Chapter 37 Think about it

During the entire day, Hazel caught Rosalie glaring at her on several occasions and she could tell that it was because she had served the Duke in the morning.

When night came, they were soon retiring to their rooms when Mr Cooper came to her.

"Ms Winston?" he called to get her attention.

"Yes Mr Cooper?" she answered and he gestured for her to come to where he was.

"His grace has ordered you to go and prepare his bath," he said making sure to keep his voice low for only her to hear. Prepare his bath? Since when did she start being in charge of preparing his bath? "Now," he added when he saw her dazed. "Yes, right away," she said and started walking away.

Reaching the Duke's room, she knocked on the door and later opened it, then looked inside to see that he was not there. Getting in, she walked to the bathroom and on calling him, he didn't respond. She took a deep breath and opened the curtains then peeked inside to see that it was empty. She released a sigh of relief and stepped inside the bathroom.

There were red candles which gave the place a red glow.

Walking to the large bathtub, she was glad to find that warm water was already there. She then picked the oils that were resting on the tub and the bathing powder then poured it in the water. Huge bubbles formed in the tub and she ran her hands in the water as she inhaled the sweet fragrance. She now understood where the Duke got his intoxicating scent. As she was still playing in the water, she heard the room door open followed by footsteps and she immediately got up knowing that the Duke had arrived.

Walking towards the room, she found him unbuttoning his shirt and she bowed her head before saying," I am done with preparing your bath your grace." Giving no reply, she said," I will take my leave. Have a good night your grace." She started walking away and when she reached the door, she heard him say,"Wait."

She softly gulped and she turned to look at him as he made slow steps to where she was. Her heart pounded in her chest as she anticipated what he was going to do.

Coming to stand in front of her, she realized that she didn't have anywhere to escape as she was leaning against the door.

She craned her neck to look at him where his chest was bare for her to see.

"I thought about what you told me," he said, his voice coming out as a whisper but seductive at the same time.

"And I decided not to let you go. I am not giving up on you," he said looking straight into her eyes. "Why?" she whispered, trying hard to maintain eye contact. "Because I want you," he replied.

She tore her eyes away from his and she took a deep breath. "I am not going to be your mis- " She couldn't continue when she felt his hand on her hip and she gulped. "What are you doing?" she asked.

"What both of us will enjoy," he whispered leaning to where she was and she anticipated that he was going to kiss her lips but he burried his face in her neck.

His hands gently brushed her hips and squeezed them seductively making her gasp.

He could feel her heart beating erratically in her chest as his nose brushed the length of her slender neck.

Hazel felt all the blood in her body rushing to her lower abdomen and soon, she felt between her thighs aching and pulsating at the same time. The feeling was strange but thrilling and exciting at the same time. She had closed her eyes and all she could do was feel his hands crawling on her skin.

He placed wet kisses along her neck and jaw until his teeth grazed her neck. When he bit her neck, a moan escaped her lips as she leaned her head, giving him easy access.

A while later, he pulled away and looked at her deranged state. Her eyes closed and lips parted, as her chest heaved up and down. The position made her breasts more prominent, but he decided that he wasn't doing anything more than what he had done. When he saw her open her eyes, he leaned forward and whispered in her ear," Think about it."

Pulling away, he turned around and said," You can take your leave." He headed to the bathroom because he really needed a bath right now.

Opening the door, Hazel ran out of the room like a mad woman. She could feel her heart still beating in her chest. When she sat on her bed, she felt that between her legs had become moist and the ache was still there. It was surprising how he could control her body. She couldn't get why she was not repulsed by his touches and her body just seemed to want more from him. That was dangerous, she thought. What was he telling her to think about? She couldn't tell.

Hazel was glad that the Duke hadn't asked for her to serve him and she hadn't seen him for a whole week.

When they were in the kitchen with Charlotte as the others had gone to the market, she felt the urge to ask a question that had been bothering her. Looking at her companion, she said," Charlotte, I would like to ask something." "Go ahead," she replied stirring the beef stew she was cooking. "I am asking it only out of curiosity, nothing more," she said. "Sure."

"Uh, have you ever heard of any incident where his grace got involved with a maid here?" she asked. Charlotte frowned and asked," Why?" "Nothing. It's just that, you know that most men do that especially if they are not yet married. I wanted to know if he's also among them." She gave it a thought before saying," I've not heard of any incident. I don't think his grace is the type of man to look at a servant. I mean, all the women I've seen him getting involved with or bring here, are of his status."

Hearing it, Hazel didn't know how to feel and she nodded her head. "Alright, that's all," she replied going back to what she was doing.