Secret Wardrobe of the Duchess

Chapter 44

 
On their way, they kept worrying they might be too late. But fortunately for them, Rubica barely got up from the bed only after they arrived.

“I guess I overslept.”

Rubica thought they had waited for her to wake up and brought the water, so she smiled embarrassingly. She then dipped her hands in the basin in her nightdress. Every time she moved, the maids could smell the scent they were so familiar with but only one person used in the entire mansion.

‘It is the perfume His Grace uses when he sleeps.’

How long had they stayed tightly together for Rubica to smell of his perfume? The maids all blushed and so did Ann.

They had been somewhat worried about the duke who hadn’t been interested in women before Rubica came. But maybe he was even more passionate than their imagination.

“Are you not tired?”

“A little.”

Rubica didn’t realize the implications behind the question and answered as she rinsed her hands.

“Are you going to… take a bath?”

Ann spoke first. She thought it was right for her to ask first as she was older and had been married.

“Bath?”

“Uh, um. His Grace’s scent is so strong on you, so…”

Rubica realized the scent only then, and her face turned red in no time.
“Nothing happened!”

She regretted saying it as soon as the words came out of her mouth. Who on earth would believe her? It only made the mood even more awkward.

“Oh… okay.”

Ann and Jennie looked away. They were clearly thinking something had happened.

Her body felt just the same as before. Edgar had probably kept his promise, but the scent of his perfume was so strong that even she could smell it.
Even an idiot would have realized he had slept with her in his arms all night.

‘I fell asleep before I could say he couldn’t hug me while I was sleeping.’

He knew how to evade restrictions to get what he wanted. Was she supposed to applaud and say he was indeed Duke Claymore? In the end, Rubica had to take another bath in the morning.

***

“Carl!”

Rubica called the butler after she was dressed in a good dress to meet guests. Her hair and face had been done perfectly. She now wanted to find Edgar and grab him by the collar, but Ann and the maids had refused to let her go till they were done with her.

“Your Grace, what is it?”

“Where is Edgar?”

“You mean His Grace! He is at his office.”

“Take me there, now!”

Carl had seen it coming, but he hadn’t known it would happen right away on the next day of the wedding. He determinedly looked at Rubica.

“I’m afraid you can’t. His Grace is very sensitive while he works. He has given strict orders, only I can go into his office.”

Rubica was surprised to hear that, and Carl was making it clear.

“And I cannot go in either?”

“No. He is even more sensitive nowadays.”

It looked like she was not going to get what she wanted. Rubica stared at Carl and realized he was carrying a tray.