Married To The Riveted Duke

The sun had risen and was partially overshadowed by the clouds. The clouds were of two colours-grey and white-which indicated the chance of rain later that day. The winds blew less violently as it did days ago.

Williams was in his room, seated on a stool and had a paintbrush in his hand. His room was wide, wider than the Duchess' as well as the rest. There was a king-sized bed, which had plain blue bedsheets; there was a bedside table which had a lamp on it; the room was really arid as it had more windows than other's and there were different paintings hung on the wall.

Williams had an obsession for art when he was a child and had been blessed with a talent to visually present his ideas or thoughts through painting. A part of the room-close to the windows on the left side of room-was used an art room. His tools were properly arranged on the table and were in order. He moved the brush on the canvas in front of him and painted what he had in his mind. The painting was half done, almost revealing what is it was.

Williams was had the brush in a colour on the palette and was about to continue his painting when he abruptly stopped. The Lady's cry from the Duchess' room had interrupted his concentration. He angrily kept the palette on the table beside him and stood on his feet. He was annoyed by the child's continuous cries. He left his room and went to the Duchess'.

Williams entered the room and was a little surprised. He had partially closed the door behind him and walked further into the room. He looked at the bed and saw the Lady as she cried for her mother's attention. Rebecca wasn't in the room and had left her daughter unattended.

Williams stared at the child blankly as she cried. Her cries only annoyed him.

"My life had been peaceful until you came along." He blurted out, wearing a plain look,

"If your mother wanted to have you that much, she should be at your side constantly to make sure you don't annoy me."

The door opened softly and Rebecca came in. She was startled by the figure in her room.

"Your grace?" She said doubtfully, in a feeble voice.

The Duke heard her and turned his head round. He flashed a glance at her and looked at the child, who was still crying. Rebecca heard her daughter's voice and walked towards her. She saw that had been crying and quickly carried her in her arms.

"It's okay. I am here." She said affectionately to her daughter, in a soft voice.

The Lady stopped as she recognized her mother's voice as well as her touch. She was two weeks old and could see clearly. Rebecca smiled at her daughter and gently swung her in her arms. She had named her Catherine.

"Why did you leave her unattended? Didn't her cry bothered you as much as it bothered me?" He asked curtly, in a stern voice.

Rebecca diverted her eyes from her child's to the Duke. She saw the frown he had worn.

"I didn't leave her unattended. I had fed her and stayed with her until she fell asleep. I only went downstairs to have breakfast." She answered timidly.

"But she wasn't asleep when I entered. She almost removed the house from its foundation with her cry." He said ironically.

"My child is harmless and can barely do much asides eating and sleeping." She replied plainly.

"But she has certainly become a thorn in my flesh. Can't she do anything useful rather than disturbing everyone with her cry? It's unbearable." He said frigidly, annoying by the child's presence.

"She is just a child and can't control herself." She retorted, upset by his attitude towards her daughter.

"But you can prevent it." He shot back at her.

His voice frightened the child and caused her to cry again. Rebecca softly hushed her daughter and made her daughter calm.

"She is just a child and has done you no wrong. Why would you treat her with this much bitterness?" She inquired eagerly.

Williams turned a deaf ear to the question and remained mute. Rebecca wished to know his resentment towards her daughter but he avoided the question.

"Just keep her out of my way. If she gets close to me by chance, I'll be force to separate you from her." He warned her, keeping a straight face.

"If our presence irritate you, then why did you bring us here? We were better off in my parents' house. At least, we would be comfortable." She asked him, raising her voice at him.

"Like I said, keep her away from me." He repeated. He was firm. He turned around and walked to the door.

"If we aren't welcome, we may as well leave your house and go back to where we came from." She said openly, still maintaining her boldness.

Williams stopped. He pondered what she said and looked at her.

"And you think I'll allow to go that easily? Certainly not! The child can leave; I don't care where or whom you leave her with. As long as she is in this house, I will never be pleased with her. But you, you can't leave. You're my wife and whatever I say stands. Don't think you can get away from me easily." He told her off.

Rebecca looked at him fearfully. She wasn't expecting to get such a response from him. The Duke left the room and returned to where he had come from. Rebecca looked at her daughter, who was asleep and feared for her life.

<>

Hilda had gone to the market with Crystal. Crystal had been fond of The Duchess' family since she was a child. She lived in the same neighbourhood as them and moved in with them when her parents died in a storm while they were at sea.

Crystal held the basket with was filled with different food produce as well as some seafood. They strolled home. Hilda had been anxious about her daughter's well-being since she had left. She hadn't heard anything from her.

"Crystal?" Hilda called her calmly, hiding the anxiety to avoid it been obvious.

"Yes, Mrs Hilda!" Crystal replied, flashing a glance at her.

"Have you heard anything from your friend? It has been a month since she had gone to live with her husband and she hasn't written to me." Hilda expressed openly.

Crystal had received Rebecca's letter and did her best to conceal the drama that was happening in the Duke's home.

"She is fine, Mrs Hilda. I'm certain the Duke is treating well. She had written to me weeks ago and told be how happy she was in her home." Crystal lied convincingly, hoping Hilda would believe her.

"If you say she is fine, then I believe you." Hilda said, feeling relieved by the message,

"I was worried that things might not have been good over there. The Duke seems like a good gentleman. For a man to marry someone who was pregnant with another's child, it is rare."

Crystal smiled sheepishly and diverted her eyes to the side of the road. She had seen something that had taken her interest. It was a carriage that had pulled over in front of a shop. The horseman was dressed in formal outfit-which signified that he served the royal household. He held the door open for the king.

"His Majesty is back?" She said inwardly, surprised to see him.

Crystal had her eyes on him until he entered the shop. She stopped walking and glanced at the carriage.

"I have to tell Rebecca. She has to know that her child's father is back." She thought.

Hilda had noticed her absence at her side and turned her head round.

"Crystal," She called softly.

Crystal looked at her, caught off-guard by the call.

"Are you okay?"

Crystal replied in a nod. She glanced at the carriage again and walked towards Hilda.