My Lady Chef novel Chapter 3

Milford's POV:

I stared at the small dilapidated house with its overgrown hedges and peeling wall paint as I sighed as I knocked on the door.

The new girl Linda opened the door and bowed to me as I let myself in.

News of the duke's treatment of his wife has spread across the estate and manor. He abandoned her on the day of their nuptials and was as a result exiled to the bridal house.

As the duchess of the most awed yet feared nobility in Illios, I had expected her to protest and start throwing things around but she docilely left the main manor and settled here.

"How is Her Grace doing Linda?" I asked the young maiden who volunteered to serve the duchess. She had a somewhat pleasant face with chestnut hair and brown eyes but she was somewhat of an oddity around the maids.

"She is fine sir." was her reply.

Always prompt and I detect a hint of coldness as well. Before she came to serve the duchess; she was quiet and timid but now.....she is quite bold to show such displeasure.

I stopped and confronted her, as the head butler; I have the authority to report her rebellious behavior to the head maid and she can be punished accordingly.

But then I noticed something else.

The outside was deplorable but the inside of the house was clean. the floors were shiny and the walls were properly dusted and flowers decorated every vase. The drapes have been changed and the windows were washed and the carpet was clean although it was a bit worse for the wear.

From my knowledge, the head maid did not send any help to clean the house. Only the room where the duchess will be staying at.

"Did you clean all of this?" I asked her. Now that I got a look at her now, her hair was a bit brittle and her skin is dry and the eye bags under her eyes was prominent.

She hesitated before she nodded. Her usual expression turned a bit fidgety before she hid it behind her aloof mask.

"Yes sir. " she hastily answered but before I could question her, we arrived at the duchess' room. She opened knocked on the door lightly before opening it.

The Duchess was dressed in a simple burgundy gown that high lighted her golden hair, the dark red-purple color brought out the color in her rosebud lips and soft teal eyes as she closed the book she was reading and looked at me.

I have met many ladies with their pastel and bright colored gowns, their neck and hands dripping with jewels; their hair powdered with glitter and done elaborately to make them look stunning.

The duchess possesses no extravagant jewels on her except for a simple checker necklace of black velvet.

Despite such simplicity, she was breathtakingly beautiful. Like a fey lady who has placed here by accident. I admit that I was entranced the first time I saw her walking towards my lord's chambers. Her blonde hair unbound and caressing her pale cheek. She looked so vulnerable and lost even as her beauty glowed in the darkness.

I remembered the first she stumbled upon my lord to ask for his help while he was staying at an inn near the Baron's estate. She was heavily cloaked and her hands gloved. Even her veiled face hide everything but her pretty eyes but it was evident that she was scared of the Duke but even then, she blubbered a courageous plea to save her beloved father.