.

After fixing the necklace, Tara refused to talk to Tommy, who didn't apologize and instead ran away when he broke the necklace. So, Tara sat in the drawing room with Magnolia, playing with an old antique doll that used to belong to Olivia when she was a child.

On the other hand, Tommy was by the door, watching his sister who was ignoring him the whole afternoon. He was regretful of what he's done. The reason why he ran was because he was afraid of seeing his little sister hurt, so in return, he made her a headdress out of different flowers.

"What are you doing there Tommy?" Asked Olivia who was coming down the stairs.

Tommy turned around and faced her. "I... I broke Tara's necklace, but I didn't have any money to replace it. So, I made her this, but she wouldn't talk to me." He showed her the flower headdress.

"That's beautiful, Tommy." Said Olivia. "I'm sure Tara would love it."

"Really?"

"Yes, now go apologize to your sister."

So, Tommy sucked the guilt and walked to Tara with the flowers. "Tara?"

"Yes?" She replied, but didn't bother look.

"I'm sorry." He said. "I'm sorry that I broke your necklace."

"It's alright." Tara looked up to her brother. "Olivia fixed it for me." And showed him the necklace that she was wearing.

"I made you this." Tommy showed her the flower headdress. "I didn't have any money to replace the necklace."

Tara gasped. "It's amazing!" She said. "Can you put it on me?"

Tommy nodded and put the flowers on top of his sister's head. "You look very pretty, like a princess."

"Really?"

"Yes, really."

Tara then hugged Tommy tight and then whispered. "I love you, Tommy. You're the best big brother ever."

"I love you too."

Colin felt excited as he waited for his name to be called upon the stage. Today, he was graduating with the highest distinction from his batch as a doctor with his parents and David watching. He couldn't wait to be back home. He couldn't wait to see Olivia again. So with a deep breath, he stood up when his name was called upon by the dean of the university himself.

He prepared a small speech, mainly talking about how kind and generous David was to him and his family, he also spoke a few words of encouragement for his fellow graduates. And when he finished, everyone stood up and gave him a warm round of applause.

After the ceremony, David, Cecilia, Frank and him gathered to celebrate in a high-class hotel where David booked three rooms for the night. They ate world class cuisines and drank expensive wine. But Colin was happy, not because he earned himself a profession, nor a place in society. He was happy because his parents were. And thought of buying his parents a small home after he receives his very first salary, he would gladly offer it for his parents' future.

As soon as daylight broke, the family and David traveled back to London. And after almost a day's ride, when they reached the small town of Chester, Colin instructed their driver to take them to a house which wasn't a part of their journey.

David froze, it has been almost a quarter of a century since he's last been here, and he knew where Colin was about to take them. But he didn't argued, he sat quietly and waited for the carriage to stop at Magnolia's residence.

And when the carriage did stop, Colin quickly bolted out.

He ran to the front door and eagerly knocked on the door.

Then the door opens. "Olivia." He called, but he was quickly disappointed.

An unknown child answered the door and as soon as he opens it wide, Colin here's the echoes of voices throughout the whole house. He heard the children count, some were reciting their alphabet, but Olivia was nowhere near his sight.

"Yes?" The child asked.

"Is Olivia Whittaker here?" He asked.

"Yes, she's in the drawing room." The child immediately replies. "Who are you?"

"Can you please tell her that Colin is here to see her?"

"Alright."

The child enters the drawing room, almost dashing towards Olivia.

"Olivia." The child called, but she gave him a sign to wait just a minute until they finish their ABC's.

Afterwards, Olivia asked the child of why he wanted to speak to her. But, he could only say the name 'Colin', when Olivia bolted to the door leaving him in the room.

Olivia excitedly ran towards the hallway, and at first glance at the door, she saw the man named Colin.