Chapter 27 Take care

The maid bowed her head respectively and she stepped forward before removing the dish covers and she tasted each of the food. Afterwards, she asked if that was all and he permitted her to leave.

Hazel felt her mouth watering at the sight of the vegetable rice and roasted fish. Apart from the aroma of the food being nice, she was feeling so hungry and she couldn't remember the last time she ate. "You can start eating without me," informed the Duke and she nodded her head before her eyes fell on him. It was then she realized that he only had a towel around his waist and she decided to keep her eyes on the food.

She started to eat her food and later, the Duke came to join her after changing into clothes. They ate in silence where she completed hers first and she felt her stomach so full.

The Duke ate a little and she wondered if it was because he was in pain.

After they had cleared the plates, it dawned on her that there was one bed in the room and it made her wonder how they were going to sleep.

Looking at his arm, Hazel noticed the stains of blood that had marked his cloth.

"Is it still hurting so much your grace?" she asked. "It is now better. I will be alright," he replied as he got up and walked to the bed.

Hazel too stood up and walked to the fireplace then added more logs of wood into it, and it started burning brightly. When she stood up, she noticed that he had already entered the bed and she stood in the room, not knowing what to do.

"Get in," she heard him tell her. "Huh?" she thought she misheard. "Get in," he repeated and she swallowed before walking slowly to enter the bed.

She had never shared a room with a man, much less a bed and this time, it wasn't just any man but the Duke.

Getting in the bed slowly, she slept in a way that her back faced him and she was glad that the bed was big enough. When she settled in and her nervousness dissipated, she recalled the events of the day. It started as a normal day and it turned bad in the afternoon then worse in the evening. She remembered how and where they left the coachman and she wondered if his body had been already found. He might have a wife and children waiting for him to show up home, she thought.

When morning arrived, Hazel woke up by herself where the gentle rays of sunlight passed through the cracks of the curtain. She sat upright on the bed and she heard water running in the bathroom. She didn't know when she fell asleep yesterday night. It might be because she had been exhausted due to the events of the day. She suddenly felt guilty and embarrassed at the same time because she had to be up before her master and to add to that, he was the wounded one.

Hearing footsteps behind her, she turned to see the Duke who had just emerged from the shower, fully dressed. "Good morning your grace," she greeted as she stood up.

"Good morning," he replied folding his shirt. "How is your wound?" "I will get better. You should prepare so that we leave," he informed and she nodded before getting in the bathroom.

She came out wearing her dress and although it wasn't completely dry, she could go with it. By the time she came, breakfast had been already delivered.

Descending the stairs, they stood in front of the counter and the man who had introduced as Clifford said," Are you already leaving your grace?" "Yes," he replied. "Are you feeling any better?" he asked again. "Yes thank you. You will send someone to the Atticus Manor to collect the payment," he informed. "Alright your grace. Do you want me to get you a carriage to take you?" he asked.

"No thank you. We shall cater for ourselves from here. Have a nice day," he said and walked away then Hazel followed after him.

Not long after they had stood besides the road, they caught sight of a carriage coming and the Duke gestured for it to stop which it did. "Where should I drop you?" asked the coachman. "I am Duke Raven Atticus. I need you to take me to the Atticus Manor," he said. "At your service, your grace," he said and he got in then Hazel followed.

As the carriage rode off, Hazel looked at the trees and she remembered how they had passed through the forest yesterday evening. It was one hell of experience she would never wish to go through again.

The drive took almost one and a half hours until they reached the Atticus Manor.

When they hopped off, Raven ordered the butler to take care of the coachman's bill. Looking at Hazel, he said," I hope you won't say what happened to anyone as it might disrupt the investigation process."

She nodded her head and said," I won't mention it to anyone your grace." "Alright. You can go," he said and she nodded before turning to leave. Before she could get any further, she turned to him and said," Please take care of your wound, your grace." He nodded and she walked away to go do her work.

As she passed by the kitchen, Rosalie caught sight of her and she said," Charlotte! Come and see who we have here!" Hazel had to stop and talk to them.

When Charlotte came, she had the same surprised expression on her face. "Hazel where were you?! You made me wait for you for almost the whole day." "I'm so sorry I made you wait. It wasn't my intention," she replied. "Tell us then. Where did you sleep?" asked Rosalie.

"At a friend's house," she blurted out.

Rosalie gasped and then said," We totally understand. But hey, who would have thought that the innocent looking Hazel would be like that."

"It is not what you think," she said.

"It is totally okay we won't judge you. But next time, you should inform us beforehand so that we don't waste our time waiting for you," added Rosalie.