Divorce Me, Duke! I'm In Love With Another!!

Berkshire, United Kingdom, the Year 1629.

The sun rose over the Stuarts' mansion. Its bright light gleamed over the damp dark stones that came together to create the walls of the mansion, warming the cold air and drying the dampness that the overnight rain had left behind.

The sleeping rose and hibiscus flowers that lorded over the exterior of the house opened up their petals in response to the call of the sun and their colors glistened in the sunlight. Beads of raindrops from the previous night's downpour rested heavily on the flower beds, adding to the sparkle, and making it seem like tiny diamonds on the flower. It was a sight to see.

The house bustled with activity as the workers rose with the sun, long before their owners even thought of getting out of bed, and began to go about their various chores; pruning, cleaning, feeding the horses, cleaning the carriage, washing the household clothes, and preparing to get breakfast ready.

Soon, the whole house was filled with the delicious aroma of baked bread, which served as a distraction to the workers as their stomachs grumbled in protest.

A short, slender servant girl with freckled cheeks walked into the bustling house from the servant quarters where she lived, throwing greetings to the busy workers she met along the way.

Her simple but faded ankle-length light blue gown was held with one hand to ease her walking, while the other hand carried a medium-sized basket that she supported with her waist.

Her short dark hair was tied into a low bun, accentuating the freckles that were scattered all over her chubby cheeks, but strands of the hair still flew out on the left and right side, showing how considerably short her hair was.

She stopped in front of a door on the second floor of the house and knocked a few times. When there was no response, she opened the door quietly.

"My lady?! Are you awake?" She called out as she stepped into the dark but warm room.

The heavy drapes that fell over the windows shielded the room from the beautiful light of day that the sun brought. The fireplace, which still had a few glowing embers from the previous night's burnt wood, was thus the only source of light in the room, but even then, it wasn't bright enough to even see one's feet.

The servant girl walked instinctively towards the window, which she could locate as a glimpse of daylight peeked from its corners. She dragged it to the left side forcefully and light flooded the room in full force, seeming similar to an inversion.

Someone groaned and muttered curses in response to the sudden intrusion of daylight, and the servant girl turned to see her mistress turning away from the source of light as she rolled on the four-post bed to have her back facing the window. She smiled.

"My lady, it's already morning," she said, walking to the large table in the far corner of the room and placing the basket she was still holding on it.

"My lady?" She called again as she turned to the sleeping lady.

"Go away!" The sleeping woman said as she waved her hands at the maid, causing her to giggle. The servant walked to her mistress' side and climbed onto the bed, shaking her gently.

"My lady, you have to wake up. There's so much to do today," she cajoled, but the lady didn't fall for it, nor did she open her sleepy eyes.

"Go away Eunice, my eyes are heavy," the lady groaned again.

"My lady, my lord is home. Don't you want to say hello to him this morning? What if he has an urgent meeting and you have to wait until dinner to see him again?" Eunice asked, resorting to the last trick up her sleeve, and it sure did work.

As if her ears perked up, Annabel's eyes flew open as she stared at Eunice, who smiled knowingly.

"Father is back?" She asked as she scrambled into a sitting position on the bed, her waist-length honey-brown bed hair spiraling down her shoulders until its tips lay lazily on the bed.

"When? When did he arrive? I waited for him for so long last night," Annabel said with a groan as she yawned tiredly.

"I know, my lady, he arrived at midnight, moments after you fell asleep. I wanted to wake you up but he said not to disturb your sleeping," Eunice explained as she got out of bed and walked behind the wooden screen that demarcated the fairly large room from the bathing area. "He even woke up early; he's in his study as we speak," Eunice spoke from behind the wooden screen.

"Really?" Annabel asked with a frown.

Did something happen since her father wasn't one to wake up very early and sit in his study? She wondered.

"My lady," Eunice called, poking her head out from behind the screen, a smile on her face. "Let me prepare your bathing water. That way, you'd be able to see my lord as soon as possible," she said.

"No. I have to see him now," the worried Annabel said as she got off her bed barefooted.

The baby pink nightgown she wore was made out of expensive silk, which traveled down to her ankle; its low neckline stopped just above the breast; its short puffy sleeves were designed with tiny white laces; her messy hair rested roughly on her waist, its dwelling place.

But my lady, you can't go out like this. What if he has a visitor?" Eunice asked, but not fast enough because Annabel was already out the door.

She ran her fingers through her hair, detangling it as she hurried down the wooden stairs. The smell of baked bread filled her nose and caused her to salivate and almost changed her route to that of the kitchen, but she resisted the temptation.

She took one last look at her gown as she smoothened and adjusted it with her hands to make sure it wasn't too rumpled from turning around in bed and that it wasn't showing off anything, just in case she met a visitor as Eunice had suggested, then she walked down the hallway that led to her father's study.

She was both excited and worried.

Excited to see her father, who had gone to London on business a fortnight ago, but also worried that he was acting a little bit different than he always did. By the way, there was something she was expecting him to bring along with him, something she had been expecting to see since he had left.

A letter

She stopped at the door and steadied her breathing. She knew her father would scold her for acting unladylike, but she couldn't wait. She placed her right hand on the doorknob and was about to knock when she heard an unfamiliar voice from within the study.

"Sir Thomas."

"Your highness! I wasn't expecting you this early," she could hear her father say in reply.

"Oh, he has a visitor?" Annabel sighed. "No wonder. I will just come back later," she murmured to herself sadly and was about to leave when she heard the unknown man speak again.

"I hear you have a daughter, and an unmarried one at that."

Annabel stopped in her tracks and pressed her ears against the dark wooden door to hear clearly.

"Yes, you heard correctly. Why?" "Sir Thomas asked.

"Sir Thomas, I expect to get married to your daughter in two weeks from now. What do you say? "The unknown voice asked.

"You want to get married to my daughter?" Sir Thomas asked solemnly while Annabel's heart sank, but she pushed the feeling away.

She trusted her father would say no to the suitor, whomever he was.

"Yes, apparently, I need a wife and you just happen to have a daughter. "What can I say?" The stranger said, and Sir Thomas laughed, but the stranger continued, "I want to marry her in two weeks."

"Calm down your highness, you're being too eager. I would still have to discuss this with my daughter." Annabel heard Sir Thomas' clear voice ring from behind the closed door and her heart sank. Certainly, it couldn't be her they were talking about.

Did Papa have another daughter she didn't know about?

"Is two weeks not enough to tell her and get prepared for the wedding? Sir Thomas, I am a very busy man. In case you have not noticed, I do not have the luxury of time to sit around and wait for a grand wedding to be set in place. "All I need is for the priest to pronounce us man and wife in the eye of God and the law," the stranger said again.

"Okay. Okay, I understand. Annabel will get married to you two weeks from now at St. Nicholas cathedral." Annabel heard her father say.

She turned around and fled.

It must be a dream. It certainly must be a dream. Certainly, her father wouldn't think of marrying her off to a stranger. No, he wouldn't, not when he knew, not when he knew where her heart lay, not when he knew who she was in love with. Annabel muttered to herself as she ran up the stairs back to her room.

The servants who walked past her gave her a confused look as they greeted her. She didn't hear a word of what they said. The faraway look on her face silenced them and prevented them from meddling.

She didn't even realize that she was crying already.

She walked to her room door and rested her head on it for a few seconds before placing her hand on the doorknob. As she was about to open it, the door swung open and Eunice, who was about to walk out of the room with a basket full of dirty clothes, was startled as her heart jumped to her throat. She realized who it was before she could scream in fear and her face twisted in confusion.

"My lady? Is there a problem? You're crying." Eunice asked as she placed her hand on her chest.

"Eunice," Annabel called pitifully as she walked past her into the room and headed for her bed, her voice barely a whisper.

She landed on the bed heavily, pushing her face into the newly laid bedspread. She wailed.

The confused Eunice, who still stood at the door, looked outside as if she was trying to see who or what was making her mistress cry.

It was odd. How could someone run out of this room happily a few minutes ago only to come back in tears? Did something happen to my lord? She wondered as fear also rose in her heart.

She gently shut the door, placed the basket on the floor, and walked back to Annabel.

"My lady, did something happen?"

Annabel didn't respond; she only continued to cry her heart out.

"My lady, if something happened you have to tell me. Remember what they say, a problem shared is... a problem solved?" Eunice struggled to remember the proverb that was frequently used by the learned, but even the proverb didn't earn her Annabel's attention.

"Did something happen to my lord? Does he have a terminal illness?" Eunice rambled on, "My God! Is he going to die?" Eunice asked as her eyes widened and fear rose in her heart.

She was so sure that whatever made her mistress cry had to be from Sir Thomas. After all, wasn't it Sir Thomas, her mistress, had gone to see this morning?

If Sir Thomas died while Annabel was still single, all the servants would most likely lose their jobs, unless, of course, Annabel could get married within a year, but even then, the number of workers would be reduced in number, as her husband would have workers of his own. Unless, of course, Annabel marries a man of the lower class.

"No, it's something worse than death!" Annabel retorted, drawing Eunice out of her train of thought.

Eunice looked at her mistress, whose eyes and cheeks were red and puffy while being peppered with streaks of tears here and there. She had been so lost in thoughts that she didn't even notice when Annabel sat up to face her.

"Worse than death?! What could be worse than death, my lady?" Eunice asked with fear; it was obvious without a doubt that something really bad had happened.

"Father is marrying me off!" Annabel declared, and tears spilled down her eyes like an unhindered drain, but Eunice didn't quite understand.

Isn't this what her mistress always wanted... to get married?

"Isn't this good news then, my lady? Sir Gerim has finally asked for your hand in marriage. You will be with the love of your life!" Eunice said with an awkward smile while Annabel looked at her. Her heart only clenched more when Eunice mentioned Sir Gerim.

"No! My father is marrying me off to a stranger!" Annabel shouted at her angrily.

"Ha!" Eunice gasped, "Certainly, my lord would never!"

"Yes, he would, and he has! I heard them myself! He's marrying me off to a brutish man who didn't even show him any respect when he asked for my hand. He just informed his father as if I was some commodity waiting to be sold!" Annabel ranted, tearfully shocking Eunice, who finally realized the full extent of the situation.

"Oh, my lady!" Eunice said as she went to sit beside Annabel on the bed, taking her hands into her own. The comfort Annabel received only made her eyes teary, so she continued to cry her eyes out.

A few minutes passed, and Annabel rested her head on Eunice's shoulders as she sobbed.

"What do we do now, my lady?" Eunice asked with uncertainty. Hearing this news, for some reason, made the future seem very bleak.

"I won't marry him. By God, I won't! I won't, even if I have to die!" Annabel shouted.

Eunice sighed in despair; she wasn't foolish. In fact, neither of them was. It was obvious that no matter how much Annabel wanted to refuse, the moment the wedding was agreed upon by Sir Thomas, she wouldn't have much of a say, especially if the suitor was a powerful person. Unless, of course...

Eunice's eyes brightened up and she turned to Annabel, who still had her head on her shoulder, "my lady! I have an idea!"

Annabel lifted her head swiftly and looked at Eunice with bright eyes. "You do?"

"Yes! How about we write a letter to Sir Gerim and tell him about the situation? I'm sure he would rush down from London and have the lord go back on his words. He is going to claim you as his future wife and his betrothed." Eunice explained with excitement as she held onto Annabel's two hands tightly.

Annabel smiled happily. She was very pleased with the idea.

She had met Gerim, a noble knight, at the New Year festival in London three years ago. They had both fallen in love at first sight. Shortly after, he received a promotion to become the king's personal guard, which was an honorable profession. He had promised that he would soon return to ask for her hand in marriage, and they had written letters to one another frequently over the years.

Eunice was right; if she sent him a letter, he would come running over; he wouldn't let any other man take his woman, right?

"Quick Eunice, go get me a quill and some paper! I am going to write a letter to Gerim, so that way he will hurry over and stop the wedding. We never know, he might even make the wedding ours!" Annabel sighed dreamily, her mood changing just like that.

Eunice nodded happily and rushed out of the room, mostly excited that she could be of help to her mistress.

She had met her mistress when she was eight years old. Her mistress and the lord had come to do business with her father when her poor family decided to sell off the little pig farm they owned.

When Annabel saw her, she took a liking to her and the lord had asked her poor parents to send her over to work as a servant in their home. Her poor parents were more than elated. Ever since then, she and Annabel had grown up together and Annabel had treated her more like a friend than like a servant. She too saw Annabel as her sister, just one from a different class.

Eunice soon returned with a small wooden tray containing an inkhorn, a quill, and some paper.

She found Annabel chewing her lower lip and pacing nervously around the room when she arrived. Smiling, she hurriedly placed the items on the writing table before excitedly rushing to her mistress's side.

"My lady, I brought back the items." She said with a grin, but Annabel only gave her a worried look.

"Eunice! I don't know, what do I do if he doesn't reply? Do I have to marry that brutish man? I can't, I certainly can't!" Annabel said, shaking her head as her eyes began to tear up again.

"Of course, he will, my lady, he certainly will reply!" Eunice reassured.

"Mama told me that men in love are more protective of their women; they wouldn't let any man covet them, not to talk of taking them away in marriage," Eunice explained, but Annabel wasn't convinced.

"You know how Gerim is, he hardly ever replies to my letters. All these years I have written over a dozen letters to him, but he only replied twice! What if he doesn't reply this time?" Annabel lamented.

"But whenever he replies, he tells you that he read the other letters and that he loves you. Look, even in the last letter, he said to wait patiently for him as he would certainly marry you. Did he not say that?" Eunice asked Annabel, who nodded.

"He did say that, but...."

"No buts, my lady, this is a very crucial moment. You can't afford to be negative. Come," Eunice led Annabel to the writing table, which was made of expensive dark mahogany wood, and pushed her to sit on the wainscot-armed chair.

When Annabel hesitated for a few seconds, Eunice quickly spread out the paper, opened the inkhorn, and gently placed the quill in it.

"My lady, you should have faith in Sir Gerim," Eunice said when she was done. "I believe he will show up."

Annabel glanced at her, then sighed and began to write the letter.

"Tell Sir Amos to hand this letter to Gerim himself and tell him it's urgent," Annabel said stiffly as she gave the already wrapped-up letter to Eunice, who nodded frantically as she took it.

"Also, send some servant upstairs to help me. I need to speak to the father myself and see if I can change his mind." Annabel said solemnly that she seemed to have become calmer since she heard the news that morning.

"My lady, not to worry, I will help you dress up before delivering the letter," Eunice said with enthusiastic eyes.

"No. I need that letter to arrive at Gerim's place as soon as possible. "Deliver it now, Eunice," Annabel said as she went to stand before the window beside her bed and stared out, staring at nothing in particular.

Eunice knew her mistress was in distress, so she didn't argue with her any further; "Yes, my lady, I will do just that." she said and immediately left the room.

A few minutes later, a few female servants walked into the room, smiling brightly as they carried large wooden buckets containing warm water.

"Good morning, my lady!" They chorused, but the usual smile they received from Annabel wasn't there. She only glanced at them, faking a smile before resuming her stare out the window.

The servants shared worried glances before they calmly went about filling the small bath behind the wooden screen with water.

"My lady, the bath water is ready." One of the three maids said courageously again as they looked at the unusually quiet Annabel, who stared out the window like a caged bed.

Annabel forced another smile and quietly followed them, letting them help her wash her hair while she bathed. When she was done, they chose a floral purple dress for her and helped her put it on, before helping her dry out and style her damp hair.

When they were done, Annabel muttered a "thank you" and walked out of the room steadily, heading for her father's study.

Just as she had predicted, the visitor was gone and her father was seated there alone, busily settling accounts.

"Papa," she called with more meekness than she had shown all her life.

Sir Thomas looked up from the pile of paperwork on his worn-out desk when he heard the small squeak-like voice. Realizing who it was, a beautiful smile blossomed on his face, one that eased Annabel's, troubled heart.

Certainly, she hadn't been abandoned by her father, she thought.

"My darling daughter!" Sir Thomas exclaimed, as he stood up and rounded the table, walking to his daughter with an open hand. He kissed her hair when he got to her, but she only stood there with her head bowed.

"Am I not your angel anymore, papa?" Annabel gently asked.

"Why would you say that? Of course, you are. Are you mad at Papa for traveling for so long? Papa would make it up to you..."

"No!" Annabel looked up at him as her heart clenched.

Why was her father feigning ignorance? Why was he acting as if he hadn't just made a decision that would change her life forever?

"What do you mean no? Oh, darling, I have never seen you this mad. Did you feel lonely staying here all by yourself?" Thomas asked as he began to lead her to the sofa in the small seating area he had created in the study.

This was a place he had created with his design to accept visitors and talk business. The women could do their talking in the living room; that was his way of thinking.

"Stop lying to me, papa. I heard everything." Annabel gently attacked again as she pulled her hands away from her father's.

Sir Thomas' brow furrowed in confusion at her actions and words. He narrowed his eyes, trying to understand what exactly she meant by 'everything'.

"What do you mean, my dear child?" He asked when he realized he didn't have a clue what she was talking about.

"You are sending me away! "You are marrying me off to a total stranger!" Annabel declared as the long-awaited tears spilled.

Sir Thomas sighed and smiled nervously as he went to sit on the sofa alone.

"Annabel, what did I tell you about eavesdropping on people's conversations? It's very unladylike. "If your fiancé had caught you, it would have been an embarrassing scene for you," Sir Thomas said, making light of the whole situation.

This was not how he wanted to break this news to her, but fate was a cruel thing.

"I won't marry him, papa. You can't force me to marry a man I don't love." Annabel argued.

"Oh! My little angel." Sir Thomas said as he walked to her and placed both hands on her shoulders, a pleasant smile on his face. "Not every lovely marriage starts with love. Many didn't even love their wives at first. Take, for example, your mother and I," Sir Thomas began, and his eyes became moist as he seemed to recall a memory.

"When I first met your mother, I thought she was annoying and unbearable. We couldn't even stand each other, but soon it blossomed into love. Look at me now. It's been twelve years since your mother passed away and there is still no room for another woman in my heart. That is what love is. Love blossoms, my dear child." Sir Thomas cajoled. Since his wife had died from the flu, he had raised his daughter himself.

Though the world may say he pampered her a bit too much for her good, what could he do? She was the spitting image of her mother, the love of his life.

"You and your mother's situation are different!" Annabel exploded, and Sir Thomas furrowed his brow.

"How is that? Our marriage was arranged just as yours is."

"Neither of you had someone you loved!" Annabel stated, and Sir Thomas' eyes darkened, but she continued anyway, "You didn't have anyone in your heart. "I have someone I love, papa," Annabel gave her best explanation.

"So, you want me to refuse the wedding because of a mere infatuation that you seem to have?" Sir Thomas asked, his face flushed with frustration.

"No papa, why do you act as if you do not know Sir Gerim? I am engaged to Sir Gerim, and you certainly cannot marry off a woman who is already betrothed to another." Annabel said impatiently, oblivious to her father's mood.

"And can you tell this father of yours when exactly you became engaged?" I do not remember sitting with this so-called Sir Gerim to discuss his intentions of marrying you, and I am not going to let you stupidly wait for a man who has no intentions of doing what is right by you!" He argued.

"It's not that he doesn't want to ask for my hand, he's just busy. It's not an easy task to be the king's personal guard, you know." Annabel tried to explain gently.

"And he's not the first to get that position either. Many men have sat in that position before him, and none of them took advantage of any young lady by delaying her in the prime of her life. They are all married and have families. Sir Thomas scolded, and Annabel bowed her head.

"How many years has it been, three years? You met this man at the time that you had just entered society, at the time when you should be attending social functions, mixing with your peers, and arousing the interest of worthy suitors, but you isolated yourself! You stayed cooped up in this house over a mad phenomenon called "loyalty" for this man. This man, who has done nothing but waste three years of your flower years, this man who doesn't even acknowledge or treat me, your father, as a man whose daughter he would be marrying!"

"He loves me, papa!" Annabel shouted.

"You know nothing about love! Do you not know how old you are this year? You are nineteen! Next year you would have passed your prime and won't be amongst the women suitors seek as a wife. You have already given your best years to that foolish and ignorant man who doesn't even act noble!"

"Please papa, it's not as if the person you are choosing for me treats me nobly. I heard everything, papa, all of your conversations, I heard him demand my hand as if I was some commodity waiting to be sold!" Annabel argued as she cried. In her tears, anger, and frustration, she didn't even realize she had started shouting back at her father.

"Duke Christopher Blakemore is a more honorable man than the brute you want to marry!" Sir Thomas roared in anger, and Annabel's eyes widened as she gasped.

Tears fell from her eyes.

Christopher Blakemore? The one who had asked for her hand was Christopher Blakemore. That was yet another reason she couldn't marry him. How can she marry Christopher Blakemore, of all men?

"Papa! How could you send your only child to a man like the Duke? You are aware of his reputation: he is a proud and selfish man who believes he is superior to everyone; no woman in Berkshire or London dares to approach him! He's harsh and cruel!" Annabel lamented as tears blurred her eyesight.

Now that she thought of it, her future had never seemed gloomier than it did now.

"Duke Christopher is a very honorable man, who understands what is called honor above all things. "He is hardworking, goal-oriented, and can provide for you and all your unborn children. He doesn't go about frolicking with all sorts of women, which means he would be very faithful to you in the future," Sir Thomas explained. He didn't know why his daughter, who had always been very reasonable, was acting unreasonably.

"You don't care about my happiness. You promised me, you promised mother that you would make me happy, remember?" Annabel said as she looked at her father's stubborn gaze.

She felt hopeless. She knew her fate was sealed and she would be amongst the thousand women in the kingdom who were in loveless marriages.

"I do care about your happiness more than you know. Everything I do is for your good. The wedding will be held in two weeks." Thomas solemnly declared.

Annabel broke into another fit of crying and ran out of the study.