Forced To Be The Duke's Maid

Forced To Be The Duke's Maid - Part 4

As my eyes slowly opened, I found myself looking up at an ornate chandelier, where was I? I moved my fingers, feeling something soft and velvety, this wasn’t my duvet cover. As my hazy brain finally began to kick in, I sat up with a start. I was lying on a chaise longue, was I still the duke’s private quarters? The sound of a man clearing his throat answered that question for me. I turned whence to where the sound had come from. The duke was sitting in a highbacked chair with a book open in his hands.

“Ah, you’re awake. I do hope you enjoyed your nap?” He gave me a sultry smile.

I was not sure what to respond, I barely remember what happened. The duke told me to turn around slowly…he grabbed me round the waist…. then everything went black. I immediately looked down at my state of dress. The front of my dress had been ripped open, my white undergarment on display. I gasped, had he had his way with me while I was passed out? I looked over at him with what must have seemed like an accusatory expression, because he frowned. “Did you? Am I still a…?” I could not even bring myself to say the word.

The duke snapped the book closed; his face unreadable as he slammed it down onto the table next to the chair. “Do you think I…raped you? I would never, how could you even think such a ghastly thing. Do I look like the type of man who needs to take women by force?”

I had been foolish, I realised that now. Sadly, the damage had already been done. I shook my head solemnly. “No, your grace, forgive me for speaking out of turn. I just saw my state of undress and thought the worst. I offer my sincerest apology, if your grace would be so kind as to accept it.”

“You are not in a state of undress. Where I come from the word ‘undress’ refers to wearing no clothes. Are you wearing clothes Celeste?”

“Yes, your grace. I am wearing clothes. I was referring to the fact that my gown is burst open at the front, it was not like that before I fainted. You can surely understand where my assumption arose from?”

The duke huffed out a small, cynical laugh. “Your assumptions are very naïve, as well as completely unjustified. You were passing out due to lack of oxygen, the gown was restricting your lungs further, making it harder for you to catch a breath. When you fainted in my arms, I carried you to where you lie now, I ripped the bodice of your gown to help you to breath more easily. Then I sat down with my book and watched over you. I needn’t have bothered, especially as you have awoken and automatically assumed that I am some sort of lecherous cad.” He got up and walked over the window, “This is not going to work out Celeste, I will have Mrs Dawson arrange for you to be brought back to the workhouse at her earliest convenience.” Then without even looking at me, he added. “You are free to take your leave, close the door on your way out.”

For the first time in my eighteen years, I was feeling something I never had to worry about before. Inadequacy. In the workhouse, no one person is better then the other, we are all equal. But now, in this moment, I felt like I was worthless, useless, not fit for purpose. How had I failed already? Mrs Campbell and the others at the workhouse were relying on the duke’s continual financial support. Would he withdraw his donations now that I had insulted him and judged him so harshly? My heart was racing again, as I blurted out something I may come to regret later. “Please do not send me back your grace, I can try harder. It was wrong and foolish of me to make such assumptions on your character. I just haven’t hadn’t any experience with men, apart from Freddie.”

The duke spun round to face me now. “Freddie? What is your relationship to this male?”

“Him and I are friends, we grew up together in the workhouse.”

“Did he…touch you inappropriately?”

“No, your grace. Never. He was only ever kind towards me. I was teaching him to read and would often read Moby d**k to him or Great Expectations.” I was ringing my hands together with nerves, I knew it must have made me look like a ten-year-old girl.

The duke turned back to look out the window again before responding. “So, you enjoy the works of Charles Dickens, what other books do you like to read Celeste?”

“I just adore reading your grace and have done from a very early age. It is one of the few endeavours in life I consider a passion.”

He looked over at me now, a puzzled look on his face, almost like he was wrestling with his own thoughts. Was he still intending on sending me home? The duke cleared his throat now. “Celeste, may I speak frank with you?”

I nodded. “Yes, your grace, you may.”

He walked back over and sat down in the same chair he had been in when I woke up, crossing his legs, all the while maintaining eye contact with me. His movements were slow, deliberate…like he was a panther taking his time, watching his prey from the shadows. For some strange reason I could not take my eyes off him. His long legs, his broad shoulders, the way his perfectly groomed hair shone under the lights from the chandelier. The duke really was one of the most handsome men I had ever seen. “How much has Mrs Dawson told you about me Celeste?”

“Not much at all your grace, only that you might like me.” I was twisting the material of my gown in between my fingers, I knew it wasn’t ladylike to be this fidgety, however, I could not help it. I was feeling anxious, and this seemed like the only way to distract myself from unravelling completely.

The duke chuckled. “Did she now? It seems like you are not the only lady making assumptions today.” He looked over at me with a questioning look on his face. “And what do you think so far?”

“About what your grace?”

“Do you think I might like you?”

The room suddenly felt very small, I could hear my own heartbeat as I tried to think of an answer that would not offend the duke or ruin my chances of remaining here. “I believe you may have liked me…an hour ago, before I insulted you so rudely under your own roof.”

The duke just studied me, his eyes narrowing slightly, as if I were a puzzle he was trying desperately to solve. I could see the flames from the fire reflecting in his eyes. It made the amber flecks in them stand out more. His eyes were all too easy to get lost in. Suddenly the duke burst into a roar of laughter, had I said something stupid?

He was still chuckling as he shook his head, then he looked at me again. A playful grin on his face. “Celeste, you have achieved the unachievable…you made me laugh.”

“I did? It was not my intention your grace. I hope I have not offended you in any way?”

This only made him chuckle even more. “On the contrary, it was very refreshing. Thank you.” He leaned back in his chair, still studying every inch of me. With a sigh he steepled his fingers and looked at the fire. “I have considered your request to remain here at Elstree, I shall grant it, on one condition.”

“Anything your grace, tell me what is required of me and I shall do my best to accommodate you.”

“The nervous fidgeting has to stop. Can you do that Celeste? It was endearing at first, but now it is just very distracting.”

I immediately dropped the material of my gown that was twisted round my fingers, placing my hands on my lap as Mrs Campbell had taught me.

He looked at me pleasingly. “Good girl. Tomorrow we will talk further Celeste, I think you need time to settle into your new surroundings and meet some of the staff. You and I will have somewhat of a unique relationship going forward, and there are certain rules and stipulations you must abide by.”

“Like what, your grace?”

He went to say something else then hesitated. “It can wait till morning. Come here straight after breakfast, knock on my door and wait for me to tell you to enter. Wear a red dress and have your hair pulled up neatly and pinned back from your face. Only then I can begin to tell you a bit more of what is expected of you.”

I nodded and got to my feet, giving him a curtsey before turning towards the door. Just as I reached for the door handle, I felt the need to turn around and look at him one more time. He was staring at me when I did. His eyes were pulling me back to him, like I was under some sort of hypnotic trance. “If that is all your grace, I bid you good day. I look forward to visiting you again tomorrow. Thank you.”

“Good day to you too Celeste, I hope you find your quarters comfortable. That will be all.”

I nodded and gave him a small smile before opening the door to exit his chambers. As I was about to close the door behind me, I heard him call out a final command.

“Oh, and in future Celeste, you must call me sir.”

I simply replied, “Yes sir,” and closed the door.

As I walked back towards my room, I wondered what exactly I had just agreed to. Was I to become the duke’s lover? Because, for the first time since leaving the workhouse the thought of that didn’t scare me, not one bit.

It was in fact the opposite, it excited me.