Chapter 19 - The Duke Is Here

After a long struggle with Odette, Eloise escaped the room with just her brows and lips painted. The rest of the white powder was not included in her look.

"Miss.... please wear some powder, it will make you look pretty," Odette held out the powder box with a cute pout.

"No means no, I am not wearing that powder," Eloise glared at the offending box. 'Because I am not sure what that thing contains. Maybe lead, who knows,' the place she transmitted to looks like ancient Victorian era. That's when that white powder face was very famous. The queen of England made a trend herself.

"say Odette, do we have a queen?"

The maid glanced at her through the reflection in the vanity. "Yes, we do miss; we have a queen and a king,"

"We have a king?" Eloise glanced back in shock. 'Wait queen Victoria was married as well. But what happened to her husband? God, my memory of history is becoming hazy,' she narrowed her eyes.

The maid suddenly git close and shushed her. "Miss! if someone heard you speaking like that, you would be punished." After a second, she moved back and laced the powder box on the table. "yes we do have a king miss, but he is terminally ill."

"Oh, I see," Eloise sat back. 'I guess I spoke out of turn.' Her unintended words could have been interrupted as 'is he still alive' no wonder the maid panicked.

Calming herself, she stood up and glanced out the window. The sky had already darkened. "Is my mother ready?"

"Wait, miss let me check," Odette ran out and came as fast as wind. "Miss, madam is ready. All we have to do is wait for Mister Fred to come pick you up,"

"hmmm," Eloise tiredly sat down. Her eyes started closing on its own. "Can I sleep in the mean time?"

"You might spoil your hair style miss," the maid said softly. "But I can get you a small pillow. You lean on it,"

Eloise sat in the parlour room waiting for mister Fred. In the mean time she leaned her head against the pillow and closed her eyes.

Madam Ayles walked out of her room, adjusting the hem of her skirt. "Odette is Eloise ready?" she saw her daughter peacefully sleeping on the couch. Her head was leaning sideways in a bad angle. "Oh, she slept," she softly adjusted the hair flying in front of her face. "My darling must have been so tired,"

Odette nodded. "Miss has been patiently letting us dress her and style her." she praised her with a wide smirk.

"But why is her makeup so.... so lacking," madam Ayles pinched her daughter's pink cheeks softly.

"Miss preferred to keep it modest," the maid whispered.

And so, the two stood in front of her admiring her beauty.

Right then there was a slight knock on the door.

"Odette, it must be Mister Fred, go invite him in, I will get Eloise ready," madam Ayles sat down gingerly next to her. "Darling Eloise, wake up dear,"

Eloise opened her red eyes and glanced at her blankly.

"Mister Fred is here to pick you up," she excitedly whispered.

Eloise closed her eyes. "oh,"

"Eloise dear, don't be lazy. Get up. Mister Fred must be waiting for you,"

Eloise faced other way and continued on sleeping, "let him wait then,"

"Eloise!! Get up this instance I demand you to," madam Ayles shouted next to her ear.

"Mommy let me sleep at least a little. I was scrubbed, dressed, and even squeezed. Please let me sleep a little," she hugged her mother's waist tightly.

Madam Ayles's heart relented a little. She hugged her daughter tenderly. "My baby, you have grown up now yet you act like a two-year-old, always sticking to Me." she leaned down and kissed her forehead. "In just a few years you will be married off and become a woman of someone else's family.... I don't think I can bear to watch you leave,"

Eloise opened her eyes and glanced up at her mother. "Don't worry mommy I will stay with you forever. Besides, who would want to marry me?"

Madam Ayles slightly patted her head. "Don't talk like that; my darling Eloise is so pretty any man would be happy to have you. Get up now," she patted her butt.

Eloise sat p reluctantly and yawned. "Next time, let's not go to any social events like this. Getting ready is such a bother," she swiftly walked out the door with her mother in hand.

Mister Fred stood there in the main room with a huge bouquet in hand. He glanced back and his mouth went wide as soon as his eyes met hers. "Miss Eloise, you look... stunning. I just can't take my eyes off of you," he held out the flowers.

"You jest sire," Eloise confidently walked over to him and took the flowers from him. "Where did you get flowers?" the flowers were bright purple with small spiky petals. It was soft to touch and did not have any distinctive smell.

"There is a small merchant who is transporting few of his speciality flowers. I got hold of a few of them. These are Gomphrena globosa, there are called the endless flowers in the locality they are found," Fred picked out one of the flowers and inserted it into her well groomed hair. "I think it suits you very well,"

Eloise's lips slightly twitched, 'you think I have a spiky personality huh, never mind. These are pretty so I will excuse you,' she handed the bouquet to Odette, who was smirking like a fool. 'This girl, her imagination runs wilder than a horse.' Shaking her head, she took his outstretched hand.

The party or what they call ball was at the third floor of the ship. Mister Fred happily escorted them to the door. He was being a complete gentleman, opening doors for them and such.

Madam Ayles was really impressed by him.

Even Eloise was slightly impressed.

Opening the door to the ballroom, he held out his hand, "miss, shall we,"

"Gladly," Eloise gently placed her hand on his.

As they walked in, many women and men dressed in flashy clothes bowed to them.

Eloise slightly frowned and glanced up at him, 'isn't he just a doctor, why are they treating him so high?'

He chuckled and whispered, "Because my father is a very high Nobel. Even thought I want to keep a low profile it's not at all possible,"

Her eyes went slightly wide. 'How did he know what I was thinking? Is he psychic?'

Fred saw her wide-eyed look and smirked. "Miss Eloise, I am in no way a magician."

"But how can you guess my thoughts?"

"Well, it's clearly written on your face,"

"Really? I didn't know that," Eloise patted her cheeks slightly. In her previous life she was known as the ice queen, the crazy manic and the devil, but no one had ever said that she was an expressive person. 'Maybe this body might be different?'

Fred greeted some of his guest along with her. As a kind host, he was always smiling and kind to everyone. Some even threw shade at him for being a lowly doctor, but he smiled it all off.

After the pair of guests left, Eloise slightly tugged his shirt, "you should teach me your social skills,"

Fred's eyebrows twitched, "I will gladly assist, if..... if you agree to donate your blood miss. Last time it was a missed opportunity. I was thankful for your insight regarding hygiene, but I am anxious to research your blood,"

"Is that why you invited me here?"

"Yes, partially. I was hoping that you would feel grateful and give me some of your blood," he smiled so innocently.

Elise smirked as well. "Grateful doesn't cover the feeling I feel right now. You would not guess how many hours I was tortured,"

His head snapped down, "tortured?"

"Yes, bathed, scrubbed, combed, slightly burned, squeaked into this dress and finally I was starved," she said with a straight look. "I have yet to eat my breakfast thanks to your invitation,"

He was slightly shocked by her admission. "T—there is a wide spread of dished to your right. Please don't let me hold you back,"

"Trust me, you are not the one holding me back," Eloise glanced back to her left, to her mother who was smiling and waving at her to continue. "I believe you gave my mother false hopes and now I am being the victim of this,"

The young man clearly did not understand her intentions at all. But he noticed her looking to the left. "Oh..... So your mother forced you here,"

"Forced is a strong word, I was coaxed,"

Fred chuckled, but a small commotion near the door got his interest. "I thought he was not coming," he mumbled.

"Who?" Eloise glanced that way.

"Duke Raymond, my one and only friend," Fred happily said to her.

Eloise on the other hand was shell-shocked. The guy she cussed as a bastard, as a bat shit idiot..... is an actual DUKE!!!!!