The Devil is The Duke

Emeera was about to explain when lady Blackhouse laughed. “I know my brother likes you. I see how he looks at you. But don’t get carried away by this his resentful looks just because you don’t reciprocate. He is not brave enough to try matrimony again and any woman who allows him around her is just wasting her time.”

“He doesn’t like me,” Emeera said.

“Then you are either blind or slow. Even my Vivian noticed it,” she said as she buttered her toast. “Join me for lunch today and let’s discuss the ball. You two disappeared so suddenly I didn’t know where you went to…” She ended the sentence slowly, realization dawning on her. “Oh my God.” Emeera looked down at her napkin. “Are you okay?” She asked in a kind, maternal manner. Emeera nodded.

“Oh dear,” was all the woman said. But since the discovery, her friendship with Emeera took a new turn. Lady Blackhouse became nicer, often treating Emeera as if she was likely to break. Emeera loved the woman but she wished she could leave for the country already so she could catch a break. She had sex, not die in battle.

That weekend, Lady Blackhouse and her two daughters set out for the country but not before insisting Emeera visit them regularly. She agreed and the lady hugged her briefly as they said their farewells.

***

It was two months since the ball and Emeera thought it was the time to visit Lady Blackhouse. It had been two long months having to act formally with the duke, pretending that night of unbridled passion did not exist.

The first night Emeera spent in Davinshire with the Blackhouse women was the best in months. Mary, the lady’s maid (Dr. Stevenson’s love Interest), was happy to see Emeera after the long while. The women were interested in everything happening in the manor. Vivian Blackhouse innocently asked if the duke was still bringing his women. The sisters laughed but their mother just smiled. Emeera knew that if Lady Blackhouse had not known about her night with the Duke, she would have laughed too in her usual carefree manner.

“I don’t know about him. But I don’t see women coming in,” Emeera answered. The girls drifted to conversation about their suitors. The ball had introduced them to several members of the gentry who had been courting them for about a month. Emeera thought that was another reason the country was a better idea. Having to entertain different male guests each day would have become a real chore.

After they had retired to their bedrooms, Emeera’s door opened and Lady Blackhouse entered. Emeera was surprised to see her ladyship in her room at that time of the night. The woman smiled at Emeera and quietly let herself sit in the couch. She waited for Emeera to join her before speaking.

“Emeera, I have something to ask you that may not be in my place but since it involves my brother and you, my friend, I will be frank with you.”

Emeera was tensed by the woman’s demeanor but she had learned how to keep quiet till the cat was out of the bag.

“When was the last time you saw your monthly flow?” Lady Blackhouse asked. Emeera’s heart fell at the question. She had not menstruated in weeks but she had not even thought about it.

“I think it’s been over a month?” She said, confused. The older woman heaved. “Emeera, you are pregnant.”

“How?? How do you know?”

“I am a mother. I have been around so many pregnant women. From the moment I hugged you, I felt it. Have you lost your appetite? Do you feel tired?”

“But that’s normal.”

“Have your noticed any changes in your body?” She asked. Now that the woman mentioned it, Emeera remembered in panic that she had noticed her breasts seemed fuller but since periods brought about same changes, she had attached no meaning to it.

Emeera nodded in response to the question. “I didn’t even think of it as pregnancy. Just thought I was adding some weight.”

“You are pregnant. If you want, we can get a doctor to check it and confirm then you can go to my brother with the doctor’s report. It’s much better than saying you think…”

“I don’t want to be pregnant. He will not be happy at all.”

“You did not impregnate yourself my dear. And I believe he may like you more than you know.”

“You have not seen how his grace goes about his affairs with women! I have been such a fool.”Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Of course I haven’t seen him. Because for months now, he hasn’t been entertained other women apart from you. At first I thought it was because of me, but the more I thought of it, the clearer it was. Try to get some sleep. We’ll discuss more tomorrow.”

Lady Blackhouse left the room, leaving behind a shocked Emeera. Emeera stayed up the whole night, sick with worry. She was surprised at the pregnancy as she knew she was supposed to be barren. She fought against the memory of that period where she was considered barren.

“You will have to think what you are going to do,” Lady Blackhouse had said. Problem was, Emeera had no idea. It was true the duke no longer had various women over but he was clear about marrying nobody.

“I am pregnant,” she said to herself. “I am pregnant.” There was no thought of terminating the pregnancy, not after being shamed for her supposed barrenness. But she was terrified of the Duke.

***

The conversation with the Duke was not funny. He was livid.

“I was drunk and you took advantage!” He accused. “You knew I would never marry, so why did you not act with common sense? It is not like I met you a virgin so why couldn’t you take care of yourself? How many women of your age get pregnant after just one night of pleasure?” Emeera felt scandalized. Her only consolation was that their conversation took place in the Alexander’s family estate. She had taken him out there for the conversation so nobody could overhear them.

“Thank you for the speech. I’ll tender my resignation in the morning and keep my baby,” Emeera said stubbornly. She was walking away but he grabbed her hand.

“Of course you must resign. And since you have decided to force this pregnancy on me, you can keep it. I will marry you.”

“I don’t need a marriage proposal from you,” she hissed.

“Don’t pretend like you are not happy or you did not get pregnant on purpose! You knew I will never allow you raise my child as a bastard. But you have dragged me into a marriage I swore I would never be in and you will regret it.”

“I shall never marry you!”

“I did not ask for this pregnancy. The idea of settling down with you or anyone else does not exactly please me either. But you will marry me, Emeera. You will. You sealed your fate with that pregnancy.”

Emeera thought about the judgmental society called Savoy. It was tough finding work as a brown skinned, Arab girl with no child. It would take heaven to get her a job as a single mother of an illegitimate child. She remembered the butler who had been sent away and had to wed because of a similar situation. It felt like she was trapped. Reluctantly, she agreed to the wedding.