The Duke's Bed Warmer-Chapter 53: A Living Ghost

Alina pressed her ear closer to the door, holding her breath. The melody was faint, but someone was surely playing a piano inside.

Her eyes widened and she immediately stepped back. She looked around, searching for some crack, a window, anything that might let her see inside.

But before she could find anything, she heard a faint sound of footsteps. She turned and saw Mr. Harrington, Austin’s steward, walking down the corridor alone.

She turned away at once and started walking towards her room, before he could see her.

By the time she reached her room, she was breathless. She shut the door behind her and leaned against it, her hand resting on her chest. Her heart was racing and her breath shallow. She was sweating from fear.

After standing in that position for a minute, she finally found strength and walked to the table. She poured herself a glass of water and drank it in one long swallow and sat on the bed.

She was scared. It wasn’t the kind of fear that made her fight or plan. This was different. It settled deep in her mind and refused to leave.

The east wing had been sealed after Austin’s sister died. No one was allowed there. So who was playing a piano inside?

Her fingers curled into her palms, but she couldn’t stop shaking.

I should tell Austin. He would know what to do.

She was about to get up but stopped.

No. Austin must already know. He knew everything that happened in the castle. There is no way he didn’t know.

Does that mean he is hiding someone there? Has he someone locked inside? But who? And why? And for how long?

She shook her head.

Austin wouldn’t do that. Austin was cold and complicated but he wasn’t cruel. He has been kind to me in his own ways. He wouldn’t lock someone in a sealed wing. Right?

But the truth was she wasn’t sure anymore. She had seen his kindness, but she had also seen his coldness. She had seen him reassign Lord Fenton to the northern garrison without a second thought, and a servant reassigned to scullery duty just because he dropped soup on her accidentally.

She didn’t know which version of Austin was real. The man who read to her through the storm to calm her or the man who sealed an entire wing of his castle to lock someone inside for five years?

At dinner, she kept glancing at Austin. But when he looked at her, she turned away instantly. She focused on her plate, her empty glass, on anything that wasn’t him. She could feel his gaze on her but she didn’t dare to look back.

"What’s wrong?" Marguerite whispered.

"Nothing."

"You’ve been staring at your plate for the last ten minutes."

"I’m not hungry."

"Really? Or is it because of His Grace? You’ve been stealing glances at him all evening, and when he looks at you, you look away," Marguerite leaned closer. "Did something happen between you two?"

"Nothing happened." She picked up her glass and drank water. "I’m just tired. It’s been... a long week."

Marguerite didn’t look convinced. But she let it go.

On the other hand, Austin was confused. She had never avoided his gaze before, even when she was angry, and when she was afraid.

So what happened now?

After dinner, Alina excused herself quickly and left the dining hall. She made it halfway down the corridor before Emeric called her.

"Alina, wait."

She stopped and turned.

"What happened? You look like you’ve seen a ghost?"

"I’m not hungry," she replied, and started walking.

But then stopped and turned to Emeric again.

"Can I ask you something?" Alina said.

"Of course."

"What do you know about the... east wing?"

Emeric’s expression changed immediately.

"Why are you asking about the east wing all of a sudden?"

"Well...I passed by it this afternoon and was just curious."

"You know you’re a terrible liar, right?" he said. "If something is bothering you, you can tell me."

"I know...but it’s seriously nothing."

She turned to leave.

"Alina....wait."

"What?"

"Be careful around the east wing. I don’t know why you’re asking about it, but if it’s locked there must be some strong reason," Emeric warned. "Just stay out of it."

Emeric then walked away. Alina stood there, her pulse thudding in her ears.

Instead of going to Austin’s room, she went to the end of the corridor and stood on the balcony. The night air hit her immediately, cutting through her dress, raising goosebumps on her arms. But she kept standing at the railing, looking out at the dark courtyard.

She closed her eyes and tried to think clearly.

I should ask him directly.

But what if he denies it? What if he told me I had imagined it? I have no proof. And worse, he would know that I have been near the sealed wing.

But if he didn’t deny it? And told me the truth?

I’m not sure if I was ready for that.

She remembered his words.

You don’t know what I’m capable of.

She had thought he was threatening her. But now the words seemed to have a different meaning.

The wind grew stronger making her shiver. She wrapped her arms around herself, but it didn’t help.

Then she felt something warm settle on her shoulders. It was a coat she immediately recognized.

She turned and saw Austin standing beside her in his shirt. The wind caught his hair and blew it across his forehead. He was looking out at the courtyard as well.

"What are you doing out here?" he asked.

She looked away, staring at the same courtyard.

"Nothing," she replied and turned to leave.

But he grabbed her wrist, stopping her. She didn’t turn around.

"You have been avoiding me," he said.

"No. I haven’t."

"You have," he said softly. "During the whole dinner, you avoided my gaze while secretly glancing at me. You think I didn’t notice?"

She didn’t answer. Her heart beat rapidly as his grip tightened on her wrist.

"Alina," he said as he pressed his thumb gently on her wrist. "Look at me."

She didn’t move. Without waiting for another second, he turned her around.

She stumbled forward, her hands falling on his chest. Beneath her palm, she felt his heart beating faster. His hands settled on her waist, preventing her from falling.

She finally looked up. His face was just inches away from hers. His eyes searched hers with an unreadable intensity.

"You can’t hide from me," he murmured.