The Duchess in the Dorm [Published - Sample Only]

Chapter 2 - Freshman Year

One fine day in May Lizzie turned in her last blue book and was finally done with exams. She had finished the first two years curriculum at Oxford in 15 months with some help from generous test scores which got her out of most basic general education courses and lots of hard work. A seven-week summer holiday at High Garden would be most welcome. Her almost-boyfriend and now certainly ex-non-boyfriend Richard had turned out to be yet another landless man as her grandmother would say in search of a lady with money. Elizabeth would have none of that.

She packed up her belongings, shipped one box of books home by parcel post, and then took the train as any student would do. After a pleasant train trip, she arrived at High Garden station just after two in the afternoon. She was, of course, met by the family chauffeur at the railway station. He greeted her respectively and also cordially. "Lady Elizabeth. Your mother is expecting you, welcome home."

Lizzie greeted him warmly. "Thank you, Brandon, and of course she is. This summer's ball should prove to be quite the extravaganza. Hopefully, our charitable efforts will exceed last year. Brandon, thank you again for waiting for me, my train was a bit late."

"Of course, my lady. Your lady mother is anxious to see you. Things at the Manor are quite hectic of late."

Lizzie laughed to herself and nodded tiredly. "The preparations for the summer ball? Yes, as I understand it from my sources she's going all out again this year."

Brandon nodded in agreement as he put Lizzie's bags in the back and closed the boot. "Yes, indeed my Lady. The word from the household staff is that this will be quite a spectacular event."

Lizzie rolled her eyes again and murmured. "Yes, I'm quite sure of that."

After the short drive from the village rail station to High Garden Manor, Lizzie observed the preparations for the summer ball with her own eyes. It was a charity event founded by Lizzie's paternal grandfather to fund the High Garden village hospital. In its inaugural year of 1946, they had raised just over £100,00 in donations, half of that from Sir William himself. Since then, the event had gotten bigger and bigger every year. The previous year had raised over £900,000 and Lady Jane had worked hard to get this year over the £1 million mark for the first time.

As her driver drove up the perfectly manicured main drive, Lizzie saw the gardens in their summer glory. Pennants in the colours of the family coat of arms flapped from the high battlements of the old Manor house. The tent pavilion to the side of the main garden was also very colorful and grandiose in scale. The future Duchess of High Garden murmured again to herself. "Oh my, dear mum is certainly putting on a show this season."

Brandon took the car around to the old servant's entrance that he knew Lizzie preferred. The pretty young woman thanked him again and made her way with her duffel and backpack up the stairs to her suite of rooms on the third floor. She entered the suite and tossed her bag unceremoniously on the floor of the closet which she now reckoned was larger than her dorm room at Oxford. She could not help but notice the exquisite new selections of fine fashions from Paris, Milan, and the like. No doubt purchased by her mother whilst she was away at school. Just then, there was a rap at the door to the elegant suite and the Lady Jane Windsor entered. "Elizabeth, you are home. I saw you skulking up the servant's stairs."

Elizabeth rolled her eyes. "Yes mother, they are quite convenient, no skulking involved, I assure you, and I'm glad to see you too. If you would allow me a bit to wash the smell of the train off of me, I'll make myself more presentable."

Jane walked over to her only child, took her hand, and kissed her on the cheek. "Of course my dear. I have missed you more than I knew."

Lizzie paused at this rare admission from her normally stoic mother. She was very English after all and usually reserved her kindness for horses and dogs.

Lizzie kissed her mother in return. "It is so good to be home. Just give me a few and I'll be down for tea."

Jane left the room and Lizzie shucked off her grubby, student traveling clothes. She turned on the steam shower to maximum volume and high flow and tried to go to her happy place. She was so glad to be at home again. As wonderful as her University experience had been, it was good to be a Duchess! Lizzie took as long a steam shower as she thought she could get away with and then changed into one of the new dresses from her well-appointed closet. She initially frowned at the selection, but then just decided to go with the flow and fight what she saw. She chose a pale yellow dress that showed off her legs but demurely covered her breasts. She could not help but notice that some of the new additions to her collection were quite fashionable and also quite revealing. Lizzie brushed out her long blonde hair, straightened the elegant dress and took the grand stairs to the main floor and then to the gallery hall and thence to her mother's sitting room where the Lady Jane was waiting. "Elizabeth my dear, you look wonderful. I trust that dress fits well?"

"Of course mother, thank you. I have not put on the so-called freshman fifteen if that was what you were worrying about.

For once in her life, Lady Jane was flummoxed. "No, no my dear, that's not what I meant at all. You are more beautiful by the day. I wish your father were here to see you grow into the gorgeous Duchess of High Garden that you shall be."

Lizzie stepped over to her mother and kissed her on the forehead. "I'm sorry mum, I miss him too. You see, he and I shared the same vision for the future of High Garden. It's just that it is a bit of a different vision from yours. I do not need a husband of stature. The law says that I can I will own and hold my lands and title in my own name, and I will. The estate must survive, support the family, and be a major employer for our community."