<h4>Chapter 14 - An Early Bird</h4>


    When I get up in the morning, my back is aching. My muscles areining of the exercise of the night, but nothing feels wrong down there. It didn''t hurt like the first time, so I smile happily and step out of bed.


    I find my nightgown on the floor, and I wear it before walking to the mirror and sitting at my dressing table.


    I start tob my hair, singing a joyful folk song. I don''t want the maids toe in, so I keep my voice down. I want to prolong this peace.


    I nce at my reflection at the mirror, and I notice a red sign on the shoulder. In the end, the Duke bit me again. More than once, actually, but I don''t think that I have marks in other ces. I move the clothing to examine the red spot, all without stopping singing.


    I''m starting to wonder why the maids didn''t barge in yet, but I won''tin about it. Maybe, they won''t force me to get up early when the Duke visits.


    I stretch my arms and tie my hair in a lousy tail. I pass a finger on my neck, right where the Duke caressed me yesterday. Still, it doesn''t feel the same as when his hands touched me.


    I turn to the bed, remembering the things that I did so naturally, and my voice dies in my throat.


    The Duke is still there, staring at me with an amused grin.


    ?I''m d that my Duchess is in a good mood, this morning,? hements while I start to understand the reason why the maids didn''t barge in like always. They don''t want to be yelled at for a second time.


    Maybe, I should find a way to make the Duke visit me more often.


    Then, I remember that I must have disturbed his sleep with my singing.


    Am I allowed to ask for forgiveness the same way I did yesterday? Tonight, the Duke has been even more gentle than the first time. He didn''t back away disgusted when I tried to distract him from the conversation, so I suppose he didn''t dislike my try.


    Or maybe he was just being nice because I was trembling like a leaf.


    I nce at the Duke once again, and I notice that he doesn''t look bothered. Maybe, he''s not troubled. Or maybe, I didn''t wake him up.


    I wasn''t singing that loudly, after all.


    ?Good morning,? I say when I remember that I haven''t greeted him yet.


    ?It''s too early to be considered morning, you early bird,? hements. ?You cane back here for a while...?


    ?I don''t know what time it is,? I point out.


    ?We''ll solve thatter. Nowe here and tell me why did you stop singing.?


    ?I haven''t noticed that you were still here, your gr... Alexander,? I correct myself just in time. ?I didn''t intend to disturb you.?


    ?That''s the reason why you started to sing. I want to know why you stopped. I want to hear more...?


    ?It''s difficult to sing while being watched,? I confess.


    ?What a pity,? he sighs. ?And what if I close my eyes??


    I clench my nightgown, feeling cornered. If the Duke wants to listen to me that badly, I''ll sing for him. Yet, the songs I know are mostly folk songs. I''ve learned them when I disguised myself as a peasant during a festival. It''s one of my favourite memories, and those songs were full of emotions and hope.


    However, they can''tpare to the kind of songs that are yed at courts. The technique is different, the difficulty, the rhythm...


    ?Never mind,? he says out loud, noticing myplicated expression.


    ?Maybe another time,? I utter.


    ?Sure!? he epts and gets up. ?Maybe next week!?


    My cheeks turn red, but I crook my mouth in a funny grimace. The Duke is so impatient that I can''t help but smirk. Not wanting him to notice, though, I try to curl my lips down. The end result is so humorous.


    I look down to avoid seeing my face in the mirror and, at the same time, hide from the Duke.


    ?Is breakfast ready?? he inquires, oblivious to my battle.


    ?Maybe,? I wonder, curious.


    The Duke opens the door and observes the maids in silence for a while. They don''t barge in, so I suppose they''re waiting for his orders.


    Instead of saying anything, he turns to me and waits.


    I stare back at the Duke, wondering. What is he waiting for, right now?


    ?It''s cold with the door open,? I utter when I can''t find a better sentence.


    As if woken up from a spell, the maids walk in and start to take out the undergarments and to sink small towels in warm water. They don''t dare to touch me, but they lean the wet clothes on a te in front of me.


    ?What is today''s schedule?? I ask, even though I already know there''s nothing on it. In the first days, it felt so strange to hear ''there''s nothing'', but it was refreshing. Now, it only reminds me that I''m some kind of parasite.


    I start to rub my skin delicately with the warm towels.


    ?Your grace will take a stroll in the garden before lunch. Then, your grace has an appointment with his grace, the Duke, to talk about the characteristics of your futuredy in waiting,? my personal handmaid says.


    I blink, surprised, but I don''t say anything. All thesemitments must be because of the person leisurely drinking my herbal tea from the sofa.


    ?Does my Duchess n her strolls as well?? he inquires, suspicious.


    ?It''s necessary when one is busy,? Iment, and all the servants in the room stop working abruptly.


    They nce at me, and then secretly at the Duke.


    I understand all this tension because I acted like this yesterday. Still, the Duke won''t dare to do anything to me in front of all these people. At most, he will take revenge next time he visits me, but it will be a week from now. He will forget it by then.


    ?Hmm... Makes sense...? he murmurs, and the maids return to their jobs.


    They''re more attentive than usual since this man is closely following their every move. I think he''s checking if they''re behaving with me.


    He knows better than me that it''s useless since no one would dare to disrespect me in front of him.


    ?You can join me in my stroll, my Duke. That is if your schedule has a free slot.?


    He chuckles, amused, and the spirit in the room rxes. Seeing their master in a good mood smooths the maids'' worries, and I can turn back to the mirror to choose today''s colour for my makeup and dress.