The Devil is The Duke

Nancy’s voice on the telephone told Emeera all was not well. Truth was, though Savoy had been milder on her, a scandal was still a scandal. Henry, her fiance was insisting on marrying her immediately but Nancy feared he was doing the honourable thing to stop the scandal and not necessarily because of love. It was a thought she found difficult to cast off. She did not want to be one of those wives with husbands who constantly reminded them the marriage was something they just had to do to save the women’s reputations.

Emeera sat at her new dressing table in the master bedroom as she made the call. “But Nancy you have always been certain of this man’s love for you. This scandal is not the reason the Earl wants to marry you.”

“But Emeera, it is! He would never have rushed into this arrangement if not to save me. I am sick and tired of the hypocrisy in Savoy if you ask me. I think Henry and I should elope but he wants to do the right thing and give me a dream wedding. Damn that man,” she said with a voice filled with frustration.

Emeera smiled. There was no way that man who sneaked into the heavily guarded Athelstan castle every night to see Nancy was marrying her to correct a wrong. But it was useless to argue with Nancy when she was certain of a thing.

“Emeera, can you do something for me?”

“Anything.”

“Can you speak with Henry? He tells me he loves me and has told my parents he wants to marry me immediately. I don’t know if he is really in love with me because I cannot see clearly. The fire in my heart has caused smoke to cover my eyes. I love him…” Her voice trailed off. “And mother does not care if he loves me or not. She just wants a wedding so she is not the right person to ask. But I think you can find out for me. You will be able to see his intentions and love clearly since this fire of love does not burn in your heart…” Her voice trailed off again. Nancy was crying?

“Nancy stop.” Emeera said firmly. “I will talk to him. Definitely. Maybe invite him for tea this week?”

“Tomorrow?”

“No. That will look too hasty. Day after tomorrow.”

“Thank you. And Emeera, please tell me the truth no matter how it is. You are the only person whose advice I can trust now. I cannot even trust myself.”

They hung up. Emeera went to bed envying Nancy for what she had. Emeera had felt no fire in her heart when she said her vows to the duke. It was all very practical. Marry to cover shame. That was it. No dream wedding in Savoy. Nobody present except the legally required witnesses. No passion. Yes, there was passion. But it was not just love. It was a cold hatred from his eyes. She shivered. Her own marriage had been to cover a mistake. Now she was stuck with an absent husband and a cold bed. She was going to make sure Nancy did not meet the same date.

Then a thought struck her. She did not have to remain in this huge bedroom that reminded her of a jungle. Since the duke was not around, he could not tell her what to do. She got up, removed her nightdress cover and let it drop on the floor. Then she pushed open the glass door, stepping into the familiar fragrance of her beloved mistress suite. The satin sheets welcomed her back to its tender embrace. She fell asleep within seconds and slept better than she had ever slept in the Duke’s bed.

It was not yet dawn when Emeera woke up. She needed to get back to the master bedroom for a shower and breakfast. Looking out of the window, she saw many people with lamps in the garden and all over the estate. It reminded her of a search party she saw when a girl went missing in the Athelstan’s estate. Emeera yawned as she smiled at the memory, wondering if any of the younger servants had gone missing.

She pushed the glass door and walked into the master suite to see the duke loading a gun.

“What is that for?” She asked and he jumped, startled. “And who are they all looking for?”

“You! Oh my God you are safe.” He answered.

“Me??” It was her turn to look surprised.

“I got back home last night, came to the master bedroom where you were supposed to be sleeping in and could not find you. Instead, I saw your night dress here like it had been flung down on the side of the bed by your attacker.”

“What attacker?!!”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

“The butler and I searched everywhere in the house and on the grounds for you. When we still could not find you. We called the male servants to start searching more intensely.”

“You searched everywhere for me but not the one room I was likely to be in?”

“Yes Emeera. I did not search the one room I told you to vacate. I did not search the room no servants has lit a fire in since you left. It did not occur to me that my pregnant wife could go against my express orders and return to the one place we decided she should not step in again.”

“Pregnant wife you say? Oh. So you know you have a pregnant wife? I am surprised you actually know that. What manner of man deserts his pregnant wife for months?? Tell me. What kind of man does that?? A duke.” She closed the glass door and climbed into bed to sleep some more, the talk with the Duke having left her feeling exhausted. Pregnant wife indeed. The Duke telephoned the butler’s office to call off the search party.

He hated to admit it but Emeera was right. Also, the events of that night shook him to his bones. He wondered why his first thought was her being attacked and kidnapped. But he needed to stay home and look after his wife and unborn child.