Part XXI

The next two days passed in a similar routine, Joel served the duke keeping his distance and the duke didn't impose on him. Today Joel met with Brian, he even got dressed in one of the outfits presented to him by Mrs Florence, a pink laced dress. He pinned up his hair and stuck a rose inside, he looked too fancy but the point was to make Brian agree to anything.

"You look amazing today." Brian was literally salivating at his sight and in the same time beaming with pride, looking around if someone was watching him with his fiancee.

"Thank you, I dressed like that for you." Joel smiled at this cheesy sentence and continued. "I need a favor to ask of you."

"Everything you want darling." He grabbed Joel's hand.

"You see my twin brother is here too, and he is in love with a young girl. They want to escape together. Could you help me to organize horses for them. I will pay, my brother has the money." Joel fluttered his eyelashes.

"You've got a twin brother?" Brian was surprised.

"Yes we both look alike. His name is Joel." Joel sounded very convincing.

'"It will be hard but I'll figure something out."

"I knew my Brian is a clever man and so capable." Joel leaned and placed a peck on Brian's cheek. "I'll reward yo for that." Joel smiled seductively and after that they parted accompanied by jealous looks of Brian's coworkers.

Joel was smiling going back to his room. In the inner ward he was stopped by Gerd who was practicing with the new ones. Joel even noticed Mat whom he hasn't seen for a wile.

"Wow, Joy you look beautiful."

"Thank you Gerd. I'm sorry but I have to go, I don't have time to chat now." He excused himself and noticed Francine standing a the entrance to the guards' house looking at Joel talking with Gerd. Whatever, thought Joel everything was going according to the plan. Just as he stepped into the keep Hilda attacked him.

"Where have you been? The duke has been looking for you! And what are you wearing! Go change yourself!"

"I'm wearing what the duke ordered me but I can change and I will explain why I did it." Joel bobbed and left pissed Hilda behind. He changed quickly and rushed to duke's rooms.

"Your grace, you were calling for me?"

The duke looked at him from head to toe.

"What are you wearing? Just a while ago you had a nice pink dress and flowers in your head, was it for that Gerd?" The duke wasn't happy, no actually he was angry.

"I was just scolded by the head maid for wearing inappropriate clothes. So I changed. Is there anything for me to do your grace?" Joel was sick of the talk about dresses.

"Yes, tomorrow I will have some guests, five people to be exact. I want you to inform the kitchen about it, they will stay for dinner but not for the night.

"However the guests' rooms should be prepared." The duke sat down and started to write something.

"What are you waiting for, go do your job and bring me some vine."

"Yes your grace." Joel moved back to the kitchen. He informed the chef, on the way he met Miriam ad told her about the guest rooms and with a bottle of vine returned back.

"Everything's done as you wish your grace."

"Good." He sighted and leaned back. "My head is killing me. Can you give me a massage?

It was a question but somehow Joel knew he couldn't refuse it.

"Of course your grace."

He started rubbing his temples and later the rest of his head. He used to did that to is mother when she had headaches. He knew the drill from the temples he moved his fingers down behind the ears and than to the back of the head. It took a time but it was effective. He could hear how duke's breath became more relaxed.

"Hmmm … You're good, I want you to be mine Joel. I won't force you but I ill pursue you from now on. I don't care about Gerd, I intent to be selfish."

The duke placed his hands on Joel's and his fingers slid inside Joel's sleeves.