Chapter 28 Long awaited day

Leaving the gossiping girls, Hazel walked to their quarters and stepped in her room so that she could store her bag. On her way back to the kitchen, she came across Mr Cooper and she stopped moving, wondering if he was going to scold her.

He stood up and said," Ms Winston, his grace has ordered me to grant you the day for yourself. You can take a day off." Surprised, she asked," Really?" "Yes. You can live the day as you wish," he informed before adding," Excuse me."

She remained standing there as she wondered how she was going to spend the day.

Remembering that she had sewing to do, she decided to go back to her room since the Duke's birthday was coming in a week's time.

When she reached, the first thing she did was to grab a pen and paper before writing to Lucas to let him know that she was alright.

After, she stored it below her blanket and she got her bag then poured everything on the floor. Getting all the other tools she needed, she went to lock her door before sitting down on the floor so that she could concentrated on the sewing.

At around afternoon when the Duke was spending time in his study as always, there was a knock on the door before it opened and he raised his eyes to meet the couple that had just come in.

"I couldn't believe the news when you told me," said the man who had come to inspect his arm. "I know. We knew that they were going to strike but not as soon as yesterday," he replied.

"How are you feeling Raven? I got so worried when Audrey told me," spoke the woman who had gotten a seat for herself. "It wasn't that severe. I think that their intention was not to kill me else the arrow would have been poisoned," informed Raven.

"I thought the same too," Audrey who was the Viscount at the same time agreed, as he took a seat next to his wife.

"I'm glad you're doing fine. I was so worried on who was going to become my son's godfather," spoke Audrey's wife, whose name was Alvara.

At the mention of their first unborn baby, Audrey's hand went to massage his wife's belly lovingly where it was still flat as they had just discovered about the pregnancy.

"I don't know why you refer to it as a boy. I think it's a girl," he spoke. "I am the one carrying him. It's obviously a boy," she retorted. "And I am the one who knows what I did. It's a girl," he retorted back.

Raven cleared his throat and then said," Can you please take this lovers' quarrel behind these walls?" "How jealous," scoffed Alvara before adding," I wish you get a good woman and experience what being in love feels like." He rolled his eyes at the words and said," I think I will pass." "Your birthday is coming soon and who knows, you might get your own Cinderella," she spoke and stood up then added," I will step outside for some fresh air. Being confined in one place for long makes me dizzy and nauseous." "Be careful," Audrey stated looking at her. "So that I don't trip, I know" she completed and left the room so that the two men could have a conversation to themselves.

As days passed, Hazel continued with the sewing and the piece progressed with every single day. She would sleep late at night and sometimes she would wake up early to add to it. She had not gotten another opportunity to interact with the Duke and only saw him from a distance. She thought that there was no need for him to host a party when he had not yet fully recovered but she knew that that's how rich people behaved.

The Duke's birthday was coming in only three days and the grand main hall was getting cleaned as it is where the party was going to be held.

Finally, it was the long awaited day, the Duke's birthday. All the servants had woken up earlier than usual in preparation for the big day.

"Take these things to the main hall," the butler instructed Hazel as he handed them to her in a bag and she carried it, which seemed to be heavy.

Reaching the Hall, she couldn't help but gape at the decorations. The room was covered in white as golden chandeliers filled it.

Decorative candles had been hung around the walls giving the hall a golden glow. It looked like heaven. After delivering the package, she walked back to the kitchen where they had a lot of food to cook for the guests who were coming for the party.

Somewhere, she prayed not to come across Rufus Hamilton because she didn't want to see him ever again. She wondered how the Duke was doing because she hadn't seen him in the last three days. Reaching the kitchen, she found the girls anticipating about the day.

"I always love it when the Atticus Manor hosts parties. I get the chance to see rich and handsome men," spoke Emily. "That is only what people like us can do. Watching them from a distance," commented Charlotte. "Must you say that?" asked Rosalie who wasn't pleased with the remark. "It is the absolute truth," she said and added," You should stop daydreaming about men you will never get." "That's called jealousy," replied Emily who walked outside. "I will go and take a look at the decorations," replied Rosalie who left the spot too.

When it clocked noon, Hazel rushed back to her room and made final touches on the present. She trimmed the ends with scissors and after, placed it in a paper bag.

By the time she had left the front of the Manor, a few guests had started to arrive and she wondered if more had come by now.

When she got done, she walked back to the kitchen and she found the butler already talking to the other three maids.

"I will need two of you to come and serve the guests in the main hall as the other ones are not enough," he said. "I will come," offered Rosalie immediately. "Me too," said Emily.

"Alright then. You will have to change into cleaner clothes before joining the guests in the hall. I will be waiting to see you," he informed before leaving. Hazel had no interest in joining because she didn't want to encounter Rufus Hamilton or the princess Eleanor.