PBPGD

CHAPTER 6.1

Please be Patient, Grand Duke Chapter 6.1



Lia almost dropped the cold and heaving gun Claude had given her, but he was strong enough to turn her around and she stood with her legs shoulder-width apart. He repeated, "A street child."

She heard a snicker from somewhere, but she could not turn around lest someone discover her true gender. Thankfully, they did not hunt live animals but shot at targets. Claude, who was taller than Lia by two heads, stood behind her and helped her raise her arm as he held the barrel. He lowered his head and whispered in her ear, "So, what did snow taste like?" Her ear tickled at hearing his voice, and she could not do anything since he was a duke and she stood dead-still. Then, in a demanding voice, he said, "Answer!"

Lia had been about to but her eyes closed when a loud shot suddenly rang out. She had pulled the trigger before she had given the signal and servants ran up to them after a stunned silence, everyone was shocked.

"Young master!" One of the servants cried out. Claude slowly pulled the hand that had held the barrel back, and Lia turned around, ready to faint.

"Bring a doctor!" yelled a servant, "He's hurt! Hurry!"

Claude silenced the servants with a wave of his hand and narrowed his eyes saying, "I just burned my hand a little, so don't raise a fuss."

His palm was a deep red, and Lia turned white. She rushed out to the snowy grounds and brought snow to hold against Claude's palm. "I am so sorry, honestly!" Her body shook, and everything seemed to grow cold. The snow melted quickly from their body heat, and Lia thought she may die from embarrassment. She felt despondent and afraid and unsure of what to do, so she just continued to fetch snow to put on Claude's hand until the doctor arrived. Claude just stared at Lia with unreadable eyes.

"I do apologize, Your Highness." Tears fell from Lia's eyes, but Claude remained silent as he stared at the child.

"Move," he said bluntly.

Lia heard a sharp voice and caught a whiff of sweet perfume. It was Marilyn, wearing her beautiful dress, with servants in tow. She covered Claude's hand with a handkerchief that had been dunked in ice-cold water.

"Are you all right?" Rosina's question silenced everyone. Kieran bowed, and Rosina blushed as she did the same.

Claude nodded as he removed the handkerchief from his hand and said, "It was a light burn."

"How stupid of you! You're young, but to make a mistake while handling a gun!" Marilyn shouted at Lia, who trembled with her head bent low. The girl was right, she was at fault, and a nobleman was hurt as a result, she couldn't argue the fact.

"Mademoiselle, did you just shout at my brother?" Kieran stepped in front of Lia, and Marilyn's face turned red as she had not expected that he would take his brother's side in this situation.

"Look..." she stuttered.

"I said, did you shout to my brother?"

Marilyn's lips twisted at Kieran's glaring eyes, "I apologize, I was upset."

"Apologize to my brother," he said unsympathetically, "and Lia, please apologize to the young Duke."

Since Lia didn't even think of hearing an apology from Marilyn, she bowed until her head almost touched the ground and said meekly, "I apologize, sir."

Marilyn didn't apologize to Lia, and she just glared at Kieran, her eyes brimming with tears. Then, they heard a chuckle.

"Snow," Claude said as he approached Lia and put out his reddened hand, after dropping Marilyn's handkerchief. Lia slowly raised her head to see Claude. "Are you deaf?" He questioned.

"Snow?" She was confused.

"Bring the snow Canillian. It felt much better than that handkerchief."

***

The hyperactivity surrounding the incident came to an end after the resident doctor treated Claude, and Lia didn't have to bring all the snow in the gardens to him. After returning to her room, she sat by the window and watched the carriages take the ladies away. Marilyn's loud shouting still rang in her ears. She had been justified in her anger because Lia knew how burns felt and so she prayed with her eyes tightly closed for Claude to get well soon.

Lia's thoughts were disrupted when she heard a commotion outside her room and the door burst open, banging loudly against the wall. The Marchioness barged in, her face stone-cold and she slapped the child's cheek as Lia was rising from her chair; silence ensued and Betty stood behind her with her mouth wide open.