Hey guys! I am finally back with an update and first I would like to apologize for the extremely long way. It's been getting harder to write after not writing for so long, but I hope this chapter is good. Please enjoy :)

Caroline's eyes opened slowly and she looked in the direction of the window sleepily. The sun was glistening in through the window and she felt a small body next to her.

Looking down, she spotted her daughter and a smile appeared on her lips. Caroline decided to let Layla sleep for a little while longer. She didn't want to overstep with the Duke, but she also knew that after the thunderstorm from last night, her little girl was exhausted.

Standing up as slowly and as quietly as she could, she noticed a paper on the table and made her way over to it.

Her name was written on the front, so she picked it up and read the words on the paper.

The letter said:

Caroline,

I realize that I may have been a bit more rude than necessary, but I hope you understand where I am coming from.

After some thought, I decided that Layla does indeed have the right to know you- you're her mother, after all. And I have no doubt in my mind about that.

However, if my little girl ever cries because of something that you did, expect to be thrown out of my home forever.

If that is understood, then I have nothing more to say to you.

Duke of Claymoure

With a sigh, the blonde placed the letter in one of the shelves and went about her morning. Of course, she was grateful to the Duke for allowing her to spend time with Layla. However, Caroline couldn't help but feel like an outsider. After all, that was what she was. An outsider who barged into her daughter's orderly life because she was ready to be her mother.

Shaking her head, Caroline sat down on a chair and put her face in her hands.

A couple of years ago just as she was coming out into society, she dreamt of a knight in shining armor that she would fall in love with and marry. Instead, her parents were ready to force an old man on her because they were tired of providing for her. The blonde understood that maybe she was being a little harsh towards them. But she also understood that if her parents truly loved and cared about her, they would have stuck by her side no matter the scandal she would have caused with her pregnancy.

But no, they kicked her out and never looked back. To this day, they didn't try to get in contact with her. And she didn't think they even cared if she survived the birth or not.

Refusing to dwell on those thoughts, Caroline inhaled a breath and pasted a smile on her lips. She thought about what she wanted to do with Layla and finally came up with something.

They would go digging for old family treasures in the attic. Perhaps there would be something that Layla could carry with her. After all, she was the daughter of the Duke of Claymoure.

With that idea firmly in her mind, she moved to the armoire and took out an old day dress of hers. Placing the dress on the wing chair, she then went through her toilette.

Once she was ready, she removed her nightgown and put on her dress. Just as she was doing up the last button, she heard Layla's voice.

"Good morning, mama." The girl said as she sat up and stretched.

"Good morning, my love. How did you sleep?"

"Better since you were with me, mama." Layla reassured. Then, Layla's belly growled and a small blush appeared on her cheeks. "Mama, I'm hungry."

"As am I," Caroline replied. "Come, I'll take you to your bedchamber and help you ready for the day."

"Papa won't mind?" She asked curiously, watching her mother as she got off of the bed.

"I don't think so." The blonde said as she took her hand.

Mother and daughter left the bedchamber and walked towards Layla's bedchamber.

After Layla had gone through her toilette, Caroline helped her do up the buttons on her baby blue day dress.

Soon thereafter, they walked into the breakfast room and the blonde's breath caught in her throat when she spotted Klaus sitting at the head of the table.

Caroline's eyes moved to the floor as she seated Layla on her father's right.

"Good morning, your grace." Caroline said, not meeting his eyes. When he said nothing, she went over to the side table and chose a variety of foods she thought Layla would enjoy.

Thankfully, her little girl seemed to like everything and she smiled to herself at that. It seemed Layla had her mother's taste in food after all.

Caroline was just about to leave the dining room when Layla's hand on her wrist stopped her.

"Mama, won't you join us?" She wondered, the confusion evident in her voice. She understood that her mother and father didn't get along with one another, but surely they could be civil towards one another for her.

"I- I don't think that is wise." Caroline replied. "Perhaps I will come back later. I am certain your papa wishes to spend some quality time with you."

"We spent quality time together yesterday. Now, I want to spend time with you." Layla reassured as she looked up at her with her big eyes and frown.

"Please join us," the Duke announced as he looked over at her. "Layla wishes for your company and I can't seem to say no to her. So please, grab a plate and some breakfast and we shall break our fasts together."

"Yes, your grace. Thank you, your grace." Caroline mumbled under her breath as she did as she was bid.

She went over to the side table once more and grabbed enough breakfast that would satisfy her until lunch. If she was being honest, she would have loved to pile her plate high with cranberry orange scones and jam, but she wasn't going to push it.

Just as she was going to sit on Layla's side, his grace cleared his throat.

"Please take the seat to my left. That way, we'll all see one another quite well."

"Of course," she nodded her acquiescence and moved to the other side.

Pulling out her chair, she took a seat and when his grace began to eat, so did Caroline.

The letter he had written for her was very sweet, but that didn't mean she would let her guard down. She didn't know if he would snap at her again and she didn't really want to risk it either.

Lost in thought, she didn't realize that the Duke was talking to her, but was soon taken out of her reverie.

"I'm sorry?" She said, biting down on her bottom lip nervously. "My thoughts seemed to have gotten away from me." She apologized.

"That's alright," he said as he looked down his aristocratic nose at her. "As I was saying, how are you finding your new quarters?"

"Perfect. They're very comfortable, your grace. Thank you very much."

"Papa, mama likes her new bedchamber, but she's too far away from me. Can she please move closer to my rooms?"

"Layla," Caroline said as she looked at her daughter through hooded eyes. She loved Layla with all her heart hence the reason why she did not wish to provoke the Duke further. She was certain that he would grant Layla every wish she had, but she didn't want to push her luck. And really, her rooms were to her liking. She had a comfortable bed and enough space to move about. What else could she possibly need? Of course, being the daughter of a lord of the realm, she was used to having space galore and enough dresses to outfit a dozen debutantes fully, but those days were in the past. If the last five years have taught her anything, it was that she should be thankful for all that she had. A roof over her head and clothing on her back. She wasn't even going to mention food because when she was on her own, she would have been lucky to have food in her belly on a daily basis.

Shaking her dreary thoughts away, she focused on her daughter and smiled at her. If there was anything good that had come out from her exile, it was her lovely daughter. Layla was compassionate, kind, intelligent, caring, and beautiful. She knew it was no thanks to her, but she'd like to think that she has somehow involved.

"Sweetheart, I'm certain Miss Caroline is comfortable in her chambers. We wouldn't want to misplace her yet again, now would we?"

"But papa," Layla started to argue.

"I'm quite comfortable in my rooms, darling. Please do not worry. And anyway, we are not so far away from one another."

"But mama, I want to be closer to you." Layla said as her eyes filled with tears.

"Layla, you spent the night in Miss Caroline's room. I am sure she will not turn you away should you wish to sleep with her again."

"Really? Oh papa, thank you! Last night was lovely. Mama held me close when the thunder got too scary and I felt better right away."

"That's good to hear, love. Now come on and finish your breakfast. Before you spend the day with Miss Caroline, I'd like to speak to her."

"Will the two of you argue again?" Layla asked as her eyes widened and her bottom lip began to tremble.

"Of course not!" The both of them said at the same time

Klaus and Caroline looked at one another and then back at their daughter.

"Sweetheart, we simply have something to talk about." Caroline reassured. "I'll be up in a jiffy and then we can go on up to the attic."

"That attic? What will you be doing there?"

"Oh, papa it will be fun. Me and mama are going to look for old family treasures."

"That sounds like a marvelous idea." He reassured. "I wish I could come up and help, but I have estate matters that need my attention."

"Well, you can come up later then. And then maybe we'll all have luncheon together."

"Sounds like a plan, my dear." Klaus said and Caroline smiled.

The three of them finished their breakfast and then Layla left them alone. The footman shut the door behind the young lady and stood stick straight by the door.

"Leave us alone please, Marcus." Klaus called out and the footman did just that.

When they were alone, Klaus spoke first.

"I hope you received my letter?" He said as he looked over her face.

"I did. Thank you for your kindness, your grace. It means a lot."

"I didn't do it for you." He told her and immediately Caroline sucked in her breath. Could the man not realize that she was trying to get along with him? Perhaps he did, but refused to move past the fact that she left Layla with him and didn't take care of her herself.

If she had the resources, she would have gladly taken care of Layla, but she did what she thought was best for her baby.

"Of course you didn't." She responded coldly, even though she tried to keep her voice devoid of any emotion.

"Layla is my first priority and it is my job to make sure that she is happy. If spending time with you brings her that happiness, then I am okay with you spending time with her. But if you hurt her, I will not hesitate to throw-"

"Throw me out of your home. Yeah, I got it the first time I read your letter." She said. "If that is all, I'd like to get back to my daughter now."

"Fine, you may go."

"I wasn't asking for your permission. You may still see me as the worst sort of woman for leaving my daughter when she was but a wee babe, but I hope you soon realize that I had no other choice." She told him as she turned on her heel and walked away from him.

As she was approaching the door, he spoke and she stopped dead in her tracks.

"You could have come to me when you found out you were pregnant. I would have done the honorable thing and married you."

"What then? You, your family, and society would see me as a lady with loose morals trying to catch a lofty title for herself? No thank you."

"And if I were to ask you to marry me now? Would your answer be no?"

"That is simply laughable. As if you'd ask. You can't stand the sight of me, your grace. Perhaps you have forgotten, but I have not. But even if you didn't hate me as much as you do, I would still say no."

"That's ridiculous. I am a powerful Duke and you could have been a duchess."

"You may not get it, but I don't want to be duchess. Hell, I don't want to be anybody's wife. All I want is to be next to my daughter. That's all I care about." She emphasized.

"And when I marry a lady? What will happen then? I doubt she'd take kindly to having you close by."

"When the time comes I'll think on it. However, you are not betrothed to anybody if I am not mistaken which means I have time enough to spend with Layla."

"Then again, you could marry me and have your whole life with her."

"I don't understand. Are you proposing?" She asked, not understanding why he was speaking of marriage.

"It looks like I am." He answered as he looked down at her, his expression neutral.

"What!?" She asked as her jaw dropped slightly and she watched him with disbelief.

There you have it! So, I am assuming I have shocked you all, my lovely readers. Truly, I didn't even know I was going to go down this path, but I also didn't want to be repetitive hence the reason why I decided this is a good way to go. I hope you all don't mind and if I do, I apologize. On the other hand, I have over 1000 words written for the next chapter, so it shouldn't take long to update.

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~Hana :p