The Duke's Bed Warmer-Chapter 26: Running Away

The next day, a letter arrived for Alina. She was surprised. No one used to write letters to her. She froze when she saw the name of the sender.

Elspeth.

Elspeth hadn’t written to her before.

So why now?

Her hands trembled as she broke the seal and opened it.

Dearest Alina,

Your father is sick. The physician says it’s because of the drinking. He doesn’t have much time left. He has been asking for you. He knows he has no right. But he wants to see you before he goes. If you can come, come quickly. If you can’t, I understand.

Elspeth.

Alina couldn’t believe the words. She read the letter again and again.

Father is dying??

Given his drinking habits, it wasn’t impossible but reading about it still made her heart ache. She thought about her father, who had stayed with her the entire time when her mother passed away, before he became addicted to gambling and drinking.

She remembered the time when her father used to carry her on his shoulders, when he read her bedtime stories and when he wept at her mother’s grave and promised to take care of her always.

She pressed the letter against her chest, crying without realizing.

He wants to see me.

She immediately ran through the corridors without thinking, her feet carrying her to the place she knew Austin would be.

Austin’s meeting room doors were open when she reached there. She could hear low voices coming from inside. She walked in and found him sitting at the head of the long table, with his advisors around him.

The room fell silent. Everyone turned to look at her. Only then did she realize what she had done. She had walked into the duke’s meeting as she belonged there, when she didn’t.

"I’m sorry," she mumbled. "I’m sorry, I didn’t mean..."

She stepped back, already turning to leave but Austin was already on his feet. He crossed the room in a few strides and caught her arm firmly to stop her.

"What happened?" He asked. "You are crying."

She wiped her cheek and shook her head.

"Nothing. I’m fine. I shouldn’t have..." She pulled her arm free. "I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come here."

She walked out before he could stop her. She had made it halfway down the corridor before he caught up with her.

"What’s wrong?" He asked again as he grabbed her wrist again.

This time she didn’t try to break free and stared at the crumpled letter that was still in her trembling hand. She looked at Austin, saw the genuine concern in his eyes and held it out.

"My father is sick. He doesn’t have much time. Elspeth wrote to me saying he wants to see me..." She swallowed. "Before it’s too late."

Austin took the letter from her hands and read it. When he looked up, his expression had changed. He suddenly looked angry.

"No."

She stared at him in surprise.

"What?"

"You’re not going."

For a second, she thought she had misunderstood.

"What do you mean?"

"Your father has no claim on you anymore," Austin replied, folding the letter. "He sold that right when he signed the contract. He doesn’t get to ask for you now."

She snickered.

"No claim on me?" She repeated. "Because he sold me, and you bought me? You’re saying I belong to you and can’t even see my own father?"

"Yes...no... It’s different because I..." He stopped.

"Because you what?"

He didn’t reply.

"Because you what?" Her voice cracked. "Because you bought me for something other than what he sold me for? Because your reasons were better? Because you don’t want my body, just my presence, my silence, and my obedience? Is that what makes it different?" 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

He still did not answer. The silence stretched between them until it started to feel unbearable.

"Tell me," she said. "Finish the sentence."

His jaw tightened.

"Go back to your room."

That was all. Instead of answering her, he gave her an order. They stared at each other. His expression told her there was no room for argument anymore. She turned and walked away but instead of returning to her room, she went to Lady Talbot.

Lady Talbot was in her room, sipping her tea, when Alina entered. When she saw Alina, she set down her cup immediately.

"What happened?" She asked, worried, looking at her crying face.

"My father is dying," Alina replied.

"Oh...dear..."

"I want to see him," Alina continued. "But the duke isn’t letting me go."

Lady Talbot’s face softened and she reached for her hand.

"I’m so sorry."

"Can you help me? Please. I just need to see him before..."

Lady Talbot shook her head.

"If the duke finds out..."

"He won’t. I’ll be careful. I’ll be back before dawn."

"I can’t risk it." She replied. "If I helped you, and the duke found out, he would never trust me again. My husband’s business...our position...everything we’ve built..." She squeezed Alina’s hand. "I’m sorry. I’m so sorry."

She then went to Lord Ashby in the library. He was in his usual chair, a book open on his lap, and his spectacles perched on his nose. When he saw her, he set the book aside and she told him about her father.

"My dear girl..." he looked sad.

"Please. You’ve helped me before. Please help me one more time."

He also shook his head.

"If the duke found out I helped you escape, he would make an example of me," Lord Ashby said. "And I am too old to be made an example of."

At night, she lay in his bed with her eyes closed and turned towards the wall. She heard him enter and waited for him to fall asleep.

When his breathing deepened, she slipped out of bed as quietly as she could and opened the door. She stepped outside and closed the door behind her.

Evelyn was waiting for her in the shadows around the corner.

"You have ten minutes," Evelyn whispered. "Go to the back gate, through the servant’s corridor. I have left it unlatched. You need to be back before dawn. If anyone finds out..."

"They won’t." Alina squeezed her hand. "Thank you. I won’t forget this."

Evelyn nodded and disappeared back into the shadows.

Alina ran to the servant’s corridor. It was dark and narrow. Her heart pounded so loudly she was sure someone would hear it. After walking a little, she could see the gate ahead. She was about five feet away from the gate when suddenly someone grabbed her arm.

She was spun around, her back hitting the wall, before she could even react. Her breath left her in a gasp as she looked up.

Austin stood in front of her. His shirt was open and his feet were bare. He was breathing hard as if he had run to catch her before she reached the gate. He was furious and looked dangerous, as if he’d hit her

"You think you can fool me?"