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CHAPTER THREE

Nine months later

“ E llen! Behind you!”

There was a loud splash, followed by a scream as Anna’s maid found herself nearly soaked from head to toe.

Slowly, she turned to the other maids who were standing behind her, their faces the very picture of faux innocence.

“Gretchen! Regina!” Ellen whined, staring down at the wet patches of her dress.

“You shouldn’t have taken that bet against us,” Regina stated, sticking her tongue out at Ellen, squealing as Ellen bent over to scoop handfuls of water from the bank of the lake at her feet, before flinging it at the other girls.

Anna watched the scene unfold from her cool shade, smiling appreciatively as another maid, Mary, refilled her glass of lemonade. The duchess grinned as more squeals of joy and terror filled the air.

“They are always so quick to turn our plans for a relaxing afternoon into a messy, chaotic affair,” Mary huffed.

Anna kept her eyes on the girls who were now completely submerged in the lake, giggling among themselves while the other maids either walked along the edge of the lake or simply soaked their feet in the water, relishing in the refreshing coolness against their skin.

“I am glad they are enjoying themselves however they want to. That is what matters to me – each of you finds a means of enjoyment that is uniquely yours. I am happy, as long as you are,” the duchess said gently.

Mary blushed and mumbled so quietly, that Anna almost missed it,

“We are undeserving of your kindness.”

“That is not true,” Anna said immediately. “You have given me more than I can say. If I can do this much and it means a lot to you and the others, then I am perfectly content and happy with it.”

The days that followed her wedding were tricky. She had plans – a lifestyle she had envisioned for herself but was hesitant because she was not sure she truly had the freedom she had been offered so easily.

But as the days turned into weeks and she realized just how alone she was, she felt much more confident in taking charge of her life.

Her husband had told her to use his wealth as she wished so she spent some time and fortune renovating the estate. As uncomfortable as her family could be, the home she had grown up in occasionally bore some warmth.

The Morland Estate was severely lacking that. Everything from the drapes to the furniture carried with it a stiff, boring, and dull aura and she quickly got to work, replacing them with new designs and accessories that would make the space within the walls feel more like a home.

“You flatter us too much, Your Grace,” Ellen beamed as she settled down on the blanket that had been spread on the grass for Anna. “I still do not believe we are worthy of the wealth and attention you lavish on us so generously.”

Anna raised her eyes to the sky with a playful sigh of frustration.

“Well, it is a good thing that it is mine to lavish and give as I wish.” She replied, holding her glass up as a silent toast.

Her next course of action had been to hire some more staff for the estate.

To her surprise, the small group of staff members who had greeted her upon her arrival were the only servants who served the duke’s estate. For such a large property, she deduced that it was likely difficult for them to take care of it. That was not to say they weren’t exceptional workers.

Anna desired to have a close group of confidants she could rely on and depend on, people she could care for and be taken care of by, so she hired a handful of young maids.

The new girls had added a new layer of life and light to the estate, filling the hallways with laughter.

Anna did not have a lot of friends growing up, none that would visit her at the estate, anyway.

However, since these girls were the only company she had, they filled that void, never hesitating to share their concerns or jokes with their duchess.

Although it was quite uncommon – and sometimes frowned upon – for high class people to mingle so closely with the servants, Anna needed the companionship.

In appreciation of their work and companionship, she gathered them all for a picnic by the lake at the edge of the property once a month.

It was always a day filled with laughter and ease, and by the end of it, the residents of the estate would have a pleased flush on their skin for the rest of the day.

“Have you seen the gardener’s son? He has the dreamiest blue eyes,” Regina sighed, swooning as she squeezed the water out of her hair.

“I don’t know if I would say they are the dreamiest I’ve ever seen, but they are quite a sight,” Gretchen agreed with a solemn nod that was betrayed by her playful smirk.

At the mention of blue eyes, Anna was reminded of her husband.

True to his word, he had left her to her own devices while he was away. He had not visited her once, nor had he sent a letter to inquire about her well-being.

“ He does ask of you, Your Grace,” Ernest told her once when her curiosity got the better of her after three months of absolute silence.

“He requested that we send him letters every month about the affairs of the estate and we were instructed to include details of your well-being as well. His Grace seems pleased to know you are well .”

Somehow, that was a hard pill to swallow, because Anna recalled just how easily he left her.

She hadn’t allowed herself to imagine what life would be like, had he not left her alone, and had never let herself dwell on the what-ifs of their unique situation.

But perhaps a side of her still felt bitter that she had been cast away like a burdensome pest he did not want to deal with.

Still... she couldn’t help but wonder what life would’ve been like if perhaps he stayed. If he was willing to try to make the most of their marriage by her side. If she had considered it during the tense carriage ride to the estate.

But that was all in the past, and she was better off the way things were now.

“And his voice,” Ellen sighed dramatically, as she propped her elbows up on the blanket and rested her face in her cupped hands. “Each time he greets me in the morning, it is all I can do not to have a heart attack.”

“Should I be worried about you ladies bothering my gardener?” Anna mused with a smile.

“Only if he stops coming to the estate, Your Grace. Otherwise, you have nothing to fear, we are just a tad curious about him, is all.” Gretchen smiled bashfully.

“You girls are quite terrifying. I feel frightened for the poor boy –”

“Your Grace!” a voice rang in the air, the alarm in the tone cutting the duchess off. “There’s – at the door! There’s something strange at the door!”

Curious, Anna rose to her feet, holding out her hands before her to prompt the maid running towards them from the house to slow down.

“Breathe, dear. Whatever it is, it likely isn’t worth you feeling faint over.” Anna urged gently.

The maid shook her head, breathing heavily.

“But – there’s… oh, you must go quickly! Someone left a child at the door to the estate!”

Anna blinked, confused by the maid’s words. But she seemed too startled, the duchess felt it would be best to have the girl show her what she meant, rather than explain it.

“All right. Show me that is wrong.”

The maid nodded, wiping the sweat as she led the way, the duchess and a handful of maids whose attentions had been captured, back to the house.

There seemed to be some sort of commotion happening at the front door of the house, something that had the maids that surrounded the entrance rapidly voicing their confusion.

“Who do you think he belongs to?”

“Who knows? All we have is a name.”

“Surely he was not just birthed. He’s supposed to be… smaller.”

“Of course not, you dunce. He must be nearly a year old. Just look at him.”

“What on earth is the fuss about?” Anna queried, raising her voice to be heard above the commotion.

The maid looked in her direction simultaneously and all at once, shuffled away from the door, clearing a path for her to… what appeared to be a basket, sitting on the porch.

Frowning, Anna stepped closer and peered into the basket, her heart skipping a beat when wide blue eyes met hers and hands reached up, as though trying to grab hold of her.

“What –” Anna stuttered, reluctantly reaching into the basket to lift the child into her arms, barely managing to securely hold onto him as a piece of paper fluttered down to the floor.

Ellen picked it up and read, “His name is Nicholas.”

“Is that really – my goodness. He blinked. It is a child. A live one.” Gretchen huffed, staring at the creature in the duchess’ arms in horror.

“I heard they are little bundles of terror. My sister has four of the little brats and she always looks as though she is waiting for the right time to jump into a well.” Regina expressed sagely as she peered over Gretchen’s shoulder.

“I thought she did jump into a well.”

“She did. That was after the third one. She’s looking for a chance to try again since she was rescued last time.”

“Who left him here? Did anyone see anything?” Anna asked, trying her best to keep her arms firm enough around the child, without making her grip too tight to make him uncomfortable.

“We were going to pick some herbs for tea in the garden and that’s when we noticed the basket. At first, we thought one of the farmers had brought us some produce again. But when we went to check it… he laughed at us.” One of the maids who had been waiting at the door reported.

Anna had never been so befuddled in her life. Why would some abandon their child at someone else’s home? Most people dropped their children at churches. And why this particular estate –

She looked down at the boy, her heart sinking as he stared back at her for a moment and burst into a fit of happy giggles.

His eyes… they were an unmistakable shade of blue that she knew. One that she couldn’t forget.

“Here, take him,” the duchess said, passing the child to Ellen, who let out a squeal of surprise as she collected the infant.

Without another word, she walked into the house and went straight to her study, rage coursing through her veins.

How could he? How could he be so careless and callous? After everything, he said about letting her live however she wished, he went ahead and had an affair and was now forcing her to raise the child?

Anna settled behind her desk and put a piece of parchment paper, her pen practically flying across as she let her anger inspire the message she wished to convey.

About five minutes later, she sent for the butler.

“Here,” she held out the letter that she had painstakingly sealed in an envelope. “Send this to the duke as soon as possible. Ensure that he is made aware that this is directly from me.”

Julian raised his gun to the sky and aimed, inhaling deeply before he snapped,

“Pull!”

There was a loud crack, followed by the sound of something spinning in the air. Quickly, he spotted the clay disk and shifted his gun in that direction before taking a shot.

His bullet met its mark, shattering the dish.

The duke lowered his gun for a moment, frowning at the sky before he pulled the gun back up.

“Pull!” he requested again.

The dish was thrown and this time, he tried to be quicker, to fire his shot without hesitation, smirking in satisfaction as his bullet met its target.

Usually, he liked to spend such hot afternoons drinking by himself in his study as he conducted his business, but for some reason today, he felt a little uneasy and decided to move around.

It had been a while since he had practiced his shooting skills, and the smell of gunpowder in the air was eliminating some of the tension beneath his skin.

Julian considered taking a break, deciding to take one more shot the next moment instead.

“Last one,” he informed his valet and took his stance in preparation for the shot to be fired.

He heard the tell-tale crack and shifted his gun in the direction he knew it would be flying, his finger putting pressure on the trigger. However, at the last moment, he heard a door slam shut, and his concentration was broken, causing him to miss the shot when he fired.

Irritated, he turned to find the butler looking uncomfortable by the entrance.

“What is it?” Julian snapped, handing his gun over to the valet.

The other man stepped forward, carrying a little silver platter, in the middle of which sat a letter.

“It is from the estate, Your Grace. When it was delivered, I was informed that it was from the duchess.”

Julian frowned.

His wife? Why would she be contacting him now? When they had done well staying out of each other’s way and business for months?

Julian collected the letter and tore it open, stepping under the shade of a tree to read it.

Duke,

Usually, one starts by expressing that the message has found its recipient well. I have no such wishes, only that somehow, this letter finds you. After all, you have much to answer for.

I had hoped that I would stick to the rules you gave me to govern our peaceful lives, but you have left me no choice with what you have done.

Your actions are reprehensible, not to mention reckless and juvenile.

If you wish to ruin your name and reputation, you are free to do so in your own time, without my involvement.

I will not be party to your indiscretions and I believe it is in your best interest to return back to Morland Estate at once. Do not even think of ignoring this letter, as it would only be to your detriment. Come back, now.

Unwillingly,

Your wife.

Julian thought he was seeing things.

He blinked rapidly and then dropped his gaze down to the parchment in his hands, shocked when the words remained the same.

“Who does she think she is?” he muttered angrily, the wrath brewing within him making his muscles tense up. “How dare she tell me what to do?”

And here he had believed that perhaps she was smarter than she seemed in the short time they had spent together. But ultimately, she was just as unwise as any woman who would stoop as low as staging a scandal for a beneficial marriage.

“Robinson,” Julian called out to his butler, crumbling the letter in his hand. “Pack my things and prepare for my return to Morland estate.”

The butler bowed and scurried off quickly while Julian walked into the house, promising under his breath.

“It is time to teach my wife a lesson.”