THE HEIRESS (Sample)

CHAPTER THIRTY

She walked around the large room, caressing every furniture and tenderly fingering the drapes. The room was so quiet and so devoid of life. Since the death of the Duchess, she had restricted anyone from going into the room except the cleaning maids who cleaned the room every three days.

She chose to remain in her former room than move into this room because it held so many memories, both the happy ones and the sad ones. She turned as the ferret leapt onto the bed and snuggled in its fold. She eyed the ferret for a while then approached the window that faced the east to look out.

The sun was very high up in the sky and she could see horses grazing on a pasture close-by. She sighed after sucking the fresh air into her lungs. Oh! How she missed the Duchess so much. Something round laid in the corner close to the foot of the bed but she did not take notice of it. She only stared out of the window, admiring nature.

She felt like singing, running around the garden. She missed school and she missed her friends. Phyllis and Thelma had promised to pay her a visit someday, how she missed their little gossips and talks of their fantasies.

She was still staring out of the window when a knock interrupted her thoughts. She half turned to face the door wondering who would dare disturb her in here. "Come in." she said when the knock came again.

The door opened and Matilda stepped in, smiling. "I thought you said you were going to the garden with Lacy to pick some berries for my tart?" she asked the woman.

Matilda rubbed her hands in glee and hunched her shoulders. "True Your Grace but something important came up."

"Something important than the tart?" Emilia gave her a questioning look. "You know how much I enjoy eating your tart, Matilda."

"C'mon dear, something better just came up, the tart can wait!" she answered dismissively. "He is here!"

Confused, Emilia turned fully to face Matilda, her back to the large window, the sun shining through her hair, creating a halo around her head. "What do you mean? Who is here?"

"The Rogue!" Her smile widened. Emilia could swear Matilda just blushed just from pronouncing the name. "I think he changed his mind."

Emilia's eyes widened in surprise but it quickly passed. "I will see him, have him wait!" she said stonily, dismissing the older woman.

"Yes Your Grace!" Matilda said and exited the room.
Emilia stared at the ferret on the bed and said. "Well Thomas, we are about to add someone to the family but it won't be for long. So what say you?" The ferret yawned and looked away. "I bet we won't like him." She said to it. "We only have to put up with him for the time being..." She paused and sighed deeply mustering courage to meet her visitor. "Well, let's go. let's see what he looks like." she picked up the reluctant ferret who still wanted a beauty sleep on the soft bed and exited the room, walking down the door.

Aidan stood unflinching.
He wanted to leave. It wasn't too late to give this all up and leave but he didn't have a choice than to get this done with. He stood in the center of the large foyer which was a few paces from the door and besides facing different hallways, it also overlooked a magnificent flight of stairs.

A maid stood in the corner behind him as if waiting on him or her mistress to arrive while Festus stood beside the door. Matilda who couldn't seem to contain her joy stood beside a sofa. They were all standing as if awaiting someone very special and important, royal to be precise.

He wondered what was keeping the mistress waiting. The woman had better come attend to him because he had no time to waste. Suddenly, footsteps echoed above. He raised his head and looked up to see a woman descending the stairs gracefully, her hand on the banister.