The Duchess And The Paintings

Rebecca was folding some of Catherine's clothes and put them in the wardrobe. She closed the wardrobe and let out a sigh. She walked the bed and sat down. She was dressed to leave. She picked up her shoes and put it on. She did the same to the other. She stood on her feet and picked her handbag. She walked towards to the dressing table.

Rebecca kept her bag on the table and wore the gloves she had left there. She was putting on her hat-which had roses on it-when the door opened.

"Your grace!"

Zita had entered the room with Lady Catherine in her arms. She was crying. Rebecca turned round and looked at them.

"She wouldn't stop crying." Zita said as she walked towards her.

Rebecca collected her daughter and smiled at her.

"Sh! It's enough, Cathy." She said softly, gently swinging her in her arms.

"It seems like she is hungry." Zita suspected, giving her mother a hint.

"It hasn't been an hour since she ate." Rebecca said airily, trying to calm her daughter down.

"You've forgotten the Lady has an appetite." Zita said teasingly.

"Let's just hope you're right." Rebecca replied with a chuckle. She sat down on the bed and slowly undid the lacing of corset. It made it easy to pull out one of her breasts.

Catherine saw it and stopped crying. Rebecca positioned it for her and she began sucking. She placed her hand on the breast as she sucked the milk. Rebecca flashed a glance at Zita, who was wearing a smile.

"It seems you were right. The Lady does have an appetite." She replied jokingly.

"You know Zita, you'll definitely make a good governess for the Lady."

"Are you really that sure, Your grace? I don't have any knowledge of the role of a governess." Zita answered jovially, surprised at the position.

"Well, you know the Lady-."

The door opened and the Duke entered the room. Rebecca caught a glimpse of him and stopped. She looked away and had her eyes on her daughter. Zita turned to her side and saw him.

"I'll leave now, Your grace!" She said to the Duchess.

Rebecca replied in a nod. Zita curtsied in front of him and left the room. Williams glanced at the closed door. He had his eyes on his wife. He saw Catherine and stared her coldly. He let out a sigh and seethed.

"Where are you going to, all dressed?" He asked her firmly, keen to where she was going.

"I'm-I'm-." She stammered.

"Are you trying to run away from your husband?" He asked icily.

Rebecca looked at him. Her eyes met his and became nervous.

"No, I am not. The Lady and I are going to seeing my parents. I had thought we could stay with them for tea and return before dinner." She answered him.

"And who gave you permission to leave the house?" He shot back at her.

Rebecca swallowed hard and looked at Catherine, who was still sucking.

"I thought I could go and visit my parents and use the opportunity to introduce their granddaughter to them. It has been awhile seen I had seen them. I am certain my mother will be worried about me." She said feebly.

"How am I certain you wouldn't run away and leave me?" He asked her coolly.

Rebecca had no intention to leave him but didn't know how to prove it to him.

"Have Zita accompany you." He said plainly.

Rebecca raised her brow surprisingly and looked at him. She smiled faintly at him. Williams looked at Catherine, who was already asleep. She had let go of the breast.

"She is done." He said plainly, still looking at the sleeping child.

Rebecca looked at her daughter and saw that she was sleeping. She gently placed her on the bed. She put back her breast in her bra and adjusted the sleeve of her dress. She stood up. She had accidentally undone the lacing of her corset completely without knowing when she wanted to feed Catherine.

"Oh, no!" She mumbled, with her hands behind her.

Duke Williams heard her, even though she spoke softly. He observed the look she had and had a hunch something was wrong.

"Are you okay?" He asked, being a little curious.

Rebecca replied in a nod. Williams saw that her hands were behind her and furrowed his brow. He walked towards her and stood behind her. He saw that the lacing was loosed.

"Let go of the lacing." He said firmly.

"I can't." She replied timidly. She felt comfortable with the Duke being close to her.

"Just let go of it." He repeated,

"Are you shy of dressing in front of me?"

Rebecca didn't reply and stayed mute. Duke Williams let out a sigh and pulled out her hands.

"Hold still." He muttered.

Rebecca turned her head round and watched him. He was putting the lacing and gently tied it into a knot at the end of the corset. He was gently and didn't make it too tight.

"There. That wasn't difficult, was it?" He said airily.

"Th-thank you!" She replied.

Williams hummed and stood there. He had his eyes on his wife. He raised his hand, eager to touch her but refrained from doing so. Rebecca had turned round faced him. He pretended to have an itch and scratched his head awkwardly. She picked up Catherine and did her best not to wake her.

"I'll go and tell Zita to get dressed." She said plainly, with her eyes on her daughter.

Williams saw the smile she had worn and stared her. He was stunned by her beauty, like he always had. Rebecca flashed a glance at him and walked to the door. She opened it and quietly closed it behind her. He stood there and snapped out the thought as soon as she had left.

"Control yourself, Williams!" He gabbled.

Williams walked towards the door and opened it. He left the room. He climbed down the stairs and saw his wife seated on a chair. She was waiting for Zita to finish.

"Your grace,"

Rebecca caught a glimpse of him at the stairs and looked at the direction she had her name. Zita was dressed and ready to join her.

"I am ready." She said openly, with a warm smile.

Rebecca reciprocated in a nod. She stood up from the chair and did her best not to wake Catherine as she switched position. Zita walked towards the door and held it open for Rebecca. Rebecca walked out through the open the door and Zita closed it behind them.

Williams got to the landing with the eyes still at the door. Thomas had entered the house through the back door and glanced at his master. He furrowed his brow, confused why the Duke was looking at the door.

"Your grace?"

Williams heard him and turned to his side. He had a straight face.

"You've been staring at the door for awhile. Do you want me to get something for you?" Thomas asked him.

Duke Williams shook his head.

"The Duchess just left." He said plainly and had his eyes at the door again.

Thomas hummed and nodded. He too, had his eyes at the door.

"I've always wonder why you often painted a particular portrait. Clearly, you have at least seven portrait of her in your room. Then I noticed a resemblance between the Duchess and the woman in the paintings. They are almost identical." Thomas said openly.

Williams was surprised and looked at Thomas coldly.

"How did you find out about the paintings in my room? My room is strictly off-limits." He asked him sternly.

Thomas swallowed nervously when he was caught and scratched his head awkwardly.

"Um, did I mention the paintings in your room? I meant-." Thomas said cowardly.

Williams walked towards him and roughly held him by his shirt.

"If you tell her about the paintings, I wouldn't think twice to demote you and have you work in the stable. You'll annoy me less from there. Understood?" He threatened him, in a firm voice.

Thomas quickly nodded and hoped he wouldn't get beaten for opening his big mouth. Williams saw the fear in his eyes and let go of him. He left the living room.

Thomas heaved a sigh of relief and had his eyes at the direction his master had taken.

"If he isn't obsessed with Her grace, why then marry her and have her portraits in his room? And why shouldn't she know?" He pondered in his thoughts.

"One thing is certain, I've to keep my lips sealed to avoid spending the weekend in the dungeon."