Chapter 60 - The trend setter

Eloise sneezed awake. 'What is that smell….' Her sleep-filled eyes looked around and came face to face with a huge bouquet of sunflowers. 'What the fuck?!'

She pushed it away from her face and sat up.

"Oh miss, did you wake up so soon? Look at his, the duke has sent this over. Its sunflowers. I have no inkling of a clue how he even got some onboard our ship. They look so gorgeous." She gently held the vase carefully in her hold.

Eloise just peered at the bouquet with a small smile.

"Where shall I leave them, miss? The parlor. The other men who call on you might be scared off by it. Hehe… no we should keep it in your room. It's a private gesture of love after all." Odette placed it by the window sill.

Eloise blankly gazed up at the flowers.

"I've prepared the bath for you, miss. After taking a bath you can go ahead and spend some time with your duke, sorry the highness duke." Odette giggled. "Oh, I'm so excited to dress you up. We got a few new dresses from the seamstress. Do you know miss the lady takes at least a few days to make them but since she knew she was making clothes for the future duchess she did them in a day!" she pulled out a few clothes from the trunk and showed it off to her. "Do you like them?"

"They look agreeable." Eloise looked at the shiny glistening silk in front of her with a small frown. "We don't have much finances to spend on silk Odette did you talk to mum about this."

"oh, these silks were gifted by your highness. He specifically had us keep it a secret from you. He is such a romantic, isn't he?" the young maid squealed and placed the dress carefully by the foot of the bed. "We got a few new soaps from your callers. We can use some of them. How about rose oil fragrance? I think it fits the theme ~" she ran out before Eloise can reject that idea.

Signing Eloise walked up to the window and gazed at the bunch of flowers.

Her idle day had changed in a day. It was all due to duke Raymond.

The duke had been weirdly affectionate since the day forth. She knew it was just a publicity stent but still she couldn't hold but be swayed by the small gestures.

Se tenderly touched the petals and plucked one floret off his stalk. 'don't vie for things that is not yours Eloise. Never do that.'

Her eyes fell on the silk on the bed. These were just compensation for her to play the part of the fake duchess.

Somehow her heart felt a small pang of pain.

'Ah stop it! I can't overthink this.' she picked up the silk dress. The soft fiber slipped in her fingertips. 'it's getting cold... I can't wear these anyways…'

Soon Odette came to her after drawing her bath.

Eloise was scrubbed clean for an hour or so.

She had gotten used to this by this point but the only thing she hated. Corsets... Odette was so adamant that she had to wear one.

"You never forced me to wear one before! I can wear these stays!"

Stays were the softer and less restricting version of corsets. It kind of serves its purpose as a bra.

"You have to wear it miss. You can't just go out without a corset., now that many misses and mams have their eyes set on you, you must be perfect. You can't let their tongues wag," Odette held up the corset. "You have to do this."

Eloise frowned even more. "I regret agreeing to this marriage."

"Look at the bright side, miss. The duke loves you very much and he also promised our madam that he would allow you to hold your own finances. You can do 'business' if you wanted to. no man has ever given a woman so much freedom before. Many women are going to envy you."

Eloise rolled her eyes. Raymond is giving her freedom because he was in a special position. He does not have time to spend with her, rather he would be spending all his attention on his lover. It was a win-win for both of them.

There was no love between them.

Just trust.

that was enough for her.

Odette did her hair up with much difficulty. It was that same elegant bun with a few curls on the edge. It did not look good with her short hair but Odette refused to give up on it.

Eloise peered at her reflection. The hairstyle just made her look unkempt. She hated it.

"I don't like it.'

"But this is the trendy hairdo! You have to live up to other expectations miss." She patted her shoulders.

Eloise dully gazed up at her. "Still don't like it."

"Then you must bore through it. we, women, have to learn to adjust in our life. otherwise, it would be hard for us to find happiness."

"Is that so?" Eloise blankly peered at her own reflection. 'This saying never went old. even in the 21st century we women are told that…'

"Odette is she ready~" madame Ayles called out to them in a cheery tone.

"Yes madam, she is ready," Odette happily stood her up. "Miss, smile. Don't look so glum."

Eloise put up a fake smiled and walked out.

Raymond sat on the parlor with a teacup and a few biscuits in hand. as soon as his eyes fell on her, he placed the tasty treats on the table and walked up to her. "Miss Eloise… you look stunning today." He held out his hand to her.

Instinctively, she took it. his cold palm enveloped her small palm completely. 'he... he has big hands...'

"Shall we go out for a walk?"

"Oh yes." Anywhere was better than staying in that room. Her mother and Odette will drive her crazy if she stayed here any longer.

"Wait you can't go out like this. I have something for you." Raymond took out a huge box that was on the sofa. He opened it and inside was a white fur coat.

He draped it on her shoulders delicately and tied the ribbon. "it looks lovely on you, Eloise."

Eloise peered into his eyes dazedly. She did not know why but this man's gestures really captured her heart. 'This gay man really has the talent to steal young ladies' hearts. Tsk, no wonder young ladies and mamas were running after him. he looks cold but he is so soft-hearted and kind inside.'

She gently touched the soft fur with a smile. "you're so thoughtful, mister Raymond."

"You can call me ray as you did before," he said in a husky whisper.

Eloise gazed up at his smoldering eyes. "Ray."

"Shall we go for a walk?"

"y-yes."

He led her to the same shady path. But this time it was crowded with a lot of men and women talking 'casual' walks around.

Eloise tightly griped mister Raymond's hand. "Why don't we take another route? I can already sense a few mamas waiting to mock me,"

Raymond frowned slightly. Did anyone mock you, Eloise? You have to tell me if they do. I will take care of it."

"No, they didn't but I bet they will after they see my hairdo." She touched her wispy curl.

"It looks lovely on you."'

Eloise glared up at him "don't lie to me. It looks like a chicken nest."

Raymond chuckled softly. "Now that you mention it, it does resemble a bird's nest…. But a cute bird's nest."

"It's a bird's nest, regardless of the way you put it." She rolled her eyes.

"Why don't you let your hair down then?" Raymond gently touched the top of her head. Her soft hair caressed his fingertip. "If you feel comfortable that is."

"won't people make fun of me for not following the trends?"

Raymond raised a brow. "Eloise, you are being courted by a duke. You have the creative liberties to do whatever you want and the world would follow along. So, if you want to let your hair free. Do it."

Eloise tightly gripped her hand. "Are you joking right now?"

'Will he really give me so much power? Is it okay to use that power as I wish to?' she doubtfully gazed at him.

"I do not jest when it comes to you I am very serious." He said kissing the back of her hand. "Let loose your hair for me, Eloise."

"o-okay…" her shaky fingers undid the bobby pins in her hair and soon her slightly curly silver hair cascaded down her back.

A few tendrils of hair fell on her face tickling her cheeks.

Raymond's eyes widened ever so slightly and then the man smiled so... beautifully. "Eloise… you are a stunning beauty," he whispered tucking the strand of her hair behind her ears. "let's go, shall we."

"Yes…" Eloise gazed around a bit. ladies and gentlemen were looking at them in shock.

A few of the ladies talked to themselves hiding their faces with fans.

The very next day, loose hair became a trend.