KATHERINE

"I'm just taking a look around the facilities. I can manage on my own, you may leave," I replied firmly, though inside, my heart was pounding.

"I insist, you really shouldn’t—"

"Who are you to tell the Duchess where she can or cannot be on her own lands?" The Duke’s authoritative voice made me let out a breath of relief.

I had been just about to scream at the top of my lungs.

"Duke… Your Lordship, I wasn’t—I was only trying to help…" The man turned, lowering his head and dropping his thug-like stance.

"No one asked for your help, and I didn’t like your tone with my wife at all. Mr. Philip, remove this man from the harvest fields," he ordered mercilessly.

His displeasure was obvious, his threatening aura making everyone tremble.

"Yes, yes, sir," the accountant stammered, pulling out a handkerchief to wipe his sweaty forehead.

The laborer remained silent, about to leave with his head down, but I stopped him.

"Wait! Before you go, move these bales. I want to see what’s behind a