Page 8 of A Duke, a Virgin and a Baby
Leaving her speechless, dizzy, and alone.
When Anna came down for breakfast the next morning, the butler, Ernest announced with an uneasy expression,
“The duke left for his manor in the country this morning, Your Grace.”
There was a slight twinge of disappointment, followed by immense relief.
There were no parents who disregarded her opinions and wishes. There was no husband she might have to tiptoe around.
For the first time in forever, she had all that she needed to live a life for herself.
And she was determined to do precisely that. For her sake.
CHAPTER THREE
Nine months later
“Ellen! Behind you!”
There was a loud splash, followed by a scream as Anna’s maid found herself nearly soaked from head to toe.
Slowly, she turned to the other maids who were standing behind her, their faces the very picture of faux innocence.
“Gretchen! Regina!” Ellen whined, staring down at the wet patches of her dress.
“You shouldn’t have taken that bet against us,” Regina stated, sticking her tongue out at Ellen, squealing as Ellen bent over to scoop handfuls of water from the bank of the lake at her feet, before flinging it at the other girls.
Anna watched the scene unfold from her cool shade, smiling appreciatively as another maid, Mary, refilled her glass of lemonade. The duchess grinned as more squeals of joy and terror filled the air.
“They are always so quick to turn our plans for a relaxing afternoon into a messy, chaotic affair,” Mary huffed.
Anna kept her eyes on the girls who were now completely submerged in the lake, giggling among themselves while the other maids either walked along the edge of the lake or simply soaked their feet in the water, relishing in the refreshing coolness against their skin.
“I am glad they are enjoying themselves however they want to. That is what matters to me – each of you finds a means of enjoyment that is uniquely yours. I am happy, as long as you are,” the duchess said gently.
Mary blushed and mumbled so quietly, that Anna almost missed it,
“We are undeserving of your kindness.”
“That is not true,” Anna said immediately. “You have given me more than I can say. If I can do this much and it means a lot to you and the others, then I am perfectly content and happy with it.”
The days that followed her wedding were tricky. She had plans – a lifestyle she had envisioned for herself but was hesitant because she was not sure she truly had the freedom she had been offered so easily.
But as the days turned into weeks and she realized just how alone she was, she felt much more confident in taking charge of her life.
Her husband had told her to use his wealth as she wished so she spent some time and fortune renovating the estate. As uncomfortable as her family could be, the home she had grown up in occasionally bore some warmth.
The Morland Estate was severely lacking that. Everything from the drapes to the furniture carried with it a stiff, boring, and dull aura and she quickly got to work, replacing them with new designs and accessories that would make the space within the walls feel more like a home.
“You flatter us too much, Your Grace,” Ellen beamed as she settled down on the blanket that had been spread on the grass for Anna. “I still do not believe we are worthy of the wealth and attention you lavish on us so generously.”
Anna raised her eyes to the sky with a playful sigh of frustration.
“Well, it is a good thing that it is mine to lavish and give as I wish.” She replied, holding her glass up as a silent toast.
Her next course of action had been to hire some more staff for the estate.
To her surprise, the small group of staff members who had greeted her upon her arrival were the only servants who served the duke’s estate. For such a large property, she deduced that it was likely difficult for them to take care of it. That was not to say they weren’t exceptional workers.
