Chapter 38

"Well, this is an unexpected guest, I would say, my rose," a voice interrupting them as they all turned to look at the lord of the estate, Lord Russell Davenport, the firstborn of Lord Davenport who resided on the Higher Court with other Lesser Gentry.
Niklaus never thought that this man would not be interested in his father's affair at the court for he passed that responsibility to his younger brother, Harold.
Lord knew what would happen when Harold held that position after Lord Davenport retired from the court.
"Honey, these are my sisters, Becca and Rosa, with their husbands, Niklaus Dragomir and Rafael Douglas. They have to visit us," Rose said as she was holding onto Russell's arm. He put his hand upon hers as a gesture of affection while the lord of the estate was regarding them with his cold blue eyes. Then, he smiled.
"Come on in then. You don't want to stand in the streets when there was a perfectly warm fireplace and dinner awaiting you," Lord Russell said before they moved toward the front gate as Lord Rafael's carriage was led away by the coachman. Russell and Rosetta were in the front, and Rosanna and her husband walked behind them, making Becca and Niklaus make up the rear.
"Well, this is a surprise indeed," Niklaus said as Becca turned to look at her husband, arching her eyebrow at him.
"What do you mean?" she asked before Niklaus just smirked and tugged her forward to join the lords and the ladies that were way beneath their stations for a nice dinner and warm fire to make up for their climbing up the hill to the estate.

THEY walked into the parlor as they were making their way to the dining hall. Becca was turning around her head to look at the portraits that were hanging on the walls that featured the ancestry of Rose's husband as well as their wedding portrait.
That must be nice, Becca thought before she turned to look at her husband as Niklaus was looking straight ahead toward the lord of the estate himself.
"What are you staring at?" Niklaus whispered to her as she was blushing, getting caught by her husband that she would rather look at his side profile than look where they were going.
Niklaus smirked a little as his lips curled at the end before the servants opened the oak doors that led to the dining hall. Lord Russell gestured for them to get inside the hall as he was moving to pull the chair out for his wife.
"My rose," he said before taking Rose's knuckles and kissing them. Rose smiled as the blush was covering her cheeks before he moved to gesture to his guests to take their seats. Rosa and Rafael moved to the left side of the table which meant that Becca and Niklaus would be seated on the right side of the table.
Rafael helped Rosa to take her seat before doing the same. Niklaus, being the ever gentleman that he was, helped Becca by pulling her chair and led her by the hand to take the seat before he flopped himself next to her. Russell was moving toward the other end of the dining table before taking his seat. Then, the servants were rushing in to put the food on their plates.
"So, this is the infamous Lady Rebecca Davis who managed to snatch the highest bid after all. I am curious when you will be gracing us with your presence, Your Graces," Russell said before Niklaus was smiling at him.
"Well, you never know when the universe wants to surprise you, and look at that, we managed to come here at our earliest convenience," he said as he took Becca's hand and kissed her knuckles.
"It was Becca's idea to come and visit her sister and her husband who reside in North Msallste. If there is one thing that marriage taught me, it is that if my wife is happy, I will lead a happy life," he said before Russell toasted to that.
"I second that,"
"Hear ye, hear ye," Rafael added before they were sipping the champagne that had been served. Rosa turned to look at Becca as they were starting with the first course of the meal, the soup.
"So, Becca, have you been planning to visit Mama and Papa for the Origin Day? I hope that you will not be stuck in your new estate, refusing to spend some time with your family," Rosa jabbed at her as Becca knew that her second sister would love to get this out into the open.
Being the stubborn, youngest child that she was, Becca smiled before taking her champagne and sipping. She let the statement settle before she turned to look at her sister.
"Well, I would not miss it for the world. Of course, being in the first year of my marriage, I would not like to leave Mama and Papa alone on that day. It has been some time since her other daughters were home for sure on that holiday if not for me to accompany them during those times. Why should I stop now just because I married a duke?" she said her emerald eyes looking at Rosa.
Her sister choked on her champagne before Becca smiled behind her flute. Then, being the bully that she was, Rosa addressed Rose in Caganese, thinking that Becca did not know that foreign language.
"See what I mean here? You cannot possibly make sense of this child! It's not enough that she married a duke, let alone she insulted me in front of everyone!" Rosa said before Rose was arching her eyebrow at her. Their husbands, being oblivious of the lot, were still talking about their prospects on their estates as Rafael laughed when Russell was making a joke about farming.
"And if you think that insolent child will be invited to my household, I would not, under any circumstances, invite her ever!" Rosa said before she sipped on her champagne Rose turned to look at Becca, assuming that Becca did not understand any of their conversations.
"In that case, you're most welcome to my estate, my dear sister Rosa. I would hate if you did not show up for my balls later in the future for I thought you would make my balls amazed by your beauty, sister.
“Of course, I would not force you to stay but please do enjoy while you can still have the invitation, even when you forbid me to come to your house," Becca replied in Caganese before her sisters blinked their eyes at her. Becca smiled before Niklaus put his hand on her knee. She turned to look at her husband as Niklaus was kissing her temple.
"Good girl," he said before Becca smiled for she knew that the only thing that mattered in the world was her husband's approval and not her sisters' anymore.