Divorce Me, Duke! I'm In Love With Another!!

Berkshire, United Kingdom, the Year 1629.

The sun rose over the Stuarts’ mansion. Its bright light gleamed over the damp dark stones that came together to create the walls of the mansion, warming the cold air and drying the dampness that the overnight rain had left behind.

The sleeping rose and hibiscus flowers that lorded over the exterior of the house opened up their petals in response to the call of the sun and their colors glistened in the sunlight. Beads of raindrops from the previous night's downpour rested heavily on the flower beds, adding to the sparkle, and making it seem like tiny diamonds on the flower. It was a sight to see.

The house bustled with activity as the workers rose with the sun, long before their owners even thought of getting out of bed, and began to go about their various chores; pruning, cleaning, feeding the horses, cleaning the carriage, washing the household clothes, and preparing to get breakfast ready.

Soon, the whole house was filled with the delicious aroma of baked bread, which served as a distraction to the workers as their stomachs grumbled in protest.

A short, slender servant girl with freckled cheeks walked into the bustling house from the servant quarters where she lived, throwing greetings to the busy workers she met along the way.

Her simple but faded ankle-length light blue gown was held with one hand to ease her walking, while the other hand carried a medium-sized basket that she supported with her waist.

Her short dark hair was tied into a low bun, accentuating the freckles that were scattered all over her chubby cheeks, but strands of the hair still flew out on the left and right side, showing how considerably short her hair was.

She stopped in front of a door on the second floor of the house and knocked a few times. When there was no response, she opened the door quietly.

“My lady?! Are you awake?” She called out as she stepped into the dark but warm room.

The heavy drapes that fell over the windows shielded the room from the beautiful light of day that the sun brought. The fireplace, which still had a few glowing embers from the previous night’s burnt wood, was thus the only source of light in the room, but even then, it wasn’t bright enough to even see one’s feet.

The servant girl walked instinctively towards the window, which she could locate as a glimpse of daylight peeked from its corners. She dragged it to the left side forcefully and light flooded the room in full force, seeming similar to an inversion.

Someone groaned and muttered curses in response to the sudden intrusion of daylight, and the servant girl turned to see her mistress turning away from the source of light as she rolled on the four-post bed to have her back facing the window. She smiled.

“My lady, it's already morning,” she said, walking to the large table in the far corner of the room and placing the basket she was still holding on it.

“My lady?” She called again as she turned to the sleeping lady.

“Go away!” The sleeping woman said as she waved her hands at the maid, causing her to giggle. The servant walked to her mistress’ side and climbed onto the bed, shaking her gently.

“My lady, you have to wake up. There's so much to do today,” she cajoled, but the lady didn't fall for it, nor did she open her sleepy eyes.

“Go away Eunice, my eyes are heavy,” the lady groaned again.

“My lady, my lord is home. Don't you want to say hello to him this morning? What if he has an urgent meeting and you have to wait until dinner to see him again?” Eunice asked, resorting to the last trick up her sleeve, and it sure did work.

As if her ears perked up, Annabel’s eyes flew open as she stared at Eunice, who smiled knowingly.

“Father is back?” She asked as she scrambled into a sitting position on the bed, her waist-length honey-brown bed hair spiraling down her shoulders until its tips lay lazily on the bed.

“When? When did he arrive? I waited for him for so long last night,” Annabel said with a groan as she yawned tiredly.

“I know, my lady, he arrived at midnight, moments after you fell asleep. I wanted to wake you up but he said not to disturb your sleeping,” Eunice explained as she got out of bed and walked behind the wooden screen that demarcated the fairly large room from the bathing area. “He even woke up early; he's in his study as we speak,” Eunice spoke from behind the wooden screen.

“Really?” Annabel asked with a frown.

Did something happen since her father wasn't one to wake up very early and sit in his study? She wondered.

“My lady,” Eunice called, poking her head out from behind the screen, a smile on her face. “Let me prepare your bathing water. That way, you’d be able to see my lord as soon as possible,” she said.

“No. I have to see him now,” the worried Annabel said as she got off her bed barefooted.

The baby pink nightgown she wore was made out of expensive silk, which traveled down to her ankle; its low neckline stopped just above the breast; its short puffy sleeves were designed with tiny white laces; her messy hair rested roughly on her waist, its dwelling place.

But my lady, you can't go out like this. What if he has a visitor?” Eunice asked, but not fast enough because Annabel was already out the door.

She ran her fingers through her hair, detangling it as she hurried down the wooden stairs. The smell of baked bread filled her nose and caused her to salivate and almost changed her route to that of the kitchen, but she resisted the temptation.

She took one last look at her gown as she smoothened and adjusted it with her hands to make sure it wasn’t too rumpled from turning around in bed and that it wasn't showing off anything, just in case she met a visitor as Eunice had suggested, then she walked down the hallway that led to her father's study.

She was both excited and worried.

Excited to see her father, who had gone to London on business a fortnight ago, but also worried that he was acting a little bit different than he always did. By the way, there was something she was expecting him to bring along with him, something she had been expecting to see since he had left.

A letter

She stopped at the door and steadied her breathing. She knew her father would scold her for acting unladylike, but she couldn't wait. She placed her right hand on the doorknob and was about to knock when she heard an unfamiliar voice from within the study.

“Sir Thomas.”

“Your highness! I wasn't expecting you this early,” she could hear her father say in reply.

“Oh, he has a visitor?” Annabel sighed. “No wonder. I will just come back later,” she murmured to herself sadly and was about to leave when she heard the unknown man speak again.

“I hear you have a daughter, and an unmarried one at that.”

Annabel stopped in her tracks and pressed her ears against the dark wooden door to hear clearly.

“Yes, you heard correctly. Why?” “Sir Thomas asked.

“Sir Thomas, I expect to get married to your daughter in two weeks from now. What do you say? “The unknown voice asked.

“You want to get married to my daughter?” Sir Thomas asked solemnly while Annabel’s heart sank, but she pushed the feeling away.

She trusted her father would say no to the suitor, whomever he was.

“Yes, apparently, I need a wife and you just happen to have a daughter. “What can I say?” The stranger said, and Sir Thomas laughed, but the stranger continued, “I want to marry her in two weeks.”

“Calm down your highness, you're being too eager. I would still have to discuss this with my daughter.” Annabel heard Sir Thomas' clear voice ring from behind the closed door and her heart sank. Certainly, it couldn't be her they were talking about.

Did Papa have another daughter she didn't know about?

“Is two weeks not enough to tell her and get prepared for the wedding? Sir Thomas, I am a very busy man. In case you have not noticed, I do not have the luxury of time to sit around and wait for a grand wedding to be set in place. “All I need is for the priest to pronounce us man and wife in the eye of God and the law,” the stranger said again.

“Okay. Okay, I understand. Annabel will get married to you two weeks from now at St. Nicholas cathedral.” Annabel heard her father say.

She turned around and fled.