The Duke's Bed Warmer

Chapter 100: Escalation

Audrey sat at her vanity, dressed in diamonds, her hair half-pinned as her lady-in-waiting stood behind her, brushing the last strands.

"Your Highness," she said, hesitantly. "I have something to report."

"Go on."

"His Grace and Miss Ashworth were seen coming from the east wing a few nights ago. My source said they looked very serious."

Audrey’s hand paused, the diamond earring, hovering near her earlobe.

"The east wing?" Audrey asked.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Audrey wore the earring and looked at her reflection in the mirror.

The east wing? The part of the castle that had been sealed for five years. The place that holds Austin’s worst memories.

Why would he take Alina there?

Alina had already entered into every part of the castle: the study, the library, the sewing circle, even the intelligence office. But the east wing was different. It was where Cecily, his sister, had died.

As Audrey stared at her face in the mirror, an old memory surfaced.

She was sleeping when she heard the screams. She got up and ran through the corridors in her nightdress. When she reached the east wing corridor, the guards blocked her.

"Stay back, Your Highness!"

She saw the smoke coming from under a door. She could hear Cecily’s screams.

Then Austin ran past the guards and straight into the fire. When he came out, Cecily was in his arms. He rushed her to the physician, but she was declared dead.

Audrey blinked and found herself back at the vanity.

She stood up, walked to her desk, and wrote a letter. She folded the page, sealed it, and handed it to her lady-in-waiting.

"Deliver this to Prince Dorian."

The lady bowed and left.

Dorian read the letter as soon as it reached him.

We need to accelerate. Private meetings at night can draw suspicion. Meet me for tea after breakfast in the main garden.

He folded the paper, tapping it gently against his palm as he smiled. He had been expecting this.

After the breakfast, Dorian went to the main garden as decided. A table had been set for two. Audrey was already pouring tea when Dorian arrived. He sat across from her and accepted the cup she offered, sipping slowly while watching her over the rim.

"The situation with Alina has reached a tipping point. She is angry with Austin. The trust between them has been damaged," Audrey said without waiting.

"And?"

Audrey set her cup down before speaking again.

"She is vulnerable right now, and for the first time since she arrived, she is genuinely questioning whether she belongs here," Audrey said. "So we need to move faster now. Austin will try to solve their differences, and if he succeeds, you’ll lose her."

"Do you have a plan?" Dorian asked.

"Yes," Audrey replied. "I can create circumstances that will make her living here impossible. If her eastern background becomes public knowledge, everyone will question Austin’s judgment in keeping her. Lady Pemberton and her circle will do most of the work," she paused, reading his face.

He was listening with full attention.

"There will be whispers," she continued. "A woman with eastern blood living so close to the Duke of Ravenmoor? It will become a scandal. Austin won’t be able to protect her."

"And she’ll need a way out," Dorian finished.

"Exactly," Audrey said. "Once she leaves, I can proceed with my wedding. Whatever happens to her after that is your concern. I just want her to be out of our lives."

Dorian smiled cheekily.

"You’re more strategic than I expected, Your Highness."

"I’ve had years of experience," she replied. "Shall we begin?"

He nodded.

"Let’s begin."

Audrey finished her tea and gave him a small nod before leaving. Dorian watched her walk away and his smile deepened.

Audrey believed Alina’s mother had been some minor eastern nobility. She had no idea that Alina carried royal blood.

And Dorian had no intention of telling her. Because if she knew, she would run straight to her father and the king would capture Alina as a political asset. And Astoria would lose its greatest political opportunity in decades.

An uninformed Audrey, however, was far more useful to him. Because he wouldn’t have to do anything, just watch what she did and enjoy the result.

He returned to his room and wrote another letter.

The princess will drive the asset towards extraction voluntarily. An uninformed ally is the best tool.

Later that afternoon, Austin was in his study when Alina walked in without knocking. She had come straight from the sewing circle.

"What happened?" Austin asked, not expecting her to be there.

"Marguerite threw me out again," she replied, sitting on the chair opposite him. "She said I was distracted again and ruining the uniforms."

"You have been distracted for days now."

"I’m fine. It’s just that...Marguerite has impossible standards."

He laughed.

"It was you who taught those standards to her."

Alina leaned back, putting her feet up on the edge of his desk, relaxing herself.

"I’m so tired!"

Austin didn’t tolerate such behaviour in his study from anyone. He himself had never sat like this. But he didn’t say anything because it was Alina.

"What are you reading?" she asked.

"Border reports."

"Read it to me."

He raised his brow.

"A border report?"

"I want to hear your voice saying boring things. Like you did the night during the storm in the library. It’s relaxing."

His ears turned slightly red. He didn’t argue further and began reading. Alina closed her eyes and listened to his voice.

He read for a while, then stopped.

"Are you asleep?"

Alina snapped her eyes open.

"No. I was listening with my eyes closed."

"Don’t lie."

She sighed.

"Okay, fine. I fell asleep," she admitted. "Because your voice is my favorite sound in this castle. It’s very soothing. So can you please continue?"

His ears turned more red. She noticed and smiled. He cleared his throat and resumed.

"Forty-three barrels of grain allocated to the northern troops for winter reserves..."

She closed her eyes again. Slowly, her hand drifted across the desk, stopping near his. After a second, his hand moved too, resting even more close to hers.

He kept reading and she kept listening.

Outside, schemes were being implemented and letters were travelling. But here, their world was simple and warm.

Just his voice, her closed eyes, and the comfort of being close with someone you... like... or love?