Scandal with the Duke

Chapter 1

|Mirrielle Elizabeth Rivantroz|

“Is uncle Alfaro at home, Gillie?” I asked my personal handmaiden when the carriage finally entered the gates of our estate.

I quickly saw our Spanish-colonial-style mansion, a hundred feet away from the main road. The imposing circular tower with a conical roof, on the edge front, was the focal point of the building. It houses a seating area on the ground floor, my late father’s office on the second, and a connected room of the library at the third. A fountain is found in front of the porch, with stairs at left and right. Its protruding feature added characteristics to the Rivantroz mansion.

But the silence coming from my handmaiden made me look at her. And her surprising reaction made my one brow shot up. She gasped when our eyes met. And from her seat, I saw how her body went rigid. Her hands clutch the fabric of her clothes. Her blank expression earlier was now evident with fear and panic. I blinked. Worry started to creep within me and quickly reached for her hand. It was cold. The door of the carriage opened, but I didn’t bother looking outside.

“Are you fine?” I asked, my voice was laced with worry for my one only trusted handmaiden.

Gillie blinked a few times, her pupils were dilating as they stared back at me.

Since last week, I noticed the sudden change of my Gillie’s behavior. From being my carefree handmaiden, she suddenly went panicky and a little bit uneasy. She couldn’t look straight into my eyes and she became less talkative. Her cheerful side suddenly shuts down for an unknown reason. I tried to extract some reasons for the sudden change but she wouldn’t say a single word. She always excused that she’s fine.

“I’m fine, m-milady,”

Just like now. My lips formed into a grim line and my gaze remained at her, studying her distressed expression. I waited a few seconds, wondering if she would finally tell me what was bothering her. But when I realized she wouldn’t say a word, I let out a heavy sigh.

“You know you can talk to me right?” I said, squeezing her hand that was almost as cold as ice.

Gillie swallowed hard. Her hazel eyes became teary as she stared back at me, and after a couple of seconds, her tears fell on her freckled cheeks. Worry continued to creep within my being.

I wanted to know what her problem was so I could help her with it. She’s like a family to me. And we almost grew up together.

Gillie’s mouth hung open like she was trying to say something. But just like the other day, her attempt to say everything that was bothering her failed and she chose to avert her attention and shut her mouth.

Then she left me inside the carriage without saying anything. Again.

My eyes locked on her back for a few seconds, before she turned on her side and stood on the side of the carriage, waiting for my turn to descend the carriage.

I gritted my teeth. I am not the kind of person who would insist on someone telling her problems to me. Even if it was Gillie.  

Clutching the hem of my dress, I stepped my left foot on the first step of the stairs prepared by the footmen. Then someone quickly offered his hand to assist me in getting down. I accepted it until I was finally standing on the paved pathway.

“Thank you,” I said to the footman and started gracing my way toward my home.

“So, is he at home?” I asked once again when I felt Gillie’s presence behind my back, following my tracks.

“Y-Yes, milady. H-He announced his arrival earlier this morning when you were doing your rounds,” my handmaiden answered.

Even I am worried about Gillie’s situation, I am quite relieved knowing that Uncle had finally visited the mansion. I have been waiting for him for about three months! And now…I couldn’t help but feel exquisite to hear the news! I needed an update regarding the plan I’ve proposed to him three months ago! 

The heels of my shoes clicked at the paved walkway that leads to the porch. The walkway was lined with cypress trees and box gardens, teeming with daisies, iris, coral bells, and some perennial flowers that created beauty and color on the aura of the mansion.

The strong winds swayed the strands of my hair, and even the hem of my dress. I couldn’t help but shiver in the sudden cold. My eyes looked up and saw the sky started to get packed with gray clouds, a hint that a storm was coming. And this was why most of the people I found on the streets on my way back home were busy purchasing emergency goods in case of a long storm.

I climb the few steps of stairs before arriving at the porch. A warden that guards the entrance immediately greeted me. Then without saying anything, he quickly opened the double wooden door and we stepped inside. And the familiar interior of the mansion, already illuminated, greeted my eyes.

The granite flooring was in cream color. The grand staircase that leads to the second and third floors was carpeted with expensive textiles. The handrails were designed with ornate wrought iron patterns. But the main feature of the grand staircase was its wooden post, sculpted with leaves and fruits, reflecting what I could see on our vineyard. It’s the symbol of the main business of the Rivantroz family, and which had brought us from the ground.

The interior was designed in more classic styles since this abode was built by my forefathers. Glass chandeliers were hung on the ceiling, now lit since it was already past five. Some walls lamps were hung on the arcaded columns of the ground floor. The hall was wide enough, enough to hold gatherings for numbers of people.

 “Is he at his office?” I asked Gillie, as we crossed the distance of the staircase.

“Yes, milady,”

Her answer made me haste to the study where my uncle usually locked himself every time he was here. I almost run my way upstairs, and Gillie warned me for what I did. I was smiling at her when we reach upstairs, and my handmaiden only glared in my direction.

We resumed heading to uncle Alfaro’s office. I provided him one ever since the tragedy. He has his own estate, of course, but not big as ours. But every time he was here, he was taken with great care and importance since he’s my late father’s brother.

And uncle Alfaro is the only family I have left right now.

My parents died in an accident, on their way back home from a business trip, six months ago. I could still remember how I received that news.

Still on my nightgown and the heavy rain continued to pour, the night was disturbed with some banging outside the main door of the mansion.

I couldn’t sleep that night since I was worried about my parents. Then I heard rushing footsteps outside my room. I thought that those might be some of our helpers getting down on the main hall, greeting the arrival of my parents. I really thought that they were finally home, in the middle of the night. Relief washed over me.

But I was wrong. When I excitedly run downstairs, thinking that my parents have finally arrived, I saw the servants of the mansion, encircling a man in the middle, who was drenched with rain. The atmosphere was intense. I saw someone with her head bowed down, and only to know a moment later that she was crying. The door of the mansion was open, and every droplet of the rain was visible to the eyes whenever the lighting strikes.

“Where are Mamá and Papá?” I asked, the defeaning silence broke and everyone’s attention turned to where I was.

And even in darkness, with only a few lamps were lit, I could still see the horror in their eyes after throwing the question. The atmosphere became tenser until the family’s trusted head servant walked near me.

“I’m sorry milady. Count and Countess Rivantroz met an accident,” was all she was able to say. And everyone started mourning. And the shock I felt was overwhelming that it took me about a couple of seconds before finally realizing the information.

In the span of the night, at the age of twenty, the title and the responsibilities fell on me.

I became the countess and the head of the Rivantroz family; even I was not yet prepared for it. I wasn’t still on the right age to handle our business, and to lead the family. I was struggling with everything, a person who always locked herself in her room, who prefer books over parties, and who always hid in the shadow of her parents.

That’s why my uncle arrived the next morning, announcing that he would be handling our business for a while until I was ready, I sighed in relief. I could still remember that day how the fear and panic left my system. Uncle Alfaro had told me that he would take care of everything and focus on my study on how to run our business, and how to handle state affairs. So that when I am ready, he’ll give everything back.

And I believed him and obeyed his suggestions, since he’s the only family that I had, and thinking it was really for me.

I arrived in front of my uncle’s office on the second floor of the mansion, and the door opened at the same, revealing my uncle’s twin son and daughter, Mariana, and Lucio.

My heart hammered inside my chest, and fear started to creep within me, especially when I met Mariana’s gaze. I automatically made a step back, a manner I’ve been doing every time I faced Mariana. Her blond curly hair compliments her pale skin. Her almond and deep blue eyes made me tremble in fear whenever she looked at me. She’s a few inches tall to me, which made her more intimidating.

Her twin brother, Lucio, was a silent kind of person. Yet he was the annoying person I’ve ever known. He and Mariana was a partner in crime in bullying me since we were kids. And all I could was cry; even now that we're finally coming of age.

I let myself guarded, waiting for an unknown assault they might suddenly give to me. But it seemed that my presence also shock the twins. Their eyes widen and their mouth fell open as they looked at me.

My trembling hands grabbed Gillie’s arm, who was now beside me. I was afraid that the twins would do something stupid against me once again. But they remained standing in front of me, rooted and shocked in their place. I waited for a few more seconds, but they remained in their position.

“G-Good afternoon, Beth,” it was Mariana who recovered from the shock first. Lucio was seconds after and cleared his throat.

“Good afternoon, Beth,” Lucio also greeted, slightly bowing his head like he was showing some manners.

My lips formed a thin line, holding my breath. The twins greeted me. And it wasn’t on their list on greeting me even once. They never will.

So I couldn’t help but to suddenly get wary of their behavior toward me. One con of my uncle’s visit on our estate was the two of them, and of course, their wicked mother. And seeing Lucio and Mariana here means the whole family was in the mansion.

I swallowed hard, my mind started to get haywire, thinking of the proceeding days of locking myself inside my room because of my relative’s presence. Uncle Alfaro was the only person I wanted to be with.  

“How long have you been here? You should have knocked and walked inside if you’ve been w-waiting,” it was Mariana who brought the question, bringing me back to reality. Her voice was sweet and nice, a tone that she wouldn’t even use whenever she was mocking me.

My heart hammered, goosebumps trailed on the hairs on the back of my neck.

“N-No. I just arrived here the same time you walk out,” I managed to answer. Mariana smiled again. I didn’t even know if it was real or if she was faking it.

She smiled at me. I couldn’t help but point out everything she and her brother was doing!

“Is that so?” her one brow shot up. I quickly nodded my head in response.

“Then we’ll be leaving,” she said and curtsied one time before she dragged her brother past by me.

I didn’t know how long I was standing outside my uncle’s office before my trembling knees finally surrendered. And before I fell on the floor, Gillie wrapped her hands around me, catching me from falling. She didn’t say a word in my reaction. Gillie has been with me ever since the twins started to bully me without my parents looking. And she also knew the aftermath whenever I encounter the two. I hugged my handmaiden tightly, suddenly missing the time when I ran to my mother for a hug after this.

“Beth?”

I lifted my head and saw uncle Alfaro already standing already in the doorway. His brows were knitted together, looking at me with worry.

“What happened?” he asked, and then it didn’t reach a couple of seconds before he finally realized what might happen.

“I’m sorry. Did the twins bother you once again?” he asked and made a step closer to me. He put his hands on my shoulders, his eyes started to examine my being, checking if I’m fine or not.

“I’m fine, uncle,” I answered then inhaled a deep breath. His eyes went back to mine. “And no. Mariana and Lucio didn’t do anything stupid…they just…greeted me,” I said.

Uncle Alfaro stared at me for a few seconds, trying to ponder if I was telling the truth or not. Then he glanced at Gillie who was just a few inches beside me.

“Is it true?” my uncle asked, still his brows were in a deep furrow.

“Y-Y-Yes…m-milord,” Gillie responded, her voice trembling in fear and faze. I couldn’t help but glance at my handmaiden. And now her expression was evident with dread for my uncle.

I know that uncle was an intimidating person. Even I got the same impression the first time I saw him. But when I get to know him better, he was the sweetest uncle I’ve ever known.

But this behavior of Gillie toward him was out of the question. I remembered that Gillie was able to act civil in every stranger, and even in front of uncle Alfaro months ago. She once told me uncle Alfaro was indeed, intimidating, and he was the last person Gillie wanted to encounter.

“You should stay here, Gillie. I’ll just talk to uncle,” I said and reached and hold her wrist to get her attention.  

My handmaiden flinched and quickly looked at me. The horror in her eyes didn’t even falter. I wanted to know so bad what was happening to her. But just…I sighed heavily. Maybe I’ll insist on asking her later on when everyone would be retiring.

Uncle Alfaro walked back inside his office. But he didn’t step inside and waited for me at the entrance. It was my cue to follow him and leave Gillie outside but before I could even walk near my uncle, Gillie’s cold and trembling hands reached on my wrist, stopping me from getting inside. I looked back at my handmaiden, with one brow shot up.

“Yes?” I asked. She blinked and glance at uncle Alfaro behind me before she swallowed hard and let go of my hands as if she suddenly held an object in scorching.

“N-Nothing. I-I shall prepare y-your bed,” she said and quickly turned her back ran in the hallway like she was running for her life.

“Your handmaiden seemed tense,” uncle Alfaro said, bringing me back to reality. His expression were now grim, his forehead creasing as his attention lasted a few seconds in the hallway. But after a few moments, uncle looked back at me, and his expression quickly changed. His intimidating aura instantly faded, and a smile quickly formed on his lips.

“Shall we head inside? I heard you wanted to talk to me,” he said.

I nodded my head in response.

“Yes. I want to talk about the proposal I’ve talked to you on your last visit,” I opened up.

But before I could take a step inside uncle Alfaro’s office, a chill grazed down my spine. I stopped in my tracks and suddenly hesitated. My heart was pounding and fear creep into my skin. My mind suddenly got haywire in sudden dread I couldn’t explain.  

I didn’t know why I was feeling that. The sudden changes of twin’s behavior poured into me, and even the unexplainable fear of Gillie against my uncle continued to play in my mind like a warning. Like it keeps on telling me to finally take the hint of what was happening.

I quickly shook those thoughts off in my mind. Why would I even think of that?

I inhaled a deep breath and calmed myself.  I thought I was fine a few seconds passed. But the chill continued to lash out in me…warning me in the upcoming storm that would come, that would finally change my life.