Reborn To Change My Fate-Chapter 294 - Two Hundred And Ninety Three
The carriage stopped in front of the main courtyard. The large stone house stood tall and welcoming, its windows glowing with warm, yellow light. It was a stark contrast to the cold, deceitful atmosphere of the Golden Swan. This was a place of love. This was a place of safety.
The door of the carriage opened. A footman in the Thompson livery stood there, bowing low.
"Welcome home, Your Grace," he said.
Marissa gathered her skirts and stepped down. The ground felt solid beneath her feet. She took a deep breath of the clean air, smelling the pine trees from the garden.
She walked up the stone steps to the main entrance. The heavy double doors were already open.
Mrs. Alma, the head housekeeper, stood in the doorway.
"Welcome home, Duchess," Mrs. Alma said warmly, curtsying. "It is a cold night. Come in, come in."
Marissa stepped into the foyer. The heat of the house embraced her. It smelled of beeswax and lemon oil, the scent of a well-kept home.
Lily followed her in, carrying Marissa’s small bag and her cloak.
"Thank you, Mrs. Alma," Marissa said, pulling off her heavy gloves. "It is good to be back."
Lily took Marissa’s things away, disappearing down the hall to the laundry room. Marissa was left alone with the housekeeper.
Marissa looked around the quiet hall. It was late, past the usual dinner hour. The house was still, but it wasn’t empty.
"Where’s my husband?" Marissa asked Mrs. Alma immediately.
Her thoughts went straight to Derek. She wanted to see him. She wanted to tell him she had dealt with Liam. She wanted to wash away the memory of Liam’s touch with the sight of her husband’s face.
Mrs. Alma smiled gently. She gestured toward the west wing of the house.
"He is in his study, Your Grace," Mrs. Alma replied. "He has been there since you left."
Marissa frowned slightly. "Is he still working? It is very late."
"He said he will be working late tonight," Mrs. Alma explained. "He has many ledgers on his desk. You know, spring is approaching and all. The tenants are preparing for the planting season, and there are contracts to sign for the seed shipments and other things."
Marissa nodded. She knew Derek took his responsibilities as the Grand Duke seriously. He wasn’t like Liam, who spent his time chasing women and drinking wine. Derek cared about his people. He cared about the land.
"He works too hard," Marissa murmured, half to herself.
She looked at Mrs. Alma with concern.
"Has he had dinner?" Marissa asked.
Mrs. Alma hesitated. She clasped her hands in front of her apron.
"A little," Mrs. Alma admitted. "I brought him a tray of roast beef and potatoes earlier, but when I went back to collect it, he had barely touched it. He was too focused on the maps."
Marissa frowned. Her worry deepened.
"That won’t do," Marissa said firmly. "He cannot run this estate on an empty stomach. He needs his strength."
She looked at Mrs. Alma. The Duchess took charge, her voice gentle but authoritative.
"Prepare a light snack for me," Marissa ordered. "Something easy to eat while he works. Perhaps some warm soup, some fresh bread, and slices of cheese. And a pot of herbal tea to help him relax."
Mrs. Alma beamed. She loved seeing the Duchess care for the Duke.
"I will do it right away, Your Grace," Mrs. Alma said. "I have some chicken soup simmering on the stove."
"Thank you," Marissa said. "I will take it to him myself. Do not send a maid."
"Of course," Mrs. Alma said. She curtsied again and bustled away toward the kitchen, her steps light.
Marissa stood in the hall for a moment. She felt tired, her body aching from the tension of the evening. She looked down at her dress.
She was still wearing the velvet gown she had worn to the Golden Swan. It was beautiful, but it felt heavy now. It felt like armor. It was the dress she had worn to destroy her enemies. It was stiff, formal, and laced tight.
"I cannot see him like this," Marissa thought. "I want to be his wife, not the Duchess who plots and schemes."
She turned and walked up the grand staircase. Her hand trailed along the smooth wood of the railing.
She walked down the corridor to the master suite. She opened the door and stepped inside.
The room was warm and inviting. A fire crackled softly in the fireplace, casting a cozy glow over the large bed and the comfortable chairs. It was a sanctuary.
Marissa let out a sigh. She walked to her dressing table. She began to unpin her hair. She pulled out the jeweled pins one by one, letting her dark locks fall loose around her shoulders. She shook her head, feeling the relief of the weight being gone.
She rang the bell for a maid to help her undress.
Lily entered a moment later.
"Help me change, Lily," Marissa whispered. "I want to be comfortable."
Lily helped her unlace the heavy velvet gown. Marissa stepped out of it, leaving the pile of blue fabric on the floor like a shed skin. She took a deep breath, her ribs expanding as the corset was loosened.
"Burn the gloves," Marissa said suddenly. "And have the dress cleaned thoroughly. Twice."
"Yes, Your Grace," Lily said, picking up the items.
Marissa went to the wardrobe. She pushed aside the formal gowns. She reached for something soft.
She chose a nightgown made of white silk. It was simple, flowing, delicate and almost transparent. It had lace at the cuffs and a high collar that was soft against her neck.
She slipped it on. The silk felt cool and smooth against her skin, soothing the irritation left by the day. She put on a matching robe, tying the sash loosely around her waist.
She looked in the mirror.
The sharp, calculating woman who had stood in the Golden Swan was gone. In her place was a woman with soft hair, tired eyes, and a gentle expression.
She looked like Marissa. Just Marissa.
She washed her face with warm water, scrubbing away the powder and the paint. She wanted to be clean when she saw him.
She took a deep breath, steeling herself.
"Now," she whispered to her reflection. "To feed my husband."
She turned and left the bedroom, her silk slippers making no sound on the floor, heading toward the kitchen to collect the tray for Derek.
