Woman Hating Duke 26 & 27

Here's a lovely painting of a blooming lily pond. Could not find who to attribute it to.

Hope everyone has been alright. It was Blue Monday yesterday, supposedly the most depressing day of the year - so far from christmas so far from payday. I was fine. I know it is hard for a lot of people out there, try be good to yourself and others, the world is a better place with you in it. Enjoy the read.

26 The Isabel Situation: 

Hannah and I left the café and took the omnibus back to the town we had left the horse carriage. We returned to the Bourbon mansion before dark. That evening, I could think of nothing but the Duke. I do not even know what I ate for dinner. I took a warm bath because I had been drenched by the rain and went to bed, but my mind was abuzz and I could not get to sleep easily.

I wondered what attitude the Duke would take when next he saw me. I could not believe he would go back to his cold attitude after he told me he loved me that many times. I mean, why would he buy me the hair clip if he didn’t like me? I could not understand the motives behind the Duke’s behaviour at all.

I held the rabbit hair clip in my hand while trying to sleep. The long night wore on.

…

The morning came, and I rose out of bed wearily. I hadn’t slept well. I washed and Hanna dressed me seriously. Since she did not know I was now entangled with the Duke, she was excited about James’ customary visit. She put me in a light purple dress, carefully applied my makeup and dressed my hair.

This morning, Hanna was in particularly good mood. I knew why, but it was fun to tease her and ask,

‘Thomas seems like a nice fellow, and Hilda is also very kind, don’t you think, Hannah?’

Hannah’s hand shook a bit as she dressed my hair. She began to speak as though she wasn’t bothered, but I could detect a slight nervousness to her voice,

‘Ah well, Miss, he is a very nice person and he is very calm as though his mind was wide like the sea.’ (Zuben: Similes are so funny, in English when someone is 'like the sea' it usually means that their temperament changes with no warning, here it means he seems like an open minded dude)

‘Well well, such a nice man. Maybe sometime soon, we can go to the central ward again and visit the café for a break.’

‘Ah…but…yes Miss.’ Hannah replied shyly in a high pitched voice. After teasing Hanna for a bit, I turned my mind to how I would persuade James to let me be. I did not like him like that and neither did he feel the same for me; it was annoying to be staying together like that. I don’t care about promises with the Duke, but to meet other good men, I needed to turn James down.

Sure enough, after breakfast, the butler appeared to announce James’ arrival. He was waiting in the drawing room as usual.

I touch the polished banisters with the tip of my fingers as I went down the densely carpeted stairs one deliberate step at a time. I reached the ground floor and walked down the beautifully decorated and maintained corridor, to the room where the heavy door was held open by a footman.

As soon as I walked in, James rose and came up to me with a broad smile on his face, ‘Oh Julia, you are looking beautiful today as always, I want to eat you!’

For the past two weeks, James appeared every other day just after I finished my breakfast. I greeted him with a bright expression. But as I entered the room, I realised there was someone else there.

This drawing room was one of the many luxuriously decorated rooms in the house of Earl Bourbon. The furniture had been made by the Kingdom’s foremost craftsmen. The sofa was made of the finest material and cushioning so fine one loathed to sit upon it, but once seated one loathed getting up. A large bouquet of flowers sat in a fine vase added a burst of colour to the already elegant room,

‘Julia, I came with my friend. You also know him; this is Henry, Duke of Magnaria. He came along because he was coming to see Lady Isabel.’

‘Henry Magnaria, at your service, Miss Julia, I am honoured to see you again.’ Henry came up and bowed over my hand. He had a smile on his face, his golden hair fell over his face, and his blue eyes twinkled like sapphires. I was stupefied, my heart was captured.

Wh-who was this refreshingly handsome man?!

The Duke I knew was always angry and glaring or cold…or aroused. I could not hide the surprise I felt at this version of him I had never seen before. This must be why he is said to be the beauty of the Kingdom. Such a destructive power! I feared my maiden’s heart would fall out!

‘Duke Magnaria, I am Julia Hermiata. I am honoured to make your acquaintance.’

I greeted him as prettily as possible. Our eyes met and I suddenly remembered his Marius version with his wet shirt open lying on the bed. I became embarrassed and deflected my eyes.

‘Henry, she’s my angel, don’t use that foul-grade sex appeal of yours on her anyhow. You’re embarrassing Julia. Julia is mine, so don’t touch.’ James said as he put his hands on my waist and drew me away from Henry. Henry looked at his hands on my waist, and in extraordinary killing intent filled the room.

Could the Duke be jealous of James? I didn’t feel bad but I could not tell James about the happenings of yesterday afternoon. Henry really needed to rein himself in, or James will figure out that there is something between us. He had really good intuition. I tried to signal Henry with my eyes, but he did not take notice at all. The killing intent gradually increased. I had no idea what to do in this situation. I could not move because James was holding me tightly. (Zuben: Stoking the fires)

Just when I was thinking I would need to elbow James in the crotch to appease the duke, a shrill voice echoed in the drawing room,

‘You Grace! You came to see me, I’m so happy!’ Isabel cried as she ran up to the Duke and embraced him. I wonder if the Duke had intended to visit today. Isabel was wearing a silk vermilion dress which showed off the wealth of her family. Her hair had been brushed till it shone like a piece of the sun, her porcelain skin was lustrous against the vibrant colour of her dress. (Zuben: Nobody sent you to have only purple in your wardrobe, dear) In the wake of her arrival, a perfume of fragrant roses followed.

Isabel boasted a sensual body coupled with a doll like face. Any man would be attracted to her and fall in love at first sight.

Isabel hopped up and down to emphasise the temptation of her large breasts as she said in a sweet voice, ‘I had been waiting for you to come to me. I was sure you would part ways with Helmina and Muriel because the first time we danced you told me I was the most attractive woman in the world.’

That was true; she was the most attractive woman in the world. But, those were not words I cared for. He had told Isabel such a thing without blinking. He was truly a womaniser. After all, his words of love were a lie. (Zuben: *facepalm. Forgetting pertinent details must be very convenient, Julia)

As I watched the Duke have fun with Isabel, James crept closer and placed his chin on my shoulder and blew air into my ear. I jumped and made strange yip.

‘Hmm, shall we go leave? We would be in the way.’ He said to me, then to the Duke, he said, ‘Henry, allow Lady Isabel to show you about the garden. The Bourbon rose garden is famous for its cultured roses.’

‘Where should we go, Julia’? I don’t care as long as I am with you.’ James said and he gave me a loud peck on the cheek. I felt like that was intentional. From the corner of my eye, I saw the Duke shiver.

27 The Duke’s Jealousy:

‘James, shall we have some tea? I brought along delicious caramel made in our territory, I would be pleased if you would try it.’  I said sweetly. It was not good for my mental health James being this close to me. I escaped from James’ arms and put a distance between us. I turned to the Duke, Isabel was standing beside him with both arms wrapped around his arm, rubbing her breasts against him.

‘My dear Duke, let us go to the garden. There is a very romantic gazebo in our rose garden with comfortable seats to rest. We can have tea and sweets.’

The Duke was giving me surreptitious glances as Isabel spoke. His cheeks were red, but he was also excited in response to Isabel’s sex appeal. I had never heard of Isabel brewing tea, she was obviously alluding to something else. The sweets were probably Isabel herself. (Zuben: Rather than the Duke’s Jealousy, it should be Julia’s jealousy!)

Unlike Muriel, Isabel is the kind of person who would immediately use her sex appeal in her strategy. She was bold, and tried to be refreshing rather than simpering. With the Duke being a legendary womaniser, she was exploiting that established fact. (Zuben: This is why you shouldn’t have weird arse rumours about yourself going around. The person you like might end up being an idiot)

The Duke was staring at Isabel with a rather dazed expression. Although, he had told me he would get Isabel to refuse him, I could not see any glimpse of a plan to that effect. Quite the opposite, Isabel was smiling at the Duke, and he was smiling gently at her! This low-down dirty lying rat! (Zuben: See? Idiot.)

I turned to James, ‘James, shall we go? There is a lovely terrace over-looking the fountain, shall we have tea there?’

I was irritated. I placed my hand on James’ arm as I spoke to him. James placed his hand over mine. The butler, who had been standing silently in a corner of the room, went to order a maid and foot man to set a table on the terrace.

‘Wait, please!’ The Duke said loudly suddenly stopping James and I. Isabel looked at him puzzled. The Duke gave a cough to cover his faux pas. He smiled at me and James,

‘I also would like to partake in Miss Julia’s caramel, may we join you? I would like to know how Miss Julia captured James’ heart.’

I could tell there was a hidden meaning to what he was saying. He was implying that I had tempted James.

I entwined my fingers with James and smiled at Henry, ‘Your Grace, it was very easy; I simply told him I was not interested in attracting the Duke. Rather to the contrary, I don’t like such weak people. That is what attracted James.’

Henry narrowed his eyes and a beautiful smile.

‘Is that so? That’s a shame. Since, you don’t like me, is James the man you like? You seem to be very familiar, calling his name without his title.’

This duke does like to poke you in the details. Well, certainly before-hand I called him Prince James or Sir James, but he’s now James. It’s not like could help it, he came over every other day and was with me all day. It was natural to become more intimate. (Zuben: It’s an arbitrary detail to poke at, though)

‘That is correct. James is the first man to be close to me when I came to the kingdom. He understands me the most.’ I replied. I wanted to beat him. I smiled, intimating that I had a closer relationship to James. I could not forgive myself for believing this womaniser’s sweet words.

Henry regained his usual cold demeanour and asked with a voice that resonated to my bones, ‘Is James so good, Julia?’

The change in Henry was so sudden, I stiffened. Even Isabel who had been clinging to him, let go in amazement. The butler, who had been watching the show, stepped back against a table rattling it.

A tense air flowed between us. As it mounted, a light-hearted voice said, ‘Yes, because Julia loves me. Let’s go to the terrace together. I love caramel.’

‘That’s correct. Come along, Isabel, your Grace. It is a lovely day today, the terrace would be lovely.’

I could only thank James’ frivolity as we went to the terrace with him as my escort. Of course, Isabel took the Duke’s hand and walked next to him. The gentle morning sunshine shone through the large windows, casting dark shadows.

We arrived at the terrace overlooking the fountain. The fountain was long and rectangular. Pink and white water blossoms bloomed over the surface of the water. The sunlight shone through the jets and droplets of the fountain, making the atmosphere glimmer. The large marble terrace near it had been set up with a table and seating for four of us.

‘How wonderful, I love the view of the garden from here the most.’ I said in an enthralled voice, looking at the beautifully cultivated garden. There had been a rain shower last night and the sun had not dried up the droplets from the flowers, giving the garden a fragile beauty like a Monet painting.

We sat around the table. Isabel drew her chair closer to the Duke than necessary, and the Duke spoke to her with his kindly expression. The feeling of excitement I had for the garden withered. The Duke’s attitude towards me was even colder, even when I spoke he did not look me in the eyes. (Zuben: Girl, you got issues. You just told him you liked someone else!) 

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