The Duke's Bed Warmer-Chapter 46: Isadora Ashworth?

The corridor outside Austin’s room was empty. Austin stood with his back to the door, arms crossed. Emeric stood a few steps away, relaxed.

"You need to stay away from her," Austin began.

"She is my friend, Your Grace. Nothing else."

"I know what she is to you. But that’s not the point right now." Austin uncrossed his arms and stepped forward. "People in this castle have been talking about you two since you arrived. Every hour you spend with her, every walk in the garden, every lesson in the library, it all gets noticed."

"I came only because she was unwell. She has been alone in this castle since she arrived, and no one else was going to check on her. She was sitting there by herself, feverish with no one to talk to."

Austin hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"I’m not asking you to stop being her friend," Austin said quietly. "I’m just asking you to be careful. One wrong look, one scandalous rumour, and she will be a target."

Emeric nodded slowly and stepped back.

"I understand. I will be more careful from now on," he turned and walked away.

When Austin returned to the room, Alina was sitting up in bed, the blankets pulled to her waist, and the medicine bottle still in her hand. Her face was still pale, but the flush of fever was gone. She looked tired, but she looked better.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"Better than this morning." She set the bottle down on the bedside table. "The soup, rest and the medicine helped."

"Your ankle?"

"The swelling has lessened and the bruise is healing," she replied. "Thank you."

He nodded and was about to leave when her voice stopped him.

"I’m scared,"

He looked at her.

"I’m scared that I’ll embarrass myself in front of the king. I might bow wrong, or use the wrong fork, or say the wrong thing."

"You won’t."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because you’ve survived worse than a king’s dinner," he replied.

"Please. Surviving a few whispers and a dead mouse is different from surviving a king. The king can end me with a word."

"If you want to recover quickly you need to stop overthinking," he said. "Don’t worry. I’ll manage everything."

"Even me?" She asked.

"Even you," he said. "Now rest. I have work to do."

Alina nodded and he left.

Three days passed in a blur. Alina’s fever broke on the second day. Her ankle was still tender, the bruise slightly visible under the wrap, but the swelling had gone down enough that she could walk now.

The castle was buzzing. Servants ran through the corridors carrying fresh flowers to replace ones that had not yet wilted, polishing floors that already gleamed and hanging crimson and golden banners everywhere.

Audrey was the one behind all the preparations and she was extraordinary at it.

Alina stayed out of it. She stayed in her room, reading books, practicing her bows in front of the mirror and memorizing everything that Audrey and Emeric had taught her.

The morning before the king’s arrival, Audrey summoned her into her drawing room.

The drawing room was immaculate. Flowers were arranged in perfect symmetry, and the curtains were replaced with more beautiful ones.

"How are you feeling?" Audrey asked as soon as Alina entered the room.

"I’m fine. The fever broke and my ankle is almost healed."

"I’m glad," Audrey replied.

She then walked to the table where some papers were spread.

"You’ll be introduced after dinner and not during the formal reception," she said. "My father prefers to meet people in less formal settings. He says you learn more over brandy than over protocol."

Alina nodded. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"I have told my father you’re a guest of this household. Though, he knows who you are. He has never liked the tradition. It’s actually one of the few things Austin and my father agree on," she smiled. "They both find it distasteful."

"Then why does it still exist?"

"Because disapproval has never stopped powerful men from doing what benefits them," she replied. "Welcome to the world."

"Wear a red dress tomorrow," she added. "It suits you."

Alina just nodded to her every piece of advice. She has no strength to question or argue with her, moreover, she didn’t want any drama before the king’s arrival. Audrey was his daughter and she knew the best.

I just have to follow her instructions, and I’ll be fine.

She was halfway back to her room when she heard someone calling her.

"Miss Ashworth."

She turned. A man stood a few steps behind her in the corridor. He was tall, old, and was wearing the crest of the royal house on his chest. She had seen him before. He was a king’s guard who had arrived earlier with his team to monitor the preparations.

His gaze was fixed on her locket. She instinctively grabbed it as if protecting it from his eyes.

"This locket? Where did you find this?" He asked.

"Why are you asking that?"

"Answer me," he ordered.

"It was my mother’s,"

"Your mother?" he asked, surprised.

"Did you know her?"

His expression softened.

"Isadora?" he asked.

Alina hadn’t heard her mother’s name in years. Her father had stopped talking about her, and Elspeth only ever referred to her as ’madam’. Tears streamed down her face, before she even realized it, overwhelmed by the emotions.

"Isadora," he said again. "She was extraordinary. Everyone who met her thought so."

"How did you know her?"

"I served in the eastern campaigns, thirty years ago. That’s where I met her. It was before she met your father."

Alina’s heart pounded.

"Eastern Territories?" She repeated, thinking of how the eastern bookshelf in the library had been empty when Lord Ashby asked her to go there.

"What was she doing there?"

"That’s not my story to tell, Miss Ashworth."

"Please," she said. "I don’t know anything about her. My father hardly talked about her. I have nothing except this locket and a few memories."

"Your mother was the bravest woman I ever met.

She was different from others. She walked into places where she wasn’t welcome and made herself at home. You have the same green eyes as her. She..."

He stopped.

"I’ve said enough," he said and walked away.

Alina stood alone still holding the locket.

My mother had a past I knew nothing about. She wasn’t an ordinary woman, she was more than that. Do Father and Elspeth know about this? Have they been hiding it from me or is it a mystery to them as well ??