The Duke's Bed Warmer

Emeric approached Alina, who was still standing in the corner of the ballroom. She was watching the dance, but her eyes were distant, as if her mind was somewhere else while her body stayed behind.

"Alina."

She turned. Emeric looked like he had been standing there for a while, mustering up the courage to approach her.

"I want to apologize," he said. "I gave you the wrong information. I should have been more careful. I was so focused on helping you that I didn’t double-check and..."

"It’s okay," she replied, smiling faintly. "You were just trying to help me."

"But that doesn’t make it right. Because of me Lord Asherton..." he couldn’t finish.

"It’s alright. It’s done."

"You..."

"Can you do me a favour?" She asked.

"Just say it."

"I’m tired. I can’t breathe in here," she said. "I need to go outside."

He glanced towards the windows.

"But it’s raining outside."

"I don’t care."

"Then let me come with you."

"No," she shook her head. "The ball is running smoothly. No one will notice if I slip away."

Emeric hesitated but then nodded.

"Go," he said. "I’ll cover for you."

"Thank you."

Then she walked towards the side door and stepped out with no one noticing her.

The rain hit her the moment she stepped outside.

It soaked through her dress within seconds. Her dress darkened to the color of blood, and the gold threads lost their sparkle. Her hair clung to her face and neck and the water ran down her cheeks like tears.

But she didn’t care and walked into the empty courtyard. She remembered the last time it rained.

She was in the library and Austin read her the most boring passage of military history to calm her and then had fallen asleep together.

She smiled bitterly at the memory and before she realized it, she started crying.

Because she didn’t know who she was anymore. The ball planner? The sewing circle organizer? The matchmaker? Or just the bed warmer.

The more she tried to move forward, the more she was pulled back. Every step she took, something yanked her three steps behind.

"What am I doing here?" she whispered. "What am I supposed to do? How am I supposed to keep going when every time I try to be something more, someone reminds me of what I am?"

The rain answered her with silence.

"I just want to know what I’m supposed to be. What I can be without everyone trying to tear me down."

She wrapped her arms around herself and cried until she had no tears left.

When she opened her eyes, Austin was standing in front of her. She hadn’t heard him approach. But it must have been for a while as he was completely drenched.

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

She tried to answer, but her voice failed her.

"You’re going to get sick." He took a step forward, his boots splashing in the puddle. "Come inside."

"I needed air."

"In the rain?"

"The rain is still air," she said hoarsely. "Just harder to breathe."

"This isn’t funny, Alina."

"I’m not trying to be funny," she replied as she wiped her face. "I’m just trying to breathe. Because every time I try to take a breath inside, someone tells me I don’t deserve the air."

His expression changed, like he was about to say something but then held it back.

"You’re soaking wet. Come inside."

"No," she replied. "My work as organizer is done."

He stepped closer and reached for her arm. She didn’t pull away.

"Alina...you’re..."

"I’m just a bed warmer who made a fool of herself in front of hundreds of people. It was my mistake that I let myself believe I could be something more."

"You’re more than that," he said softly. "You’re brave and the most alive person in that room, and everyone knows it. They try to bring you down because they’re threatened by you."

She stared at him, still crying.

"Don’t say words you don’t mean," she said. "Go back inside. You’re the duke. Everyone will have noticed you’re gone by now. They’ll start whispering, and wondering. And then they’ll start creating rumours."

She pulled her arm free and walked away from him, across the courtyard. Her dress felt heavy, her hair was dripping, even her feet slipped on the wet stone but she didn’t slow down or look back.

Austin stood in the rain, watching her disappear. His hand was still there where he had been holding her arm.

"You’re going to catch a fever if you stay like that."

Someone said from behind. Austin didn’t need to turn to know who the person was.

"Go back inside, Prescott."

Lord Prescott stepped into the courtyard anyway, unbothered by the rain.

"I was looking for you," he said. "Though I didn’t expect to find you standing in the rain like a tragic hero."

Lord Prescott glanced around the courtyard.

"She was upset when she left the ball," he said. "You followed her and she still walked away from you."

Austin finally turned.

"Be careful, Prescott."

"Of what?" he asked. "Stating the obvious?"

Austin stepped forward.

"Of speaking about things you don’t know anything about."

Lord Prescott laughed.

"Well...I have to admit she is interesting."

Austin’s gaze turned cold.

"Watch your words."

"I am," he smiled. "But I want to know what is she to you? And don’t tell me a bed warmer. Because she is anything but that to you."

Austin had no answer. Prescott studied him for a moment, then nodded.

"I thought so."

"What?"

"That you don’t know and men who don’t know what they feel usually lose to the ones who do."

Something dangerous flickered in Austin’s eyes.

"You think this is a game?"

"Not at all," Prescott replied. "But I’ll give you advice, Your Grace. Not as a rival but as someone who has been watching you very carefully."

Austin waited.

"If you don’t decide what she is to you, someone else will take her from you and you won’t be able to do anything about it."

For a moment, they stared at each other processing the conversation. Then Prescott stepped back.

"I’ve stayed out in the rain long enough. Wouldn’t want to fall ill before my visit is over."

Then he turned and walked away.