The Secret in the Mist (Random Updates)

Chapter 8

"What could he possibly want with our Duchess? It's not like he can make any claims to the Duke's fortune that she had inherited," Cirro questioned as his face scrunched up. He could not understand what her father could want with his duchess. From their understanding, their duchess' parents rarely got in contact with her since she moved out of their home.

"He was calling for money. Here I recorded their conversation while hiding in her door entrance since she left the door ajar," Wolf muttered as he retrieved his phone from his back pocket. After clicking a few buttons they heard her answering the phone. Once the conversation was over, he hung up the phone and tossed it onto the counter.

"Well someone isn't getting the best father award anytime soon," Cirro sarcastically said as he rolled his eyes. How could she allow her father to just take advantage of her?

"I agree, we will need to try and keep an eye on her to see if she gives in to giving her father any of her inheritance. I understand it should be her choice yet the duke didn't want that man to have even a cent. Now we know the reason why."

"We also need to keep an eye out to see how far this pressure to please and give in to her parents goes," Wolf frowned. "If it starts to affect her health, especially mentally, we may have to step in and take care of matters ourselves."

"Agreed," both men said in unison.

"I have to admit, we may be wrong about her," Wolf said as if it were a foreign language. "She was abundantly more comfortable in that shithole than here. She kept telling Mr. Thomas that she doesn't deserve this. It is as if she is scared to touch anything and after hearing the way her father and that flea spoke to her, she is different from what we were anticipating."

"We still need to be cautious though," Raine said sternly. "Until we have reason to believe she is innocent, we need to watch her. It is clear she is still hiding something from us."

"Do you think she is hungry?" Cirro asked. "She barely ate dinner."

"Speaking of which, what's the deal with that?" Wolf grunted. "She barely has any memories of Duke but yet she won't sit in his chair because it's too hard for her? It doesn't make any sense."

"Who knows," Raine replied as he watched the doorway for movement. "Maybe what few memories she does have revolve around her time with Duke sitting in that chair while eating. They do say that the most fond memories often revolve around food. I say we should just wait and observe, after all she hasn't even been here a full day."

"I'm not sure she will eat while she is working," Wolf shook his head. "She had those gloves on her hands after all, I doubt she will want food around those books."

Raine stood and buttoned his suit jacket. "I will go ask her if she would like something to eat after she is done working." He left the room and started walking toward the library. Upon reaching the door, he knocked twice and when he didn't receive an answer he walked inside. "Duchess Sinclaire," he called out as he saw her hunched over a book. Her hands were fisted into her hair as her elbows rested on the table. It was clear that she was trying to focus intently on whatever she was reading.

Walking over to her, he tapped her shoulder, startling her, which caused her to yank her headphones off her ears, "I'm awake!" she shouted in surprise as she put her hand over her chest. "S...s...sorry," she gasped as she realized what happened.

"No need to apologize, Duchess," he replied as he glanced down at the book written in Latin. "If you are tired, I can escort you to your room."

She shook her head, "No...no, thank you. I s...still have a l...lot of...of work to do. P...p...please, c...can I st...stay longer?"

"Of course, Duchess," he nodded. "This is your home now. You can stay here as long as you'd like. Perhaps a break and get some refreshments before returning to work?"

She shook her head again, "No, thank you. I d...d...d...," she took a deep sigh and he noticed the tremors running through her body. Just what has the Duchess been through? "I don't w...want to dis...dis...disturb Cirro s...s...sleeping...but th...thank you. I'm fine."

His lips tightened, "Follow me, Duchess," he said sternly as he turned and started walking toward the door. The tone in his voice made her jump up and follow without second guessing it. He heard her quick steps and opened the door. The silence hung in the air and he could practically hear her thoughts racing but he kept his mouth shut as she hurried to his side.

"Duchess," Cirro and Wolf addressed as Raine held the dining room door open for her to step through.

"Cirro, get the Duchess some refreshments so she can return to her work," Raine demanded as he pulled a chair out for her.

"Th...thank you," she whispered as she sat down and he scooted her forward. "I ap...a...appreciate it."

"Eat," Cirro said as he placed a plate of mixed fruit, slices of cheese, and cut up meat in front of her along with a flavored water.

"Do you always work this late?" Wolf asked as he watched her nibble on some cheese. She reminded him of a mouse and for some odd reason that irked him. He shouldn't care this much about her, it was frustrating,he needed to get control of himself. "It's nearly midnight. You need sleep."

"Most n...ni...nights yes," she nodded, "I have trouble sleeping."

"I can make you some tea that will help," Cirro said as he frowned. He didn't like that, the Duchess needed a proper amount of sleep. Just what the hell has she been through? A quick glance told him that Raine and Wolf didn't like that statement either.

"Th...th...thank you," she murmured. "Cam...cam...chamomile and lav...lavender tea do n...not work, I've tried."

"Good to know," Cirro said as he headed to the kitchen. A few minutes later he came back with a teacup that smelled good but she couldn't place the scent. "Try this when you're ready to go to bed."

"Drink it now," Raine commanded. "You've had a taxing day, surely work can wait until tomorrow, Duchess. No one will enter the library so your work will remain untouched until you return to it, I guarantee it."

"Agreed," Cirro and Wolf said in unison.

A shiver shot down her spine at their tones, causing a confused look to cross her face. Raine narrowed his eyes, "Drink, Duchess, then off to bed."

Without thinking about it, she picked up the teacup and drank the warm liquid, savoring how it coated her throat and warmed her bones. Once it was empty, she stood and followed Raine to her room. He shut the door behind her and as she changed into her favorite black leggings and rock band concert shirt, she realized her brain was calm and fuzzy for once in a very long time. Just maybe for tonight, she wouldn't have trouble sleeping after all.