Duke In Love

Chapter One

ESTELLE

Just before the sun rose above the horizon, Estelle readied herself to see to her Mistress' needs. As the lady's maid, she was needed as soon as The Viscountess woke, the first face she saw each day. Estelle's bed was already made, a simple mattress with brown sheets on a plain frame, and setting it right was the first thing she did after she got up. Her room was straightened as though it would be thoroughly checked at any moment, her desk organised with a small notebook at the centre, other stationery in the corner, and her bedside tables clear aside from the few novels she kept.

Pulling the twists of her coiled hair into a neat bun, she stared at her reflection with a hairpin fixed between her teeth which she placed right below the updo soon after. A lamp by her mirror lit up her reflection, the light giving her dark brown skin a bronze glow. She wore her simplest earrings, the smallest of gold hoops, and a gold locket that she kept hidden underneath the neckline of her beige gown. Estelle ran her hands over her collarbone as she stared at her dress. The same dress that was gifted to her by Lady Victoria and, frankly, inappropriate for her to be wearing, especially without an apron.

By the time she left her room, hues of oranges and reds stained the sky as the sun began to rise. Estelle said "good morning" to the cooks in the kitchen as she made her way through, where some of her fellow servants were finishing up their breakfasts. Hers would have to wait until later. Mary, one of the housemaids, filled the last of three buckets by her feet with hot water just as Estelle approached her. They carried the containers up the stairs to Lady Victoria's chambers, Estelle greeting the butlers in the halls, and several maids on the way. She placed the buckets on the ground, then with two raps on the door patiently awaited a response outside with her hands clasped together at her waist.

"Enter!" A woman's voice called from behind the door.

Estelle pushed it open, walking in first and allowing the housemaid to follow behind her. Their footsteps chorused throughout the room, not loud enough to overwhelm the sound of another door clicking shut nearby. Estelle turned towards the sound, noticing it came from the adjoined area between The Viscount and Viscountess' chambers. While it was uncommon for nobility to share beds with their spouses, The Viscount and Viscountess appeared to make a habit of doing so. Most mornings, Estelle noticed an item belonging to The Viscount in the room from the night before, or saw him slipping out of it. Even their rooms being connected was an unusual practice. The other maid seemed none the wiser, going about her tasks as usual. Estelle hid her smile, focusing instead on her Lady that was stretching and finally rolling out of bed.

While The Viscountess stirred, Estelle started preparing her bath. She poured the buckets of water into the large, porcelain tub, then placed bars of lavender and lily soap at the edge of it. The towel and robe were folded and laid beside one another on a counter nearby, as well as some rosehip oil for her skin.

When Estelle came back, she found Lady Victoria sitting up, stretching and groaning as she did so. The sun shone through the curtains and onto her face, forcing the woman to squint at the sight despite the light doing her beauty well.

"Good morning, My Lady." Estelle said with a smile as she went over to The Viscountess with a robe in hand. The cream-coloured bed curtains brushed against Estelle's face before she pinned them up to the poles on the bed frame.

Victoria grinned, wearing no more than a bedsheet as she flashed her pearly white teeth, "Good morning, Estelle. My, what a good morning it is. The sun, it shines brighter than usual, do you not agree?" She mused as Estelle held up her silk robe, helping Victoria to slip herself into it.

Estelle was unsure about the cause of her Lady's contentment so early in the morning, but she wondered if it had something to do with The Viscount and their sharing a bed. She had heard women talk about that throughout the years, what men and women do once joined in marriage. There were always whispers and giggles, especially once she asked what they went on about. To this day, however, she remained completely in the dark about it all.