Her Duchess |Lesbian Story|

- 3 -

Shirley took a deep breath before knocking on the polished wooden door. She hadn't been that nervous working with the late Duke, but now she was somewhat intimidated by his daughter.

Perhaps, it was because, for the past few months, Shirley had witnessed a few hissy fits from the young Duchess that would make even an army sergeant flinch. There were about fifty-four servants before Violet took the sovereignty of Averbury. By now the Duchess had already fired half of them.

Shirley wouldn't blame her for doing that. Most of the layoffs were idling around the castle like cats in the sun. It would have been an exorbitant expense to keep them for nothing. Shirley didn't like gossips or meaningless chattering while there were works to be done. She did her job well and even exceeded expectations on so many occasions. The secretary wouldn't think she could be the next target. Yet, she couldn't help feeling like a feline with a tail up on alert.

At last, the door opened. She stepped inside and found George, the butler, standing there as if waiting for some sort of instruction. Shirley gave him a questioning look, but he merely shrugged and motioned to the inner study. With an inward sigh, she walked towards the inner room where Violet was sitting behind her father's desk.

She was leaning in her high-backed chair reading an official letter.

"Your Grace," Shirley greeted as if to announce her arrival. Violet didn't take her eyes off the piece of paper, but Shirley was patient. She was used to how cold and curt the Duchess could be when her mind was fixed on something else.

A moment later, Violet put the letter down and slid it across the table to her. The Duchess had been moving words and sentences around for the past few hours.

"I want you to proofread this and run a check with my lawyers tomorrow," she said. "Get back to me if there is any question or issue. I need it to be sealed by Monday."

"May I ask what it is?"

"A prenup," Violet said matter-of-factly. Shirley's eyes widened in surprise.

"Your Grace...are you really going to..."

"I'm tired of answering that damn question already," Violet said with an irritated frown. "I want you here so you can help me with something far more important."

"My apologies."

The young Duchess waved it away.

"Sit down," she said. "It's hard to talk while you're standing there like a stiff board."

Shirley hurriedly took a seat on a red upholstery in front of her young boss.

Violet stared at her for a moment as if considering something. Then she leaned on the table and laced her long slender fingers together.

"How long have you been working here, Shirley?" she asked at last. The secretary cocked her head to the side, counting the summers and winters.

"Over nine years, Your Grace."

Violet's eyes flickered with amusement and pity, remembering when the two of them first met. She used to give Shirley a hard time during her rebellious teenage phase. Shirley would have to run around looking for her if there was an important event to attend or her arranging impromptu parties for her friends when the Duke was away. Sometimes, Violet had given the poor secretary a few premature gray hairs when she sneaked out of the castle with some unknown girls at night.

"Well, I certainly can trust you, can't I?" Violet said with a curled lip at the corner. Shirley scratched her brow.

"Well, considering the age difference, I don't think I would be a good match for you," she said.