C4 The Duke of ice

Annie had not ever seen a mansion as big as the Castor mansion when the carriage came to an halt in front of the house, gasping aloud she barely acknowledge the present of the coach man who came to open the carriage door for her, clasping her tiny little bag close to her chest, they both walked up to the front door, the coach man bosw respectfully at her and at the elder man who the front door came to reveal.

Annie stare at her tattered gown suddenly feeling self conscious, this place was a whole new different place her.

"Welcome Lady Blackwell milord has been expecting you" Said the older man with stern looking face, his hair was white which speaks about years of experience of working at a place like this, hearing that the Duke had been expecting her, Her heart beats painfully against her chest as she hesitatly followed the butler down the long marble staircase.

*This must be paradise* Annie wispered to herself.

"I shall inform him of your present" The butler told her before going through the connecting door of the room, Lady Annie looked around the well furnished salon hoping she wouldn't stain the sofa she was sitting on with her dirty gown. She was afriad to see the Duke, her fate now lays sorely in his hands and he could do whatever he wish to do with her.

Then the butler returned to inform her that his mater would soon come out to meet her, Annie only offered a nod and watch as the man left the room but the footsteps coming from behind her made her jolted her attention towards it.

When Lady Annie had last saw the Duke, it was four years or so years ago and nothing at him now, he was nothing like she used to know, he was tall, very tall with board shoulder, Annie flushed as she stare at the surprisely fullness of his lips not to talk about those smokey cold blue eyes which are staring keenly at her.

My God! Isn't he quiet the most handsome gentle man I have had the fortune of meeting? She thought blushing profusely this time and only did when the Duke cleared his throat did she jump in fright before looking at him.

"I don't bite" His voice sounded so rough, and if not that for some weird reasons he seems mad at her, maybe he doesn't like my appearance, Annie mused to herself looking down at the tiles marble floor, it would not be a news if the Duke was still mad at her for rejecting him years ago, those years she has been a proper lady but now Annie was sure she looked like a maid.

"Look at me" The Duke ordered abd her eyes shot up to meet his in fear, the fact that she feared him stir up pain inside his heart but he brushed it aside, this was probably the best.

"Do you know why you are here? And what you shall be here for? In case the old fool does not make it clear to you. You shall be my mistress, you shall do whatever I demand of you" He paused with a wicked light in his eyes. "Remember you deny me years ago when I proposed marriage? I think I should be thanking you for rejecting me, I soon came to my senses and now you will give me access to your body freely without a title other than a mistress" He declared.

Tears rolled down her face as she gasped at the Duke's words, now she finally got a taste of the man's ruthless, everything that had been said about him was true and Annie cursed at herself for even doubting it.

It does not matter if cursing was not something a lady should do but she was convinced was nowhere near a bloody lady.

Since she could not find her voice, Lady Annie only nodded to what he said but he does not seem to be satisfied with her response for his hand came up to fondle with her chin then he lift her face up to his, they both stare at each other in silent.

Derick stare at the sensual fullness of her lips, he had the urge of kissing her immediately but the poor girl was already terrified of him and he does not want to force her, no matter how hard he is right now.

His lips mearly brush against her lips, keeping a firm reign in his desire he took a step back and rung the rope bell which hang at the corner of the salon.

Annie looked at everywhere but him wondering what he was up to, his lips had only brush her lips but she could still feel the tangle of his lips on her, like it was still there. She was surprised at how much she liked it very much.

A knock on the door startled Annie and the Duke looked at her with assume but did not comment on it as he approached the door, a maid walked in and now politely in Annie's direction.

"She will show you to you room and get you dressed for dinner" He simply told her before going back to the place he had come from.

Annie stared after him, and the maid had to clear her throat to get Annie's attention and she blushed at that, following the maid out of the room, her eyes look around the house marveling at such place. No wonder the countess had been so keen on her step sister coming here instead of her.

If something Annie was happy for is to be out of that house even for a while and even if it meant she will have to entertain the Duke in his bed chamber, finally the maid stopped outside a door then pushed it open, they both went inside, there was several see servants present in the room, while others were preparing her bath, others were placing several dresses on the bed.

"Milady, which one of this fine gown you will be willingly to wear?" The one with the red hair asked looking at her curiously.

The Duke brought her all those? But they were too expensive and there was no way she could accept it knowing that she could not pay him back.

"Do not worry, I will just wear one of my gowns I brought" Annie had the good grace to blushed as the servants exchange looks.

"I'm afriad not milady, his grace wants you to wear one of the gowns and he had specific ordered us make sure you do" Another maid said, her huge blue eyes staring at Annie pleadily.

Annie felt anger stir up inside her, how dare he threatened those maids? Not wanting them to lose their job, she hesitatly agreed promising herself she would confront the Duke about this at dinner.

Hours later, Annie could not believe her eyes as she stared at the half length mirror which reveal her face and hair, now she looked like a proper lady, smiling cheekily cause she could not hide the delight her looks brought upon here.

But the smile vanished when she was excorted into the dinning room, the Duke look up and stare at her with a heated gaze not quite believing the beauty in front of him was Annie but then she has always been beautiful, Derrick thought looking away before he ridicule himself, just by looking at her, he was hard and he could not wait to bed her.

"I do not fancy being forced to do something I do not wish to" Annie said as she made herself comfortable on the chair, the Duke looked surprise when she spoke cause she had barely said any words to him ever since she arrived.

"You are my mistress, you do not have a choice but to do as I wish" He countered.

"I may be your mistress but I am a person and I do not wish to be ordered around or forced" Annie hissed glaring at him.

The Duke chuckled darkly in a way that scared her. "That would be enough" He ordered.

"Why? Am I not allowed to talk? I would not be ordered around like this" She answered stubbornly and stood up.

"By God, sit down this instance!"

"Or else?" Annie reported bravely in that moment she does not fear him but when the corner of the Duke's lips quickens up like he wanted to grin, her heart slammed painfully against her chest when he stood up.

"Or else I shall punish you" He was standing close to her now, so close if she makes any mistake of moving then, they shall locked lips, that idea how tempting to her.

"You cannot punish me! I am not a child" She choked out in fear, is he going to hit her just like her father had always done? Annie went pale immediately knowing she had pushed him too far, she was not normally like this and she could not help but wonder what had processed her to act so.

"Do not look so scared, my sort of punishment is the very one you will find pleasurable" He said to her huskily, his eyes darker than normal.

"How can one find punishment pleasurable?" She could not help but blushed when his gaze locked on her lips, she had no idea why she was getting so flustered about a punishment.

"Wish to find out?" The Duke demanded and her eyes widened...

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TBC.