Chapter 51 With maximum respect

Silence filled the hall when the Duke and Hazel reached the front and then everyone bowed at him in respect. He glanced at Hazel who looked to be nervous before looking back at the servants. "I hope everyone is doing well," he said at first to break the silence. "Yes your grace," they all replied in unison.

"That is good. The reason why I gathered us all here is because I want to make a special announcement," he mentioned and everyone paid attention in anticipation after hearing the words.

"From today henceforth, in fact from now on, Hazel Winston is the lady of the house," he declared and as expected, gasps filled the entire room. Murmurings were heard as each of the servants was whispering about the sudden revelation.

"Silence!" Cooper ordered and once again, the hall was filled with silence.

"For that matter therefore, I personally came to give a warning to all of you especially the person that set her up. I will forgive the first time as you did not know her position by then but I won't be forgiving if anything close to it happened the next time," he mentioned and glanced at Hazel before continuing," I expect each one of you to treat her with maximum respect and to fulfill everyone of her wish. If I receive a slight complaint from her about any of you, I will not only make sure that you lose your job but also to make your life a living hell."

Hazel could feel her entire body shaking and she didn't know if she could last for a long time without falling on the ground. She couldn't get why he did this. He looked at her and asked," Is there anything else I have left out?" She immediately shook her head.

"That is all I wanted to say," he told them and tugged on Hazel's hand before the two of them walked out.

The hall was once again filled with noises after what had just happened.

"Everyone, go back to your duties!" Cooper ordered and they all scattered as they walked away. "I am still in shock! When did the Duke and Hazel start seeing each other?" asked Emily as the two headed to the kitchen.

"It has taken a while," replied Rosalie, who was beyond furious. "So, you knew about it?!" she asked. "I found out just recently," she replied. "And you didn't tell me?" "I didn't know that it was that serious," replied Rosalie. "What?! I can't believe that Hazel is now our mistress," she said. "Yours, not mine," said Rosalie immediately. "You heard the Duke clearly. She is no longer part of us."

"I will always see her as a servant," said Rosalie.

"Bad for you because you are going to fall into trouble," she said before adding," Now that I think about it, wasn't it the Duke who brought Hazel here?" When Rosalie nodded, she said," Now everything makes sense. They were lovers even before she came here."

"I don't want to know," she replied as the two made way inside the kitchen. On seeing Charlotte who had arrived before them, Emily said," You can't tell me that you didn't know about it Charlotte. You were Hazel's friend." She just shrugged her shoulders and she understood that she knew about it.

"Why did you decide to keep quiet?" "There was nothing to tell at that time. The truth has come out at the right time," she replied.

"I can't believe that I was the only one clueless about it. How long did their affair last?"

"I don't know about that Emily. Remember that she is now our boss and we can get into trouble if we get caught gossiping about her," she said.

Hazel and the Duke were in her room and she sat on the bed silently as he stood leaning against the wall.

A while later, she raised her eyes to look at him and she said," You didn't tell me about it." "I didn't have to. Sometimes actions are better than words," he said and pushed himself forward to come and stand closer to her. "I told you I would make you my woman and I wasn't joking," he said. "Word is going to spread and everyone will hear about it," she said and he shrugged his shoulders as if he didn't care. "People are going to judge you," she reminded him. "Then let them." "But, why are you doing this? Why me?"

"I will answer that question some other time," he replied and she looked down at her hands.

"I can't spend the entire day seated without doing anything," she said. "You will have to get used because it is the status you're in," he said before adding," And perhaps, you have all the time to do all the things you have ever wished to do. You can go anywhere."

Thinking about it, she realized that she didn't have anywhere to go as she didn't have any friends or caring family members.

"Tonight, we are heading somewhere," he mentioned and she looked at him.

"We shall be in company of the Graysons," he informed. "The Viscount and Viscountess?" she asked to confirm and he nodded. When she didn't add anything, he said,"I am heading to do some official work. I guess you will be fine." "Of course," she replied.

"You should inform Cooper if you need anything," he said and she nodded. "Take care," he added before leaving the room.

Hazel bit her bottom lip so hard when he left and she winced in pain. She wondered how they were going to react the moment they find out about the news. She wanted to confirm if she was not living a dream. She was now worried about how the Graysons were going to react when they find out about the news.

Not long after, Cooper came to her room and asked," Do you want to do anything Milady?"

"Anything like what?" she asked. "Well, I don't know what you would like but you can go horse riding, painting, or the coachman can take you anywhere you want."