When it was soon coming to evening, Hazel was fetching logs of wood from the forest when she saw Mr Cooper walking to where she was. "Ms Winston," he called.
"Yes Mr Cooper," she replied stopping with what she was doing to look at him. "His grace asks for your presence at the pond," he said. "Why?" she couldn't help but ask. "I have no idea. Do you wish me to accompany you there?" he asked. "No. I know the way," she said and he nodded before walking away.
Looking at his treating back, she wondered if he knew what was going on between her and his master.
Making her way further into the woods, she took the direction where she remembered the pond to be. As she was still moving, she didn't know how she stumbled and tripped, falling flat on her stomach. She winced as she got up and she checked her palm which was bruised. Removing the dirt from her dress, she continued walking with a frown on her face from the earlier fall.
Reaching the area, she caught sight of the Duke from a distance who had craned his neck looking upwards into a tree. She looked at him, stunned and she paused for a moment. He was dressed in the sweater she had gifted him and he looked so good in it. Making steps to where he was, he turned to look in the direction on hearing footsteps.
Raven looked at the woman who had been occupying his mind lately. The more she rejected him, the more his interest in her increased. It wasn't common for a servant to reject her master's wishes but she did, and he didn't know if he should applaud her for her bravery or get pissed.
Seeing her eyes fixated on his sweater after reaching him, he said," You like it?"
She bowed her head and said," Yes it is nice. Good evening your grace."
He decided to ignore the fact that she had insisted on addressing him with titles and he asked," Did you think about it?" "No your grace," she replied. She watched him stretch his hand and plucked a fruit from the tree branch before bringing it and sank his teeth into it then took a bite from it. "Should I get one for you?" she shook his head at the question and he nodded as he chewed the fruit.
A while later, she asked," Uh, why did you call for me your grace? I had some work I was doing." "I want to spend some time with you," he said and she looked away.
Later, the two stood in ultimate silence as Hazel watched the clear water of the large pond that was in front of them. From the corner of her eyes, she watched the Duke pull off his sweater.
Throwing it on the ground, she turned to look at him when she saw him unbutton his shirt and her eyes widened. "W-what are you doing?!" she asked, alarmed. "Undressing of course," he replied smiling mischievously revealing his set of white teeth, as he tilted his head to the side. W-why?" she asked and he threw his shirt to join the sweater on the floor.
When she saw his hands reaching for the fastenings of his breeches, she immediately turned around and her face turned red. What was he doing? He has no shame!
Her heart pounded in her chest as she heard him throw it on the floor too. Hearing footsteps coming to where she was, she could feel her breath hitching.
She then felt his breath fanning her neck and she flinched at the ticklish feeling. "I will be waiting for you to join me in the water," he whispered and she heard him walk away.
The next moment, she heard him jump into the water and she turned to look him washing his body, as his back was facing her. Looking at his clothes that were piled up there, she wasn't sure if he was wearing anything.
'To join me in the water,' she recalled his words and she thought hard.
Deciding to go back to the manor, she took four steps away when she stopped and turned to look at him, who hadn't turned as he continued to wash himself.
She remembered the last time she was in his room and she felt her insides churn at the memory. She couldn't deny the inexplicable feelings and somewhere at the back of her mind, she was curious and intrigued to explore more of that. She glanced at him again before surveying the area and her hands reached for the front buttons of her dress, before slowly undoing them.
When she was done, she looked around again before pulling it off, leaving her in only her white chemise. Hazel felt too exposed and on looking at him, she was glad that he wasn't looking at her. She quickly stepped out of her sandals before removing her stockings and she kept them somewhere under the tree.
She slowly entered the water with her heart beating in her chest and she stopped behind him. She immersed her whole body in the water before coming back on top with water dripping from her whole body.
Raven turned to look at her and he saw the wet strands of hair sticking to her face. He reached for them and pushed them back, so that he could see her face. Somewhere, he had been confident that she would come and join him in the water, after what happened between them the last time she was in his room. And if she hadn't come, he was going to think that maybe she was not interested in him and he was going to give up pursuing her.
Her eyes were fixated on his firm chest and taut muscles when she heard him ask," Do you know how to swim?" And she shook her head at the question.
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