The Duke's Bed Warmer

Chapter 80: Motive?

Austin entered the room to find her standing by the window, arms crossed, her back to the door. She had been standing there for a long time, watching the courtyard, and thinking about the dinner.

She is my bed warmer.

The words echoed in her mind again and again, each repetition sharper than the last.

"You called me your bed warmer," she said, as soon as he stepped inside, without turning. "In front of everyone."

He didn’t answer. She heard him unbutton his coat and hang it on the chair. He was trying to act normal. trying to make the words seem small as if they were just random words and she shouldn’t be hurt by them.

She turned, her composure cracking.

"Do you have nothing to say?"

"I wasn’t thinking..."

She sighed in disbelief.

"You’re always thinking. You didn’t accidentally call me your bed warmer. You chose it deliberately." Her voice rose.

He still didn’t reply.

"I have spent months proving that I’m more than that title. I worked so hard...and still you reduced me to the one thing I’ve been trying to run from.

She hadn’t planned to cry, but tears streamed down her cheeks without any warning.

Austin crossed the room without waiting and pulled her into his arms. She resisted at first, trying to push him away. She didn’t want to be comforted by the man who had hurt her.

But her strength faltered quickly, the anger draining into exhaustion. Her fingers curled into his shirt instead, gripping him tightly as if she might fall without him. She buried her face on his chest and cried.

He didn’t speak. He just held her. His one hand was at her back, the other cradled her head, pressing her gently into his shoulder like he could shield her from the damage he had caused.

Minutes passed and her sobs softened into quiet breaths, but neither of them let go.

"I’m sorry," he said at last. "I’m sorry. I used the worst word."

He hesitated before speaking again.

"I didn’t have a better one and I was..." he trailed off. "I was afraid. He was looking at you like he wanted you. And in panic... I used the only word that tied you to me... but that’s not what you are. You’re not... "

"What am I?" she asked.

He pulled back just enough to look at her.

"You’re Alina," he replied. "You’re the most amazing and brilliant woman I have ever known. You are brave, strong, and relentless. You’re an inspiration to every woman in this castle."

She saw the guilt and regret on his face.

"Don’t ever use that word again," she said. "Find a different word or say nothing. But never that word again."

"I won’t."

"Promise me."

"I promise."

She noticed his shirt was wet from her tears. His arms hovered, as if unsure whether he could hold her again.

She reached for his hand instead and intertwined their fingers.

"Okay," she said.

"Okay?"

"I believe you."

She led him to the bed. They lay down facing each other, holding hands. The distance between them reduced to nothing.

"Don’t leave my hand tonight," she murmured. "Even if my foot ends up on your calf."

He laughed.

"Even then."

In the morning, sewing circle buzzed with a strange, bright energy Alina couldn’t name when she stepped into the garden. She noticed women gathered around the table, holding envelopes, their faces blooming with happiness.

"Wages," Marguerite said, holding up her envelope. "Our first wages."

"The steward delivered them this morning," Lady Brennan added.

Evelyn was already calculating.

"I’m sending half to my mother. She has been struggling since my father died. I’ll buy new boots with the rest."

"I’ll buy fabric for myself. I haven’t sewn anything for myself in years," Lady Brennan added.

"I’m taking my husband to dinner at the inn in town," Marguerite said, smiling.

"What about you? What will you do with your wages?" Evelyn asked Alina.

Alina looked at her envelope. She hadn’t thought about what she would do with it.

"Elspeth," she said after a moment. "I’ll buy something for Elspeth. She has been her whole life taking care of others. No one has ever taken care of her."

The women smiled and Alina straightened immediately.

"Let’s not waste time. We’ve received our wages. It means we have more responsibility now. Let’s get back to work."

Everyone nodded and returned to their respective duties.

Later, when the garden had emptied for lunch, Alina stated behind. She sat on a bench watching the fountain, instead.

"Miss Ashworth."

She looked up. Dorian stood at the garden gate with a book in his hands, smiling warmly.

"Your Highness."

"Call me Dorian. Please. We’re alone here."

"But you’re still a prince."

"And you’re still a woman who doesn’t curtsey to princes. I think we’re even."

He sat beside her and held out the book.

"A gift."

She accepted it, reading the title:

Eastern Botany: A Field Guide to the Flora

"I heard you read military history, poetry, and trade registries. I thought you might appreciate something different."

She looked at him.

"You asked about me?"

"I asked everyone about you. Lord Ashby said you were the most interesting person in the castle while Lady Talbot said you were the most dangerous. Lord Whitmore said you saved his marriage and Lady Pemberton said..." He paused. "Lady Pemberton said many things but none of them matches with the woman I’m speaking to now."

"Lady Pemberton doesn’t like me."

"And no one likes her."

That made her laugh. She turned the book in her hands, studying the beautiful illustrations of unfamiliar plants and flowers.

"Thank you," she said. "This is... thoughtful."

"You’re welcome," he replied. "By the way, does anyone in your family come from the east? You have similar features to those in the eastern region."

She froze.

So this is what he wants to know!

"I don’t think so," she lied.

He nodded. They sat in silence for a while before she stood up.

"I should return to work."

"I know. The uniforms won’t sew themselves." He stood up as well. "May I walk you back?"

Alina hesitated but then agreed.

They walked and chatted. He asked questions about her sewing circle, sounding genuinely interested in her work.

He was very charming, but Alina was careful as well.

That night, when Austin came to bed, Alina was at the desk reading the book Dorian had given her. Austin’s gaze lingered on it.

"Dorian gave you this?"

"Yes...in the afternoon."

He didn’t comment further. Just sat on the edge of the bed.

"What did he want?"

She closed the book and turned to him.

"Information," she replied.

"What did you tell him?"

"Nothing."

He nodded, though tension lingered in his shoulders.

"He’s calculating," Austin said. "Everything he says has a purpose, and his every question is meant to gather information."

"I know."

She stood up and sat beside him.

"Be careful around him," he said. "Don’t take anything he says as truth. He might be making stories for his own agenda."

She tilted her head slightly.

"Are you giving me advice or orders?"

"Both. Take the advice. Ignore the orders."

She smiled.

"Well... that’s something new from you."

"I’m learning."

"From who?"

"You. Against my will."

She laughed softly.

"Your will seems to be losing."

"It has been losing since you arrived. I’ve made peace with it now."

They both smiled and held each other’s hands again, which was now becoming their ritual.