The Duchess and I

Why is it that when you do not wish to see someone, that very person always turns up everywhere? I try my best to avoid Liam's sister after our disappointing conversation, but the next couple of days she seems to be everywhere. The next day for example Alice wakes me, well before I actually wanted to get up. When I ask her why she so rudely interrupts my nice dreams, she tells me that Princess Arlington is already waiting in the study room.

'And why should I care?' I grumble, while Alice pulls me out of my bed roughly by removing my bedsheets. 'She's probably here to see Elias or to talk about the wedding plans with my maman.'

'That's true, miss, but she specifically asked you to attend as well.'

I am left to wonder if I could fake a cold so I could stay in bed, until Christina would have left the house. I don't understand why she wants to see me again. I thought I had made it perfectly clear I don't want to see her any more than necessary. Alice sees right through me though, because she wiggles her index finger warningly saying: 'No, Miss. No excuses. Up you go.'

I growl and deliberately take my time in bathing. If she wants me, then I will make her wait for it. I am actually so slow that Alice barges into my bathroom and fishes me out of the water, while I scold her for her rude behavior. Alice only says: 'I beg your pardon, Miss, but this seemed to take forever. I was half afraid you had turned into a dolphin.'

I snort: like a dolphin, at least I could have swam away. In the Atlantic, they wouldn't have caught me so easily. Eventually, I ask Alice to dress me into one of my most scandalous dresses, but Alice - shaking her head with a small smile - dresses me in a proper silk summer dress. The fabric feels cold and smooth on my feverish skin. 'At least put on some make up,' I complain.

'I beg your pardon, Miss, but we don't want you looking like a lady of pleasure now would we?'

'I am your Misses, Alice. You'd better do as I tell you.'

She grins crookedly, since she knows I would never fire her. 'I must obey you, unless your commands would harm your or your family's reputation. And looking like a cheap,' She looks around if nobody is around to hear her, 'whore,' she whispers with a blush, 'is not keeping your reputation safe.'

'I should get you a raise,' I sigh. 'You are truly a dear.'

'And you look like a fairy again, Miss.' She claps her hands enthusiastically and I have to admit I look like a nymph with the flowers in my dark brown hair and my salmon pink dress made of this light fabric. It's that I am wearing pink slippers as well or otherwise I would have run off to the woods to dance and sing. Hell, I would do anything to get out from under this meeting.

Unfortunately, I am bound to walk downstairs, where the doors to our gardens are wide open. For a moment I hesitate. I can actually run off quite easily now, since Alice is still upstairs cleaning my room. I don't have to join Princess Arlington if I don't want to. This is my home after all. She cannot boss me around regardless of the title she carries for her name.

I am almost at the door, when maman sees me and she says: 'Elizabeth, there you are. Finally! It's not decent to make people wait.'

'It's just the Princess.'

'Just the Princes? She's still our superior and our soon-to-be family. So, come to our study at once.'

'What does she want with me? I think you can arrange her marriage perfectly well on your own.'

'The Princess has a special request for you, of which I will not speak right now. She will tell you soon enough if you finally have the decency to join us?'