"No, I want to meet Janielle", Stella said as she found her way up her father's laps with him helping her.
Tyler sighed softly, "Janielle? Who's Janielle?", He asked, pretending that he didn't know.
"My friend, she's my friend", Stella said happily.
"Well, you can't meet your friend then. You can play with all the toys you want here in the castle", he replied. Stella's face fell. "Why? Why can't I play with Janielle".
"She might be dangerous", he replied with a straight face, "now go to your room, I'll meet you later".
Stella jumped down from his laps sadly and angrily but then instead of going she kept on standing where she was staring at him with pouted lips hoping he'll change his mind.
"Stella, go to your room at once and wait for me", he ordered again. Stella then ran out of the room with tears in her eyes. As soon as she left, Tyler sent a maid to call Thomas and in no time, Thomas arrived.
"Bring Miss Peterson here and make sure Stella's in her room", he said angrily.
Thomas bowed slightly and quickly left the study room.
*. *. *.
Kathryn, Zoe and Janielle were happy. Duke Jonathan Denvers, Kathryn's husband and Zoe's dad was going to be arriving any time soon. While Janielle was at the kitchen helping the butler as usual, Zoe went to the kitchen and stretched out her hand to take water while brushing her hand roughly against Janielle's shoulder on purpose though she made it look like a mistake.
"Ouch", cried Janielle.
"Oh my, so sorry", she said feigning pity for a while and then disgust filled her face, "very soon, you'll know your real place in this house, when my dad arrives!" Zoe told her angrily and left the kitchen without the water she wanted to take in the first place.
"Don't pay attention to her. She has always been like this, she's just jealous", the butler tried to cheer Janielle up when Zoe left.
"Jealous?, What is she jealous of?", Janielle asked almost at the brink of tears. Sometimes she just didn't want to care, she just acted like she didn't care sometimes but it was already getting too much, she just couldn't wait to go back to her mom.
"You're prettier, smarter, friendlier...", The butler went on and on but she wasn't paying attention. She was just thinking of how happy it'll be when she gets back home.
While she was still deep in thoughts, she and the butler heard Zoe scream, "dad!".
As they heard it, they knew he was back and they all rushed to the sitting room to welcome him. Everyone was so happy to see Duke Denvers back home safely. The butler and the other maid they had along with Janielle made a feast for the evening. Zoe and her mom each bought presents for him. He really stayed for a long time at Crestshore
"Dad, what did you bring for me?", Zoe asked not even waiting for her father to settle down.
"Welcome sir", Janielle greeted him politely. She wasn't really familiar with him as she was with Aunt Kathryn and if there was one thing she knew, it was that he was a Duke. All through her childhood days, she never really had the privilege to associate with the high class people. She didn't even know her aunt was married to a Duke and she knew her aunt would be able to get a very suitable suitor for Zoe as she would soon be 16 years old. That was the major reason why Duke Denvers came home right now. He wasn't through with his work but he wanted to celebrate his only daughter's 16th birthday because from that day, his wife would start paying attention to suitors.
"How are you all?", He asked Zoe and Janielle which made Zoe somehow irritated.
"I'm are fine sir"
" I'm fine daddy".
"Good, I bought things for the two of you", Duke Denvers said and then motioned to the butler to get it from the carriage.
Zoe frowned slightly, who was Janielle to also get gifts from her father. Her status was rather too low but just one look from her mother quieted her and forced a smile out of her.
*. *. *.
"Who's this Janielle?", Tyler asked Miss Peterson calmly. This was Tyler, he was still calm even if he was going to order her execution he was still going to be calm. Yes he was calm but was raging inside.
Miss Peterson was shaking, she was so scared. Just the privilege of being in the king's presence was death...
"She's... She's the girl you just told me to start teaching", she said shakily with her head down.
"Your work is just to teach Stella how to read and write and also basic etiquettes. I don't know why you're pushing silly ideas into her head. From now on, I don't want you to mention that girl's name in her presence or you'll face the consequences.", He said and ended his threat with a cocky smile, "leave".
Miss Peterson bowed like 5 times before hurrying out of the room.
Tyler smiled again. Just as Miss Peterson left, Thomas entered quietly.
"Stella has refused to eat your highness and lady Florence and her son, Carl will soon be arriving", he said and bowed.
"Stella has refused to eat? Because of that Janielle? What is so special about that girl?", Tyler asked no one on particular then he finally said, "invite her family for lunch".
Thomas was taken aback but he still bowed deeply and walked out quietly. He wondered what the king was up to this time