The Duke's Bed Warmer

Chapter 78: The Harvest Festival

A week later, the castle had been transformed again. Golden banners hung in the great hall: the color of autumn and harvest. Lanterns swayed in the gardens, their flames already lit despite the morning light. The kitchen smelled of roasted meat, harvest pies, and different kinds of bread. Alcohol was stored in barrels taller than Evelyn.

The harvest festival was the one event where the castle opened for everyone.

The sewing circle didn’t stop for festivals, but the mood was lighter. Marguerite was sewing a sleeve while describing her dress for the evening, and Evelyn was wondering whether kitchen staff would be allowed to dance this year as well.

The festival night was one night where nobody had to perform their usual roles; they could simply be themselves. But it had rules.

The festival opening was a formal event. The duke and his companion led the first waltz. Tonight, according to the tradition, Austin belonged to Audrey.

The sewing circle wrapped up early that day. Everyone wanted time to get ready for the evening. Alina slipped into the violet dress she had made herself. She wore her hair down and pinned the silver hairpin just above her left ear.

By evening, the great hall was unrecognizable. Beautiful lanterns danced against the polished floors. Tables overflowed with food. Everyone was wearing their best clothes and jewellery.

Austin entered with Audrey on his arm. She looked radiant, wearing a silver dress and a dazzling array of diamonds. She looked exactly like the duchess she had always been meant to become. The court parted for them as the opening waltz began.

Alina stood mid-hall, holding a glass of wine, she had yet to taste. Around her, everyone was enjoying and celebrating. But her eyes were fixed on the couple of the evening.

Audrey was an excellent dancer. Alina hadn’t noticed it when she had danced with Lord Prescott, she had been too worried about her own dance, but today she did.

Austin’s hand was on her waist, but it remained still. The touch looked mechanical rather than romantic.

"Stop watching," Marguerite murmured in her ear.

"I’m not."

"You’re staring. And be careful, the glass might break."

Alina looked down. Her hand was gripping the glass as if it had personally offended her. She loosened her grip and took a sip.

"She is beautiful," Alina said, looking at Audrey.

"She is," Marguerite agreed. "But inside beauty matters more."

Alina laughed.

The waltz ended, and applause filled the hall. Austin escorted Audrey to the main table where they sat together, looking like a perfect engaged couple.

Alina finally finished her wine and stepped into the crowd, slightly drunk. The festival felt more alive now. Village musicians played beautiful melodies, and people were dancing simply because they wanted to, even though they didn’t know how.

Emeric found Alina near the alcohol barrels, trying to fill her third glass of the night.

"Alina. You look like someone in need of a terrible dancing partner," he said.

"You dance?"

"Terribly."

"Perfect," Alina replied.

They danced, and it was atrocious. Emeric had no rhythm, and Alina was too drunk to dance properly. They stumbled, collided, and stepped on each other’s toes. Emeric spun her in the wrong direction, and she crashed into a table. A plate of pie fell onto the floor. They both laughed so hard they had to stop dancing just to breathe.

Watching them having fun, other women from the sewing circle also joined them as well. They danced so vigorously that they soon began to sweat. Alina stepped off the dance floor to catch her breath.

Her eyes moved to a small gathering in the courtyard. Lord Crawley was holding an archery contest and had already won three rounds.

"Anyone else?" he called.

Alina stepped forward, and the crowd went quiet.

"Miss Ashworth?" His eyebrow rose. "You shoot?"

"Yes."

"Very well."

Someone handed her a bow. She tested its weight and adjusted her stance. She hadn’t shot in years, but she remembered Elspeth’s lesson.

Breathe, anchor, and release. Don’t aim with your eyes. Aim with your body.

The arrow hit the center. Crawley’s smile vanished.

"Luck."

"Skill," she replied. "We can play if you’d like."

They shot three rounds and Alina won by a small margin. The crowd erupted in applause. She had just beaten the castle’s best archer. She collected her prize: a beautiful ribbon, and bowed at Lord Crawley mockingly.

Crawley burned with humiliation. Emeric cheered from the sidelines, Lady Talbot raised her glass, and Evelyn whistled.

Across the courtyard, Austin was watching her with Audrey beside him, talking. His head was tilted towards Audrey, but his eyes were on Alina. His mouth twitched when he saw her bow to Lord Crawley.

Audrey saw the twitch and followed his gaze. Her hand tightened on her wine glass for a second. Then she turned back to the conversation she had been having, smiling as if nothing happened.

After exhausting themselves, everyone sat with friends and family, drinking and chatting.

Alina was at Lady Talbot’s table with Evelyn, Emeric, and Marguerite.

"You know... His Grace was watching you when you won the archery contest," Lady Talbot said.

"He is always watching her," Emeric said.

"Her Highness was talking to him about Prince Dorian, who is arriving at Ravenmoor in two days but he was busy watching you."

"Maybe Audrey bored him with the court talk," Alina replied and everyone burst out into laughter.

Slowly, the festival came to an end. Servants cleared dishes, the musicians had packed up, and everyone walked back to their rooms.

Alina was walking alone in the garden when someone started walking with her. She turned and saw Austin.

"You’re here," she said, smiling.

"Well... the festival is over...and I walked Audrey to her room."

"And you came here? To be with me?"

He didn’t reply. Instead, he cleared his throat.

"I saw you winning the archery contest earlier," he said. "You even mockingly bowed to him."

"He deserved it."

They both smiled and continued walking side by side.

"You danced terribly today."

"Thank you."

"Emeric was even worse."

"I disagree. We were perfectly matched."

"No, you’re not," he replied instantly.

She looked at him and grinned.

"Is that jealousy, Your Grace?"

"An observation."

"An observation about my dancing partner?"

"The same way you made an observation about my calf," he replied.

She laughed out loud, her voice echoing through the garden. They reached a bend in the path where the stones were uneven under a layer of fallen leaves. Alina didn’t see it, and her foot slipped.

Austin immediately grabbed her by the waist and pulled her against his chest. Her hand came up instinctively, resting on his chest to steady herself.

Nobody moved. Her gaze lifted to his eyes, then, slowly, to his lips. The wine had blurred the line between thought and action.

She leaned in. His hand tightened slightly at her waist. He didn’t pull away.

"Your Grace..."

They both turned.

Mr. Harrington stood at the edge of the path, embarrassed.

"Apologies for the interruption," he said. "Mr. Howard is waiting for you."

The moment broke, and Austin stepped back immediately.

"I’m coming," he said.

Then he turned to her.

"Goodnight," he added. "I might not come to the room today."

Then he left. Alina stood there alone, still feeling the warmth of his hand on her waist. She pressed her fingers to her lips, trying to understand what had just happened.

He came to me after an entire evening with Audrey. Because he wanted to.

Has he already made his choice?