5I can't believe him, Haley thought. I can believe he actually threatened me like that! After running into the duke, Haley was forced to go along with him. She really didn't want to but he threatened to fire her if she didn't, and so here she was walking through town with him. They were strolling a through the part of town where all the tea shops were. Luke offered to treat Haley for some lunch but she refused. He was ready to pull her inside one of the shops and sit her down, but then he heard her stomach rumbling. He stifled a chuckle at her flushed face. She kept her chin high and walked away from the shop, but she felt Luke grab her arm. She turned to tell him off but then became annoyed when she saw the amusement in his eyes. "What?"
"I apologize, Haley." She looked into his dark eyes and saw something twinkle. He was finding her amusing!
"Whatever!" Haley shrugged off his hand and huffed off. Luke didn't go after her right away; instead he watched her huff into the street. He never thought that a woman would be so amusing. He couldn't help but chuckle as Haley almost tripped on a rock. She straightened herself up and continued to walk. He let her go about a meter or so before he went after her. He took hold of her hand and turned her around to face him. Her eyes were narrowed and her lips pouty. He thought she looked adorable. "I'm sorry, Haley. Please let me take you to lunch."
Haley wanted to flat out refuse, but she couldn't get over the gleam in his eyes and the sincerity in his voice. She thought about it for a moment. Something in the back of her mind was telling her that it was wrong, but another voice was telling her to accept; she didn't know which one to listen to. What's the harm in lunch, she thought. She sighed and nodded her head. When she lifted her head to look up at Luke, she was caught off guard again. He was smiling. Smiling! She had never seen him smile like that before and now she was caught off guard because it made him even more handsome! Inside Haley was groaning because she just thought of the duke as handsome but he always infuriated her.
Luke straightened up and gently puts Haley's hand in the crook of his left arm. He walked her into a tea shop where there aren't that many people. He thought a nice peaceful afternoon would be nice. They sat where there were tables outside, to have some fresh air. A woman came by a while later to take their orders. "What would you like to eat, Haley?"
"Anything is fine your grace."
Luke turned to the woman. "Some tea would be fine for now, please." There was a long awkward silence when the woman left. Maybe I should have refused after all, Haley thought. They just sat there, waiting for the other to say something. Haley played with the ties of her bodice while they waited for their tea to come. The woman came back and put down the tea set for them. The woman brushed her breast on Luke's shoulder as she reached to wipe the table. She narrowed her eyes at Haley when she saw her and then smirked. She straightened up and then winked at Luke.
Luke just remained unaffected by the move the woman made but Haley was furious inside. What was that all about, she thought. Who gave her the right to flirt with him?! But the rant in her mind stopped abruptly when she noticed that she was getting mad for nothing. What's the point? He's not mine. She can have him! Let him be her problem! "Is there a problem, Haley?"
"Huh?" Haley lifted her head and looked at the duke. His brow was raised and his arms crossed over his broad chest. "I asked if there was a problem." Haley blushed at that. Why was she acting like this? It just kept running through her mind. "Nothing your grace."
"Are you sure, Haley?" The way he said her name just made her ant to swoon. Stop that! She wanted to just yell at herself at that moment, but her name seemed to slide over his tongue and the sound of his silky voice was beginning to get to her.
"Yes your grace," she muttered under her breath.
"Do you mind if I asked you for a favor?"
"I beg your pardon your grace?" Haley was caught off guard yet again by the duke. He's just full of surprises isn't he? "I just need your help with something. . ." He looked a bit embarrassed to ask her. Haley tried to suppress a chuckle with the way the Duke of Danforth was trying to ask her for a favor. He looked like a boy asking his mother if he could have a cookie before dinner. "It would depend your grace," she said simply. Luke sighed and leaned back in his chair. He raked his hand through his hair. "I need you opinion on a gift."
"A gift?"
"Yes."
"For whom then; if I may be so bold to ask?"
"It's for Amber."
"For Miss von Claire? I'm afraid I don't understand your grace."
"Let's just say I need a woman's opinion."
"But I am sure that Miss von Claire will love anything you would give her your grace."
"Well, I still would love you opinion on the matter." Another silence passed between them before Luke spoke again. "Amber really does adore you, Haley."
"And I adore her. It's hard not to."
Lunch went by quickly after that. Luke ordered some small sandwiches and more tea for them. They ate quietly and then went to walk around town. Haley felt weird walking around town with her employer arm-in-arm. They walked through a part of town that sold toys and clothes for children. Haley was attracted to the all the dolls and girls dresses that they sell. She just thought they all looked so adorable! She peered into the windows and saw a man handing a doll in a pink dress to a little girl. The little girl smiled and turned to her father and they left the shop together.
Luke continued to look at Haley as she peered in to the store. He just thought she looked utterly adorable. She looked like she had never seen a toy store before. Haley straightened up and went toward Luke. A smile was on her face and the sun bounced of her auburn hair making her look radiant. Luke went still for a moment. He had never thought of a woman to be radiant, even with Clarisse. Haley took his right hand and pulled him into the store she was looking at. "I think I know the perfect gift for Amber!" she said as she pulled him in to the store. They entered the store with Haley still pulling on Luke's hand. The store owner greeted them asked them what they were looking for. Haley let go of Luke's hand and went over the side of the store where the dresses were on display. They're so colorful, she thought. She looked through some of the dresses until something caught her attention. Luke on the other hand was busy looking at Haley from the other side of the store. He didn't notice that the shop owner was beside him and was smiling warmly at him. "Are you and your wife shopping for your daughter sir?" Luke was caught off guard by that question. He turned and looked at the old man. "No. I'm looking for a gift for my niece. I asked her governess to help me decide."
"Oh, I see." The old man looked sad for a moment but then looked over at Haley. "A pity," he said. "You two look so good together when you walked into the shop." Haley came up to the two men with a bright cannery yellow dress with white lace in her arms. She smiled brightly at them. "It's perfect! Miss von Claire would love it! It'll be something different!" Luke thought about it for moment. It would indeed be different from Amber's other dresses. Most of her dresses were light pink and blue. Haley smile disappeared. She thought she had picked the right dress for Amber, but maybe she was wrong. She waited for the duke to answer, but just as she was about to put the dress back, "It's perfect," she heard the duke say. Her smile returned immediately and Luke was stocked still. Haley went over to the shop owner and handed the dress over. "We'll take it!" The shop owner smiled warmly at Haley and then at Luke. "You chose wisely," he said. Luke cleared his throat to hide his discomfort. "Yes, well, could you possibly wrap it for us? It's a gift."
"Yes, of course."
Luke carried a box wrapped in light blue tissue paper and tied with a white lace ribbon under his right arm while Haley's hand was tucked in his left. They stopped by a pastry shop on the way back to Luke's carriage. Haley was happily eating a strawberry Danish while making their way back. She had not felt this relaxed since she left heaven. And apart from that, she is spending her day off with her employer! This isn't at all proper, she thought. But who cares right? She felt so calm and peaceful at that moment; even a bit jittery! As they walked back, Haley noticed a mother feeding her baby in an alley while her children huddled over a small fire. A sad look graced her face and she felt tears forming in the corners of her eyes. She stopped walking and kept looking at the family. Luke wondered while Haley suddenly stopped, but then he looked at what she was looking at. Haley let go of Luke's arm and then made her way toward the family. She went over towards the children and handed over her Danish. The children looked up at her and the mother stared wide eyed at her. Haley smiled sweetly and handed over the pastry to one of the children. They thanked Haley and proceeded to split the pastry into equal halves. Haley then went over towards the mother and child. She leaned in and gently stroked the baby's cheek. Her heart tightened when she thought about the living conditions the family was living in. They don't deserve this, she thought.
Luke stood where Haley had left him and watched her give her treat to the poor children. She was smiling sadly at the baby. She looked like she was about to cry. Luke went over and took Haley's hand in his. Haley was surprised by his actions and was even more surprised when he pulled out a small pouch filled with coins and gave it to the mother. The mother and the children were shocked that when they opened the pouch and found over thirty gold coins in it. "Where is your husband," asked Luke.
"He is at work sir."
"What does he do for a living then?"
"He works as a post-rider sir."
"I see," said Luke. He looked like he was thinking about something. "Well then, tell him to go to my estate, Danforth, and just look for me. I will see that he gets a suitable job so you and your family will be taken care of." Haley was shocked at the duke. She never figured him as a charitable person. All he did was work to increase his already vast wealth. The mother was silent for a moment and then asked who Luke was. "I am Luke von Claire madam. The Duke of Danforth." The mother nodded her head and smiled; her eyes were starting to fill with tears. "Thank you your grace," she said. She can no longer hold in her tears. She cried silently and Haley knew they were all tears of joy. Luke pulled out his handkerchief from his waistcoat and handed it to the mother. Luke and Haley bid the family good bye and headed back towards the carriage.