The Duke's Bed Warmer-Chapter 40: A Mysterious Shadow

The investigation finally concluded three days later. A maid, hired through Audrey’s household two months ago, had been identified as the one who placed the mouse on the pillow. But she had fled Ravenmoor the same night. Her quarters were empty with all her belongings gone. Even her employment records listed a reference from a house that did not exist.

Austin’s steward stood in the study, delivering the report to him. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"The woman has disappeared. There is no trace of her beyond the castle gates. Her references were forged and her employment history was fabricated. It looks like she was sent here with the specific purpose of monitoring Miss Ashworth’s movements."

"Find her," Austin said.

"We have no leads, Your Grace. She left no trail. Whoever hired her knew how to erase a path."

"I don’t care. Find her." He repeated in a tone that meant there was no room for argument.

The steward bowed and left. Austin remained sitting there, staring at the report long after his steward was gone.

The castle moved on, pretending as if nothing had happened.

Evelyn called Alina in the kitchen that afternoon and made her sit on the same stool by the back door.

"I found the letters the princess has been writing to lords about you," Evelyn said.

Alina chuckled.

"How many of them are there?"

"I have seven but there could be more. The maid who sorts the outgoing letters recognized them and told me."

Alina stood and walked to the table where the letters were laid out, waiting for the courier. She picked the first one and began reading.

To Lord Calder:

Miss Alina Ashworth is a woman of extraordinary intelligence and resourcefulness. Her needlework is exceptional, her temperament steady. She will be ready soon, upon the conclusion of her current arrangement. I recommend her without reservation.

She read the next. It was addressed to Lord Prescott.

What the hell?? Already???

Audrey had moved fast. The letter was dated the day after the visit.

To Lord Prescott:

I understand you had the pleasure of meeting Miss Ashworth at Lord Mantis’s gathering. I write to confirm that she is available, and will soon be released from her current situation. She would be an asset to any household.

She read the next. It was addressed to Emeric. She had asked Audrey not to put him on the list but Audrey did what she wanted.

To Lord Emeric Ashby:

Your uncle speaks highly of your character. I believe you would find Miss Ashworth a compatible companion. She is intelligent, warm, and possesses a depth of character rarely found. She will be available soon.

She put the letters down. She did not want to read the next four. She knew the words already. Intelligent, resourceful, available and soon to be released from her current arrangement.

She was being described the way one describes a horse at auction. She took the letters and made her way to Audrey’s room.

Audrey was alone, sitting by the window, sewing something. She smiled when Alina entered.

"Alina...what a surprise."

Alina dropped the letters onto the table between them. Audrey saw them and understood the whole situation.

"You put Emeric on your list when I asked you not to."

Audrey set down her needlework.

"Emeric is a good match."

"He is my friend."

"Friends make the best husbands." Audrey stood and walked towards her, taking her hands in hers.

"I’m not your enemy, Alina. I’m doing this because no one else is thinking about what happens to you next. Austin won’t even think about what happens to you after the wedding. He will be too busy being the duke, and managing the kingdom."

Audrey was right. Austin had not planned anything. He had just thrown a name at her in anger. The irony was that the woman shopping for Alina’s cage was the woman who cared most about its quality.

"I’m not asking you to decide today," Audrey said. "I just want you to know that there is a good future for you without Austin. You will not be discarded."

Alina pulled her hands away. She did not say anything, just picked up the letters and walked out, heading straight to Austin’s study.

He was alone there. She threw the letters on his desk, the moment she entered.

"Seven lords," she said. "Your fiancée has already started writing to lords about me including the man you broke a pen over last week."

He picked up the letters and read them. His hands were steady but she could see anger on his face which he was trying to hide.

"I didn’t authorize these," he put the letters down. "I’ll speak to Audrey."

"Don’t speak to her. If you want to stop it, then stop the system that makes my future someone else’s decision."

They stared at each other.

"I’ll stop it," he replied.

She held his gaze a moment longer, then turned and left.

Austin read the list again. It was thorough and well-researched. He could not fault Audrey’s choices because she had picked good men, and that made everything worse.

He didn’t come to bed that night. She lay in the dark, waiting, but the door never opened. Probably, discussing about the letters with Audrey.

She was restless and furious. She got up and went to his desk, trying to distract her mind.

She opened the drawers, ledgers, and documents, not knowing what exactly she was looking for. Then she found an old folder at the bottom of the last drawer with her father’s name written on it.

Father’s name??

She opened it slowly. Inside were the details of her father’s debts that had increased year after year. She knew that much. But the last page caught her attention.

Creditor: M. Voss.

Amount: Four times what her father had told her. Date: A week before the contract was signed.

She had never heard her father mention him. He was not the local moneylender, not one of the men who had come to the door demanding money.

But apparently, he was the reason she was here. He was the debt her father could not pay and the reason he had signed the contract.