My Lonely Duke

Your Duke

Hazel POV 

I am glad that it’s not raining since I think I would be probably staying outside my house tonight. I had tried calling my grandma but she is not picking up the phone. Most of the people must be sleeping at this time I suppose so there is no way I would ask them to help me. Lost in my thoughts I didn’t notice when I have reached my home. I am lost in appreciating the view as it is beautiful as it used to be. I know not a long time has passed but I am always amazed but how lovely it looks. It is not so big like they show in movie since we are not the actual royal family now are we? But it’s still big enough for me and my Grand mother. 

It’s then that I notice that our neighbors have their lights on. I shouldn’t be surprised, since Kathy likes to do frisky things at night. I have always seen the lights open since I was a kid and sometimes even heard screams coming from her house. I have always been terrified to go there. I have never met her in person since Grandma and she always fight with each other and she has given me strict order to stay away from Kathy. 

But I don’t have any option but to go there tonight, as much ready I am to sleep outside my house, it’s never safe for a girl or any human to be out. 

I slowly take myself to next door and knock. Looking everywhere but at the door, I am playing with my hair and with my fingers, shifting from one foot to another in process of waiting. Maybe she is asleep and had forget to turn off the light, she is old after all. 

As I am turning back to leave, I hear the door open. The noise it makes is similar to that of the old wood cracking. Standing in front of me is Kathy, I suppose, with a salt shaker in her hand. I could hear screams coming from inside and I am terrified to imagine what must be happening. She looks like in her 70s, wrinkled  skin, grey hair, back bend down, standing with the support of the door. She is wearing thick glasses. Her hands and legs look weak. She is smiling at me. 

“Who is this doll and what is she doing at this time of night?”

“Hi Ms Kathy, I am Hazel..I “before I could continue she cut me off

“Oh dear, are you the new caretaker ? “ Her smiles widen and it looks like she is about to jump up and down if she could do that.

“Troy, My Dear, could you come down, I guess my care taker has arrived” she screams at the top of her lungs

“Come down soon dear” she continues with her yelling, not giving me the time to explain myself 

My eyes shoots at the stairs where I notice someone familiar coming down. Kathy seems delighted with her actions, garbing my hand and pulling me inside the house. 

I am more tensed now, not knowing what to do with myself. 

As the guy named Troy reaches down, I can’t help but stare at him. The man is dressed in trench coat and a hat almost hiding his face. He looks like the same guy I met at the flower shop but I couldn’t be sure if that’s him. 

“Grandma you shouldn’t be jumping at this age, you would tire yourself out soon, you know that” he says in a soothing voice and it confirm my doubt about him, that he is the same guy I saw sometime before. 

When his gaze land on me he is shocked for a second and taken back. Great he think you are a freak. 

“Who are you?” He asks me but before I could say anything Kathy interrupts 

“She is my care taker, don’t you see” still smiling which now seems creepy instead of sweet. 

She is nothing like my grand mother who given the sweet aura and smells like meadow. She is giving me a scary aura and is smelling like cigars and liquor. 

“Troy appoint her as soon as possible for me” she orders

Ok, this lady is crazy and I have to get out as soon as possible.

“Hi, I am Troy, Your Duke, Son of King Gwaine” he introduced himself. 

WHAT THE HELL, A REAL DUKE, LIVING AS MY NEIGHBOR

Get yourself together Hazel, you are also from a royal family, not wealthy but a royal family. 

“Your Gra…Grace, I am Hazel” I bow down to pay my respect. 

“Are you here for the job of a maid Hazel?” He asks, his voice still soothing like the first time I heard it. 

“I am Kathy’s neighbor, Sir”  I reply back, head still bowing down

“Oh, then Kathy must have mistaken you for being her care taker, I apologize sincerely from her behalf” he says and I am astonished by how humble he is. 

“Troy, I want her and no one else” Kathy insists again

To which I see a small smile below the hat and may be a blush, I am sure there was a blush. 

“I apologize again to ask if you would like to take this job as a care taker, I know this is sudden but since she is so persuasive I would like you to offer this?”

“Yeah, I would be happy to do anything you say Sir” 

I put a hand on my mouth, then the second one. Now it’s my turn to go red completely.

Anything ? Seriously Hazel?

Again the same chuckle which I heard earlier, which is starting to give me butterflies. 

“Okay Hazel….?” He asks 

“Hazel Jones” I reply

“Okay Hazel Jones, please come tomorrow morning with your documents, I would like to ask you some questions and explain certain things around here and if you seem suited for this job then you could have it” he completes his sentence. 

I can’t believe it, I got the job on the night I am back. Seems like things have started to turn in my favor.