The Duke and The Duchess (6 page)

And that proposal never came. Years went by and they sat on the wall together every lunch, out of sight, somehow managing to avoid arousing much suspicion. With Vladimir's constant stream of potential wives and current whores and Julieta's coming of age, the middle child was all but forgotten. He spent larger and larger amounts of time outside the house, in the gardens and fields, in Lucy's company. Franz grew into a handsome young man of twenty one and Lucy into a pretty, albeit plain young woman of nineteen.

Eventually, her parents came to the conclusion she would have to marry. They did love her, and very dearly, but they were too poor to leave her with any inheritance and feared that she would starve if they were to pass on. She was engaged to an elderly gentleman whom they were close friends with and it was agreed that once her contract ran out, she would live with him. He hadn't many years left, but had no children or close relatives and thought it worth his while to leave her his small inheritance and house in exchange for a few last years of care and affection.

Despite how old she was to be getting married and how long she had lived under the pressures of Vladimir and the Archduke, as well as the temptation of Franz, she had not yet given into pleasure. She was somewhat disgusted, somewhat proud, to be able to offer her untouched purity to a man who was doing both her and her family such a mighty favour.

Franz was less pleased at the arrangement.

“Lucy, darling, you know I love you.”

“I do. And I love you, Mr Windsor.”

He sighed heavily, as though she had lied. “I only wish you could fulfil your passions with me and not with some... codger.”

“I owe it to my parents and they owe it to him.”

“Faith, Lucy! You owe them nothing and they own no part of you. You are a grown woman. And if you will sell your love, you are no greater than a whore.”

“Mr Windsor!” She almost choked, her face going red in a combination of shame and rage. “Not everyone has the luxury of your wealth and blood.”

“Not everyone has the luxury of such an alluring form, but zooks, most would use it better.”

“How? By becoming your concubine? What have you to offer me?”

“Far more wealth than that old sinner.”

“In exchange for my honour? My integrity? God's love?” She glanced upwards, partly in silent prayer, partly for effect.

“You're very catholic about whoredom. Moreso than when you're at work on a Sunday morning.”

She groaned. How could he not understand? She needed money and a livelihood. Her chastity and hard work were all she had to offer for it. And her options were to do it honourably with her parents' friend, or dishonourably as Franz Schiller Windsor's mistress.

But he could never understand. To him, clearly, being the whore of the younger brother of a future Archduke was honour enough for her. And that made her blood boil. If he would dishonour her and hurt her parents for his own sinful lust, then she could have no more to do with him. Resisting the temptation to turn it into a fight, she turned and walked home, ignoring his shouts at her.

***

She didn't show up for their walk the next day. Instead, she pretended to take ill and lay in bed all day, wondering about whatever it was she would do.

She had to marry Mr Gregor. That was her duty to her parents, her only way of securing an inheritance, her promise to him and to herself. And it was a fair exchange. She knew he didn't have long and was secretly very glad of it. She did not find much warmth in her heart for him as a husband, even though she loved him dearly as an elder. She hoped his years were few and that her duties were more in line with servitude than helpmeet. Although she would absolutely do whatever it took to be a good, loving wife to him, make his last days enjoyable and secure the inheritance.

But she also wanted to please Franz. She loved him dearly, as she would love him if he were her husband. She wanted to give him her purity and bear his children and care for him. But he was used to the idle life of a noble, not the life of a peasant. So he would not throw his lineage out the window to marry the likes of her. She would be a concubine and nothing more. And yet even that idea was tempting. She loved him so...

She sighed. What was a girl to do? She had no option. She would marry Mr Gregor, give him her purity if that was what he wanted and be a good wife to him. When he passed on, she would take a younger, healthier, more handsome husband and live on Mr Gregor's farm together and have many children. In the meantime, she would avoid Franz until he forgot about her and she felt nothing for him. If anything, she would ask to terminate her contract earlier and leave to marry Mr Gregor sooner, so she didn't have quite so much temptation in her path. That was the only way.

***

Her notice was accepted and for the following weeks, she avoided the gardens and Franz Windsor religiously, sticking only to the kitchen and scullery. By the end, she had saved the necessary money to transport her and a single case to Mr Gregor's home, a day North in the countryside. There she settled to directing the farm hands and making sure Mr Gregor's basic food, hygiene and personal needs were met. He was old, deaf and senile, but she put on a brave face and dealt with it, enjoying the greater freedoms and more abundant food that marriage afforded her. Widowhood afforded her even more freedom and food, but she hadn't the heart to remarry.

Franz mourned the loss of his companion and love. He sought her, but couldn't find her. He asked about her, but eventually suspicions were aroused and he hadn't it in his heart to claim he wanted to punish her. He knew it was unlikely to result in him finding her and that she would probably get into trouble for it. So he stopped asking and instead resorted to skulking about the gardens looking for her.

When he received news of her notice he gave up all hopes. She clearly wanted nothing to do with him. At first he pined, but when he heard she was married, then widowed and still hadn't heard from her, he finally gave in to his father's requests and married Eugenia Stark. Seeing as his brother had still not married, that left him as his father's heir. His marriage in its early years was bitter and without intimacy, but this only got worse when his father died. Once her inheritance was secured, Eugenia became more and more bitter towards him, openly taking lovers and making every attempt to avoid conjugal relations with him. Twice she had a child and twice he gave it to the orphanage because he doubted it's parentage.

Thinking of Lucy was all he could do to keep himself sane.

His health began to decline and his doctor, one of his wife's numerous lovers, put it down to stress. He was not sure whether to take the diagnosis seriously or not, but had little choice in the matter.

As though synchronized or through the ribbons of fate, as his health worsened, so did Lucy's father's. The old gatekeeper was seeing his last days and soon news arrived that Lucy would be staying at the gatehouse for a few weeks until her father passed.

After several months of ill health and feeling himself waste away, an urge of selfishness and boldness only present in the dying overwhelmed him. He wrote her a letter at the gatehouse asking her to see him.

He didn't know how eager she was, but she eventually appeared. Her face was pale with grief and tiredness, but she was still in her mid twenties and radiantly beautiful. Especially so when contrasted with his own worn countenance and Eugenia's bitter face.

“It's been long, Lucy Maid.”

“Lucy Gregor.” She corrected him.

“I just want to apologize. For what I said back then. It's clear to me that you are better a single widow than a bonded concubine.” He laughed.

She put her hand on his head. “I have had my doubts.” She confessed. He sighed. “What is your ailment?”

“The doctor says that it's stress. I may be soon to pass.”

“Faith. When my father has passed, I will stay and care for you.” She hugged him.

After a few minutes in silence, she made her excuses and left.

But, as promised, when her father passed away two days later she made sure to start visiting Franz. She took over his cleaning and feeding, which Eugenia was glad to have her doing. She also started bringing him some food from her mother's kitchen. As if by magic, his body started to restore.

Eventually it was revealed that the doctor and Eugenia had probably been poisoning him. He had them incarcerated for attempted murder and they were sentenced to hang. Eugenia was pardoned and sent to a sanatorium.

Lucy Gregor never could become his wife until Eugenia died, which Eugenia did not for many years. But Lucy had come to realize in that time that there were worse things to be than Franz Schiller Windsor's mistress.

Amish Romance

A Secret Love Story

By Lady Aingealicia

Rebecca had known Jedidiah’s family forever. They were neighbors and often enough Levi was over at the house to help Paul with the back forty. Emma had taught Rebecca a great deal as she had grown up, since her mother had passed during childbirth. It was not unusual for them to have dinner together once or twice a week until Rebecca was old enough to handle the chores. It was a simple life, without the complications that the new world provided. Rebecca had never even left the farm to go celebrate Rumspringa, the coming of age tradition in the community. She knew where she belonged, she just hoped in her heart of hearts that Jedidiah would as well.

Rebecca looked over the field as her father, Paul worked the plow horse. She washed the dishes as the spring gave her a breath of fresh air. She knew that tonight was prayer service and a pot luck. She had already put the stew on the stove to cook. Soon she saw Katura crossing to the house and they would fix lunch for both families. It had been this way for as long as Rebecca could remember.

Rebecca had only known the community, her father and their neighbors. She had never had the desire to see the outside world. She knew her mother was a kind, God fearing woman that had passed too soon. She had never got to meet her mother. Susan had passed during childbirth. She had known the Otto family since the time she could talk. Very often Emma would take care of her while her father worked.

This had allowed for her to become very close and she considered herself fortunate that she had two families in her life. Every time she went to church she said a prayer for her mother and often felt that she was watched over from unseen places. At a very young age she would follow Jedidiah around like puppy dog. It was frowned upon after a certain age; that did not seem to stop her. She knew who her betrothed was.

Katura came in and washed her hands. Smiling at Rebecca, she hugged her and the girls finished the dishes together. Then went to do the wash. Picking up a wooden laundry basket full of clothes to be dried, they walked out to the clothes line. Each of them began to hang up clothes as the wind gently blew. Both were silent, there was no need for unnecessary words in their world.

Rebecca thought of the upcoming dinner ahead and smiled. She wanted to make her father proud and see how Jedidiah responded. She wanted his approval so very much. As Rebecca and Katura moved around the house, making sure that all was in its place, they sat down to finish a wedding quilt that needed to be done. Katura was to be wed at harvest time to Samuel. The girls had been working on her quilt for the wedding night.

They sewed each stich with love as Rebecca dreamed of her wedding day. She thought that soon Katura would know how it would felt to be able to have a husband to please and tend to. She smiled at that thought. With each stich, time moved quickly and soon the door opened and Paul walked in. He looked at them at the table and smiled.

“Katura, tis always good to see you.” He nodded and placed his hat by the door. “Rebecca the stew smells good for tonight.” He went and washed his hands. He was impressed with how well Rebecca had grown up and was able to take care of a household with ease. He knew she would make a good wife. When he came back downstairs a simple lunch was placed on the table.

He sat and said grace. Soon they were eating in silence and Paul got up to go back out to the field. Rebecca and Katura cleaned the table together as they began to get ready for the nights events. Katura went home help with chores and change for the evening and Rebecca went upstairs. Finishing up what chores needed to be done, she placed Katura’s quilt away. She lost herself in little things to do around the house and soon it was time to get ready to go.

Placing her ash blonde hair in a bun neatly, she put the white prayer covering, finding her white apron on she headed downstairs to meet her father. The stew was ready to go. Placing on her cape, they walked to the prayer house and the meeting began. The women sat on one side and the men on the other. Paul and Rebecca sat with the Otto family.

As Rebecca and Katura helped Emma set up for the dinner, the men spoke of the coming year and what would need to be done for the harvest in the fall. Including a new barn raising for the Katura and Samuel. They would live nearby both the Otto’s and Paul. As soon as the service was done, everyone would sit and eat.

Rebecca saw Jedidiah walk in and smiled. He had found yellow flowers somewhere in his walk. He waved to Rebecca and held up the flowers. She blushed. She remembered the first time he had brought her flowers. It was in the middle of summer and he had found a patch of daisies. She knew then they were meant.

Almost dropping a bowl, Emma caught it and looked at Rebecca. Shaking her head, she smiled softly at Rebecca. She knew where her head was and it was not here. She was thinking of days in the past. When she had less to do and could day dream all day long. Tapping Rebecca on the back of her shoulder, she turned and Katura handed her bread for the table. The women continued to move around placing out the food and drinks that would be served.

Soon the service started and Rebecca sat between Emma and Paul in the pews. Stealing glances at Jedidiah as she could. He sat three people down from her. He would glance over at her and as their eyes met, she would blush. They had often worked together in the harvest and for some reason she was always next to him when they would bring it in. Other than that, they did not have much time together.

He would bring her little things he would find or carve. She would keep the wooden trinkets her hope chest at the end of her bed and dry the flowers for photos. He never knew that she did that until later. When they worked in the field, they would talk about what they wanted. He knew that he wanted to see the world. He was going to go on Rumspringa as soon as he could.

That was the longest time for Rebecca in the community. When he was out in the world finding himself. He finally came home. It was the one time he brought back gifts with him for everyone in is family and for Paul and Rebecca. She remembered it so clearly, he had brought her a dozen yellow roses. He said that it reminded him of her in the city when he went.