Eloise

Chapter 18: The Duke's Return

"You should reconsider it, Your Grace!" A voice frantically rang across the four corners of the room despite the heavy rain.

The cold downpour fell persistently from the skies, painting the already grim night even darker.

It was already late but the tenacious butler won't stop nagging her after knowing that she approached Farrell to request archery lessons.

"Knox, I already made a decision. How many times will we discuss about this?"

It's been a week already since she sought lessons from the said knight. But due to the dreary weather, the training for today was cancelled.

"The Duke won't be happy to hear about this. I will be held accountable."

"Do not worry. I will discuss this with him when he comes back."

Knoxx heaved a deep sigh, but before he could utter another word, a loud winding horn resounded across the Northern territory. It was a declaration of the leader's arrival.

Her husband is back.

Before she could even react, a servant knocked at the door before entering the room and bowed her head to the Duchess. "Your Grace, the Lord and his entourage just entered the main gate."

"Alright, I'll come down to greet His Grace. Thank you, Carmen."

Gesturing her hand to one of the servants, a maid placed a shawl on her shoulders and fixed her clothes before she came down to greet the Duke.

Every step she took, her heart was thumping loudly inside her chest. She was feeling edgy. It has been almost a month since they had been in the same expanse and she felt lost. She haven't received prior notice of his return tonight.

The moment she took a step out of the castle, the cold air enveloped her body. The heavy rain curtained the garden with a dreary mood as the horses galloped their way towards them.

The man leading the unit was adorned with a fur coat over his dark armor, now clearly drenched and laid flatly on his body. As the horse halted, he reached for his helmet and tossed it to one of his men. His black, silky hair flowed down his nape and well-sculpted face. His gold chromatic eyes glowed amidst the darkness. From the moment he removed his head piece, his eyes were fixated on her.

All of the servants and knights who gathered for his arrival stood in a line and greeted him in chorus.

"There is no need for this kind of formality." The Duke exclaimed with his usual stoic face, his voice was as cold as she remembered. Bleak and frigid, just like the weather.

Knox took a step forward and took his sword and coat as the Duke dismounted. Mud water splashed all over his footing as he landed at a small puddle, covering his jack boots with clay soupy water.

"The maids had prepared a bath for you, my lord. I'll serve you tea afterwards to help dissipate your fatigue." Knox conveyed, but Nathaniel who was staring at one direction for a while now had ignored his words and took strides toward her.

Her heart started to race as the distance between them shorten. She swallowed a silent gasp as she gazed at the pair of gold orbs intensely looking at her sapphire ones.

That moment, she realized how she anticipated for his return. Her heart felt full and content to see him in good health, after being away for almost a month.

She was preoccupied on her plans of escape, thinking how to end their marriage and saving her life. Thus, she thought she had her feelings under control. But standing before him made her realize of the unspoken feeling she kept hidden deep inside her heart. Her yearning and solicitude for this man would always be engraved within her.