21
Camilla White
W eird . I’ve checked the entire house, and no one is around.
It’s Sunday. It means it’s a reduced staff day in itself, but I was far from expecting an empty manor. What’s going on?
Without the hustle of other employees cleaning, rearranging, and whatnot, the manor’s environment completely changes. The dark wood of the floor, combined with the coffered wall of the hall and timber staircase, alongside the baroque paintings, brings such a dark vibe to it. And the fact that the windows haven’t even been opened yet only adds to it.
Like a haunted house.
If I hadn’t lived here my whole life, I’d be slightly spooked.
“What is happening?” I mutter to myself as I walk to the front hall and open a couple of windows.
There’s only one person who’d know.
With the division looking slightly brighter, I decide to meet the man who is most likely responsible for the lack of staff working today.
My brain is overwhelmed with questions as I climb the stairs, wondering why the hell no one is here today. As soon as the double doors show up before my eyes, I knock on them.
We’re back to square one, giving in to pleasure and lust and ignoring the uncertainty of our futures. And yes, futures because those will most certainly not be shared. I am not sure which course the duke will take, but whichever it is, there’s only one result for me.
To be left behind, hurt and heartbroken. Like a wounded kitten licking their wounds in self-commiseration.
The door opens before me, scaring me. With a startled jump back, I lose balance and feel the weight of my body flying backwards. My arms flail around in a helpless attempt to find something I can grab and hold on to. Fortunately, I do.
My hands find Vincent’s strong, muscular biceps and hold on for dear life. Automatically, his arms wrap around me, keeping my body flush with his and avoiding a fall.
“You need to stop throwing yourself to the floor every time you set your eyes on me.” Vincent’s smirk is audible in the husky tone of his voice.
His brown eyes are slightly crinkled at the corners due to the small smile. Like this, flirty and not affected by his bad temper, he looks almost…gentle.
And so charming.
My cheeks burn, and I evade his gaze, suddenly embarrassed. I squirm in his hold, trying to free myself, but to no avail. Instead, Vincent tightens his hold and lowers his face, tapping my nose with his.
“Good morning,” he whispers, his minty breath filling my nostrils.
My skin breaks out in goosebumps, especially when he moves, grazing his nose down my cheek towards my neck. Then, his velvety lips press against the skin of my shoulder—a light peck .
I tense before frantically looking around us, still in the middle of the hall.
“Someone could catch us,” I stutter out a whisper, panicked.
“There’s no one besides you and me in this manor today. Apart from my most trusted head of security and a few of his men.”
Oh, that explains why the place seems so empty. It explains the lack of noise or rustling around to complete tasks.
“Why isn’t anyone in?”
“It’s Sunday,” he answers like it’s an obvious answer. When I tilt my head in question, he continues, “I sent everyone to their families to have some rest. I won’t throw a tantrum if the manor collects dust for a day, and I certainly won’t die of hunger if I don’t have a royal menu concocted especially for me. I can cook for myself for a day.”
I knew Vincent was a considerate man. But even so, men like him often get trapped in the comfort of their lifestyle, losing track of the rest of the world, not remembering that for some to be able to maintain these luxuries, others are giving up a lot.
For so many of these people working here, the extra days and hours are crucial for their stability.
“That’s nice,” I admit with a soft smile. Finally, I’m able to free myself from his hold. “Will you want me to take over for the day?”
“God, no!” His horrified face confuses me. “It’s a day off for everyone. You and me included.”
My stomach flips, but in a bad way. A little dismay comes over me because a day off with no one around means I will be alone, even if just for a day. At least, I have Primrose now.
Could we spend the day together?
A little bit of hope sparks in my chest.
“I already have something planned.”
Oh. Of course .
Why would I even think he’d consider me to spend their day off with? Stupid girl.
“I’ll be out of your hair,” I inform him. “I just got curious as to why no one was around.”
With a slight bow, I twist my body in preparation to leave him. Of course, he has commitments. He’s a duke.
Before I can even take a step in the opposite direction, his hand grabs my elbow and asks, “Where are you going?”
“I, uhm...” I stutter, confused.
It’s not like I have something to do if we’re not supposed to work today. Since the duke’s aunt got sick, I have distanced myself from most of my old college friends due to the amount of care she needed at the time—all but one.
Sadly, I am too shy to reach out, but maybe I should.
“Well,” I start, trying to find a reasonable explanation. “Since we’re not supposed to work today, I thought about picking Primrose up for a bigger walk around the property.”
I am so lame.
“Great idea! How about you prepare a picnic basket to go? I’ll join you downstairs in ten minutes.”
“Wha—” But before I can ask what he meant, he goes back inside his office and closes the door in my face.
What on earth...
Without another option, I go back to the ground floor and do what has been asked of me. Prepare food for a picnic.
I am almost finished filling the basket by the time the duke arrives in the kitchen. Not knowing what his preferences are regarding the food, I take the liberty of choosing what I like. He hasn’t had a problem with that before, so…
Fresh fruit like grapes and apples, a few smoked salami, and three cheese options accompanied by a couple of different bread types and some foie gras.
I hate foie gras, but it’s one of the noblest and most expensive products in gastronomy. Better? Only caviar.
But I certainly won’t bring caviar to a picnic.
It also has some scones, some biscuits and jams. Last but not least, I grab two glass bottles to fill them with water and freshly pressed orange juice.
“Is that a picnic or a banquet?” Vincent’s voice catches my and Primrose’s attention.
With a loud bark, she rushes to him and plasters herself on the floor with her belly up, begging for him to pet her.
Primrose has been learning to follow me and stand by my side all the time whenever I can bring her around. But she’s still a puppy and a needy one. She’s bound to look for all the attention she can get.
“It’s a picnic fit for a king,” I answer.
Or a future one, probably.
As Vincent finally lets Primrose go, he turns to me with a smirk. It almost makes my legs falter. Almost.
“Ready?”
“What for, Your Grace? I still don’t know what this is all about.”
“Little Milla, we have the entire property to ourselves today, and I’ll be damned if I don’t get to enjoy this carefree day with you.”
His eyes twinkle with some hidden emotion that I can’t quite place, and honestly, the way his words just hit me—and my heart—is too overwhelming.
The words are clear.
Lust. Casual. Simple. No future.
But the actions… Oh, the fucking actions. They tell all the possible opposite things. They ooze foreign emotions and hidden affections. They promise the impossible.
And it makes the selfish part of me come out. The part that is eager to take all that he’s willing to give, eager to say yes and jump into his arms, hoping for the romantic sunset and happily ever after,
In a different world, perhaps.
“But...”
“Would you stop being so uptight for just one day?” he complains while grabbing the basket and swinging one arm around my shoulders. “I know all about the schisms that put whole worlds between us and all the different responsibilities we mustn’t forget. We’ll go back to normal tomorrow, but today…I just want to enjoy you.”
Vincent takes the lead, walking ahead, and I follow closely behind. Primrose is a chaotic mess, either following us around the estate or setting off to bark at some random animal.
“I rarely come to this side of the property,” I admit, looking around the tall trees.
“Well, it’s the best one.”
I nod in agreement. The duke is right. It’s beautiful here.
We’re at the furthest northeast part of the property. Where no other traces of vineyards or stables are visible. The only thing present in this part is nature.
The vibrant green cypresses and pine trees mix with the orange and red of the deciduous trees, mostly maple tree varieties. These cover the land to our left while we stand in a small grass-covered clearing.
In front of us, a couple of ducks are roaming around in the huge lake. Its deep blue hues contrast with the trees’ green. It makes the day brighter by reflecting the sunlight's rare appearance.
Peaceful .
It’s what the rustling of the trees and the light—barely-there—sounds of the water convey. This serenity is only broken by our conversation and Primrose’s runs and light barks.
“It’s stunning,” I mutter.
Not even a beat after, a low “very much so” is muttered, bringing my attention back to him. Instead of looking around us, just as I’d been doing, his dark eyes are focused on me, and the possibility that he meant me instead of the landscape forces a blush out.
A small upward curve tugs at the edges of his lips when his hand caresses my cheeks. Right where they’re burning.
I bet I'm as red as a cherry right now.
As always, his gaze is intense, and because it makes me feel so vulnerable, I choose to look around once again.
“This still belongs to the property, but since it doesn’t need much maintenance, it’s empty more often than not, and I thought it’d be nice to enjoy it before the rainy season starts.”
“It should already have started,” I comment.
It’s nearing November, and even though it’s not hot anymore, it seems like the real cold and rain are late this time around.
“That’s why we should enjoy it while we can.”
With that, the duke takes the blanket that was tucked underneath my arm and spreads it in front of us. The moment he sits down on it, Primrose lunges in his direction, once again desperate for attention.
He chuckles at her neediness and gets comfortable before bringing her to his lap. My heart swells at the sight of him holding Primrose with one arm while opening the basket.
“Are you going to sit down and keep me company or stay there looking like a statue?”
He’s so nonchalant about my hesitancy as if it is a normal thing. I know I am mostly uncomfortable about doing something wrong or angering him. No matter how much I like him, he’s still my boss. I can never be one hundred percent comfortable.
But he’s always so relaxed around me, and wants me to be relaxed too…
Did he get rid of everyone today to be able to have moments like this? For me?
He wouldn’t. Right?
We’re just...casual. There is only one word for this: mess .