"Someone is looking for you," she informed and Hazel turned to see Lilith. She internally rolled her eyes and she wondered what she wanted with her. Going to meet her, she said," We hadn't yet finished talking. When did you start working here?" "Sometime back," she replied wondering where the conversation was going.
Lilith realized that she looked much better and cleaner than the time she spent at their home. "What do you do here?" she asked again.
"I work in the kitchen," she replied, trying to keep her answers short. "Okay Who serves the Duke?" she asked. "Someone else," she replied and Lilith nodded. "Alright. I will talk to mother and see if she can take you back home," she said and Hazel internally laughed. Did she ever say that she wanted to go back?!
"I will be taking my leave now," she informed and before she could go, she heard someone call Hazel and she realized that it was the Viscountess.
Hazel turned on seeing the woman and she gave her a smile. Alvara came to stand next to them and she said," I wanted to thank you before we get to leave. I honestly feel better and I think it's because of the tea."
"I'm glad it helped," said Hazel. "I think I will be coming more often so that you teach me how to make it. That is if you don't mind," she said. "Sure. I'm always available," she replied.
"Alright. I will take my leave," she said and looked at Lilith then gave her a small smile before walking away.
"How did you become friends with the Viscountess?!" asked Lilith the moment she she left. "Viscountess?" Hazel asked confused. "You mean you don't know that she's Viscountess Alvara Grayson?" she asked and she shook her head. "I didn't know," she replied and on seeing Rufus who was coming to where they were, Hazel immediately excused herself and walked away.
Finally, the long day came to an end and the servants retired to their quarters, leaving the estate patrolled by the guards. Hazel wiped her hair with a small towel as she entered her room coming from the bathrooms. She changed into her night gown before getting in the bed. Remembering the events of the day, she sighed. She hadn't expected to meet Lilith today and she just prayed that the mother daughter pair doesn't trouble her at her job. Pushing their thoughts away, she wondered if the Duke had seen the gift, and if he had liked it. Remembering the way they were closely interacting with Eleanor, she pursed her lips and she closed her eyes to sleep.
When it came to morning, Hazel learnt that Eleanor spent the night in the manor. As they were preparing breakfast for the two, Emily spoke," At this rate, his grace and the princess might get married sooner than expected."
"I don't think she slept in his chamber," said Rosalie. "Even then. The princess is a very attractive woman. They might have slept together in one of the guest rooms," she added.
"Enough with the dawdling. The breakfast has to be delivered as soon as possible," said Charlotte and they got back to work.
When they were done, Rosalie organized to take the food and Charlotte decided to go in Hazel's place remembering what happened the last time she served the princess and Hazel was thankful.
When it was time for them to have their breakfast, Hazel didn't have the urge to eat. Her mind was all messed up after knowing that the Duke and the princess spent the night together. The next thing will be pregnancy and then marriage. She knew that she had no right to feel that way but she couldn't help it.
This was one of the reasons why she didn't want to come and work here in the first place.
At around noon, Eleanor left the manor in a carriage and it is when the Duke went to his study. Reaching the place, he caught sight of a box on his table and he frowned as he approached it. He touched the box and on opening it, he saw a big paper bag. Removing it, he checked inside to see something, and on removing it, he realized it was a sweater. The fabric felt so soft and smooth in his hands and it looked as though someone had taken a lot of time to make it. He could tell that it wasn't expensive but it was special because it reminded him of his mother. She used to sew all his sweaters other than buying them from expensive stores. Inside the bag was a note, and on seeing it, it said,' Happy birthday your grace.'
Hazel's day had turned from bad to worse by the time it ended. She had a throbbing headache when she entered her room and she sat on her bed. She decided that she was not going to bathe tonight because she feared catching a cold. She wrapped herself in the blanket and she closed her stinging eyes to sleep.
The following day in the morning, Mr Cooper came to the kitchen and caught sight of three maids instead of four. "Where's Ms Winston?" he asked. "Hazel woke up feeling sick today Mr Cooper," informed Charlotte.
"What's wrong with her?" he asked. "I don't know what exactly. I think she has a fever," she said and he nodded before walking away.
Going to the study where his master was, he informed," Your grace, I just learnt that Ms Winston is sick." "What is she suffering from?" he asked, his eyes fixated on the document he was reading. "Fever, from what I heard," he said and silence engulfed the room. A while later, he said," Send for the physician to have her checked up." With the words, he nodded and left the room. When the door was closed, Raven removed the glasses from his face and placed down the document he had been reading.