The Duke's Unlikely Lady

"Annie! Ann.." A girl tapped the sleeping Annie continuously. Annie still deep In sleep pushed her hands and shifted closer towards the window side of the carriage. "Let me sleep more.." She yawned and blinked before going back to sleep again. "We have arrived, Annie," The carriage stopped in a grinding halt, making the two girls bounce slightly. Annie due to the sudden halt, banged her head on the window. "Oww. Charlotte, you don't have to push me hard. When did we arrive?" Annie pushed open the window, her green eyes taking in the surroundings. "I was trying to wake you up, Annie, but you sleep like a log." Charlotte shook her head. "Now you wouldn't blame me when we've been on the road for two days, stopping at inns that had no fair bedding for the amount paid." Annie reminded her with a slight annoyance, remembering how she could barely sleep on the hard bed in the last inn they had stayed in. The footman opened the door and placed a stool for the ladies to come down easily. "Milady," he offered his hand which Annie took first as she was in a haste to see their new house. "Thank you, James" Annie said as she came down. Behind her, Charlotte came down then adjusted her gown to ease any wrinkle that had formed from sitting down for so long. "Oh, Charlotte, the house is huge. Even bigger than the one in Fairbourne." Annie was almost jumping in excitement. Her golden hair swayed in the soft afternoon wind of early spring. "That's one of the perks of being made a Baron. Papa worked hard to make life easier for us." Charlotte said softly. She was more composed and ladylike than Annie. She adjusted the hat on her curled black hair. "Papa, mama, the house looks lovely from the outside. I do hope that it's the same in the inside, we can't tell if the previous Baron kept it properly" Charlotte scanned the environment with her blue eyes. She noticed how other carriages passed on black cobblestone and people moved while stopping for a few seconds to stare at the unfamiliar faces. "Everything has been checked and improved to our taste," Oliver Whitmore, the new Baron said. He adjusted his coat and walked towards his daughters with his wife, Jane Whitmore following beside him, as they came down from the second carriage. "Now girls, remember that you are now of nobility, so you'll have to live up to it and maintain the title" "Anastasia adjust your gloves and ease your eagerness." Jane corrected. Charlotte was a splitting image of her mother, the same eyes and luscious black hair, just younger and softer features. Jane glared lightly at the young girl who was staring at every single thing. "Oh, mama, I'm sorry for not being more composed, but it's Briarford that we are now and I'm just excited. I'll try to tone it down." Anastasia offered a smile and schooled her expression and composure. "Can we go inside now, I'm afraid of getting sun burns out here, Briarford isn't as cool as Fairbourne." Charlotte said while staring at her fair skin to check if any sign of red sun burns had appeared. "Theodore," Oliver called out to his personal coachman. "Get the carriages into the stables and do watch out for the one we hired to get our other belonging." Theodore bowed in acknowledgement, and Oliver ushered his family into the grand mansion. The doors to the mansion were suddenly opened by a man who looked like he was in his fifties. They had almost reached the front door when he opened the door and welcomed them in. "Welcome, Baron, Baroness and the young ladies." He bowed in respect standing by the side to let them pass. "How was your journey?" "It was a bit stressful because people are returning back to Briarford for the new season. I assume everything has been prepared, Eugene" Oliver walked inside with Eugene while handing him his coat. Anastasia and Charlotte couldn't get the awe look off their face, as they noticed the grand mansion's interior. "Is Eugene the butler, mama?" Charlotte leaned beside her mother to ask. Jane nodded in confirmation and walked to catch up to her husband's pace. "Yes, Milord. Everything is prepared to yours and the Madam's taste. The servants are just waiting for your instructions" Eugene led them to the entrance hall where the servants were assembled for the new Master's arrival. "Welcome Baron and Baroness" They all said in unison with a deep bow. Oliver nodded in response. "These are the servants," Eugene began introducing them. "This is miss Hannah the cook, Sir Oswald the gardener," "They are quite a few in number compared to the size of this mansion. We will need to hire more" Anastasia interrupted. "Yes, milady. We kept just the loyal servants who had stayed after the former Baron left. Most of the servants went away after the former Baron couldn't keep the household in check." Eugene explained. "It's a good thing. We will get to employ our own servants ourselves and check their qualifications" Jane added, studying the few servants, who hadn't raised their heads to look at the new Masters. "Papa, do we get a personal maid now? I've always seen ladies of higher status with a personal maids" Charlotte asked. She really loved the new status they had now. Although her father had money and connection from working as a land owner, who bought and sold lands, but being a noble had always been Charlotte dream. Luckily for them the King had bestowed the Whitmore the title of Baron. "Yes Milady, you'll be assigned personal maids but after you've picked the ones you want" Eugene calmly answered their questions. New Nobles were always eager to fit in. "That's enough introduction Eugene," Oliver waved his hands at the servants to go and proceed with whatever they were doing before their arrival. "The ladies are tired show them their rooms while I go and finalize the last documents that I have fully and officially taken over as Baron" "Be home on time for dinner." Jane smiled at her husband. He leaned and kissed her temple. "I will". Jane then focused her attention on settling in. "Get the servants to get some of our belongings from the carriage and show them their rooms". "Right this way," Eugene led them up a grand staircase. He pointed at some rooms on the way to their rooms. Annie's room was larger than the one she stayed in before. The large bed sat in the middle of the room with curtains falling over the poles. Light poured from the tall windows that overlooked the large beautiful garden. "Lottie, my room is beautiful and better than I expected. Look I can see the neighbor's garden from here as well" She pushed open the window pointing outside. The smell of spring flowers wafting inside the room. Their mother Jane had already been shown her room and was guiding the servants on arranging her stuffs. "It's a lovely room Annie, but no one wants to peep at their neighbor's garden. Where's my room Eugene?" Charlotte asked stepping outside from Annie's room. "It's just at the end of the hallway milady" Eugene led her there. Annie's soft running sounded behind Charlotte. "I would like to see yours. Mama would have obviously chosen the best for you" "That's because I am older than you" Charlotte smiled at the thought that she would be having a bigger space to sleep and store her clothes. "Only with a year Charlotte," Anastasia reminded "but still I respect you. My, your room is lovely and beautiful" Charlotte's room was even more bigger and the view was overlooking the streets of Briarford. She could see the houses and the people that moved around in expensive clothing. "I like my view more. I get to see what's going on." "But I get to see what people want to hide. The garden is a peaceful place you know" Annie said walking around the room, that was painted a soft blue with the bed beside the wall and pastel blue curtains. "I'll leave you to rest and settle in Charlotte" Annie said and walked out to her own room. Eugene had left the girls to rest while he went downstairs to supervise the servants. It was indeed an ecstatic day for the Whitmore.