Tom Holland Imagines

The Duke and Duchess (Duke!Tom)

"Presenting her grace, Y/n, Duchess of Charlotte," the trumpets sounded and Y/n walked down the stairs. She wasn't very fond of these types of balls. The people there had always been full of themselves and cared little about the subjects, choosing to focus on holding the most power.

She was wearing a silk blue ballgown, laced with gold and her birthstone. It was her signature dress, one that she did not mind wearing multiple times even if others called her out on it.

Y/n walked up to the queen and curtsied.

"Your majesty, I'm honoured that you invited me," She said formally and Queen Victoria smiled.

"Cousin, I know your dislike for my balls but it was inescapable for tonight, there is someone I would like you to meet," Victoria said and Y/n gave her a puzzled look.

"I have met every Duke and Duchess here, dear cousin," She said but Victoria only gave her a smirk before the trumpets sounded again.

"Presenting his grace, Thomas, Duke of Amsterdam," Y/n looked over her shoulder and saw an unfamiliar man walking towards them. He had chestnut brown hair and deep brown eyes. He wore a black suit and wore a plain tie, it was different from what Y/n was used to most of the Dukes here were old and always wore bow ties. This man was young and modern.

"Ah, Tom, you do always know how to make an entrance," Victoria said and the man, Thomas, smirked.

"Your majesty," He said, bowing and kissing the queens hand.

"Tom, this is my cousin, Y/n," Victoria said, motioning to Y/n. She nodded her head and Tom bowed slightly to her.

"Your grace, I don't believe we have met," Tom said, kissing the top of Y/n's hand, never taking his eyes off of hers.

"No, I don't believe we have," Y/n said and Victoria quietly sighed.

"You must excuse my cousin Tom, she is as reserved as she is beautiful I'm afraid," The young queen said and Y/n blushed.

"Then you make me out to be very sociable, cousin," Y/n said and Victoria sighed.

"Oh dear cousin," Victoria said before turning around and walking away. Tom and Y/n bowed as the queen walked away. Once she was gone there was an uncomfortable silence.

"How come I have never seen you before," Y/n asked and Tom shrugged.

"I am not a fan of balls, I find the attention to be rather unnerving," Tom said.

"I've heard stories about you," Tom said.

"Oh?" Y/n asked and Tom nodded.

"They say that you were supposed to be queen, but because of your father's banishment the crown was passed onto Queen Victoria," he said and Y/n rolled her eyes.

"I never wanted to be queen, that would mean having to attend more balls than I care to. I would also like to marry without having the privy council breathing down my neck. Victoria can keep the crown, I always knew that it was never my destiny," Y/n said and Tom nodded.

"That's a very mature thing to say," He replied before leaning in close to her, "But you don't have to lie to me," Y/n looked at him, an appalled look on her face.

"What would make you believe that I am lying?" She asked and Tom shrugged.

"Everyone here wants power, it's what they strive to attain. It would not shock me if you wanted the same, your grace," Tom said and bowed slightly before walking away from the young woman. She didn't know whether to be shocked, offended or both. No one had ever spoken to her in that way before.

She stood in the same place until her younger brother, Alexander walked up to her.

"Y/n, it's been a while," He said but Y/n didn't say anything. "Y/n?" Alexander asked and Y/n snapped out of her trance.

"Alex?" She asked and he nodded.

"In the flesh," He said, and she let out a weak laugh.

"What's bothering you N/n?" He asked and she sighed.

"Have you met the Duke of Amsterdam?" She asked, staring across the room, Alex nodded.

"Of course, he visits, Barrington Court every Friday to play cards with me and the Duke of Durham," He said, trying to see where his older sister was looking.

"And what do you know about him?"Y/n asked.

"Well for one, his is very good at cards," Alex said, trying to joke but Y/n didn't laugh. "Sister, if you are thinking what I believe you are-"

"I am not thinking anything, Alexander. I just want to know more about the young Duke," Y/n said before looking at her little brother.

"But that can always wait. Tell me, how is Marie?"

-

"Harrison, can I ask you something?" Tom said and his best friend nodded, taking a sip of champagne. "What do you know about the Duchess of Charlotte?" He asked.

"Umm," Harrison said, trying to think of any information of the very private woman.

"She's the cousin of Queen Victoria, her father was banished from court, stripped of his titles and went mad, leaving Burghley house to her but also making it impossible for her to inherit the throne," Harrison said but Tom shook his head.

"Don't tell me things I already know Haz, tell me personal things," He said, staring at the young duchess as she conversed with her younger brother, Alexander, Duke of Winchester.

"Well, I don't really know anything other than common knowledge Tom, she isn't a very public person. She stays at Burghley house most days and only comes to balls when the queen demands it," Haz said and Tom nodded.

"When then I'll just have to pay her a friendly visit."

-

"Your grace," Tom said bowing as Y/n walked down the grand staircase to the front doors of Burghley house.

"I do not remember inviting you, your grace," Y/n said, and Tom walked towards her.

"Yes well, I do hope you can spare a few minutes for me," He said and Y/n hesitated before saying yes.

"We can talk in the library," She said, leading him out of the hallway and down toward the giant room filled with her father's favourite books.

It was her least favourite room in the house, she despised how her father spent more time in there than with his own family.

Tom immediately walked up to a small statue of her father and read the gold plate underneath.

"William, first-born son of King Philip and Queen Anne," Y/n rolled her eyes and sat down in one of the chairs by her father's old desk.

"My mother refused to let me destroy that statue, even after he died," She said and Tom nodded, sitting down in the chair next to her.

"So why are you here?" She asked.

"Well, I believe we got off on the wrong foot last night, and I wanted to apologize," He said and Y/n nodded.

"For accusing me of wanting power and resenting my cousin because she is the queen," Y/n said and Tom blushed, embarrassed.

"Yes, it was wrong of me and I shouldn't have said the things I did, please forgive me," Tom whispered, looking down at the floor.

"I forgive you," She said and his head shot up, his eyes widened but she just gave him an uninterested look.

"J-just like that?" He stuttered and she nodded.

"You think you're the first one to insult my family like that? My father has been dead for fifteen years but the rumours still follow me around like he went mad just yesterday," She said.

"I'm sorry," Tom said and Y/n shrugged.

"I did not mourn his death. He wasn't a family man a spent more time in this cursed room than with his own family," Y/n said, looking around the room as old memories filled her thoughts.

Nobody spoke for a few minutes.

"While I was here, I was hoping that you might answer some questions that I had," Tom said and Y/n nodded.

"Fire away."

-

"So N/n, I heard the Duke of Amsterdam has been paying regular visits to Burghley house," Queen Victoria said.

She had invited her cousin to her home at Buckingham palace for lunch. Y/n had already declined her cousin's multiple attempts at getting her to a ball, she felt like she had to give in.

"Yes, he is a rather...interesting companion," Y/n said and Victoria smirked.

"Just a companion, N/n?" She asked.

"Victoria, let her be," Her husband, Andrew said.

"Relax, Andy, I'm just asking my dear cousin what she thinks of the duke," She said, never taking her eyes off Y/n as she blushed.

"He is a very kind man, I am glad to have his company when he pays me visits," She said and Victoria pushed on.

"I've heard that he's not just paid visits, he's stayed the night multiple times," Victoria pried and Y/n blushed an even deeper shade of red.

"I never knew you to be one to listen to gossip, cousin," She said and Victoria let out a laugh.

"My information comes from a very trustworthy source," She said smugly. "I for one, think that the two of you would be a very good match," the queen said, taking a sip of her tea.

"I barely know him," Y/n said, her eyes widening, "This isn't the 19th-century cousin," She said but Victoria only shrugged.

"Mark my words, Y/n, the duke is a perfect choice, you are both so like-minded, stubborn, persistent-"

"All the qualities that would cause us to fight," Y/n said but Victoria shook her head.

"All of the qualities that would bring you closer together," the young queen said, Y/n didn't respond.

-

"I have to return to Amsterdam tomorrow," Tom whispered and Y/n opened her eyes to see him staring at her.

It was early in the morning and they were laying in her bed. She had told the maids not to disturb her so that she could spend as much time with Tom as she wanted to.

"But you just got here," She said, wrapping her arms around him and resting her head on his chest. He sighed, kissing the top her head.

"My father has decided to pay an unexpected visit and I need to be there to welcome him," He said. "I wish you could come with me," He whispered and Y/n smiled.

"I've never been to Amsterdam before," She whispered, raising her head off of his chest to look at him.

"I'll take you there one day," Tom said and she smiled.

"Promise?" She asked, a playful smirk on her face, he brought his hand up to her cheek and traced her jaw with his index finger.

"I promise."