Evil Duke, Please Be Gentle!

"Scrooge, magpie!" she cussed when she was finally alone in the room. She could not believe that he had tricked her and did not offer any money. Didn't nobles always wanted to show themselves as high and mighty. Charity was common for them yet this man was such a cheap person that I could not believe he was going to be the archduke!

"Sigh! I have to find some way to reach the town again." I walked towards the bed and plopped in it. But even after tossing and turning, sleep did not come to her. She was nervous and anxious about the day. As the duke had said Evelyn would be here for her dress trials and Elizabeth would personally check her table manner and speaking etiquettes.

Soon, as decided, she heard a knock on the door.

"Come in" she was a bit nervous to face Evelyn, she did not know if Evelyn would forgive her or not. But forget about forgiving she was not even there. A maid and a lady with glasses came in, in place of Evelyn.

She continued to look at the door but no one else entered.

"I have brought dresses for you, my lady. Would you be kind enough to try them so that I can check the fitting and do last minute adjustments and tell me if you want any changes ?" Evangeline looked at the three dresses she was holding and nodded.

All the three dresses were looking exquisite. It was made of finest silk and adorned with rare jewels. The first dress was in pink shade with the pearls work on its corset and sleeves. The other was in red shade with gold embroidery and rubies on its neckline and hem area.

The last one was royal blue with lace work and sheer design in the bottom with a lot of frills giving it depth.

"Shall we start with this one?" The lady picked the pink dresses and passed it to Evan, who nodded and walked behind the curtain room divider. The maid followed and helped her in adjusting her corset and fixing the dress.

The designer was not sure who the girl was that the duke requested her to come personally to look for her dresses but the way she was being treated so preciously, she had some assumptions. If what she was thinking was true, then it could be the hottest gossip of the town.

Evan came out of the divider when the designer's eyes gleamed., "the dress fits perfectly to you, my lady. You are looking slimmer and younger in it. You are looking like a perfect noble lady. If you do not mind, can you tell me from which house do these perfect genes belong?" she asked with admiring eyes that for a second Evan felt embarrassed. She looked at the mirror and true to what the designer was saying, her figure was accentuated in the dress and she was looking like a lady from a rich and affluent house.

"Do you want to try another dress or finalize this one?" asked the designer trying to cover her displeasure when Evan did not spill the beans.

"I will try another too." she replied, as she did not want to look good, it was the opposite instead. She wanted others to feel that she was no match for Leo at all.

The designer nodded and passed the maid another dress who followed Evan behind the divider.

But even after trying the other two dresses, Evan looked perfect in every dress.

"So which dresses suited me best?" Asked Evangeline and the designer's eyes sparkled. She was trying to find a way to initiate the conversation again but the lady was lost in her own thoughts.

"I think the red dress suited you best, miss.." she hinted as she looked at her face curiously but Evan just nodded.

"I will wear the pink one." once again her mouth turned sour. Not only did she not tell her name but also chose the dress which she did not recommend. Though the girl was pretty, the designer felt that she was too haughty and snobbish the way she was behaving.

"Then I shall take my leave, my lady." added the designer and Evan nodded. Her mind was still wandering over the reason why Evelyn did not come.

Though she should be happy that she had been successful in making both sisters against her strongly, yet she felt a lump forming in her heart when she realized Evelyn was trying to ignore her. Her indifferent nod, further infuriated the designer who left the room, stomping her high heels.

Passing through, she saw two maids talking to themselves. She looked around and when confirmed no one was there, she walked towards the maids.

"Excuse me." she called the maids in a sweet voice who turned and bowed their heads.

"Yes, my lady."

"I am not able to find lady Evelyn. Can you pass her one message." the maids nodded and her smile broadened.

"I have selected a dress for a lady.. Oh dear, I forgot her name! I think I am too overwhelmed these days." she rubbed her forehead as she laughed awkwardly.

"Oh, it is alright. Her name is Evangeline. we will inform my lady that the dress has been finalized." replied the maid kindly and the designer smiled back to them.

"Thank you, or else I was worried that I would anger the new mistress of the palace." though she was not sure if this was the truth, she was ready to take the risk to be pointed. But if this was the truth, she had to tell the noble ladies who were vying for this position for a long time, especially Olivia, the daughter of the duke Grasitias.

"Oh, the lady is too kind to get angry. I will accept your apology nonetheless." replied the maids again confirming her thoughts.

She nodded with a kind smile and moved away when her kind smile overlapped with the sinister one.