"I heard that the Duke has many lovers and that he's rumored to have many illegitimate children. Would you be alright marrying someone like that? Countess Bellerd heard a maid from his estate says that he's cruel and strikes his lovers once they become obsessive. I'm worried for you?"
Adora also heard these rumors. She didn't care nor mind them anymore because she just wanted her plan to go smoothly. She met the Grand Duke of Ellington a few times in passing. The first time was when she 16 and he was 19. She made a trip to Grimhilld with Calista to help expand trade. They exchanged a few words about politics and went on their own way. The next few other times they met they greeted each other and Adora never thought much of him because of his rumors. She hated men who treated woman with no respect.
"He's nothing I can't handle. I'll whip that man into shape."
Adora answered in a snarky manor. She indeed had a lot of work to do. She'd have to raise a baby and a man child. According to the plethora of rumors he'd abandoned his work quite frequently to spend time with women. Her eyes lit up
"I'll beat him in shape if I need to"
Gwen was taken aback for a moment but ended up laughing so loud she woke the baby up. Adora was glad she could make her sister laugh for even just a moment.
"That's enough now. You need to rest so you can recover. Now go to sleep. I'll take Odessa until it's Tim for her to eat again."
As Gwen laid next to her sister and her baby she felt so much love her heart could burst open at any moment as she slowly started to drift off and feel asleep.
The recovery period passed by quickly and Gwen started running around creating noise again. While Adora took exceptional care of Odessa rumors of 'her' pregnancy had been spreading for months by this time, but they were quickly replaced with how much of a loving a doting mother she was to baby Odessa. That didn't stop the bad rumors from continuing, but there wasn't much she wanted do about it. She was ready to go back to the royal palace. She wanted to get over the wedding as quickly as possible. Word was even sent to her that the Gran Duke had already arrived to the palace and has been waiting on her return.
Arriving to the castle Adora noticed many nobles already arriving for the engagement banquet. 'Not even a moment to spare I suppose' she thought. The patriarch probably prepared everything in advance. Gwen sat on the opposite side of the carriage to her the entire trip and said little to nothing.
After greeting her father and her brother she quickly made her way to her chambers. The king immediately grabbed the new baby out of Adora's arms and greeted her with warm hugs and kisses. The sight made Adora's heart thump with joy.
"WHERE ARE THE GIFTS?"
The king had prepaid trunks of jewelry and clothes for his granddaughter.
"You'll be meeting the Grand Duke tomorrow. The details will be given to Marina."
Angelo knew his sister heard rumors about the grand Duke so he wanted to clear that up right away. The point of this meeting was to show his sister whether the rumors were true or false. He knew them to be flat out lies. The Grand Duke's step mother hated him so she created all shorts of nasty rumors and situations to tarnish him and his name.
She was as cold, calculating and manipulative. She tormented The Grand Duke every single day growing up. There was even an instance where she sent him to retrieve a phenix egg on the top of mount Elgerd. It was the tallest mountain between the two kingdoms and the only place Phenix laid their eggs. He was only 14 at the time and came back with a broken arm and leg. Not even the bravest of men would volunteer to climb it. The mountain was steep, rocky and dangerous all together.
The next day things were busy with servants running around everywhere to prepare for the banquet. Adora thankfully had a good nights rest with the help of Marina. She asked her to be in charge of Odessa's care and hired new help. She still had Lenna and Viola as maids so that eased Marina's worries.
On the day of the meeting the handmaidens chose a light pink off shoulder style dress with blue, purple and yellow flower appliqué pressed from silk fabric. The sleeves were in a loose fit and sheer style and cuffed at her wrists. She paired the dress with a blue diamond stone necklace and matching earrings.
"Your highness, it's time for your meeting with the Grand Duke."
Lenna knew Adora was a punctual woman and would not be happy if she was even a minute late. The clicks and the clacks of her steps were muffled by the bustling noises from preparations. When she reached the door she took a deep breath and walked in.
'The Grand Duke had fallen asleep while waiting for me?' He was still in a sitting position but his head was laid back and his eyes closed. She studied from head to toe. Light brown hair like the color of a swallow's feather. The man was quite tall and from what she could see he was quite a muscular man as well. Even his hands were huge. Come to think of it the man was seven foot tall compared to her five foot and two inches of height.
'At least he isn't ugly and he seems to know how to dress'
He wore a white tunic with gold embroidery on the collar and wrists of his sleeve. His vest was a royal blue with gold buttons and he paired his black trousers with black boots.
"You might burn a hole through me if you keep on staring at me like that your highness."
Adora was started by the sudden statement made by the man who she thought was asleep. She turned red from embarrassment and quickly shuffled her way to the seat across from the Grand Duke as if nothing happened.
"My name is Luca Monte Ellington, Grand Duke of Ellington, I'm honored to be officially meeting the first princess of Norland and my future wife."
Still embarrassed from what happened earlier she quickly retreated her hand after he kissed it. She contemplated for a moment on whether or not to actually call the The Grand Duke by his name.
"...I'm honored to meet my future husband as well."
He smiled and carried himself gracefully as just as she did, bit his heart thumped when he referred to him as her future husband. Truth be told Luca was a little more then interested in her. That's why he accepted the proposal. When they first met she didn't speak unless she needed to and her poker face never made a change to show any emotions. He had obviouslyhearf rumors about her too and at that moment I'm time he honestly believed them for a moment. From then on he wanted to know more about her and now was the perfect time.
"How was your vacation at château Dumont?"
He wanted to break the ice from the awkwardness that had started to surround them. When he first discovered his feelings for her he thought he'd have no chance with a princess especially with the awful rumors surrounding him, but when he heard that she was looking for a suitor and learned of her 'pregnancy' he had a mix of emotions. He was actually wanted to propose to her, but he never had the courage to approach her.
She showed little to no interest in any topics he brought up. She was there to be courteous to him. In all honestly she was indifferent about the whole situation. She didn't care to find out who her future husband was. She did however plan on testing him. Marina should be arriving at any moment with Odessa. She wanted to know how he'd react to her. Depending on his reaction it would determine whether or not she'd call the engagement off.
"How is my future daughter doing? I can't wait to meet her."
Adora's eyes immediately darted to his. She built him up to be a foul mannered person with no respect for women so she didn't expect him to take any interest in Odessa. He talked about all kinds of things that she didn't have he energy to entertain, but when he showed interest in Odessa her cold stone like face transformed into a soft and warm smile she tried to hide so he acted as if he didn't see. He had never seen her make that kind of expression, but he was completely sure of it now. He had completely fallen for his future wife, but she had almost no interest in him.
'I'll just have to win you over.'
A knock at the door and an announcement of Odessa arriving with Marina was made by the Duke butler, Neil. The first thing Luca noticed about Odessa was her eyes. Her eyes were beautiful sparkling green and purple, it was like looking out into the shining northern lights that shined every winter in the mountains. She was perfect mix of Gwen and Maximus, and since Luca was the cousin of Maximus Odessa also resembled Luca in a way. So it would be believable for they just outright claimed that Odessa was their own love child. Luca blushed at the thought while Adora looked at him curiously.
"Your grace, this is Odessa."
She kept note of all his reactions while he interacted with Odessa. To her surprise he seemed genuinely interested and he asked questions about her. She could slowly feel her walls being torn down one at a time. Her only weak spot was Odessa and it felt as if he knew.
"May I hold her?"
Adora thought about it for a moment. What if he drops her? But she figured since she could just sit next to him and teach him how to hold a baby. She instructed him to hold his arms out and the to fold them into a cradle position. She then carefully placed Odessa into his arms.
"Be careful, you might drop her."
Her voice was soft and soothing it pulled at his heartstrings. Both Odessa's adorable face and Adora's loving demeanor towards her daughter made him want this even more. He'd never felt the love of a mother or father so he grew determined to do whatever it takes to make his wife and daughter happy. But for now didn't dare to move a muscle and sat frozen. She chuckled at the sight of him trying so hard.
"It's okay. You can relax. Just hold her as if you're giving her a long comfortable hug."
He sighed a breath of relief and relaxed his shoulders. He couldn't believe it. He was holding a baby. 'Like a long comfortable hug.' He felt the warmth coming from a Dora as she sat very closely to him. In that moment he felt like he was experiencing a long and comfortable hug.
Marina being the one witnessing this first meeting of a family was almost brought to tears. It's was a beautiful and wholesome moment.