The Devil is The Duke

On the night of the ball, the Blackhouse women wore their best attires. The ball was also their first official outing after their mourning period and society wanted to see them again.

Kate De Luca was one of the guests at the ball. She was stunningly beautiful as usual. Hers was a cold, hard, diamond look that brought admirers to her feet. It was possible nobody knew of her intimate relationship with the Duke; but if they did, nothing was said. At least, none that Emeera could hear. The duke was at the door with Lady Blackhouse, to welcome people to the ball. Emeera was supposed to be there before the guests to help them settle in but she was too nervous. Because the duke had asked her to just enjoy the night after all her hard work, she felt no pressure to go down sooner. The longer she remained in her room, the harder it was for her to make the move. At some point she changed her dress because it was too stylish and her goal was to blend in, not stand out. A dress like that was sure to make heads turn and people talk. Lady Athelstan and the ladies who lunched were all at the ball, watching people and taking notes. After waiting for thirty minutes, Emeera unfastened the silver dress and picked her blue dress. Just as she did, Nancy entered the bedroom and saw her half-dressed.

“Oh my God!” Nancy screamed. “Emeera you are the best dressed! Where on Earth did you get a dress like that? I feel so underdressed standing beside you!”

“That is what I’m trying to avoid. What do you think about this other dress?” Nancy looked at her like she was seeing a ghost, then grabbed the blue dress and threw across the room.

“How can you leave this dress for a rag?”

“My dress is not a rag,” Emeera said but Nancy was not even listening. She looked at the label on the silver dress.

“Emeera!! How much do they pay you? How could you afford this?” She asked and showed Emeera the price tag on the inner side of dress which she had not even noticed as it was so tiny. Emeera gasped. The dress was the most expensive property she owned. “You did not even know it cost this much? Then how did you get it? Hope you did not raid Kate De Luca’s wardrobe.” Nancy began to laugh.

“Of course not. The duke bought it for me,” Emeera said.

“You are sleeping with him!” Nancy pointed a finger accusingly.

“I am not!”

“Everyone will say you are! There’s no way you walk into that ball shining silver like the moon with sparkling ice diamond and they won’t say you are not his lover. The ladies who lunch will lunch on you this week.” Nancy laughed mischievously.

“You are enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“Of course I am. Oh I can’t wait to laugh at the false rumours.” Nancy laughed so hard and fell on the bed. “He should know he’s setting you up for this. But at the same time, that man wants to have you in his bed, Emeera. He didn’t spend that amount on a dress for his manager just to be nice. He desires you.”

At that moment, a maid knocked and entered. “The duke says he wants you in the hall now!” She said it commandingly; almost the tone Emeera was sure the duke had used. The maid left after delivering her message and Nancy laughed again. The door flung open and the duke marched in. “What the hell…??!” He started angrily. Then stopped on seeing her breasts covered by nothing but a bra. He quickly recovered and thundered over her. “Who do you think you are keeping the guests waiting? Go out there now!” He said and left, totally ignoring Nancy’s curtsey.

Nancy fastened the dress and they stepped out. At the entrance of the ballroom, they heard slow music that told them the dancing had begun.

“Carry yourself elegantly. You know they will stare! So make it worth their while,” Nancy whispered as they walked in. Emeera shoot out her chest and lifted her shoulders high as she walked. The room fell silent as the two girl strutted passed. Everyone was thrown off their balance. Unlike most of the women there who were heavily made up like De Luca, Emeera looked bright eyed and innocent. Her fresh cheeks and rosy lips had no paint on yet she looked regal. Her beauty was refreshingly cute and soft enough for men to want to hold and protect. Some women tried to act like they were not looking but they were, especially at that slender neck.

Then someone screamed “It is you!!” Emeera turned to see Kate De Luca fuming. “You are that serving girl who ruined my dress! What devil brought you here?” The music had died by then and nobody bothered to pretend they were not listening. Emeera wanted to run off but the Duke appeared by her side.

“You are clearly drunk, Ms. De Luca. I warned you to take it easy with the champagne.” Some people chuckled but Kate would not give up.

“This is the server who ruined my dress.”

“My dear Kate. This is my estate manager, Ms. Charles whom you have even seen before in my home,” the duke answered with a naughty smile. Emeera was confused. Kate De Luca had seen her after that event and was rather nice to her. She had even forgotten Emeera’s face so how come she remembered her again? Then it struck her. The last time Kate had seen her – which was in the Duke’s bedroom, her brain had registered Emeera as just the maid so the face did not jog her memory. Seeing her again in a party under those lights revived every lost memory. She knew exactly who Emeera was.

“You! You were fired!”

“No. She was hired,” the duke replied and gently led Kate out of the hall, whispering something in her ears.

Emeera left the hall shortly after that. Though people had returned to their dance and pretended they had seen nothing, she knew they had seen a lot. Lady Athelstan was already moving close to some of her friends. Soon, Emeera met all the guests including the out of town guests like Lord Stevenson and his beautiful wife who had come all the way from Davinshire. The out of town guests were to stay the night in the manor and all rooms had been prepared.

At midnight, while some of the guests who lived within Savoy said their farewells to each other and commented on how lovely the ball was, Emeera left all of them behind and walked into the gardens. She could hear voices. One was the duke and the other was Kate De Luca. They both sounded like they had had too much to drink.

“You brought her to embarrass me!” Kate De Luca was crying.

“You always think the world revolves around you. I did nothing of the sort.” It was the duke, his voice a little drowsy like he was trying his best to stay clear-headed.

“You know how I feel about you, Albert. For years I have done everything… Everything to make you appreciate me to no avail… You….”

“Kate I cannot give you what you want. I don’t love you. I cannot do this to anyone and I respect you too much to drag you into into a loveless Marriage just because you want to be my wife.”

Emeera was shocked at that. Kate De Luca wanted to marry the duke of Savoy.