Chapter four

Chapter four

People chatted and glasses clinked, typical English style. Philip watched the people downstairs and held his hand out for Elizabeth. She looked at him, in a dark blue velvet suit embroidered with gold patterns, just before she placed her hand in his, "You look splendid."

He smiled slightly and stared at her, "You're perfect."

With one last breath, they both descended the spiral staircase, all eyes turning to them.

All the chatter and clinking of glasses stopped just as a footman announced the procession of the Duke and his betrothed.

The couple faced the people, the male with a slight bow and the lady with a curtsy.

What excited everybody most was the youth of the two. Fresh and beautiful. The smiles on their faces confirmed their approval already.

Moments later, a slow dance began. With Elizabeth in his arms, Philip still had his thoughts straying, looking around for the Scottish damsel, although he did not know what to expect.

***

A foot stepped through the double doors, with silver slippers around fair skin. Then the other followed. Her black dress sparkled like stars, hovering above her ankles. Her hair had been brought over her shoulders to her front in thick, red curls, a matching color on her lips.

She had identical gems on her silver jewelry, as green as her eyes. Spinning her fan open, shoulders up, face high, she walked with all pride she could master.

More or less, everybody stared, exactly what she wanted.

Monica sighted the Duke dancing with his fiancee and huffed, turning away to meet his friends instead. A glass of wine in her hand, she stood in their midst, "My Lords," she curtsied slightly, ignoring the surprised looks on their faces, "the Duke has made a right choice, aren't I correct?"

Jason eyed her ruefully, "And you are?"

She ignored the cruelty hidden in the question and answered anyway, "Oh. I am new here you see. Straight from Scotland. I was really in need of some company."

Earl gave his usually warm smile, "Would you like to dance?"

Monica grinned in surprise and curtsied again, "It will be an honor."

Giving Jason a game smile, she pushed her glass into his hand and stepped away with Earl immediately.

Jason however, blinked at her guts, "Does she know who I am?!"

The older Prince made a small laugh, "I doubt."

Earl placed a hand in hers, the other around her waist and hers on his shoulder. They danced quietly until the Marquess said, "And yes. For your question, I do not think they look good together."

Monica blinked in astonishment. Before now, she never saw someone who shared this view with her, "But why not?"

"They are not a match," Earl stared at them, "my friend wants a free spirited woman, bold and daring."

"I see,"she nodded, her mouth in a parabola.

Part of the dance required the couples to switch partners. Monica here was yearning for the moment to come. And when it did, she aimed at the Duke.

Immediately he let Elizabeth go to for another man, she let Earl go, swirling to Philip and clutching him tight like he was some price to be won. Which of course he was.

Philip looked down at his new partner, just to find himself staring with his mouth open. Her green eyes were more than just green. They were like grass, reminding him of everything he once did on the fields before he became Duke. Her red hair, he swore, was not from Earth. Generally, she reminded him of his one-time freedom.

Monica just stared back, lost in the eye contact without even knowing where to start from to describe him, "Your Grace..." she ran out of words. He was a real price, and somehow greed engulfed her. She could not believe it.

When Elizabeth's turn returned to dance with Philip, Monica reluctantly let him go. And the Duke just watched her leave while he swirled side to side with his betrothed.

"Your Grace," Elizabeth whispered, bringing Philip's eyes from the door Monica had gone through, "Is anything the matter?"

He shook his head and let her go, "I will be back."

He strode quickly to where his friends drank and chatted, "Who saw her?!"

That was a weak description but they sure did know who he was talking about. Earl laughed at him, "Yes I know. She is charming, isn't she?"

"And daring," Jason added while rolling his eyes.

Philip opened his mouth to mention a million things she reminded him of when a group of maidens approached him, with bodies eager to dance.

"Pick me first your Grace," one cried.

"No me!" Said another.

Philip sighed in frustration, leading them to the dance hall, taking one after the other, his eyes still at the door Monica went through.

Who was she?

The night was going to be long and demanding for him. Turning to a pile of gifts and letters stacked, he remembered the so-called Scottish damsel. What if she showed up and dropped another letter. Suddenly he became eager to leave the hall. But with the maidens he had to satisfy swarming all over him, it was going to be difficult.

***

"Did she show up," asked Earl.

The Duke frowned at his friend a bit before he replied, "No. I doubt she'd ever."

"Maybe she did," Peter declared, "but we don't know what she looks like, do we."

Philip rubbed his brows, looking left and right at his office, "I'm expecting something though. Letter, gift, both." He shrugged.

A knock startled him, "Your Grace."

The Duke stared at the door, "Who's there?"

The knocker declared, "It is I. Tiffany."

Philip's eyes glittered as he turned to his friends, "What if it's a letter?"

He gave the permission to come in, going back to his usual nonchalant pose while the man walked through the door.

Tiffany bowed to the males and raised a small case up, "A gift came for you Your Grace. And a small note."

Philip almost did a dance, "Very well. Leave it there."

He watched the butler close the door, a wry look on his face, waiting eagerly. Immediately Tiffany left, he rushed to the case and snatched it in desperation.

First of all, he read it to himself

YOU LOOKED SPLENDID TONIGHT I RAN OUT OF WORDS BEFORE YOU. TAKE THIS SMALL GIFT FROM ME. AND THANK YOU FOR THE DANCE.

YOUR ONE AND ONLY,

SCOTTISH DAMSEL.

He looked up. The dance? Throwing the letter to Earl, he frowned, "She said I danced with her," he looked at her gift, "But I danced with a good number of maidens today."

Earl laughed hard, finding everything a bit amusing, "A woman is playing the great Duke of Anfield. See what she's done to you."

"What's in the case," Jason inquired.

Philip yanked it open, "I wonder as..." He stopped talking when he saw what was inside. A deep frown replaced the confused look, "Okay who is this woman?"

Peter took the case from him, pulling out the gold chain that lay inside, "Is this not..."

"Yes it's my father's necklace," Philip confirmed rather bitterly.

Raymond rubbed his fingers together and stated, "I like her."

Jason, the proudest being to walk the Earth, stalked to Philip's side and tapped his shoulder, "You see women like this. I've come across all of them. And all they want is fame. Ignore her, you are a Duke."

"I am a Duke," he repeated after him, nodding and staring into nothing.

***

A thief stealing with the intention of getting caught was something never heard of. However, Monica was going to try it out. She pushed the door open, walking through quietly into the store. She tried to be a little sneaky, but just a little. After a while of shoving things off the shelves, she realized the owner of the store was not still aware she was in there. But he had to be.

Purposely, she bumped into a shelf of food, giving it a loud crash, "My mistake." She smiled and joked.

Packing some food into her pocket just to add to the drama, she heard a man barking from behind her, "You again! You are going nowhere this time."

Monica faked fear, although she gave no effort to escape. The man was with other men, who were also with other men. Heavens!

The man kept on barking, "Grab her! We are taking her to the Duke! This has gone too far."

Monica hid her excitement as a man held her hands to her back. Normally, she knew she was more than able to take all the men down and escape. But this time, she was going to see the Duke, Philip Forland. She grinned, that type of grin you had on when everything worked out just as planned.