The Uninvited Guest

"Penelope, I've brought your flowers."

Penelope looked up as Esmeralda swept into the kitchen,a vibrant bouquet in hand.She paused her onion chopping,wiping her hands on the tinted apron she wore.

"We do have servants to chop the onions,you know that?" Esmeralda asked,making her way to her sister.

"I do,but where's the fun in simply waiting to be served when you could just do it yourself?" She inched closer to Esmeralda, grabbing the flowers from her hands."Esmeralda" she sniffed in the fragrance of the flowers."Why do these smell of... jealousy?"

Penelope had a knack for detecting Esmeralda's mood just by how she approached her and Esmeralda found it weird sometimes.

"How did you know of jealousy?"Esmeralda asked,turning away from her sister and busying herself with the water from the sink."I had an encounter with the duke today."

"Ah,the dashing lord." Penelope's eyes gleamed."Was he as handsome as always?"

Esmeralda's brow furrowed."Was that the only thing you heard?"

"Of course! Who wouldn't fall for the daintiest lord of the Knights' family.Anyone who dislikes him shall be nothing,but an enemy."said Penelope in mock anger.

"He was with a lady."Esmeralda opened the sink the more, unnecessarily scrubbing her hands harder than before.

"That's no surprise.The duke is nothing but a philanderer.Though I must confess, I'd die to be one of his conquests."Penelope moved to turn on the fire,a wistful sigh from her lips."Unfortunately,I am tied down to my husband."

Penelope would've had the chance to wed the duke in the other seasons,but he,being the perverse brat that he was had been able to disentangle any matrimonial web he was caught in.

And the desperate mothers who wanted him for their daughters?

Well,they had to make do with the other less attractive suitors of the season.

Penelope was a year younger to him and four years older than Esmeralda.She could understand why his mother was so determined to find him a bride - one who could subdue him.

And that was how Lady Georgina got lucky;having her youngest daughter wed the remarkable duke who was able to even reject the offer of a princess.

"He's a scoundrel."She muttered.

"Says the one caught dallying with Olive, Dynevor's greatest house boy."She flashed a sardonic grin."I was known to be the wildest daughter,how could I lose my esteemed position to my youngest.Truly,you deserve to be called the lioness of the family."

"You two!"A thunderous voice suddenly boomed,making them jump.Lady Georgina made her way into the kitchen,with five other servants with fear inscribed on their faces.

"We have guests arriving.Make sure they are suitably impressed.Get to work!"With that,she trotted away leaving behind an air of tension.

*

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As the sun dipped below the horizon,the family seated for dinner.The sound of horses' hooves and the grating wheels of an elite carriage could be heard in the distance as it came to a halt in front of the Dynevor's Estate.

"Lord Edward",Sir Dynevor, accompanied by his wife,rose to greet the duke as he entered the doors of the estate.Stealthily following behind was the lady Esmeralda had seen him with on the streets,dressed in a gassed gown accentuating her curves and her face lacking make-up.

That was what the duke liked.She observed.

"It's a pleasure to be here!" He said,aiding his mother to a chair beside Esmeralda.She knew his facade as a nice person was due because of his mother's presence.

"Come! Sit!" He pushed a chair beside his,as he helped the unknown guest sit.

Esmeralda scowled.

"Whom have I the honor to address now?"Lady Georgina plastered a fake smile on her face as she turned her attention to the lady seated beside the duke.

She had spent the whole day planning for the duke and Esmeralda to spend sometime with each other and now..this?

An uninvited guest.

"Lady Azalea",she introduced herself.

"And where from you?"

"Avalon." The lady remained curt.

"Avalon?! It's such a nice place."Her face began turning green.

"I have known the duke for quite a while and he purposely invited me here to get to know you all."She flashed an innocent smile at Esmeralda.

"I wish that is all to it!" Lady Georgina murmured.

Lady Beatrice watched as her friend was prying for more.She found it funny for the tigress of Dynevor's Estate to be that easily ..... covetous.It was normal for mothers to get worried especially when it concerned her son,who, despite being picky about his choice of girls was known for his charming skills.

"She is,but a distant relative of the duke."Lady Beatrice commented leaving Lady Georgina heaving a sigh of relief.

"Ah! That's why I saw the resemblance."She laughed at her foolishness.

"Of course! Of course! You know my son is hardly seen around any woman.That is why I had to find him a bride myself."

Lady Beatrice said, turning the attention to Esmeralda.

"Of course!My daughter is a great choice." said Lady Georgina.

"We may start then..the food is getting cold." Penelope cleared her throat as she reminded the elders of the food.She was only present because of the food and she wouldn't dare waste time letting it get cold.

Food is,was and shall always be her life.

When everyone was done with dinner, Esmeralda excused herself from the guests as she seemed to be the center of the attention;with Lady Azalea being the second most prominent.

Escaping through the grand foyer and making her way out to get fresh air,her eyes fell on the heavily cloaked Eloise - mounting out of the Estate's gate on a horse with two men accompanying her.

Esmeralda wondered why Eloise would be around the estate when she had precisely rejected her invitation for the family dinner.

What was she doing here then?