Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

"I am sorry to ruin your engagement party. You must be resenting me?" Evan looked at Hannah who was holding the child after a whole day waiting for her turn.

They took out the names by card game and apparently Hannah lost it every time.

The first winner was Ethan who had the most experience but then Leo monopolized the girl telling it was her father daughter time or nappy changing time.

Then Eli won and then Andrw but he passed the chance since he was worried that he would hurt such a small child and last was Hannah who was not even blinking as if she was worried that the child would fall if she would stop looking at her.

Evan felt that Hannah was the most adorable one when she was holding the child. As a woman, she had expected that she would be the calm one.

"You know she would not feel that easel even if you stop looking at her for a second and talk to others." Evan looked at others who were grumping but not leaving.

Eli had already stood up to cook while Andrew and Leo were doing some serious conversation since their voices were so low and Ethan was sitting between them silently but his face had darkened too.

She didn't need to be told what they could be talking about.

She just prayed that everything would end up well.

"I have a large mark on my thighs.'' Evan furrowed her brows with bewilderment and tuned to look at Hannah again. "When I asked my mother how I got it, she told me that she was holding me while sitting in the garden while waiting for my father to come when she fell asleep." there was a wry smile on her face and her face looked… painful to look at!

"Her eyes closed as she was drowsy after the whole day of work that she did not realize when I felt. It would have been fine but I fell straight on a rake.

Its pointed side hit my legs and she only woke up when she heard me howling!" Even when telling the story, Hannah did not take her eyes away from the child so Evan was not sure what kind of expressions she had, but she felt anguish in her voice that made her upset too.

"She said it was not her mistake. I was not able to sit silently. Was I expecting her to wait for father in their room?" Hannah laughed softly.

"I wonder if I even know what a room or garden was at that age!" she shook her head but then realized that she had taken her eyes off the child and stiffened and started staring back at the child.

Evan felt a strong pain and for the first time she let her guards down around Hannah. She wanted to tell herself that the girl might be playing tricks again but looking at her worried face and trembling hands, it did not seem like it.

"You know I have always envied you. You have a loving mother, kind father, good childhood and even a warm environment to grow up in.'' Hannah took a deep breath and returned the child to Evan who was still leaning on the bedrest.

Her face was rosy again but she was feeling all the bones of her body were still breaking apart.

"While i… my mother did not have time for me since she was always waiting for my father to come so that she could have a boy with him or.. Cursing me that my father did not love her enough because I was a girl!" there was a bitter smile on her face yet her eyes were devoid of any emotion.

"I thought it was my mistake but it pained me that way.. So, I followed my father one day. He was on horseback while I was on foot without any shoes since they were expensive.

Luckily an old man helped me in covering the distance. I waited patiently for him to stop so that I could ask him in the absence of my mother if I was the reason he didn't love us enough.

If I was the reason he often stayed absent?

I swear I have promised myself no matter what the reason was. l.. I will get rid of it even if it was me so that my mother could be happy.

So that her listless life will be lively and happy again." she finally looked away from the child and stared into the eyes of Evangeline.

The look in her eyes made her uneasy. She felt a strange pain in her chest as if someone was holding her heart tightly.

"But you know what reason I found?" she raised a brow and asked but Even did not nod.

For some reason she did not want to know the reason..

"I found him finally stopping in front of a warm and colorful house and pressing the bell. I found a young and beautiful woman opening the door.l. And in the end, I found him holding you and kissing your forehead with all the love in his eye that I always wanted to see. But for myself. I found that you were the reason my mother and I never got the love we deserved!" she stopped as if she was waiting for Evan to grasp the meaning behind her word when the eyes of Evan trembled.

She opened her lips but then closed the theme again as if she was not sure what to say.

"From that day.. I worked hard to get rid of the reason. Do you remember how you were hit by a carriage when you were nine years old. Or how you were lost on your way to market when you often go there?

Do you remember how you were taken away by an old man.. Ha! You have always been lucky to not fall in any danger even when I tried all ways!"

"Ruining my engagement is nothing in front of it!"