Chapter 9: Annalise Cromwell (2)
''Duchess Hayes, Her imperial majesty meant no harm,'' Countess Moore said with a worried look.
Anyone in the duchess's shoes would be angry at the Empress' actions, but the duchess never expressed her displeasure against them on their way to her carriage.
Isla turned away from the opened door of her carriage and looked at countess moore. ''I am not angry at her majesty's actions.''
''But I am interested as to why her imperial majesty sent you to escort me,'' Isla could care less about Annalise and the other noble ladies and madams as she wanted to hear those exact words of the proposal from the countess' lips.
No, she needed to hear them.
Countess Moore did not expect the duchess to be sharp. Other ladies and madams would be feeling on top of the clouds, but the duchess could see there was more to it.
'Her imperial majesty would like to hear about this.' The countess could already picture the Empress's smile. She parted her lips to talk, ''Her imperial majesty wants to help you.''
''Help me?'' Even if Isla knew the rest of her words, she had to act appropriately to avoid unnecessary suspicions and variables.
''Yes,'' Countess nodded, then paused as if looking for the right words and continued, '' Her imperial majesty wants to help you escape the Hayes duchy.''
Isla kept quiet momentarily. Without a change in her expression, she asked, ''Does the countess know the meaning behind her words?''
''Yes, I do.'' The lack of surprise did not shock Countess Moore as she could see the duchess now, was not of many words. Her throwing the Empress to deal with marchioness chauvez told her a lot.
''And why should I believe her imperial majesty's sincerity?'' Isla did not say more as she expects the countess to understand the meaning behind her words.
''...Her imperial majesty must have wanted to see your reaction. She wants to know if intervening is worth the consequences or not.''
Now Isla somewhat understood the Empress's action. The countess was someone who knew the Empress like the back of her hand.
In her second life, the countess only said the offer, but she did not persuade her like now. To question the Empress' action is akin to treason, and the countess did not call her out for it. Instead, she answered patiently and honestly.
The Empress in her second life did not like Isla's foolish character and probably expected her not to accept the offer, but now it was different.
Isla could see the Empress was satisfied with her current character and knew things were turning in her favor.
''Duchess, her imperial majesty, does not like the commoner. Please do not misinterpret…'' Countess Moore felt the duchess was still displeased with the tea party. She wanted to persuade her to accept the offer, as she could see the Empress liked the duchess and was sincere in helping her.
Isla did not allow her to finish her sentence and said, ''I accept her majesty's offer.''
Now she has a way to escape from the duchy. All she has to do is to wait for her baby to come into this world, and then everything will fall in line according to her wishes.
''....'' The countess was a little bit stunned that she accepted the offer. It was not in a noble lady's dictionary to escape from her husband's home just because of his affair. They would feel ashamed of allowing the mistress to be the victor and the society would worsen the matter.
But the duchess was different.
Nevertheless, she was relieved, as this was the first time the empress decided to behave out of character to help someone. The latter would surely be happy with the duchess's decision.
''Her imperial majesty would be satisfied with your decision and I as well.'' The countess smiled as she closed the gap between them to hold hands intimately. ''Duchess should please find your happy moment as you might suffer very soon from rumors about the mistress, duke, and yourself. I don't understand the reason behind the duke's actions, but please put yourself and your baby first before anyone. I am sure her majesty feels the same way.''
Isla's blue eyes met her warm turquoise eyes, and then nodded with a small smile, ''Countess does not have to tell me first. This child is my priority, no matter what.''
The countess widened her eyes a bit at her small smile. She knew the duchess was beautiful, but when the latter smiled, her beauty was on another level.
Thoughts about the duke's actions came to her mind, and she inwardly shook her head while withdrawing her hands from the duchess'. 'I don't understand.'
She stared at Isla. ''Her imperial majesty will find a way to communicate with you without the duke's knowledge. Until then, please stay happy, duchess.''
The countess curtsied with a smile and left for the tea party.
Isla looked at her back until it disappeared from her sight.
'Please stay happy.'
Her words echoed in Isla's mind. Her gaze then traveled to her stomach, and a smile graced her lips. 'I am already happy, countess.'
Since she was done with the countess, Isla was about to board the carriage, but a voice stopped her. ''Please wait, your grace.''
The voice made Isla to halt her movement, and she slowly turned to face her husband's mistress.
Her appearance did not surprise her, as she expected the mistress to come after the countess. And Isla knew that from this moment, her life won't be the same anymore, now that she was about to speak to this woman.
''Your grace, It is a pleasure to meet you,'' Annalise curtsied to her.
Silence.
She could feel the familiar icy stare piercing her figure as she remained in this position, waiting for the duchess' words.
''Let's go to the duchy,'' she heard the soft voice of the duchess and knew the latter was about to ignore her.
''Wait–'' Annalise lifted her head to see the duchess's hand on the coachman's gloved hands. She hastily moved and stretched her hand to stop her.
Pah!
Just in time, the marchioness chauvez and some ladies and madams saw the duchess slapping away Annalise's stretched-out hand.
''How dare you have the nerve to touch me?'' Isla's voice was still soft but icy in their ears. The hairs on their bodies stood up as it was so unfamiliar and different from the reputed gentle duchess.
''I-'' Holding her slightly stinging hand, Annalise wanted to speak, but Isla did not allow her.
''Just because I did not do anything to you, does not mean I want to talk to you. You are not worth my time, so please do me a favor and never associate with me,'' Isla said and boarded the carriage without looking back.
The door shut out the stunned face of Annalise and the other ladies.
''Haa..'' A tired sigh escaped Isla's lips as she leaned her head on the headrest. She was happy that she could finally leave the imperial palace as annalise's presence was making her feel nauseous when her pregnancy did not make her suffer from it.
''It seems you don't like her, my son.'' Isla satisfied her urge to rub her belly as the carriage drove back to the duchy.
'' But I will have to face your father because of her, very soon.''
—-
''Duchess!''
Just as Isla expected, a pushing force slammed her doors open, and a fuming duke hayes marched into her room.
With fisted hands, he walked up to a sitting Isla and demanded angrily, without thinking, ''What did you do to Annalise?!''
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