by Ella Edon
Esther inclined her head slightly. "Goodnight."
She was halfway down the carriage when he gripped her forearm lightly and whispered. "I'll think about what you've said about Alex. And there's no need to be sorry," he assured her with a smile.
She didn't return it.
"If you don't smile, I'm afraid you're not going anywhere, My Lady. I'll keep you captive."
Esther let out a small laugh at his words and he let go of her. Stefan winked at her just before she turned and headed towards the front door of her home. Watching her walk down, with her cheeks flushed, it made him chuckle. It made him happy. He wanted to sit there all night, simply watching her. Because not only did he see her beauty from the outside, he saw that within, she was just as beautiful. He was lucky that, even for a few weeks, he had her by his side.
When the door to her home opened, her mother stood there with the butler. He watched the exchange for a few minutes, not quite understanding. But as Esther walked in, he saw her mother glance at his carriage with slightly creased brows as though perplexed.
Chapter Fifteen
A knock on Esther’s door made her stir only a bit. She raised the duvet higher so that it covered her chest, and snuggled herself back to sleep. The knock came again, more intense this time. She sighed. She was so exhausted, and she didn't have anything planned for the day. Why then would she be bothered? She pushed the duvet down a bit and sat up.
"Come in."
The entrance door of her bedchamber creaked lightly. Marlene poked her head inside and upon seeing that she was awake, smiled at her before stepping in. "My Lady."
"Marlene."
Marlene smiled. She raised a letter in her hand and nodded at Esther. "My Lady, this was delivered to you late last night by courier. You had retired to your bedchamber, so I didn't want to bother you."
Esther creased her brows. She beckoned for Marlene to hand over the letter to her. Marlene did as ask. Esther opened it and stared into it. Written a rough cursive style, she was asked to be ready to attend to guests who were coming over for tea. She knew who had written it even before she saw the signature at the end. It was from Anne. Both she and Katherine were coming over. She folded the letter just as it was and bit her lips. For days she had avoided them. She had been successful at it, but it seemed that they were not having it. She had thrown a flimsy excuse for missing their tea dates and lying about more work at the orphanage.
Now they were coming to her by force.
Esther threw her duvet to the side and sat up. It was high time she spoke to them and got it over with. She stepped into her slippers at the end of the bed and stood up fully. Marlene rushed to her side and draped a robe over her. Esther thanked Marlene with a smile.
"Prepare a bath for me, will you?"
"Aye, My Lady."
. While Marlene busied herself, preparing the bath, Esther stared at the letter one more time, and her heartbeat increased.
* * *
"Well it is a good thing that they are coming over, don't you think?" Her mother grinned.
Esther shrugged. She wasn't quite sure it was good. They didn't like the Duke and had warned her to be wary of him, and the next moment, she was accepting his proposal and announcing that he was courting her.
"I'm not quite sure, Mother." She placed the small cups on the round table and stared at it.
By her side, Lady Kendal sat on one of the white chairs set around the table. Her hands were on her thighs, resting on the skirts of her gown, simply watching her. Esther went on. "But having them over would be nice. I haven’t seen them for quite some time."
"I agree, dear."
Esther adjusted the bow on her gown and sat in front of Lady Kendal. The doors to the house were suddenly pushed open, its noise attracting her. Esther turned, craning her neck. Behind her, advancing towards her and engaged in a discussion, were her very best friends. Katherine shook her head obstinately and whispered. Anne seemed to be calming her down as she touched her shoulders lightly. Esther saw Katherine nod before they both turned, their focus on where they were heading.
She stood up to welcome them. Anne had on a cream-colored gown in contrast to Katherine's dark purple gown.
Anne rushed to give her a hug and kiss both her cheeks, while Katherine smiled at her and went on to curtsy to Lady Kendal.
Lady Kendal got to her feet immediately. "I'll leave you ladies, so that you may talk freely."
After her mother had left the room, Anne spoke up immediately. "Oh, Esther, we've missed you."
"And I, you." Esther took a seat. "Pardon my absence. I've been quite busy with a few things. The orphanage for one."
"I understand." Anne smiled.
Esther proceeded to pour tea into three teacups.
Katherine had been silent all the while, and Esther didn't want things to get awkward.
"How is Lord Richmond?"
"He's well. He will be going to Scotland in three days on an assignment."
"I see. And your brother?"
"Victor is well." Anne giggled then. "Katherine and Victor are to be wed soon. He proposed."
Esther's eyes widened, she placed her teacup on the table and gripped Katherine's hands. "Oh, my friend. I am so happy for you! And why have I not been informed of this?"
"Perhaps because you've ignored every invitation sent to you and spent all your days with that Duke. The one whom we warned you against and whom you immediately decided to let court you. You promised to stay away from him, and the next moment, he's courting you? It shows that our words are of no value whatsoever to you. You have been sneaking with him behind our backs and made an outrageous choice!"
After Katherine's outburst, the atmosphere changed. The tension that had been in the air since their arrival had now bloomed. Esther's hand was midair as Katherine's had been withdrawn from hers during her outburst.
Anne winced as she watched Katherine and with a gentle voice, she said. "Perhaps we should ask her what happened and what has been going on."
Katherine threw her hands in the air. "Fine then. Esther, what has been going on? Because I had sent you an invitation to my announcement where the three of us were supposed to attend, but you didn't attend. That is the reason why you have no idea that my wedding ball is approaching. I am to be wed."
Esther opened her mouth to defend herself, but she found no words to speak. She was truly sorry. She had only been thinking about herself in the past few days that she had totally ignored her friends. She had been spending so much time with Stefan.
"Katherine, I am truly sorry. I...I had no idea."
"Well, where were you, Esther? Truly," Anne asked, her voice sincere with nothing but pure curiosity.
"I was — at Sands Castle. The Dowager Duchess of York wanted to have tea with me."
Katherine scoffed. "And what is this about courtship? You said that there was nothing between you and the Duke. Have you now forgotten who he is? What would he do to you? The Duke is bad news. Worse than Lord Milway. You may end up being another victim of his—"
"Katherine, perhaps you should take a deep breath and let her speak. Possibly she has an explanation for all of this."
Katherine turned to Anne angrily. "Speak, you say? Has she uttered a word that would oppose what we think? She has nothing to say. She merely sits there, standing on the details of which we are already informed."
"Perhaps we need to hear her."
"Of course, we do," Katherine replied dryly. She hadn't sipped her tea at all or acknowledged that it was before her. Her anger was well-shown in all of her features.
Esther stared at them, watched their exchange, and let Katherine's words sink in. She had once more talked ill of Stefan and accused him of being worse than Nicholas, even stated that she may become another one of his victims...
I know what it feels like to be judged for following your heart and doing as you so please. Believe me, it is not a good feeling. I don't want Alex to be judged just the same way. Stefan's words from t
he previous night reverberated in her ears.
Katherine was judging Stefan. And she had no idea who he was.
"You don't know Stefan, so you have no right to judge him that way," Esther stated coolly.
"Now you're taking his side," Katherine flared. "Now he's more precious to you —"
"Katherine, you shouldn't speak of the Duke in such manner." Anne tried to keep the peace.
"We had thought Lord Milway to be her future husband and look at what he did. What makes the Duke any better? He sleeps with anything in skirts and chases any new actress on the stage, he —"
"Enough," Esther snapped. "I will be no part of whatever ill words you have to say about the Duke."
"What has come over you?" Katherine rose.
"What has come over me? What justification do you have for your anger? What wrong have I done you that you spew words as you please? You didn't wait to ask what is truly going on. You've simply come to a conclusion in your mind," Esther stated.
"You want to know what justification I have for my anger? Do you truly want to know?"
"Katherine, speak no more, for you may regret your words come tomorrow." Anne rose as well and touched Katherine's shoulder.
Katherine nodded. "You're right. I shall hold my words. But know this, Esther. For the past few days, I have needed you. For something more than Victor proposing. I needed you, and you were never there."
Esther's heart sank. Her expression changed from that of an irked to one who felt guilty firmly being there for her friend.
"And know this, too. I am in no support of your union with the Duke. You have kept whatever has been going on a secret for long, you have lied to us." Katherine shook her head, her eyes sad. But the sadness passed, and an angry gaze arose in its place. "We have always shared everything, since we were babes. We asked if anything at all was going on and you lied to our faces. You defend this new love without justification. So how dare you request justification for my anger?"
With those words, Katherine raised her shoulders, tilted her chin up, and walked away from them. Anne stood there, confused, unsure of where it was that she wanted to go. After a while, she shrugged towards Esther. "There's a lot I wanted us to discuss. But I do not know if this is the right time."
Esther cast her gaze down, but shrugged. Then slowly, she shook her head. "I really don't know what is going on anymore, Anne."
Anne sat down. "Katherine sent us both word a few days back. You received the note and replied that you would be unable to make it because you had to see the children at the orphanage. But word got around and her lady’s maid saw you riding with the Duke towards Sands Castle when she was in the market that day. Katherine was hurt that you had lied to her."
"I was at the orphanage, and after that, we headed to see his mother."
"Have you been seeing his mother for the past few days?"
"Yes. I have," Esther declared. And she was telling the truth. She had seen Stefan’s mother three times for the past three days. "She wants to get to know me and asks that I come for luncheon. I don't know how to decline her."
"You never make out time to see us and Katherine thinks you're avoiding us. Yesterday was supposed to be theatre night. You didn't come."
Esther creased her brows. Then as it dawned on her, she widened her eyes. Arms and The Man was being staged, and she hadn't gone. She had totally forgotten, driven by fatigue the moment she returned home. She had gone straight to her bedchamber.
"I had honestly forgotten."
"Exactly our point. It seems that you're cutting us out of your life."
"That would never happen." Esther gripped Anne's hands. "I would never do such a thing to you both."
Anne smiled and placed her hands over Esther's. "Katherine went through a phase right before Victor proposed. You hadn't been there for her. I shan't tell you what transpired, as you would have to reconcile with Katherine and find out for yourself what had happened. You must come to us, so we can be open to each other."
Esther nodded. "I will."
Anne patted her hand. "And Esther, I feel that there is more to whatever is going on with the Duke. It won't hurt if you let us in on it all."
Esther nodded again. "I will explain everything to you both, and I do have a lot to say."
"Then I shall invite you both to my home two days from now." Anne rose. "I should head back, my friend."
Esther rose as well. "Of course, let me see you out. I have to get dressed to go out."
Anne grinned and nudged her a little. "Is the Duke taking you somewhere?"
Esther blushed. "Yes, he is."
They headed outside, to where Anne's carriage awaited her. She kissed Anne on both cheeks, and Anne did the same. "Be well Anne.”
“We must see each other soon. We have a lot to talk about."
"Of course."
"You must be open about all of this." Anne raised her index finger and warned. Esther smiled because Anne was right. She needed to let them in. Never had they hidden anything from her. They were her friends. They would, more than anyone, understand what was going on. But she was afraid that even after she opened up to them that she would still be judged. She would be judged for her choice. For wanting Nicholas back even after he had hurt her. And worse, for trusting His Grace, for whom was known widely to be the ladies’ man.
Chapter Sixteen
He released the bow, alongside the arrow attached to it. The object spun midair, rolling effectively before it struck the board with a soft thud, right on the spot marked 'X.' Stefan grinned, he moved away from the tree, picked up his bow and walked over to stand beside Eugene. He stared at the clear shot. But then, Eugene had missed the first one, which left him in one while Stefan was at two.
"I'm one step ahead, my friend." Stefan grinned slyly.
Eugene stood upright. "You've been practicing. I haven't practiced in years."
Stefan stretched his bow and arrow, situated it at his eyes level and let go swiftly. The arrow spun quickly and struck the board, few inches from the spot marked 'X.'
Eugene barked out laughter, slowly but eventually, it rose. "Your Grace, we are even."
Stefan crossed his hands on his chest and faced his friend. "I shot that way deliberately, brother. You know I never lose in a battle of archery."
Eugene shook his head, still laughing. "Come on, Stefan. It's all right to accept defeat."
"I'm not accepting defeat. I want one more round." Without warning, he spun, faced the board and fired. The arrow hit the right spot.
Eugene shook his head. "I'm not taking another shot. Let's walk down. I think my son will be home with his mother soon."
It was a clear afternoon. Stefan, on Eugene's invitation, had come to have a moment with his old friend. He had arrived in the early hours of noon, alone and on Black. Eugene was the only one home. He claimed his wife had gone to the market to trade some of her old jewelry for new ones, and she had gone with his son. After reliving childhood memories, they had decided to go up against each other in archery. Stefan had missed his friend and sitting there with him at his courtyard made him realize just how much.
"Remember when I beat you after that wager Agnes made?" Eugene laughed.
Stefan froze. It had been so long since anyone said Agnes' name so casually, so simply, forgetting what had happened. Over the years, he had banned anyone from speaking of her. Banned anyone from placing her paintings on the wall. No one dared mention her name when he was there. But then, Eugene hadn't been around for years. He didn't know how things were, and it wouldn't hurt to remind him.
"Eugene. Perhaps we could talk all the way without mentioning Agnes, please." Stefan kicked a pebble out of his way. As they walked in silence, he pulled the bow around his left arm.
Eugene broke the silence. "Tis a very hard task. I grew up with Agnes around. We grew up with Agnes around. So, when we think of our childhood, we must most certainly remember Agnes."
They approached the courtyard. Stefan quietly walked
over to a seat and settled on it. He tossed the bow down beside him and blew out a breath. It wasn't easy talking about Agnes. It had never been, and just because Eugene felt he had to didn't mean that he would. Stefan simply forced a smile and nodded. "I would like to see your lad. Know if he looks like his Papa."
Eugene took a seat opposite him and poured himself a whiskey. "My lad looks like me. Although he's not all too fluent in English, he knows a little, but he's so used to French."