The Duke's Bed Warmer-Chapter 52: Cards And Secrets

Lady Pemberton had arranged a card party for the ladies of the castle. Surprisingly, Alina also received the invitation, delivered by a maid who looked like she would rather be anywhere else.

Alina didn’t want to go. She knew she would have to listen to cutting remarks disguised as compliments, answer questions meant to corner her, and face the careful dissection of everything she said and did. She didn’t have the strength for it right now.

Lady Talbot found her an hour before the party.

"You’re coming with us," she said.

"I’m not."

"You are." Lady Talbot took her arm. "If you won’t, it will send the wrong message. They’ll say you’re hiding and you’re afraid of facing them."

"I am...afraid."

"Don’t be. You have done nothing to be afraid of. The marriage postponement has nothing to do with you. It was the king’s decision."

At the same moment, Marguerite appeared from the library with her embroidery bag over her shoulder.

"We’ll go together. You won’t be alone."

"I don’t need a chaperone."

"But you need supporters," Lady Talbot countered.

Alina looked at them and smiled. Two months ago, she didn’t even know them, and now they had become her allies, her friends, and the ones who truly cared about her. She couldn’t let them down.

"Fine," she said. "But if Lady Pemberton asks me one more time about the king again, I’ll throw my cards at her."

"That’s the spirit," Talbot replied.

The parlour was full when they arrived. Lady Pemberton was at the center smiling. Lady Hargrove sat next to her, her eyes scanning the room like a hawk looking for prey.

Alina braced herself for coldness and taunts. Instead, Lady Pemberton crossed the room, took Alina’s hands, and smiled at her like she was her long-lost friend.

"Miss Ashworth. We’re so glad you came," she said.

Miss Ashworth?

Alina’s skin crawled but she smiled back.

"Thank you for your invitation, Lady Pemberton."

The room tittered. They sat and the cards were dealt. Audrey wasn’t present. No one talked about it.

"Do you play, Miss Ashworth?" Lady Pemberton asked, leaning in. "Cards...I mean. I know you play other games."

The subtext was clear. Lady Talbot’s jaw tightened while Marguerite gripped her cards tightly.

"A little."

"It’s amazing how you know everything a noblewoman should, be it sewing, riding or cards. And yet..."

"And yet here I am," Alina finished calmly.

"It’s your destiny, I suppose." Lady Pemberton sighed. "Some people are born to one life and end up in another. You can’t fight fate."

Lady Hargrove nodded.

"It’s tragic, really. You have so much talent but you can’t use it."

Alina arranged the cards in her hand and looked at Lady Hargrove.

"Talent has a way of finding its own use," Alina replied. "I’ve never been worried about that."

Lady Pemberton’s smile flickered.

"You’re very confident."

"I’m just very skilled," Alina smiled.

The game continued. The ladies talked about the preparations they had made for the king’s visit and how they were relieved that it was over.

"It was such a success," Lady Marchmont said. "The king was so impressed with the arrangements."

"Princess Audrey outdid herself," Lady Pemberton added.

Alina focused on her game.

"Your sewing circle is becoming quite popular, Miss Ashworth. I hear you have fifteen members now," Lady Hargrove said.

"Seventeen," Alina replied.

The ladies exchanged glances.

"You’ve adapted so well to Ravenmoor," Lady Pemberton said. "Considering..."

"Considering what?" Alina raised her brow.

"Considering how different it must be from your previous life. I mean your previous circumstances."

Alina looked into her eyes.

"Everyone has circumstances, Lady Pemberton. Some are just more visible than others."

The table went quiet.

"I believe it’s my turn." Lady Talbot said, diffusing the tension.

But ladies like Lady Pemberton and Lady Hargrove couldn’t be stopped.

"The king seemed interested in you," Lady Hargrove said, fanning her cards. "Private meetings are rare for someone in your position."

"He was being gracious."

"Did he speak of your future?"

"Well...that’s between him and me. I don’t think that concerns anyone in this castle except for His Grace, right?"

Lady Pemberton nodded.

"But it must be difficult, right?" Lady Hargrove said. "Knowing that one’s presence affects something as important as a royal marriage."

No one spoke. Lady Pemberton and Lady Hargrove smiled. They wanted her to apologize and defend herself.

Alina put down her cards and looked at Lady Hargrove.

"I didn’t realize I held that much power," she said. "Thank you for telling me."

"That’s not what I meant..." 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"What did you mean then?"

"I meant... that it must be uncomfortable to know that because of you..."

"If a royal marriage can be postponed by someone like me," Alina didn’t let her finish, "then it wasn’t very stable to begin with."

She picked up her cards and the game continued, but the energy had shifted. The ladies were watching Alina carefully now.

Alina won the round.

"You’re very good at this." Someone said.

"I had a good teacher."

"Your caretaker?"

"No." Alina laid down her winning hand. "His Grace." She lied.

The table fell silent. She stood up and smiled at everyone.

"I’m afraid I have to leave now. Thank you for a lovely afternoon."

She walked to the door and left.

Outside, the corridors were empty. Alina walked mindlessly, the echo of whispers still clinging to her. She had been ignoring them since she had arrived at Ravenmoor. She had built armour out of sharp words and sharper smiles but that armour was thinning now. After the king’s announcement, she was more visible in the castle.

She took a longer way to her room, wanting to walk alone for some time. She turned to the east corridor, the part of the castle that was quieter.

And saw Austin coming from the opposite direction. His steward walked beside him with a stack of papers in his arms. They were discussing something. He slowed when he saw her.

He stopped and the steward stepped back.

"What are you doing on this side of the castle?" He asked.

"I needed some time alone," she replied, looking at the wall behind him. "I’m sick of the library and the garden. I needed a change."

"How was Lady Pemberton’s card party?"

She looked at him then.

"How do you know?"

"I know," he paused. "Everything about you."

Alina exhaled.

"I survived."

He nodded.

"The east wing is off limits," he said. "You’re close to the boundary."

"I know."

"Don’t cross it."

"I won’t."

He walked past her with his steward following him and she continued walking.

The corridor ended in a set of heavy closed doors. She stopped and looked at the doors. It was the east wing. The wing that had been burnt.

Looks like Austin has never repaired the damage.

There were no guards around. It was abandoned, sealed, and forgotten. She stepped closer and looked around. The corridor was empty. She reached out and touched the door, ignoring Austin’s warning.

And heard a soft distant sound of a piano playing. She froze, with her hand still on the door. The music continued.

Is someone inside?