It's finally tomorrow, I can feel my anxiety building up. Please let tomorrow be a success, I walked down the hallway and I hear the maids whispering before looking at me with guilty eyes.
"Hannah" she turned around and the maid she was talking to bows and basically runs away.
"Your grace, i was just on my way to see you. Your things have been moved into his grace's room, if you need anything else we can also move them for you." She walked beside me.
"Thank you.... but before that, what's going on? Why is everyone whispering " she opened the room door for me closing it softly.
"I'm not sure how true it is....but..... some maids said his grace was seen in town together with miss ivy." I tried to control my face, as it would be unbecoming of a duchess to get jealous over a rumor.
"Is that all? They are being so dramatic, thank you for letting me know. You can leave first I'll let you know if I need anything else" I tried my best to wear my brightest smile as she exited the room.
I was suddenly left alone and I couldn't stop imagining. He spent 8 years next to her even after what she did, what if he loves her? He may be lenient to me as a duchess but..... but.... I don't want to think of this.... I shouldn't have asked..... I should have stayed clueless....
I thought he would bring it up once but, he hasnt said a word about it. Even when i asked him about his day at dinner he talked about everything but never touched on it.
He was helping me towel my hair dry but all I could imagine was him doing this for ivy, I knew he didn't love me, yet i foolishly let my feelings for him deepen. I feel so foolish getting jealous but..... I'm so scared of facing the truth.
"Clarisa?" He touched my shoulder gently as we lay in bed. I've been so lost in thought all day that I can barely remember how we got here.
"Are you okay dear? I called out to you but you just stared at me blankly. Should I get the physician?" He touched my face gently as he stared at me, how could I be having doubts about this loving man.
"I'm fine my love, what did you say?"
"Prince callus sent a letter asking for entrance into the duchy. I wanted to get your opinion before making a decision" he was stroking my hair as his other hand stroked my back.
"What does he want? I have no business with him so you can decline his request if you want to"
"I heard you were in love with him....."
"Huhhhhhh!!!! Who is spreading such nonsense about me" i sprang up surprising him. Ahem... Maybe i overreacted, I settled back in, but he suddenly burst out laughing.
"I feel so stupid my dear" he kissed my cheek.
"When I received his letter i thought he had finally realized how amazing you were and was coming to steal you back because you loved him so much, i felt so anxious all day. I'm glad I decided to ask you about it" he placed his forehead on mine as he breathe a sigh of relief.
"What about you? I heard you met up with ivy today, did you miss her so much?" My voice was shaking as i feared for his repsonse. He lifted my head so my eyes could meet his.
"I didn't want to meet her, she walked up to me during my inspection in town, i wanted wo walk away from her but it wouldn'tlook good if the duke ignore one of his people. She wanted to enter the castle to meet with mother but I asked her to follow the proper procedure, that was all. She isn't anything special and I have never and will never miss her" he kept kissing my face and neck making me lose my senses. I was glad she meant nothing to him but I was too distracted by his lips to even feel any jealousy, it almost made me feel stupid for questioning his loyalty.
"You are the only one that is special clarisa, now and in the past. You are the only one I have ever wanted to be with" he kissed my lips, pulls away and pulls me in for a hug.
"If I'm so special, why are you stopping there? You could do more you know..... I don't mind." I hid my face in his chest embarrassed that I just said that. I must be crazy.... but...but....I enjoyed last night and this morning so much. I thought he did too so why is he suddenly holding back.
"I want more, I want nothing than to take you all night.....But I know how hard you worked for tomorrow to be perfect, so I can wait one day before I exhaust you while you scream my name. So go to sleep now, I'll make sure you feel extra special tomorrow" I blushed as he pats me on the back, he wants to make me feel extra special.
It's finally the day theo's parents get back to the duchy and although everyone says they are the nicest people, I can't help but worry.
"My dear, you look beautiful" Theo walked into the room and the maids giggled out.
"Thank you my love, i'm so nervous meeting your parents." He linked our fingers kissing my hand.
"Trust me dear, they will love you."
Knock knock.
"Your grace, his lordship and her ladyship just arrived, their carriage just passed the gate of the estate." Stevens calm voice did nothing to settle my nerves.
"Come my dear" I took a deep breath before holding his arm.
Everyone was stationed outside, all the knights, maids, ministers and even the gardener. I thought my welcome was grand with all the maids but this is impressive.
The carriage pulled to a stop and I could feel my heart beat louder with every second that passed, Theo squeezed my hand gently and my nerves settled a little.
Wow.... i knew theo got his looks from his parents but they are absolutely stunning, lady isabella had long shining silver hair like theo, beautiful brown eyes and lord Oliver although his hair was black his eyes shone just like theo's. It made my heart race again seeing just how elegant they both looked even when dressed in regular clothes.
"Welcome back father,mother" she walked to him and enveloped him in a hug.
"You look happier, i knew getting married was exactly what you needed"
"Greetings your grace, i am clarisa....." she laughed elegantly
"Oh my dear, no need to be so formal, I'm your mother in-law, please call me Isabella" she hugged me, I have been hugged before but it felt different. It was warm and she smelled really good, was this what it felt like to hug a mother? It feels so good.
"Honey, you will scare her" i felt a hand pull her away into a hug.
"Hello dear, we are glad to have you as a part of the family. I'm your father in-law so just call me Oliver " he smiled just the same way theo does. He looks older but he must have turned lots of heads when he was younger.
"Thank you lord Oliver, I'm sorry I couldn't introduce myself properly"
"Oh nonsense dear, we are family so forget about being proper, let's pick things up inside. Come now" he extends his arm to escort me, i turn to theo and he smiles urging me to hold him.
"Thank you lord Oliver " i grabbed on to him.
"When you get more comfortable with us, I hope you can drop the lord and lady, and just call us by our names. Or you can call us mother and father"
"Mother that's too much pressure"
"Oh hush theo, if only you were half as cute as your wife I'd be happy to hear you call me mother" she grabbed his face pulled it closer and just tossed him aside.
"I'd be happy to call you lady Isabella, if that's what you want mother" his tone was almost mocking. I can't believe he is this casual with his parents.
"Hohoo.... you've gotten more cheeky since i last saw you, it seems you have a death wish son." She pinched his cheeks hard as they walked hand in hand.
I stared at them long, and it would be a lie if I said I wasn't envious of their relationship. Growing up a small part of me always wanted a relationship like this. Even when I was giving clark a hard time, I always wanted to get closer to him but I was too scared of his cold icy eyes to give him a chance. I should send him a letter tomorrow, watching them like this is making me suddenly miss him and Arabella.
"Clarisa" lord Oliver squeezes my hand.
"Pay no heed to them, they have always been like that. Sometimes they act more like siblings than mother and son"
"I'm a little envious, I never had a close relationship with my parents so seeing them so close makes me happy and sad. I'm sorry I'm saying all this.... it's unbecoming of me...." he smiled softly, shaking his head.
"You are entitled to your feelings dear, I always wanted a daughter so I hope you will not be too overwhelmed when I treat you like mine, and whenever you get comfortable enough please treat me like a mother" she had come to my side squeezing my hand.
"Thank you my lady." Now i understand why theo is so comfortable being affectionate, he grew up with such loving and amazing parents, it almost makes the dumonts as parents a joke.
The banquet begun at 5pm, 6 hours after their arrival and the whole castle was bustling with music and fun. Staring at my self in the mirror and even I couldn't deny i was beautiful. I wonder if my birth mother looked like me, she must have been popular so why did she decide to go for a married man? How i wish she was still alive, I had so many questions for her, after smacking her for being a fool.
"You look wonderful your grace, I'm glad we left your hair down and decorated it." Well I think putting my hair up would be a problem with the amount of red marks on the back of my neck.
"Thats right Sarah, it looks like snow flakes sparkling under the sunlight" Hannah and Sarah high five each other, proud of their final work. The look they went for was perfect for me and the green dress was the cherry ontop. I finished it all with a blue diamond necklace the same color as theo's eyes.
"I'm sure his grace will be speechless once he takes a look at you"
"Hohohoho that would be fun to see" had i not known better i would have thought these two have been friends for years now. They were always in sync for their naughty ways.
"Are you ready my dear" theo walked in and we locked eyes, he scanned me from head to toe but said nothing.
"How do I look my love?" I walked closer to him but he flinched back slightly.
"Dont say something cheesy like you were so shocked you were speechless, I would cringe so bad" he walked to me in a daze caressing my cheeks.
".... you look stunning... I forgot how to breathe.... huh..... I can't take my eyes of you.... do I need to blink.....I want to engrave your beauty in my head....." I could barely hear him from the giggling in the room, it was so embarrassing. How can he say such things without missing a beat?
"Thank you, you look extremely handsome my love" he really did, I rarely see him in official attire but his green official robe that was a match to my gown was amazing and he had his hair in a pony tail tied with a green scarves that reminded me of my eyes, I want to get lost staring at him. Although I prefer him without clothes..... what am I thinking. I turned away from him embarrassed.
"Clarisa, you look beautiful. I knew it your beauty is wasted on my stupid son" Isabella and Oliver had walked into the room.
"Thank you lady Isabella, you look extremely beautiful too" she had her hair well made, with a beautiful blue body hug gown. Lord Oliver had his short black hair slicked back and he had on a white shirt and navy blue pants to match with lady Isabella. They were dressed simply but they looked amazing, it almost made it unfair how they could look so damn fine together.
"Isabella is right dear, you look beautiful. Would it be okay if I escorted you to the banquet hall?" In noble society it's always best for the father to escort his daughter to her debut, count dumont didn't escort me to mine so I had to go with Clark. I can't believe how easily they both accepted me, I heard lady Isabella was the one who sent the marriage proposal so definitely they heard about me in the capital yet they still treat me so kindly. Theo was smiling as he and lady Isabella continued to bicker.
"It would be my honor father in-law" he smiled as Isabella grinned. There is no point holding back, if they want to love me, I should let them. It feels nice to be with loving parents.