Chapter 13: Weekly Appointments

The guards opened the gate and the Duke stood there in his uniform holding some gifts

"I bought them for you at the night market, I thought you might like them." He said to me

"Thank you, although I would rather go there myself if it wasn't for a certain person" I replied sarcastically.

"You know I can't" His expression turned sad.

He was right, after the fifth month my pregnancy became more obvious, and whenever I looked at it in the mirror I felt happy.

At first I thought this baby would just make me cry. But watching it grow made me happy.

Because I already knew I would love this baby with all my heart.

"My lady" he said as he took off his hat

The clouds moved allowing the moonlight to shine almost as bright as the sun.

"Please allow me to be by your side and take responsibility" he said as his hands trembled and he kept his eyes down.

Who would have thought that the great Duke who was so feared by many would ask this politely.

"Okay" I said with a sigh.

His face lit up instantly.

"Only once a week, I don't want Camilla's attention to turn to me again".

"she's not like that" he said

"Yes ... yes I must leave now after all pregnant women need a lot of sleep" I said turning my back on him

"Good night my lady" he said in a cheerful tone.

He then waited there until I got back inside the palace.

How did such a nobleman end up with that snake, I thought to myself that night.

It's true that I still didn't quite like the idea, because it might upset Camilla.

But the Duke was persistent and having a father in the child's life might be good for him.

After that the Duke never missed any of our weekly appointments.

He always arrived early and brought lots of presents.

Toys for the baby and new fashionable dresses for me.

The toys he brought were so complicated that the child wouldn't be able to play with them until he was two and the dresses were childish and didn't suit me, but I didn't want to tell the truth and hurt his feelings.

 After all, I couldn't blame him, this man didn't know anything about me.

So I sat there every week and nodded to his stories and watched him smile a lot.

"I swear I'll keep looking for a way to remove the curse." he once told me.

I believed him because this man always tries to keep his promises.

As time went on, my body became heavier and even simple tasks like going down the stairs became exhausting.

Somehow I began to look forward to the Fridays when we would meet.

Because in my little cage, he was a breath of fresh air.

But on the day of our next meeting, he didn't come.

Even though I dressed up nicely and waited for him until the tea got cold.

I looked at the beautifully set table. And I thought how foolish I had been to wait so desperately for the man who was the root of all my problems.

That night at 10pm Raymond arrived and apologized.

"It's okay." I stopped him mid-sentence.

"After all she is your wife and you have to be by her side."

He looked at me with a shocked face and said "You are my wife too."

"But I'm not Camilla... She comes first."

"Goodnight Duke." I said as I walked out of the room.

I know it's not his fault and it's probably one of Camilla's tricks to reveal her pregnancy on the day I meet the Duke.

And I know the Duke is trying really hard but if all he can be is a puppet in her hand, he's not as useful as I thought.