Her Royal Fate

#8 No Pyjamas For Dinner!

❇chapter 8❇

**At Home**

While we were packing, I kept asking Katrina about why she was looking sad.

"What's wrong,Kate. You're looking pale!" ,I asked for the nth time.

"Will you just shut the fuck up and mind your business?!" ,she retorted.

I walked up to her and looked her straight in the eyes. She suddenly became weak and fell in me,sobbing uncontrollably but quietly. I consoled her.

"Oh Kate... You don't want to live with the duchess,do you?" ,I asked knowing that was where the problem came from.

"Yes sis. You know me so well" ,she blurted out.

"But she mentioned all the advantages of living in her home for the meantime" ,I pointed out.

"I know... but it'll make me stay away from Mark and my family!" ,she pointed out. "Now i think he loves me now,so I want us to be meeting more frequently. But this 'staying in the duchess's house' doesn't go down well with me".

Katrina can be so foolish I swear. I rolled my eyes in disappointment. Can that be the foolish reason why she doesn't want to live in the duchess's house?

" Oh Kate! What's wrong with you?! The duchess didn't say you can't go out! ".

" I heard! But... ",she trailed off. I patted her back gently.

" Shh it's okay. I'll make sure you get to see Mark when you want,okay? ",I assured her.

She let out a weak smile. "Thank you" ,she hugged me tightly. "You're the best sister one can ever ask for. I love you so much,nothing can separate us".

" I love you so much too. Yeah nothing can separate us", I confirmed.

We heard a loud horn from the gate.

"I think the van is here",Katrina said.

                               ***

**The Washington's house**

The interior was magnificent and wealthy. The ceilings were looking splendid and the chandeliers were ornate and made of sapphires, rubies,and diamonds. The artifacts that stood on the well polished wooden shelves were made of gold.

The soft leather sofas and armchairs were designed gloriously. The tables were silver and glittery. The carpets and rugs spoke of riches. The creamy coloured draperies that hung from the wall downward was flowing beautifully ,giving the floor a soft caress. The silver railings that led upstairs was specialty.

The whole house just had an affluent atmosphere and I pray I enjoy my stay here. Katrina nudged me to look at the framed photographs that hung over the wall at one corner of the corridor.

I saw the deceased duke's picture. I saw the duchess herself. I saw another woman I assumed should be Cedric's sister. I saw Cedric,he was so handsome. He looked like his father. I didn't see even one resemblance between him and the duchess.

Was he even the son of his mother?...

The maids accompanying us were three in number,dressed smartly in their white and black uniform. They led us upstairs to our rooms.

I felt so sad that my twin sister was not in the same room as i I. Her room was a few block away from mine. My room was close to a very  magnificent door so I guessed it was the duchess's room. Cool...

As I waved Katrina bye for the meantime,I entered my room. It was 'wow!'. The room was so spacious and ladylike. I just loved the combination of colours, purple, cream,light blue and reddish brown which was the colour of the tiles.

I laid on the queen size bed and caressed it gently. It was soft and smooth. The bedspread and blankets were good for comfort. The whole room was wonderful. I got up and entered the bathroom,it was beautiful. My toiletries were arranged neatly where necessary.

Don't be confused. We sent our boxes yesterday and they arranged them in our rooms. So we moved in today.

The whole place was expensively amazing.

                                *

I was called downstairs for dinner and I told them I was coming. I took my bath,dressed into my pyjamas,packed my hair into a pony and headed downstairs for dinner.

What you see is not what you get.

I saw everybody staring at me like I looked very amusing.  I walked very slowly down the stairs hoping to figure out why they looked at me in that way. Katrina wasn't on pyjama and I wondered why.

I saw the duchess sitting at the head of the table. Cedric sat at the other end. Two unfamiliar figures sat inbetween and Katrina at the end opposite a woman I assumed should be Cedric's aunt. There was no other seat except the one near Cedric. My heart began to pound at a race speed. What was that supposed to mean!!

As I proceeded to sit down,the duchess hissed at me.

"Sssss!!" ,she called out.

"Oh yes madam" ,I responded.

"I'm sorry to let you know that pyjamas are not worn during dinner. So go back and change into your clothing", I was so embarrassed so I stood up immediately to leave but she then said," ... and remember you're the reason dinner has not been served yet".

With that,I rushed upstairs. The embarrassment was too concealed beneath her carefully constructed English. I changed into my black plain dress. I let down my hair and remembered home. Dad,mom,granny,aunt ivy, Fiona, Kate and I will eat,chat,laugh and reminisce the good old days.

But now,things have changed. I'll have to eat dinner quietly with the duchess's family. No more pyjamas for dinner and other crazy things I do with my family.

I came downstairs and the duchess gave me a thumbs up. I rolled my eyes internally. But on the outside I smiled politely.

"Hi everyone. I'm sorry for keeping your dinner waiting", I sat down besides Cedric and he looked at me as if to say uncultured, you lack table manners.

What was that supposed to mean I ask again!! His eye contacts with me are so demeaning and I'm really beginning to dislike this fine boy.

My thoughts were interrupted when the maids came to serve the food. Dinner consisted of fish kebab, rice and vegetables sauce with lemonade. The food was just good.

"Okay,Sabrina and Katrina..." ,Mrs Washington called out.  "This is uncle Jay,Cedric's uncle" .

"Hello there" ,he waved at us.

"Hi",we responded.

" Also this is aunt Grace",she introduced.

"Hi",she smiled at us.

" Hello",we greeted back.

"This is Cedric's grandfather, former duke Henry Washington" .

"Hello children,how are you?" ,he smiled warmly at us.

"We're fine",we responded smiling.

" Ok,welcome to the Washington's house ",he said.

" Thank you very much,sir ",we responded.

" Okay let's enjoy",aunt Grace exclaimed as we gave a toast with our lemonade drink.

                                  *