Chapter 3
1065 Words
She look over from the corner she stood and noticed the duke talking to Ana Winehouse with her hands perched on his arm. She felt a small pang. She and Ana disliked each other from childhood. As she approached them she heard Ana’s laughter to something the duke must have said.
“I’ll be taking my leave, your grace”. She interrupted.
“Let me walk you to your carriage then”. He said as he detached Ana’s hands from his arm. A part of her was happy he didn’t bother with “introductions”.
The valet ran to them as he saw Lady Amelia approaching.
“My lady, your carriage had a broken wheel and your driver went to get another, he may be long”, he explained.
“Are the horses ok?”
“Yes ma’am, very much”.
“This won’t do”, Amelia said, a bit exasperated.
“Your house isn’t far away, and my carriage is in use to transport my uncle and his children. Why don’t I walk you home if you don’t mind”
“Let me pick your brain a bit and escape from that stifling party” He offered, a glint shining in his eyes.
“I won’t want to inconvenience you further”,
“Rubbish! Walk with me”, he said commandingly as he held her hand and walked her down the stairs.
They walked and talked as they went along. There was a small area where a large mansion obscured the early moon. They didn’t notice as some masked men approached them
The moon hung low in the sky as Lady Amelia and the Duke found themselves in a perilous situation, surrounded by the masked men. The tension was palpable, and Lady Amelia's heart raced as she instinctively moved closer to the Duke, seeking refuge in his presence.
“Look whom we have here”, one of the masked men snickered, presumably the leader of the gang
The Duke's gaze remained fixed on the masked leader, his voice steady but laced with a hint of warning. "Release us at once."
The masked leader's laughter echoed through the night. "And why should we listen to you?"
"Because you have no idea who you're dealing with," Lady Amelia bluffed, her voice carrying a blend of confidence and authority.
The Duke shot her a surprised glance, and for a brief moment, their eyes locked in a silent understanding—a recognition that they were in this together.
One of the men approached with a short knife in hand, in a flash the duke closed in and landed a punch, it happened so quick and unexpectedly. The assailant fell and the others were stunned for a moment.
Before the masked leader could respond, a whistle sound echoed through the trees. Moments later, a group of coppers emerged, armed with batons and determined expressions. The masked men hesitated, their bravado waning.
“Hold it right there!”
The masked leader exchanged a tense glance with his companions before retreating into the darkness. As the coppers closed in, the Duke turned to Lady Amelia, a wry smile on his lips. “Are you ok my lady”
Lady Amelia's cheeks flushed, and she looked away, suddenly self-conscious.
“It is I who should be asking, does your knuckle hurt?”
"Your concern is appreciated," the Duke said, his tone softer than before.
So sorry your grace, we got word that some suspicious fellows were lurking around this area, we came to check it out and heard the commotion, luckily we were just in time”, the chief copper explained as his men pursued the miscreants.
“Indeed” replied the duke. “Why don’t you make sure our lady here gets to her house safely, or her father will call for your head”
“I’ll make sure of that sir”. He answered enthusiastically.
“They’ll escort you home while I tend to things here, please pardon the unpleasantry” the duke said as he bowed slightly and kissed her hand In farewell.
He stood and watched her get in a carriage with some police escorts. He watched until the carriage turned around the bend that would lead to her fathers mansion.
In the days that followed, Lady Amelia couldn't shake the memory of their shared peril. She found herself seeking the Duke's company, drawn to his enigmatic presence. The Duke, too, seemed to be in her orbit, their interactions taking on a newfound familiarity.
**************
One afternoon,the Duke called on the Fairchild residence,to speak to her Lord Fairchild and to see how his daughter was doing. He brought some gifts as an apology.
"Welcome, Your Grace!" Amelia heard her fathers voice from the foyer below "Its a pleasant surprise, what brings you to our humble abode"
"Surely a household this magnificent shouldn’t be called humble" the duke flattered as he looked around. Lord Fairchild roared with laughter
"I assume you've come regarding the incident with those miscreants who dared to disrupt the peace in our lands?"
"Yes, sadly theres no news or an update on the investigation. It seems that the miscreants may have been from outside the province. And unfortunately we were not able to apprehend any of them to gather information about their motives. Regardless the police has promised to make it a priority"
"Thats sad, Amelia was visible shaken" Lord Fairchild shook his head.
"I'd like to see how she is" The duke replied
"Shes out in the garden taking a walk, I believe. You can wait in the tea room while Antoinne fetches her", he said gesturing to his butler.
"Why don’t I meet her in the garden if you don’t mind, I don’t intend to tarry long"
"Certainly!" answered Lord Fairchild, "Antoine please show His Grace to the Gardens"
As Lady Amelia wandered through the gardens, deep in thought, she came across the Duke, standing in the Gazebo, a note in hand.
"May I join you?" she asked, her voice quiet.
The Duke looked up, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Of course, my lady."
Lady Amelia settled herself beside him, a comfortable silence settling between them as they each lost themselves in their own thoughts. The Duke's presence was calming, his nearness a balm to her restless spirit.
- Writer
