The Duchess and I

After our heated meeting at the opera, I luckily don't have to see the Princess again for another fortnight. It looks like she's finally willing to give up on renewing our friendship. She only steps by twice and while visiting she only wishes to see my maman. Partly I am more than depressed by the notion that she's at my house and I am not able to see her. I actually try to sneak into the study room with some lame ass excuse to practice my piano skills, but Mrs. Green chases me away every time. Partly I am also glad I don't have to see my former lover every day, since it at least gives me a piece of mind. My thoughts don't whirl around like a hurricane anymore, though I am still grieving and missing the Princess everyday more.

Luckily, Liam keeps me busy. Since we have to keep up appearances to the outside world, he asks me to come by his house so he can teach me about my duties as a Duke's wife. I am a bit nervous frankly, since I have never imagined myself marrying someone that high on the social ladder. Therefore I know that a Duchess has many duties to fulfill herself, but I can't imagine what is expected of me.

Liam meets me in the study room and he kisses my hand gallantly. 'How nice of you to come over here,' he says warmly.

'It is best for a woman to be prepared. I don't want to let you down.'

'If it ever comes to that,' Liam says sarcastically, while he gestures to his servants to bring me some lemon juice. He sits down and bids me to do the same. He folds his large hands and says: 'How have you been of late?'

'I've been perfectly fine.'

'Have you seen my sister of late?'

'Not since we met at the opera.'

'So I have heard. Got a little tense, hm?' He smiles cheekily and I turn crimson at once.

'A bit.'

'Don't be shy. Christina literally asked me to keep my fiancé in check.'

I scowl. 'I did not do anything except confronting her with the truth.'

'And kissing her in the process?'

'Hold on! That one was on her. I pushed her away before we could.'

He gives my hand a kiss again. 'That's my girl. You don't want to embarrass your fiancé. Still, I thought that was the whole intention of our plan. Have you changed your mind?'

'What? No! I still care for Christina more than I can tell.'

'Then why are we having this conversation at all? Sounds to me like you missed a great opportunity.'

'Mind you, we were not alone at that time. And secondly, I only want to kiss her, when there's a point. I don't want to be her toy she can play with, when she feels like it. I want to love her and that's only possible, when she's finally willing to admit she still cares for me.'

Liam rubs his chin pensively. 'And does she still?'

'I think she does, since you don't want to kiss someone you don't like or do you?'

'No, I guess you're right in that.' He thinks for a while. 'She's in the library, you know. Perhaps she must be the one explaining the things you have to do as a Duchess, since she's really the one having lived through it all already, while I was drinking and having a good time.'

'I don't think seeing your sister is the right thing to do right now, since she's clearly been avoiding me.'

'She's just scared of the things she feels. By breaking up with her you really stirred up feelings she didn't know she had. And I guess she's still bothered by it, but she has to man up.' He rises and I jump up as well.