Rory:

"Hold still a moment, there's an insect in your hair," I looked cautiously down at Cecilia expecting a fit of hysterics like most ladies made at the thought of a creature on their person.

Instead of the pandemonium I expected however, Cecilia simply shrugged and said, "Okay," as if it were the most common of things and she couldn't give a fig about the insect. My eyes widened at her relaxed behaviour, had she not heard me?

I had told her she had a creature in her hair and she hadn't batted an eyelid, she had shrugged. She was definitely something special, a wild card if ever there was one, and to think I had looked down my nose at her and scorned her at every moment.

For once in my life I was grateful to my father for giving me something worth having and cherishing.

Cecilia leaned her head forward to me to offer easier access to her hair, her hair, yes, I was going to remove the insect from it. I cursed my wretchedly distracting thoughts.

Moving myself closer to her I reached across and brushed the insect out of her tangled ebony tresses. I couldn't however bring myself to remove my hand from her hair and looking down at her I was overwhelmed with the burning desire to kiss her.

"Forgive me Cecilia," I managed to whisper before I captured her lips with mine. Almost immediately her lips began to move in synchronisation with mine as I felt her lean in closer to me.

My heart rocketed through my chest at the wondrous sensation of her returning the kiss, she must feel it too, she must.

I felt her small hands reach up and entwine behind my neck pulling me down to her leaving a trail of fire on my skin as her fingers ran up my neck. In an attempt to bring her closer to me (not an easy task on two horses), I placed my hands on her small waist, urging her closer and allowing my selfish self more contact with her.

Suddenly I felt her two hands fall from my neck and push on my chest as she broke the kiss. I looked down at her and noticed a look of confusion and then hurt slice through her eyes before a small tear fell down her face.

What had I been thinking kissing her like that? Had I not promised myself to treat her with respect and like a lady, yet here I was acting as if she were a common strumpet that I could do with as I liked.

"God, Cecilia I'm so sorry, I don't know what came over me," I said, disgusted at my own selfishness. Cecilia continued to shake her head as her tears continued to spill down her cheeks.

She dug her heels into her horses side and set off at a gallop not looking back, a loud crack of thunder echoing around the hill as she fled. Turning Arrow around I set off after her, "Cecilia!" I shouted in the hopes of getting her to stop, I needed to apologise properly.

"Cecilia!" I shouted again, but my cry was drowned out by the rain that had begun to pour down. I continued my chase, making sure to keep her in my line of sight. It did not take long to reach the stables, "James! My horse! Where is Lady Cecilia?" I asked desperately as the scrawny stable boy appeared.

"Yes sir, she was 'ere just a minute ago, gave me 'er 'orse and all before going back to the 'ouse your grace, she looked to be in an 'urry of sorts. Is that all yer grace?" He rambled.

"Yes, yes, thats all James, thank you," I tossed the boy Arrow's reins before dashing into the house where an anxious looking Ellis greeted me.

"Your grace," he said quickly, his eyes darting between me and the stairs.

"Where is she?" I asked, I had to put this right, I had to.

"I think it best if she is left to herself for now your grace," the butler murmured. Goddamn Ellis sometimes, did he not understand that some things couldn't be left?

"Damn it Ellis, where is she?" I asked again, desperation ringing in my voice. Ellis simply shook his head at me.

"I am sorry your grace but I really think -" Ellis stopped mid sentence turning to me as I fisted my hand and swung it into the pillar that stood in the main hall. I cursed as the pain coursed through my throbbing left hand.

I turned to confront Ellis again but before any words could leave my mouth there was a loud knock on the front door. Ellis moved to open it to reveal the overseer of the fields, Mr Hart.

"Hart? What are you doing here?" I asked rather brusquely, I did not have the patience to deal with whatever it was he wanted right now, I needed to go to Cecilia.

"I'm afraid it's urgent your grace, might we sit in your study?" He asked, his eyes flicking to Ellis and back to me. I let out a growl or irritation, what was I to do? In the end I decided I would have to hope that Cecilia was alright and didn't hate me until I could talk to her later.

I motioned a hand to my study, "If it cannot wait then," Hart simply nodded and followed me into the oak panelled room. I waved to a chair inviting him to sit as I walked around my desk and settled myself into my seat expecting the worst.

**********

I sat in my study alone. Hart had left not half an hour ago and Dinner would soon be served. I sat with my head in my hands an empty bottle of whisky lying on my desk. I pulled on the strands of my hair in agitation, what was I to do? How could I save the estate now and how could I become duke so suddenly.

I dropped my shoulders and let a trickle of salty tears slide down my cheeks, when had I become this weak boy, I was meant to be a man, hell, a duke now. Oh how I wished my brother was here now, he would have known what to do.

I was distracted from my heaving mind by a soft knock at the door. "Go away," I snarled, I did not want to see or be seen by anyone right now. I returned my pounding head to my hands just as I heard the door creak open and cautious footsteps approach my desk.

I jerked my head up and my eyes met with a pair of worried sapphire ones. "I said. Go. Away." I gritted through my teeth, my head falling into my hands again.

"You've been drinking." It wasn't a question. I noticed her eyes flit over to the bottle lying on my desk.

"So what if I have?" I growled, embarrassed that she had seen me in such a state. I felt a soft hand touch the side of my face and I stiffened at the gesture.

"What's the matter Rory? What's happened?" She asked tenderly. I don't know what it was that made me want to tell her, maybe it was the alcohol, but I decided to tell her everything that had happened.

"The workers, all gone bar a few, they are striking until I increase their pay, but I can't afford to do that." I looked up at her eyes which held concern, for the situation or for myself I was not sure.

"Without the workers we will not be able to gather the hay and crops we need, the town needs them and we need the money. There is no money left." I bowed my head ashamed, "I cannot even provide for my wife, what man am I?" I swiped angrily at a tear that had escaped down my face.

Cecilia's face was serious as her eyes bore into mine, "Don't say that Rory, you are an excellent man. I do not need a big house nor servants at my feet, if worst comes to worst we will be fine, I promise we will." She reached down to one of my hands and squeezed it comfortingly. I tried my best to give her a smile but it probably came out as more of a grimace.

"That is not all though is it?" She asked, her eyes still locked onto mine. I shook my head, "I got a letter today, my father, my father he... I am the new Duke of Wortley. Cecilia, I can't, I can't do it..." I felt my voice crack at the end.

"Shh," she murmured as she moved to sit beside me on my chair. Her small arms wrapped around my torso and she rested her head on my shoulder. "I can't imagine anyone better becoming duke, you can do it Rory, I believe in you. It's new to me too, but I am sure we will be able to do it."

I wrapped my arms around her tightly letting my emotions calm, what had I done to deserve such an angel? With all my thoughts of the estate and my new title I had completely forgotten that I had meant to apologise to Cecilia about earlier.

"Cecilia?" I questioned. I felt her tilt her head to look up at me.

"Yes?" she asked.

"I'm sorry," I felt her head nod slowly as if saying she understood what I was apologising for. "I promised I would treat you with more respect and like the lady you are, but I did not conduct myself appropriately earlier. I am sorry." I moved my head away so I could look down into her eyes to show her I was genuinely sorry.

"Thank you, but do not worry, 'tis forgotten."

"Forgotten, of course." I tried to keep the disappointment I felt hidden. I knew I could not forget it and I'd thought... Had she felt nothing, was it just me? No, she'd responded when I'd kissed her, but then... She was here holding me now wasn't she?... Maybe she felt it her duty to comfort me, it obviously didn't mean anything if it was 'forgotten' so easily.

"Shall we go in to dinner?" She asked. God, it couldn't be dinner already, could it? I pulled my pocket watch from my jacket as Cecilia's arms released me.

It was indeed the time dinner was usually served, my stomach let out a low grumble causing Cecilia to laugh and reach out her arm for me to take. Standing from my chair I slid my arm around her waist instead and made for the dining room.

Cecilia threw me a questioning gaze as one of her eyebrows arched up but she did not remove my arm from her. I smiled, maybe we were making some progress.

**********

I saddled Arrow and rode down to the fields early the next morning to check on the state of affairs for myself. I rode between the empty fields and vines and felt the full weight of the situation press down on me. I did my rounds which took me a couple of hours before returning to the first field where most of the remaining worker were cutting and binding the hay.

My attention was drawn away from the men when I noticed a familiar horse tethered to the boundary of the field. What the devil...

"Oh, good morning," I spun around to face a smiling Cecilia.

"What are you doing here? And at such an hour," I looked down at her joyous face perplexed.

"Why, I am helping of course!" She smiled eagerly up at me, "We are short of hands so what better occupation for me to take up than offer my own two? Besides, it is hardly difficult, I have already cleared and baled that section," she pointed to a large area of the field that had been cut, a cart of neatly bundled hay standing nearby. "So you see, I am quite capable," she smiled another dazzling smile at me as I gawked at her.

I stood transfixed for a moment quite in awe of the incredible woman before me. I was sure I did not deserve to call such a perfect creature my wife but I was selfishly glad that she was stuck with me, and me alone, forever.

"Let me join you, two more hands cannot be a bad thing I am sure." I grinned at her.

"Perfect," she said quietly then, standing up on her tiptoes, she placed a chaste kiss on my cheek. A few of the onlooking workers let out wolf-whistles as she did so and her face immediately reddened. I couldn't help but laugh as she quickly turned away from me and hurried back to the patch she had been cutting.

Picking up a sickle from a makeshift table in the centre of the field I ambled over to Cecilia who had already started on her next bale of hay. I watched her precise movements with keen attention as she cleared the area of the field with a speed many of my own workers would be envious of.

I began to hack at the hay, all the while keeping my eyes trained on the beautiful woman by my side. I regarded her in unadulterated admiration, no duchess had ever been seen to work in a field before, but then again, Cecilia was, and would always be, no ordinary duchess.

She had completely bewitched me body and soul and I felt my heart begin to burn as the cold exterior that had always shielded it slowly began to crack. Hell, what was I getting myself into?

Hello guys!

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