Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

In the palace of Thawayne,

Hannah checked the wall clock again with worry filled her eyes.

Andrew, Eli, Evan and everyone else was in the palace but Ethan was nowhere to be seen.

He had told her that he was going to get some news about Leo but it had been hours since Leo had returned to the palace. Then where in the world was he?

She rubbed her womb, a habit she had developed recently as her womb had grown larger and it could be seen easily.

She looked at the room again. She was not sure what they were talking about but she was sure there was something going on between them she did not know about. Her heart was racing badly and for some reason, all the ominous thoughts were filling her mind.

It was a habit she had developed because she still could not believe that everything had happened this easily and her fate had not mocked her yet.

They were not yet married. Ethan had told her to wait until she gave birth. Then they would go and take their vows but she did not care.

As long as he loves her and they have their baby. She did not care about those rituals. Her mother was married to her father but the man never spent time with his family.

Then why did she need vows to be with him. But.. she took a deep breath to give herself some peace.

"Mistress, why don't you eat something first. Staying hungry for a long time in pregnancy is not good for your health." asked her maid with a look of worry.

Maids.. She had treated them badly too but in the end, they had still accepted her with open arms. She could not explain how lucky she was for their care and worry! They were more like a family to her.

Hannah looked at the door again but knew that Ethan was not there. She would know by the butler if he would arrive.

She nodded her head and followed the maid towards the dining room but it was empty.

She frowned as she sat on her designated seat that was far away from the seat of the head. Ethan had given that position back to Leo and she had no objection with it.

"Where is everyone?" she asked the maid who filled the table with a lot of dishes but there was only one plate and that was in front of her.

"Lady Evangeline is not in a mood to eat, so lady Elizabeth asked me to serve some soup in her room only. My lord is still unconscious. His highness and lady Elizabeth said that they would eat later when lady Evangeline would feel better."

"Oh!" Hannah paused and stood up, "then I should go and look after them too. We can have dinner later when Ethan returns too." the suffocating feeling in her heart only returned with that thought when the maid looked worried.

"Lady Elizabeth said that you should not stay hungry for long. You are pregnant and need to take care of your growing child. I think the same, mistress. You need to take medicine too." she urged as she filled the soup in the bowl and looked at her when Hannah sighed and nodded her head.

She sat back on the chair and took a mouthful but she could not feel any taste. Something wetted her mouth and slowly passed her food passage but she did not even feel the texture of it to know what she actually ate.

If not for the child, she had left the table already. She forced herself to eat a bit more when she felt the nauseating feeling returned.

While Evan had a peaceful and easy pregnancy, Hannah often ended up vomiting everything.

The maid sighed when she saw her leaving with urgent steps towards her room.

"I will warm some porridge and bring it to your room, mistress." she offered when Hannah nodded her head in a hurry before leaving.

Hannah walked straight to the attached washroom and lurched her lungs out. She kept raking and gagging until everything in her stomach was out.

She leaned on the door for a few seconds as if she was trying to gain strength and then splashed some cold water on her face. Taking a deep breath, she rinsed her face and then patted it with a warm towel and walked out.

She sat on her bed and waited for her body to feel better. She picked up the glass of water from the side table when her eyes fell on the waiting letter there.

She frowned. She remembered there was no letter there when she had left the room an hour ago and Ethan was not in the palace. No one was allowed to come in the room in their absence.

Then the letter?

She picked it up and started reading when her eyes turned wide. Her face turned paler than before and she looked like she had seen a dead corpse.

After reading it completely, she hid it under her dress as if she was trying to get rid of its presence.

She stood up and looked at the room as if she was looking at it for the first time before walking towards her closet.

There was a small wooden box that was full of gold and gems and jewelry she was gifted by Ethan.

She picked it up and all other things she could seem worthy of selling.

Her hands were trembling as she packed all the things in a small bag and then walked towards the balcony instead of the main door.

She picked up the small candle stand lying near the railing and then…

The maid knocked the room with warm porridge in her hands. Her face had a worried look as the door was not opened yet.

She had knocked so many times.

Did the mistress sleep? She wondered and opened the door with some hesitation only to see that it was.. Empty!