Dearest Duke Of Her Fascination

Great Yarmouth

January, 1809

Ten Years Before...

Magnus used the brass knocker to alert his family of his arrival that winter. He had just arrived at Yarmouth Castle after another year of vigorous schooling and today was his sixteenth birthday.

The double french doors opened a moment later revealing the estate's butler that Magnus knew well by the name of Fenton.

"Welcome home, my lord." Fenton bowed. "And, might I offer a happy birthday."

Fenton smiled happily at him and Magnus found it hard to return the gesture. He wasn't at all mean. He just wasn't very sociable and already possessed the picture perfect stoicism that a duke's heir would require.

"Thank you, Fenton." Magnus said stepping into the house and handing the footmen his hat, coat, and gloves.

Birthdays had never mattered much to Magnus. To him it was just another ordinary day, nothing special or important. Actually, the only persons who ever celebrated for him was his governess or nanny's as a small child. He found it hard to connect with them as well in those earlier years before he had gone off to school, first Eton then Cambridge.

His father had not cared for anything so frivolous, since the Duchess had never showed any interest in him when he was a young boy. His father's wife despised his very presence. Magnus knew that he wasn't her child. He was spitefully told so, even at a young age. She treated him with such cruelty and discontent any time they were both alone, and whenever they were in front of company, then he would become her perfect darling boy.

His father, Leopold on the other hand tolerated Magnus because he was his only son and heir. Esther was never able to give the Duke any legitimate children resulting in the scandal of his birth.

"My lord, shall I alert the Duke and Duchess of your arrival? Should I request their presence in the downstairs parlor?"

"Yes, please alert them of my arrival. However, it is not necessary for me to meet with them at this moment. I only wish to rest after such a long journey. Please, have cook prepare his finest and have a tray brought to my rooms."

"Very good, my Lord." Fenton nodded and then took a bow before leaving to send orders to the nearby footmen to gather the rest of the young lord's totes and biding a maid with orders for the cook.

Magnus continued on his way up the grand marble staircase that had too many floors to count.

Every year had been the same. He would return home for the winter from school and no one would celebrate the day he was born.

As the years went by, only the old maids would remember and bring him a slice of lemon cake, his favorite. He almost smiled at that thought. He hardly ever had reasons to smile.

Checking the pocket watch his father gifted him it read 4 o'clock. Magnus decided he would go to his father's library and find a good book before heading towards his chambers, which was on the way there.

As he entered he saw a young maid who seemed to be dusting the entire room and was startled upon his arrival.

"My lord, please forgive me. We had not been made aware of your return. Nonetheless, welcome home. My mother says today is your birthday. Shall I bring your lemon cake sir?"