Chapter four
People chatted and glasses clinked, typical English style. Philip watched the people downstairs and held his hand out for Elizabeth. She looked at him, in a dark blue velvet suit embroidered with gold patterns, just before she placed her hand in his, "You look splendid."
He smiled slightly and stared at her, "You're perfect."
With one last breath, they both descended the spiral staircase, all eyes turning to them.
All the chatter and clinking of glasses stopped just as a footman announced the procession of the Duke and his betrothed.
The couple faced the people, the male with a slight bow and the lady with a curtsy.
What excited everybody most was the youth of the two. Fresh and beautiful. The smiles on their faces confirmed their approval already.
Moments later, a slow dance began. With Elizabeth in his arms, Philip still had his thoughts straying, looking around for the Scottish damsel, although he did not know what to expect.
***
A foot stepped through the double doors, with silver slippers around fair skin. Then the other followed. Her black dress sparkled like stars, hovering above her ankles. Her hair had been brought over her shoulders to her front in thick, red curls, a matching color on her lips.
She had identical gems on her silver jewelry, as green as her eyes. Spinning her fan open, shoulders up, face high, she walked with all pride she could master.
More or less, everybody stared, exactly what she wanted.
Monica sighted the Duke dancing with his fiancee and huffed, turning away to meet his friends instead. A glass of wine in her hand, she stood in their midst, "My Lords," she curtsied slightly, ignoring the surprised looks on their faces, "the Duke has made a right choice, aren't I correct?"
Jason eyed her ruefully, "And you are?"
She ignored the cruelty hidden in the question and answered anyway, "Oh. I am new here you see. Straight from Scotland. I was really in need of some company."
Earl gave his usually warm smile, "Would you like to dance?"
Monica grinned in surprise and curtsied again, "It will be an honor."
Giving Jason a game smile, she pushed her glass into his hand and stepped away with Earl immediately.
Jason however, blinked at her guts, "Does she know who I am?!"
The older Prince made a small laugh, "I doubt."
Earl placed a hand in hers, the other around her waist and hers on his shoulder. They danced quietly until the Marquess said, "And yes. For your question, I do not think they look good together."
Monica blinked in astonishment. Before now, she never saw someone who shared this view with her, "But why not?"
"They are not a match," Earl stared at them, "my friend wants a free spirited woman, bold and daring."
"I see,"she nodded, her mouth in a parabola.
Part of the dance required the couples to switch partners. Monica here was yearning for the moment to come. And when it did, she aimed at the Duke.
Immediately he let Elizabeth go to for another man, she let Earl go, swirling to Philip and clutching him tight like he was some price to be won. Which of course he was.
Philip looked down at his new partner, just to find himself staring with his mouth open. Her green eyes were more than just green. They were like grass, reminding him of everything he once did on the fields before he became Duke. Her red hair, he swore, was not from Earth. Generally, she reminded him of his one-time freedom.
Monica just stared back, lost in the eye contact without even knowing where to start from to describe him, "Your Grace..." she ran out of words. He was a real price, and somehow greed engulfed her. She could not believe it.
When Elizabeth's turn returned to dance with Philip, Monica reluctantly let him go. And the Duke just watched her leave while he swirled side to side with his betrothed.
"Your Grace," Elizabeth whispered, bringing Philip's eyes from the door Monica had gone through, "Is anything the matter?"
He shook his head and let her go, "I will be back."
He strode quickly to where his friends drank and chatted, "Who saw her?!"
That was a weak description but they sure did know who he was talking about. Earl laughed at him, "Yes I know. She is charming, isn't she?"
"And daring," Jason added while rolling his eyes.
Philip opened his mouth to mention a million things she reminded him of when a group of maidens approached him, with bodies eager to dance.
"Pick me first your Grace," one cried.
"No me!" Said another.
Philip sighed in frustration, leading them to the dance hall, taking one after the other, his eyes still at the door Monica went through.
Who was she?
The night was going to be long and demanding for him. Turning to a pile of gifts and letters stacked, he remembered the so-called Scottish damsel. What if she showed up and dropped another letter. Suddenly he became eager to leave the hall. But with the maidens he had to satisfy swarming all over him, it was going to be difficult.
***
"Did she show up," asked Earl.
The Duke frowned at his friend a bit before he replied, "No. I doubt she'd ever."
"Maybe she did," Peter declared, "but we don't know what she looks like, do we."
Philip rubbed his brows, looking left and right at his office, "I'm expecting something though. Letter, gift, both." He shrugged.
A knock startled him, "Your Grace."
The Duke stared at the door, "Who's there?"
The knocker declared, "It is I. Tiffany."
Philip's eyes glittered as he turned to his friends, "What if it's a letter?"
He gave the permission to come in, going back to his usual nonchalant pose while the man walked through the door.
Tiffany bowed to the males and raised a small case up, "A gift came for you Your Grace. And a small note."
Philip almost did a dance, "Very well. Leave it there."
He watched the butler close the door, a wry look on his face, waiting eagerly. Immediately Tiffany left, he rushed to the case and snatched it in desperation.
First of all, he read it to himself
YOU LOOKED SPLENDID TONIGHT I RAN OUT OF WORDS BEFORE YOU. TAKE THIS SMALL GIFT FROM ME. AND THANK YOU FOR THE DANCE.
YOUR ONE AND ONLY,
SCOTTISH DAMSEL.
He looked up. The dance? Throwing the letter to Earl, he frowned, "She said I danced with her," he looked at her gift, "But I danced with a good number of maidens today."
Earl laughed hard, finding everything a bit amusing, "A woman is playing the great Duke of Anfield. See what she's done to you."
"What's in the case," Jason inquired.
Philip yanked it open, "I wonder as..." He stopped talking when he saw what was inside. A deep frown replaced the confused look, "Okay who is this woman?"
Peter took the case from him, pulling out the gold chain that lay inside, "Is this not..."
"Yes it's my father's necklace," Philip confirmed rather bitterly.
Raymond rubbed his fingers together and stated, "I like her."
Jason, the proudest being to walk the Earth, stalked to Philip's side and tapped his shoulder, "You see women like this. I've come across all of them. And all they want is fame. Ignore her, you are a Duke."
"I am a Duke," he repeated after him, nodding and staring into nothing.
***
A thief stealing with the intention of getting caught was something never heard of. However, Monica was going to try it out. She pushed the door open, walking through quietly into the store. She tried to be a little sneaky, but just a little. After a while of shoving things off the shelves, she realized the owner of the store was not still aware she was in there. But he had to be.
Purposely, she bumped into a shelf of food, giving it a loud crash, "My mistake." She smiled and joked.
Packing some food into her pocket just to add to the drama, she heard a man barking from behind her, "You again! You are going nowhere this time."
Monica faked fear, although she gave no effort to escape. The man was with other men, who were also with other men. Heavens!
The man kept on barking, "Grab her! We are taking her to the Duke! This has gone too far."
Monica hid her excitement as a man held her hands to her back. Normally, she knew she was more than able to take all the men down and escape. But this time, she was going to see the Duke, Philip Forland. She grinned, that type of grin you had on when everything worked out just as planned.
Chapter five"I will not go mad because of a woman," Philip commanded himself, frowning at Earl who was still smiling amusingly, "besides, it might all be a joke.""A secret admirer sending you love letters is not a prank your Grace. She loves you," Earl teased again.Philip opened his mouth in shock, "Are you mad? I am going to get married to Elizabeth soon."The mood of the room seemed to change, Philip noticed.Peter watched his friend in pity and confessed, "To be honest, none of us wants you to marry that girl. You are lifeless already. She is just going to add to your boredom."Philip sighed, that was true. "She's the only one on the list Peter," he noticed Earl open his mouth to speak, but interrupted sternly, "And no Scottish damsel."The Marquess grinned knowingly.Suddenly...the mansion became noisy as they heard people shouting fiercely. Well that startled Jason, "You are a Duke Philip. You sit here and people barge into your home like this behaving like animals."Philip n
Chapter six"Shut up you foolish girl," cried her mother, "That was the last thing I had of him!"Monica watched her mother in disbelief, "What else do you have to do with the man who did not just betray you and along with his allies, took your home away from you?"Miriam Maitland frowned at her first daughter, shock overcoming all her emotions, "You think love ends that easily Monica? Are you that inconsiderate that you had to give the necklace back to his son?"The younger lady laughed angrily, "I have a reason. With that piece of jewelry, I can get your dignity and property back," then she glowered, "and maybe teach that Viscount's daughter a big lesson!""Is that all you think of? Revenge," her mother snarled, "Monica I loved that man and you have no right to hurt his family."Monica smiled at her, eyeing her mother with hatred clearly in her eyes, "So you never loved father?"Miriam shook her head blatantly, "He was a very bad person."Her daughter immediately made a threatening
Chapter sevenThe air was bright and peaceful, filled with the exotic scent of water and trees.To Raymond, it was a beautiful day.To Earl however, it was the worst he had ever had. Moments before, he pictured knocking Monica off her feet in the first strike, claiming victory and rubbing her ignorance in her face.Now however, he was perspiring more than he expected, flinging his sword continuously to avoid the lady's strikes.The Scottish had a smile on the whole time though she became just as tired. With one final strike, she leaned her sword on Earl's, keeping it there and pressing her weight on it. The Marquess shivered , unable to move his blade away."If you ask me My Lord, you are quite an amateur in this," Monica teased boldly.Earl returned the grin with his usual charm and wit. Almost immediately though, he frowned and snarl his retort, "Well I did not ask you, did I?"Raymond Louis still felt the day was beautiful. Along with the others, he lay on the grass, watching the
Chapter eightAnna Forland watched Elizabeth helplessly.The aura of the room was tense and confusing. Her shock kept her still, not even able to console Elizabeth who was crying an ocean before her.How could the Viscount of Mareda die so suddenly?Carol Garlesh however had the blonde wrapped in her arms, consoling her slowly with pity in her eyes and voice, "It's alright my love. Stop crying."The lady in her arms looked up at her, her eyes sore from tears. Her voice came out as a faint whisper, "He was my father," she stated, as though nobody knew that.The Duchess just stood there as well. Mother and daughter seemed confused, unaware of something befitting to do. Somehow they wanted to cry too but the news was as good as unbelievable.Elizabeth had barged into the empire like a runaway bride, with her ankle length dress hovering above her feet, tears pouring from her eyes.Her Coachman followed afterwards when he noticed the lady was too broken to say a word to the Forlands.He ha
Chapter nine"How could you be so relaxed after my brother's death?" Miriam asked rather demandingly.Monica clenched her jaw, her eyes up to the ceiling in thought. Slowly, she faced her mother, "Oh I'm not relaxed. I'll make sure Elizabeth suffers for this.""And you are so sure she killed her father because?""Ahhhh! She helped kill mine when she was still about six years old. Why don't you think she could kill hers now?"Without waiting for an answer, the younger lady walked away, cooking up new plans in her head. She knew she could make Elizabeth lose her mind without even touching her, and Philip was that way.To her, it was going to be a memorable one, as long as Philip was in the picture. Philip! She groaned greedily, loosening her red hair so it fell down her back. What a different type of elegance he had. Automatically, her mind drifted to the dance.She remembered how she trailed off when she saw him for the first time. His eyes were a magnificent shade of amber, with dar
Chapter tenNormally, the rich were independent of the poor, and sometimes even turned them to part of their wealth.But when that unfortunate moment came that the cream would need help from the less affluent, it normally stirred confusion.But to Monica, it was amusing instead. She tilted her head with a grin while she watched the men, "Oh my…"Absent mindedly, she threw the bag of money back to Braxton and curtsied for the millionth time, "Well I am at your service.""You will have to join us to the empire," Peter informed her.And that was when she realized she had no horse. And what a pleasant idea she thought of then, "Can I ride with you my Lord," she asked while facing the Earl of Vetcom.Instantly, Jason huffed and pulled the straps of his animal, riding away from all of them. Well that made the lady smile in satisfaction.But then her stare travelled to a footman riding behind the Monarchs. How dare he be on a horse while she was looking for one!"Get down," she commanded.Th
Chapter eleven"So… meet the ladies," Philip smirked with pride.The Scottish hid the displeasure she felt with a smile. Anna…Rebecca…And the very same snake she lost contact with a long time ago, Elizabeth…The Duke's sister eyed Monica from head to toe, not a single smile on her face. She did not blink twice before she looked away.Monica was smiling now with her eyes travelling from one lady to the other two. Her next actions seemed practiced.A grin.Wave of her hair.Then a curtsy, "My pleasure."Elizabeth Aflong had that sudden uneasy feeling again. This was the second time her fiance had brought her home, and judging by the way she looked, her marriage was really under a threat. And that same feeling she knew her from somewhere returned."Who are you," she finally asked her.That voice…The lady with the red hair smiled randomly. It was surprisingly exciting to here that voice again, "Monica," she replied and smirked wickedly afterwards, knowing her next words will wreak ha
Chapter twelveIt had been three days and she hadn't returned his letter. To her, she needed a break from all of them for a while, even Philip.Sighing, Monica tossed stones into water and watched the ripples die slowly. As much as she enjoyed painting fear in the faces of the ladies, pain still stung her somewhere, one she hated to admit when she saw them. It all reminded her of the image years ago.When her small figure hid under the King-sized bed, Forland Carlovette aimed a rifle at her father, snarling out words that were drowned by her muffled cries.Still, she had prayed for the last Duke of Anfield not to shoot him, one prayer she knew was impossible to be answered. And within a split of a second, Forland had pulled the trigger.She still laid there, shivering under the bed and blocking her ears as a child she was, watching the man who gave birth to her crumple to the ground. The image made her smile in nostalgia. Then she tossed another stone into the water.It only took days