Sad Duchess

Williams was outside the house, and stood in front of the bullseye. The sun had set and the night was slowly falling. Stars appeared in the sky one after the other and twinkled as they did.

The Duke took out an arrow from the quiver and positioned it on the bow. He drew the nook on the string, moved the fetching on the grip and aimed for the bullseye. He shot the arrow and it landed on the black ring. He shook his head, disappointed that he didn't reach his aim-yellow ring.

Thomas, who had been with him, observed his gestures. He knew that his master was a good archer and never missed his target. But that evening, he wasn't playing as he normally did.

"Your grace," He called him.

Williams turned his side and flashed a glance at him. He diverted his eyes to the bullseye and shot the arrow he was holding. It landed on the white ring.

"I've observing your aim and I've to admit, you've been losing. Neither of the arrows you have shot has landed on either the red or yellow ring.

"Are you all right?" Thomas said openly.

"How can I be when my wife hasn't returned home?" Williams replied coldly. He took another arrow and shot it. It landed on the black ring again.

"Her Grace will surely return home. She probably lost track of time. You know when you're having a good time with family, time doesn't matter." Thomas said.

"It's not safe for her and her daughter." Williams said flatly.

"Do be in high spirits, Your Grace. She will return safe and sound." Thomas encouraged him.

Williams hummed and continued with what he was doing. He took out his last arrow and was about to shoot it when a maid ran towards them.

"Your grace!" She said and curtsied.

"What is it?" Williams asked plainly, slowly pulling the fetching. He didn't make eye contact.

"The Duchess has returned." She announced.

Williams heard her and instantly let go of the arrow. He shot it and it landed on the yellow ring. Thomas' jaw dropped when he saw that his master had made a perfect shot.

"It was about time."

"Keep this for me." Williams said as he removed the quiver. He kept it on the grass and hurried inside.

Thomas looked at him as he went inside and looked at the bullseye. The maid returned with her master.

"What kind of spell does Her grace have on my master?" He thought, dumbfounded by the perfect shot.

Williams entered the house and arrived at the living room. He saw Zita, who was trying to calm Catherine down and surveyed the room. There was no sight of the Duchess. Catherine's cries made him to look at Zita.

"Your grace!" She said nervously and curtsied.

"What kept you this long? You were supposed to be back before dinner." He queried.

Williams looked at Catherine again and had his brow furrowed.

"Where is her mother?" He asked frigidly.

"Your grace, she is-." She answered nervously.

"She is what?" He followed up, looking at her sternly.

Zita delayed her response and tried to stop Catherine from crying. She flashed a glance at her master and looked away.

"The Duchess is upset and has locked herself in her room." She replied timidly.

"Upset?" He said in disbelief,

"By whom?"

"I have no idea, Your grace. She left her parents' house in a hurry. When she returned, she was sad and her eyes were sore. It was obvious that Her grace had been crying." She explained.

"Did she say why she was upset?" He asked plainly.

Zita shook her head.

"She wouldn't talk to anyone. The last person she had talked to was Miss Crystal before she left. I've tried to talk to her but she won't listen. She doesn't even want to hold her daughter nor feed her. The Lady has been yearning for her mother's attention all afternoon." She added.

Williams had his eyes on the child. Catherine's face was slightly red because of the crying. It was evident that she had been crying for a long time. He heaved.

"Follow me." He said plainly.

Zita replied in a nod. Williams led the way to the staircase while Zita followed. They climbed up the stairs and arrived at Rebecca's door.

"Rebecca!" He called her as he knocked on the door. He turned the handle and realized it was locked from inside.

"Rebecca, open the door!"

The Duke stood there and got no response. Zita looked at him, then the door. She saw he pissed off by her behaviour.

"I think we should let her be for now." She suggested feebly.

"If she decides to be angry at the world, she should at least take care of that child of hers. Aren't you tired of her crying or does it soothe you?" He asked her ironically.

Zita held her tongue and decided not to intervene any further.

"Rebecca!"

Williams knocked on the door, applying more force than he did initially. He saw that nothing was happening and exhaled angrily. He turned to his side and looked at the child.

Even at his resentment towards Catherine, he looked at her with pity. He walked towards Zita.

"Hand over the child!"

"Your grace?" She replied doubtfully.

"Hand her over!" He repeated annoyingly.

Zita obliged and gave her to him. Williams held her and walked to the door. He glanced at the crying child and gently kept her on the floor, very close to the door.

"Your-?" She said, confused on what was going on.

"If she wishes to ignore her responsibilities as her mother, she might as well enjoy the cry of her daughter." He said bluntly, with his eyes on Catherine.

"But she-."

"She isn't your responsibility, Zita. If Rebecca loves her daughter so much, she shouldn't be cruel to punish her for her anger. If she doesn't attend to her before midnight, then I'll be force to take her daughter to an orphanage." He threatened,

"At least there, she will well taken care of and would no longer disturb me with her cries."

Duke Williams turned to his side and saw the surprised look Zita wore at his announcement.

"Don't even try to help her out." He added icily.

Zita hung her head and replied in a nod. She glanced at the Catherine pitifully and climbed down the stairs.

<

>

The royal family were at the dining table, having their dinner. The King sat down at the middle of the table with the Queen at the right and the Princess, at the left. Fiona didn't make eye contact with the Queen, who obviously sat opposite her.

Violet found the atmosphere at the table too quiet and not lively. She quietly dropped her cutlery on the table and cleared her throat to get the other's attention.

"Your Majesty," She said calmly, being jovial,

"I was thinking; since the Princess is back, maybe we could do something fun together. I have no idea what fun activities we could do."

Fiona loudly kept her cutlery on her plate and picked up the cup beside her. She drank the wine it while sneering at the Queen. She kept the cup.

"I'm not a child who would be excited to spend a day with you. I have other things to do and your idea sounds stupid. You can always find someone else to participate in your lousy preparation." She said coolly, unbothered about the Queen's feelings.

Violet heaved sadly and had a wry smile on her face.

"You're right. It is a stupid suggestion." She said ruefully, looking at her plate.

"I'm glad you understood." She replied flatly, continuing with her food.

George turned to his side and saw the sad look on his wife's face. He cleaned his mouth with a serviette.

"Her suggestion wasn't stupid. If you weren't interested, could've declined politely." He retorted, referring to his sister.

"What's wrong with my initial approach?" Fiona asked curtly. She glanced at the Queen and her brother.

"If she couldn't handle the rejection, she should have said so."

George was pissed off by her remark and glared at his sister.

"Fi-."

Violet held his hand. He turned to his side and looked at her. She shook her head, inwardly pleading for that he spares her. George heaved and continued his meal.

The table returned to its former arrangement-eating in silence. A guard walked towards them.

"Your Majesty." He said respectfully and bowed,

"A letter has arrived for the Princess."

"For me?" Fiona asked excitedly. The guard replied in a nod. She took the letter from him and tore the envelope open. She took out the letter and read it.

George looked at his sister keenly and noticed the smile she had worn as she read the letter.

"You may leave." Fiona said happily, dismissing the guard.

The guard bowed and returned to where he had come from.

"I have to go and pack my bags." She blurted out.

"Where are you going?" He asked curiously.

"I'll be going to stay with my beloved at his house. This might be the best way to convince him that I should be the right choice for him and not that disgusting woman he has for a wife." She revealed.

"Didn't I tell you to forget about him and move on with your life? That man is clearly not the right choice for you. All that he is and has was because of your influence. He is just a simple commoner whose lucky star arrived in royal clothing." He replied sarcastically.

"That's my choice. I can be with whomever I please. My beloved is far better than this woman seated right here. Unless you love being childless, I'll encourage to hold her tight and spare those men out there the chance of being forever distressed." She answered curtly, sneering at the couple.

"Fiona!" He snapped and slapped his hand on the desk.

Fiona looked at him, a little startled by his gestures and stood up from the chair. She left the table.

"Come back here, Fiona!" He commanded but the Princess turned a deaf ear.

Violet saw the tension between the siblings and tried to calm her husband down.

"Your Majesty, please don't let your sister's attitude ruin your mood. She clearly in love and has no knowledge of your intentions for her. Maybe if we try to talk to her when she is calmer, she might understand." She said coaxingly.

George looked her with his brow furrowed. Her words only stirred up his anger even more. He didn't hesitate and left her alone at the table.

<

>

Rebecca lay in her bed and sniffed. She had stopped crying and was thinking about what George had said to her. Each sentence made her to turn to the sides of the bed until she gave up.

Rebecca slowly sat up and glanced at the door. She could still her daughter crying. She wanted to ignore her but then remembered her husband's threat.

"... If Rebecca loves her daughter so much, she shouldn't be cruel to punish her for her anger. If she doesn't attend to her before midnight, then I'll be force to take her daughter to an orphanage."

Rebecca quickly stood on her feet and hurried to the door. She opened it and saw  Catherine. Her eyes became teary as she looked at her. She bent down and picked her up.

"I'm sorry, Cathy. I shouldn't have left you." She apologized to her. She hushed and swung her gently in her arms. She wiped the tears off her daughter's face.

Catherine's cries slowly stopped and she looked at her mother.

"You must be hungry." She said, knowing fully well she was. She carried her inside and closed the door.

Williams had opened his door and watched Catherine. He stayed hidden when she saw Rebecca. He saw the wry smile she had worn when she carried her daughter. He was displeased with her sadness and became eager to know what had caused it.