The Duke's Bed Warmer-Chapter 14: Honey, Almonds…and Doubt

Alina woke slowly. The library was dark, and rain still tapped softly against the windows, though the storm had already passed.

She felt warm, comfortable and safer than she had in a long time. Then, her eyes snapped open.

She found herself leaning against Austin. Her head was resting on his shoulder and his arm was around her, holding her close with his chin resting on her head.

He was asleep. Alina’s heart began to pound.

She recalled the storm, the fear that had seized her, leaving her shaking and gasping on the library floor. She remembered him finding her, sitting beside her, and reading aloud a Chapter from a military history book, to calm her down.

But she didn’t remember leaning into him like this. She hadn’t meant to fall asleep on his shoulder.

She carefully lifted his arm from her shoulders, holding her breath. His fingers brushed against her sleeve and he caught them for a moment. She thought he might wake.

But he didn’t. His arm fell back to his side, his head tilting slightly.

Alina stood and looked down at him. The book he had been reading had fallen on the floor. In sleep, he looked less like the Duke of Ravenmoor, more like the boy Audrey had described.

For a second, she just stood there. Then, instead of waking him or thanking him, she ran.

Austin woke some time later, his neck aching and his back stiff from the awkward position. He blinked into the dim light, disoriented for a moment before remembering everything.

The place beside him was empty. He looked around the library and realized she was gone.

By the time he entered the great hall for breakfast, Alina was already there. Her heart was still pounding. She had barely slept after fleeing to her room, her mind replaying every moment, and every word he had read.

She expected him to look at her, to acknowledge, what had happened between them yesterday.

But he didn’t.

Austin took his place at the head of the table. Audrey sat beside him, as always, her hand resting lightly on his arm. He said something that made her smile, then reached for his tea, and began discussing grain tariffs with a noble.

He didn’t look at Alina even once.

Alina watched him in silence, stealing glances between bites. He looked completely normal and composed as if last night hadn’t happened.

She was grateful that he didn’t press her for explanations and that he actually tried to calm her down, no matter how strange his method was.

But she was also furious because he had seen her broken, and terrified by a storm. And now he was pretending it had never happened.

By the end of the meal, she decided to focus on her breakfast and stopped looking at him.

The unease followed her throughout the day.

At afternoon, someone knocked at her door. Alina opened it to find Audrey’s maid, holding a basket.

"From Her Highness," the maid said, smiling. "She thought you might enjoy these."

She lifted the cover. Inside, delicious pastries were arranged like jewels, glazed with honey, dusted with almonds, and carrying a faint floral aroma.

"For our new friendship," the maid added. "Her Highness said to tell you that."

Alina accepted the basket and thanked her.

Once alone, she set it on the table. Her stomach growled with hunger. She hadn’t eaten much at breakfast.

She picked up one of the pastries, and raised it to her mouth, then stopped.

Remember not to eat or drink anything especially prepared for you or served only to you.

Rosilyn’s warning echoed in her mind. Alina hesitated.

She looked at the pastry and thought of Audrey’s smile, her warmth and her genuine interest in her life.

But Rosilyn’s words kept echoing in her mind.

In the end, she put the pastry down. Her mind chose Rosilyn’s warning over Audrey’s kindness.

That evening, as Alina left the great hall after dinner, she saw Austin and Audrey walking together, arm in arm.

She was about to slip away, when Audrey saw her.

"Alina!" Her face lit up. "I was hoping to talk to you."

Alina turned and smiled.

Audrey’s face lit up with a genuine smile as she approached her, pulling Austin along with her.

"How were the pastries?" Audrey asked. "I had them made specially. The recipe is from my mother’s kitchen. She used to make them for me when I was a child. I thought you might enjoy them."

Alina’s heart clenched, thinking about the untouched pastries on her table.

"Delicious," she said, and smiled. "Thank you."

Audrey beamed.

"I’m so glad. I wanted to share something I love with you as a token of our friendship."

Austin glanced between them, surprised.

"Friendship?"

"Yes," Audrey replied. "Alina is wonderful. I don’t know why you’ve been hiding her from me."

"I haven’t been hiding..."

"You haven’t introduced us, have you? I had to seek her out myself." She turned back to Alina, still smiling. "We’re friends now, aren’t we? It’s been ages since I’ve had someone to talk to about poetry."

Alina nodded.

"Yes."

That night, Alina lay on her side, waiting for him.

"I’m sorry," she said quietly, the moment he lay down.

"For what?"

"Your back... It’s stiff because of me. Because you stayed with me last night." She swallowed. "You didn’t have to do that. You could have woken me."

For a minute, there was no answer, then he spoke.

"I’ll keep that in mind," he said finally. "For the future."

She stared into the darkness with frustration and gratitude tangled in her chest.

What other answer should I have expected from him?

Her thoughts drifted back to the pastries again.

"The pastries Audrey sent today..."

"I’m glad you’re getting along with her," Austin said, cutting her off.

"She’s a good person," he continued. "A beautiful person, inside and out. She always has been."

Alina’s words died in her throat.

She heard the respect and affection in his voice for Audrey.

She didn’t tell him about the pastries. Telling him would only make her look paranoid.

Moreover what proof did she have? A strange warning from one of his previous bed warmers? On what basis she was doubting a woman who has been nothing but kind to her?