Working Woman *On hold*

Part 1 - Drunk Disaster

As the carriage approached the manor, I gasped slightly. The three story building rose high above the dense forest that stretched on for miles around it. I looked over at my fiancé  with begrudging respect. He's rich, I'd give him that, but the compliments stop there. He is the most repulsive man that ever lived.

Everyone knew of his lacking personality and repulsive looks, but a duke such as himself was still to be respected in society. All the ladies wanted to dance with him, as he was one of the richest men you could find in our small town.

He must've caught me looking over at him, because he gave me a smirk, causing his face to scrunch up in an unflattering fashion. I refrained letting my disgust show, and instead focused on the view ahead of me. I sighed inwardly at my bad luck. My posture was ramrod straight, my hair was up in an eloquent up-do, and my gloved hands sat folded in my lap. All of that hard work to be a lady and snatch up a wealthy and decent man to please my father, and he ended up pairing me up with him because he is rich, and my family fortune fell down the drain in recent years. My father is a money-chasing hog for torturing me with an arranged marriage.

The carriage halted abruptly, and I was thrown forward with a yelp of surprise. My beloved fiancé didn't care to mask his disapproving glare in my direction. It appears to me that he is scandalized by women shrieking at a sudden jolt of a carriage. I pointed my eyes to the sky.

Please, please throw Duke Ainsworth into a pool of hungry sharks to teach him a lesson in common decency.

Despite my prayer, the driver came around to open my door and help me out. I descended gracefully, as I had been taught by my family's governess. The Queen would be proud. I accepted the duke's arm with a perfect curtsy, trying to look demure as we walked through the front doors. These good manners of mine are practically killing me.

I tried to keep up as he steered me forcefully to the entry hall and barked to a nearby servant, "Lead her to her living quarters immediately. And do not let her disturb me."

He didn't even bother to use my name. That is the most disrespectful move he could've pulled, the chauvinist! He shoved my arm away from his, and I found myself balling my hands into fists as he stalked away down the opposite hall and disappeared through a large door. Although the idea of going up to him and giving him a piece of my mind was tempting, I had to think of my family. Darn them.

If my family doesn't appreciate this, the Duke isn't the only one who will be given a piece of my mind.

I reassured myself with the image of the Duke cowering behind his desk while I slapped him across the face with my wooden fan. I grinned at the thought as a servant came and led me up the stairs and down a long hallway. We finally stopped at the last door, which I took offense to. The Duke must really have wanted me out of his way. Ah well, the more freedom, and distance from him, the better. As I walked through the door, I inhaled sharply at the splendor of my new quarters.

Mind, I am used to lavish manors, as I had grown up in one similar to this. His manor, though, outshone my own now due to the fact that the fortune my family used to have was almost completely stolen. Now my family home was a skeleton, bare of any decorations and only the most essential furniture. It had been almost a year since I have seen a house as beautiful as this one, not to mention this room!

The young servant ushered me into my huge and richly adorned room and bowed to me from the doorway. "The Ainsworth family is hosting a ball two days from now, which you will be expected to attend. Since you are a new addition to the household, you will not be expected to assist in the planning or hosting of the event, but Duke Ainsworth expects you to pick up on the duties, as you are planning another in no less than a month along with a small wedding in the month. Good day, Miss." He bowed again and closed my door with a flourish once I curtsied and thanked him.