The Devil is The Duke

Dinner was not the best times for Emeera in the Athelstan castle. She did not like to dress up for anything but in the estate, every meal, especially dinner, had to be attended in formal dresses. Nancy lent Emeera a dinner dress. Emeera thought having to dress for the evening was the worst part of the dinner but she was soon proved wrong as Lady Athelstan spent the whole hour probing her on why the duke relieved her of her duties. She always said “the duke” gracefully as though he was there and she was addressing him. It irritated the girls to no end.

When Emeera thought that was too much, the next thing was when Nancy passed her the dessert and lady Athelstan asked the maid to clear it because “you do not need more fat my dear. At this rate you will be fatter than the duchess of Alcott before next summer and you are yet a spinster, my darling.”

“Mama!” Nancy screamed but her mother just smiled. It was ironic because Emeera was thin. In fact, Lady Athelstan and Nancy were fatter than Emeera yet she was singled out for no desserts. Lord Athelstan glared at his daughter and she fell silent.

Emeera prayed the ground opened and swallowed her. Or better still, she got a job maybe in America and move. America was the new world. There were no titled families discriminating against others because of money they had inherited. She got up after dinner, determined to find her way to the states and try her fortune there.

Dinner was over and as Emeera got out of Nancy’s borrowed dress, she wondered what America would be like. Crossing the Atlantic ocean was definitely going to be the fresh start she needed. America was the place dreams came true and everyone started on equal footing. If she worked hard enough, she would have decent income and respect.

In America, she would not be the Arabian girl rubbing shoulders with nobility, she would be a girl. A beautiful hardworking, educated girl. She hated pity and felt Nancy had given her enough of that. She needed respect. She wanted to call Nancy with great news, not the usual sadness. The thought brought tears to her eyes. Tears stung hard but she tried to restrain them.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

It was dark when Nancy came into the bedroom. She thought Emeera was asleep or maybe did not want to face her after the scene from the dining, so she went about stealthily. She changed out of the dinner dress and wore a riding gear. Emeera could not remember the last time she saw Nancy on a horse. Her pet horse, Moon was rarely seen. Maybe she needed the fresh air to clear her head about something. Emeera coughed and Nancy turned to her.

“Did not know you are awake,” she said like someone caught with her hands down the biscuits jar.

“I am awake,” Emeera replied. “Riding alone?”

“Emm… no. Emm.. I am going with Henry.”

“Which Henry?”

“The Earl.”

“Oh my God you are dating Henry? The Earl?” Emeera laughed.

Henry was the man Nancy’s parents had wanted for her and the man she totally disliked just because of her parents’ fondness for him. She had never given Henry audience all through the time Emeera lived with her. In fact, several of his letters were left unopened in the cottage. So it was rather surprising, the changes a short time apart could bring. Nancy smiled shyly.

“Does your mother know?”

“No please. I don’t want her to plan a wedding in advance.”

“So you’re finally doing your parents’ wishes and marrying from your class.”

“Do not say it that way. I liked him because of how he stood by me when you left. I was lonely and I really got to know Henry and-” she could not continue as a loud voice on the castle grounds cut her short. The girls ran to the window to look at what the cause of the commotion was. There was a gunshot in the air. It was their groundskeeper

“Who is that?!!” The voice called again. This time, the man pointed a gun at a man on a horse. The girls gasped. They certainly knew that was Henry who had sneaked into the grounds to take Nancy riding. But when the man on the horseback spoke, it was the Duke.

The girls ran downstairs two stairs at a time till they got to the back door where everything was happening. Lord Athelstan was already there in his night clothes. Servants clung around odd spaces in the dark to see what was going on.

“His grace,” Lord Athelstan said “this is such an unusual call. I hope everything is fine.” The men shook hands and walked off to the edge of the gardens. Lady Athelstan was out in a matter of minutes, struggling with her puffy nightwear.

“His grace came after you? I hope you did not pilfer the silver young woman. My household will not be disgraced with such scandal.”

“Mama!!” Nancy said angrily. “Stop it! You know she’s not a thief!”

The woman pushed them aside and walked out into the grounds, as if to go to the duke for confirmation of her accusations. But just then, another horse rider galloped in and Nancy turned white. It was Henry who had come to take her for their appointment.

“Lord Henry?” Lady Athelstan asked. He jumped off the horse and greeted the ladies. “Why are you here?” She probed in her usual manner.

“I hope all is fine. I was riding by and heard a gunshot so I came to offer my assistance if any is required,” he said.

“Thank you Henry but nothing is amiss. Our groundskeeper shot into the air as he didn’t know it was the duke visiting.”

“Good to know it was nothing to worry about. I will be on my way now.”

“Why not stay for some warm milk before you go? It must have been a stressful ride,” Lady Athelstan said.

“His house is just next door mama. I see no reason why he needs milk for the journey back to his house,” Nancy’s sarcasm made Emeera and even Henry, smile. Lady Athelstan ignored her.

“Emeera please be a dear and make us warm milk, seeing that you are an experienced domestic worker,” lady Athelstan added sweetly.

“She is not a maid mama!” Nancy said but Emeera said it was no problem. At that point the duke and Lord Athelstan rejoined the rest of the group.

“Emeera I have great news. His grace is here to take you back to his service,” Lord Athelstan said as if he had just offered her a position of royalty. He positively looked like he expected Emeera to kneel and kiss his ring.

“What if she is not interested?” Nancy asked. Her mother gasped.

“Nancy!!”

“She left. And for good reasons I am sure,” Nancy said then caught herself as if just realizing the Duke’s presence. She curtseyed and went inside. Henry mumbled his goodbyes and left. The duke was ushered into the house to have a conference with his manager.