The Duke's Bed Warmer-Chapter 39: An Estate Visit

Two days passed after the incident, and nothing came of it. Neither of them brought it up again. But Alina was sure Austin would find the culprit.

Then an invitation arrived from Lord Mantis, a neighbouring noble whose estate lay a half a day’s ride from Ravenmoor. It was a boring political gathering, the kind Austin had to attend out of obligation rather than interest.

Alina learned of it at breakfast, when he appeared at her side just as she was finishing her tea.

"You’re coming with me," he said. "At Lord Mantis’s estate. Audrey finds these gatherings boring so she won’t be attending."

"So you’re asking me to attend this gathering as your date again?" she asked, raising her eyebrows.

"Whatever you want to think. Wear something appropriate. We leave in two hours."

She lifted her cup again and finished her tea. He stood beside her, impatiently waiting for her answer.

"I will."

"Good," he said and left.

Alina decided to wear the golden dress that she had been working on for weeks. It was the most beautiful dress in her wardrobe. The fabric was pale gold, like the colour of morning light, and she had embroidered it with winding vines and small flowers.

She put it on, pinned her hair up, then decided to let it fall around her shoulders. After putting some makeup on, she walked outside to the carriage.

Austin was already inside the carriage, his face turned towards the window. He looked at her when she climbed in and froze.

His gaze lingered over her dress, her hair, and her face but he did not say anything. She sat across from him, and the carriage began to move.

Lord Mantis’s estate was smaller than Ravenmoor. But it was warmer. The gardens were filled with late-blooming flowers, the windows stood open to the afternoon air, and laughter carried easily through the halls.

When Alina stepped out of the carriage, she felt at ease. No one here knew her. Austin introduced her as his companion rather than a bed warmer, he always did.

Enem Austin got busy with Lord Mantis, and Lady Mantis came to greet Alina. The first thing she noticed was the embroidery on her dress.

"The embroidery is extraordinary," Lady Mantis said. "Where did you have it made?"

"I made it myself," Alina replied with a smile.

Lady Mantis’s eyes widened.

"You made this?" She leaned in, her hand reaching out to touch the embroidery. "This is finer than anything from the major seamstresses in the capital. You must show me your technique sometime."

"Sure."

Behind her, Alina could feel Austin’s presence, watching her interact with people without him. Lady Mantis then took her arm and led her to meet the other ladies of the house.

The afternoon passed in easy conversations. She talked to Lady Mantis about embroidery techniques, to an old lord about the gardens, and to a woman her age about the books she had been reading.

Without the weight of Ravenmoor hierarchy pressing on her, Alina found herself more relaxed. She was laughing more, speaking without overthinking and moving without the constant awareness of being watched.

She stood by a window at one point, looking out at the gardens, when someone came and joined her.

"Lord Prescott," he said. "I’ve been watching you for the past hour, and decided I couldn’t leave without introducing myself."

Alina turned and looked at him. He was young, handsome and confident. He looked genuinely interested in her.

"You’ve been watching me for an hour?" she said. "I don’t know whether it’s flattering or concerning."

He grinned.

"I was hoping for flattering," he replied. "I’ve been told I’m quite good at it."

"By your date?"

"By my mother," he said solemnly. "She has also told me I’m handsome, brilliant, and destined for greatness, so her judgement might be questionable."

Alina laughed at his response.

They sat at lunch together. They talked about their interests and discussed a little bit of politics. He refilled her glass casually, angled towards her when she spoke, and smiled when she laughed. Alina while explaining her point to him, touched his arm to emphasize it, and he did not pull away.

They looked very natural and comfortable with each other. Austin who was sitting opposite her with Lord Mantis, was having a conversation with him and observed everything.

Soon, the gathering ended.

"I had such a lovely time today. I’d love to see you again, only if you want to," Lord Prescott said, as they were about to leave.

"Of course. I enjoyed my time as well...thanks to you," she replied.

The carriage ride back was quiet. Austin had hardly talked to her during the entire gathering but despite that, Alina was literally glowing.

"Lord Prescott seemed very attentive to you," he said, breaking the silence.

She turned to look at him. He looked perfectly calm and composed but his hands betrayed him. They were resting stiffly on his knees.

"He was kind," she said. "Which is a foreign concept in your castle."

Austin rolled his eyes.

"And it’s also common for you to touch their arms?"

"We were discussing embroidery."

"He also refilled your glass three times."

She smiled. The Duke of Ravenmoor, who had promised to send her to Calder was jealous of a man who refilled her wine glass.

"I was thirsty," she replied.

"Alina..."

"Yes?"

The carriage swayed as he leaned forward, closing the distance between them.

"You’re mine." He whispered.

He was the man who kept his distance from her, but now he was claiming her again, after watching her laugh with someone else. The possessiveness was wrong but electric, and she hated herself for feeling it.

"I’m yours until your marriage," she replied, looking into his eyes. "After that, I might be Lord Calder’s or Lord Prescott’s or whoever you and Audrey choose from her list." She leaned forward. You don’t get to say mine... when you’re planning to make me someone else’s."

He had no answer.

The carriage rolled on. Both of them sat back and did not speak again. When the carriage stopped at Ravenmoor, she got out before he could offer his hand and walked inside without glancing at him.