The Nanny of House Herzen - Chapter 10
Realizing this was the second time she had exposed her bare chest in front of the Duke, Evelyn felt a strange twinge in her stomach.
As she hesitated, Johanson started to fuss. Exposing herself in front of the Duke was embarrassing, but letting the precious young lady cry was worse.
Evelyn hurriedly untied her gown further and brought out her other breast. She then flipped Johanson to nurse on the other side.
Just as she was about to tuck the emptied breast back into her dress, the Duke, who had been watching intently, finally spoke.
“Leave it be.”
Evelyn couldn’t bring herself to say yes, yet she didn’t dare to button up against his command. He took a large step towards her.
Was he going to smell her again? Surely, he wouldn’t do such a thing in front of his daughter. All sorts of thoughts crossed her mind.
Evelyn remained frozen until Johanson finished nursing, but the n–ple the Duke’s gaze had fixed on kept leaking milk relentlessly.
Finally, Johanson’s feeding time ended.
Even as Evelyn stood Johanson up to burp her, she couldn’t cover herself up; he hadn’t given permission yet.
Thinking the Duke’s gaze was now on Johanson, she gathered her courage and asked.
“Would you like to hold her…?”
Perhaps she shouldn’t have spoken. Silence was the heavy response.
But then, after a long pause, the Duke chuckled lightly.
“The baby, you mean?”
Evelyn, momentarily confused, realized what he was asking and her face turned red. The man laughed softly, seemingly amused, then left the spot.
Evelyn, holding the now-sleeping Johanson, adjusted her gown with one hand. The breast that Johanson had completely emptied was wet again.
So was the secret place hidden beneath her fine dress.
* * *
After Johanson woke from her nap, Evelyn bathed her and dressed her in her finest clothes. The Duke, who had caused a stir with the morning cleaning, finally appeared in the young lady’s room in the afternoon.
The steward, whom she had seen a few times, appeared with him and introduced Evelyn to the Duke.
“I am the wet nurse, my lord.”
“Hmm.”
Evelyn bowed deeply, and the Duke examined her with a scrutinizing gaze as if seeing her for the first time.
Perhaps his stare lingered too long. The steward added, as if to excuse the scrutiny,
“Though she appears small, she produces a good amount of milk, which has helped the young lady gain a healthy amount of weight.”
“…I see.”
The Duke’s gaze shifted to his daughter lying in the crib. It was a rare opportunity for the father to meet his child, yet Johanson happened to be asleep.
As the Duke continued to watch Johanson, his penetrating gaze returned to the steward.
“Move her room to the upper floor.”
The experienced steward was momentarily flustered and missed his moment to respond.
“…Pardon?”
The Duke replied bluntly.
“I should try to bond with her.”
At that, the steward’s face lit up as if a weight had been lifted.
“Understood, my lord. I will arrange for the move first thing tomorrow.”
After the steward and the Duke left the room, Evelyn patted her anxious heart.
Moving the young lady’s room upstairs? Would she move with her?
The head maid had warned her not to go upstairs or to catch the Duke’s eye. Was it even possible to stay out of sight while living on the upper floor?
Before long, the head maid burst in, cutting short Evelyn’s pondering. She appeared agitated and suddenly burst into tears in front of Johanson.
“Our Miss….”
“Wha-what is it, head maid?”
Evelyn approached in confusion, and the head maid quickly grabbed her hand.
“Well done. Really well done. You’ve raised her so beautifully and prettily that the lord has decided to pay attention to his daughter again. I feared he might dismiss this little one…”
Evelyn’s eyes widened in shock. Dismiss his daughter?
No nobleman, no matter how deeply hurt by the loss of a spouse, would dismiss his only child, especially when there is no stepmother yet.
The head maid, sobbing, gripped Evelyn’s hand tighter.
“But you must be even more careful on the upper floor. Never enter a room that is off-limits. The only room you’re going to go to is just one. Do you understand?”
“Yes, head maid…”
“Remember my words. Curiosity sometimes kills.”
Evelyn involuntarily swallowed hard.
In other words, there were secrets upstairs more precious than someone’s life.
* * *
After two days of hectic preparations, they moved the room to the upper floor in the afternoon of the next day.
Holding Johanson, Evelyn entered their new quarters and was taken aback by the size and opulence of the room.
The head maid explained with a slightly bitter tone.
“This was originally the Duchess’s room. The master has no immediate plans to remarry, so he has decided to give this room to the young lady. Please live here quietly.”
If this was the Duchess’s room, it was likely that the Duke’s room was directly opposite.
Evelyn swore to herself never to engage in reckless actions again, especially with the Duke just across the hallway. The thought of indulging in inappropriate behavior so close to him was unthinkable—if caught, she could be punished and dismissed without any justification.
“Yes, head maid.”
