Short Stories

The Last Duchess (poem adaptation)

My Duke has commissioned a painting of myself; With it came the unwanted court ordering that he has only the finest artist, Fra Pandolf, to paint my beauty. I felt uneasy in the Duke's anger from this unwanted attention,' knowing that the duke has been through many wives and I could easily be replaced by the beautiful Adeline. I sit still on the wooden stool provided for me. My enormous dress drapes over the stool covering it completely, I may as well have been floating.

"You look absolutely breathtaking today, Duchess" Fra Pandolf comments and I simply return a warm smile.

"Such a honey-tongued thing you are!" Pandolf smirked. Without my consent, blood rushed to my cheeks and a giggle escaped my lips.

"Not rare, just a simplicity, I can assure you." Returning to my post I attempt to block out his lingering gaze. If only My Duke would turn my cheeks to roses as Pandolf did.

After remaining in the same position for hours upon hours, I was summoned to the Courtroom. I held close behind my husband in curiosity of what advocates we had the pleasure of turning down today, only to be faced with who I loved but dreaded most. Adeline. Tilting forwards slightly, I whispered nervously into my Duke's ear-

"Give egal rights to those impoverished, my Duke... I think they're playing with your power."

Leaning back I adjust my dress and smile upon our acquaintances, Adeline and Darcy who are kneeling down on our cold marble floors, begging for help.

"Tis' quite cunning to use your wealthy acquaintances as an easy solution, you expect me to not abhor?" the Duke spat at Darcy.

Slowly they nodded their heads in guilt;

"Looks like your expectations have been pulverized I suppose- Don't look so wall-eyed and get out of my sight!" A tear slid down my cheek, for Adeline was the closest I'd ever come to a mother figure since leaving her home, even though she were only a couple years older. Adeline taught me how to act and talk like a duchess but she was far too beautiful to not tempt my Duke. I knew my Duke had a soft spot for her in his heart but, on the other hand, my heart didn't want me to be wed at age fourteen and to leave the love and care of my family. Little did they know the beauty they bestowed upon me would become my gilded cage. The gift of my father's warm smile and the pleasure of having my mother's tender touch now replaced with the Duke's wedding bed.

The heart can't always have what it desires. What I do ackno on is that I can have revenge and it will be truly blissful.

My yellow ball gown wrapped around my body as the painter twirled me across the ballroom, dancing to joyful sounds of the harpsichord. Swaying to the pure ecstasy of-

"My wife is a hobby horse!!" my Duke bellowed, causing all eyes to land on me. Marching down the stairs, almost running towards me; He took hold of my forearm cutting off all circulation and yanked me towards the living room. My Duke flung me into the wall as if my body were made of feathers.

"You think I'm zany? That I'm so dull-witted I can't see the lust swirling in your eyes when you look at Fra Pandolf?" the anger boiled up inside of me with every word that fell from my Duke's lips. Without thinking, I slapped him across his face, cutting his cheek with my ring. The room was so silent and still, you could hear the blood rolling off of him and hitting the floor with a splash.

"My Duke, like a bee, you will die after stinging me." I purred and walked out off the room with so much elegance it looked as if I were walking on air. From that moment exactly, I knew my plan was written in stone.

I perched myself in my chair, anticipating the Duke's return. In my hands, I held his cased razor. His ego has engulfed him entirely to the point his own razor is not good enough for him to touch but now a lower class' job to pursue. I need not worry if he'd notice the missing gadget which made me feel even more confident with my plan. I lightly dragged the razor across my palm to test the sharpness, well enough it pierced my skin, drawing blood with no predicament. Smirking at my palm, I realise with just enough pressure to the neck I will achieve my revenge with much ease.

The door was slammed open- quickly I stood up, hiding my weapon behind my back.

"I saw you with Adeline today," I stated, striding closer to where he stood frozen.

"It's ironic how much love I give out and how little I receive?" I snarled bitterly.

"What more would a woman want than the nine-hundred-year-old name? Thy sin's not accidental, but a trade...My Duchess" he threw his head back in a fit of laughter, revealing access to his neck. Quickly I held the razor up to him, causing him to stumble back slightly.

"Art not afeard?...Duke. Perhaps if I cut your legs, gravity would finally let you go- releasing all the pressure you have laid upon me?"

With one swipe, the razor fell from my hands, clambering to the ground.

"I'm lapsed to see you go mad my Duchess, maybe twas' the overload of paint fumes you inhaled, you seem to find pleasure in that surrounding?"

I didn't notice the Duke pull his pocket knife out of his trench coat until it was too late. The flash of silver stabbed me between my breasts, and the life in my eyes was slowly oozing out with every fleeting second.

"If I'm a bee to you, why is it the only sweet thing I will ever come across will be your death?"