The Duke's Bed Warmer

Alina was shivering. Her teeth wouldn’t stop chattering and her hands were numb. She needed to change immediately but going through the main corridor wasn’t a good idea. She was afraid someone would see her like that and the whispers would start again. Her feet were cold inside her soaked slippers. She didn’t have the strength for that.

So she turned to the servant’s corridor. She walked quickly with her head down and arms wrapped around herself but slowed when she passed through the east wing.

She stopped and looked at the door. Deciding to ignore it, she began to walk when she heard a knock from behind her.

She froze. The sound came again. Her heart slammed against her ribs. She looked around and found the corridor empty.

Instead of walking away, she walked back to the door and stood in front of it. After a moment of hesitation, she knocked back.

"Who’s there?" Alina asked.

There was no answer. Then she heard footsteps running away. Whoever had been on the other side had been afraid that Alina had caught them.

"Don’t worry," Alina said through the door. "Your secret is safe with me. I won’t tell anyone. I promise."

There was still no answer. She waited for a minute then slowly moved away and walked to her room.

On the other part of the castle, Austin entered the ballroom through the side door. He had changed his clothes and everyone noticed. Lord Prescott entered from the opposite side. He had changed as well. The whispers started immediately.

"Where were they?"

"Both of them were outside in the rain."

"At the same time?"

Lady Pemberton’s eyes narrowed and she leaned toward Lady Hargrove.

"Was Alina outside too?"

"I think so," she replied. "Don’t forget Lord Prescott as well."

"Lord Prescott with them as well?."

Audrey stood near the head table with the perfect smile and composure but her eyes followed Austin as he crossed the room.

"Where were you?" she asked when he reached her.

"Outside."

"Why?"

"I needed air."

"You were gone for more than half an hour."

"Was I?"

She stared at him and he stared back. She had known him since they were children. She knew when he was lying, when he was hiding something and when he was thinking about someone else.

"Audrey." He picked up a wine glass from a passing servant’s tray "The ball is still ongoing. Let’s not spoil it."

"Of course," she said.

She slipped her hand through his arm and walked into the crowd together.

Lord Prescott’s father was standing near the musicians, talking to Lord Ashby when Austin and Audrey approached him.

"Your Grace. Your Highness." He bowed. "The ball is magnificent."

"The credit goes to Miss Ashworth," Austin said.

Audrey’s hand tightened on his arm.

"Miss Ashworth?" Lord Prescott’s father looked around. "Is she here? I’d like to meet her."

"She is resting," Audrey replied. "The planning exhausted her."

"Ahh... Well, please give her my compliments."

"Sure."

The conversation then moved on from trade routes to alliances to the weather. Austin answered questions and Audrey smiled. Lord Prescott was impressed.

Then Austin got busy with his advisors while Audrey stepped aside.

"Your Highness."

She turned.

Lord Prescott stood beside her.

"Lord Prescott," she replied, smiling. "Are you enjoying the evening?"

"Very much," he replied. "Though I suspect not everyone is."

Her gaze flickered for a brief second.

"I guess...you’ll have to be more specific."

Prescott smiled.

"You handled that... impressively."

"Handled what?"

"That dance moment," he replied. "Most people would have reacted terribly. Though I could see how surprised you were."

"I’m not most people."

Lord Prescott smiled and took a sip of his drink.

"You’ve known the duke for a long time and yet, tonight he surprised you."

"Men do unexpected things sometimes."

"But not without reason."

Audrey’s gaze drifted towards Austin.

"You’re very observant for a guest," she said.

"I prefer not to be a blind one."

She let out a small laugh.

"And what exactly do you think you’ve observed tonight, Lord Prescott?"

"That he ignored both protocol and you... and chose her."

Audrey’s smile didn’t falter. But her eyes did.

"Be careful," she said softly. "That sounds dangerously close to gossip."

"It’s not gossip if everyone saw it."

Audrey finally took a sip of her wine.

"People see what they want to see," she replied. "A moment can be interpreted in many ways."

"Of course," Lord Prescott agreed. "Which is why I’m more interested in how you interpreted it."

"Let me be clear Lord Prescott," she said. "The situation is not your concern. So you better not interfere."

"But I’m..."

"Enjoy the rest of the evening, Lord Prescott," she didn’t let him finish and walked away.

Meanwhile, Alina reached her room and immediately changed her clothes. Then wrapping herself in a blanket, she lay down, closing her eyes when she heard footsteps in the corridor. Then a knock.

She opened the door and found Audrey standing in the doorway. Audrey entered and stood in the center of the room. Alina followed her, surprised.

"What happened at the ball..." Audrey said.

"It was a mistake." Alina cut her off immediately. "I had no idea. I didn’t know what companion meant..."

"I trust you," Audrey smiled and sat on her bed. "You’re not that kind of woman."

"Then why are you here?"

Audrey sighed and looked down at her hands.

"Because I need to ask you something," she said. "And I need you to hear me...not as a princess but a woman requesting another woman for something she desperately wants."

Alina waited.

"Stay away from Austin," she finally said.

Alina shook her head.

"Stay away?" She repeated. "I have no intention of stealing him from you. I’ve never tried to..."

"It doesn’t matter what your intentions are." Audrey said. "Because his actions don’t care about your intentions. He went outside in the rain. To find you, leaving the ballroom and all guests."

Alina didn’t reply.

"I can manage Austin," Audrey said. "I’ve been managing him since we were children. I know how to handle his moods, his distances and his coldness... "

"Then why do you need me to stay away?"

"Because I can’t manage him if you’re there."

"But..."

"If you don’t," she continued. "then I’ll have to do something I don’t want to do."

Alina’s stomach churned.

"What do you mean?"

Audrey stood and walked to the door. Then she paused with her hand on the handle.

"Some secrets," she replied, without turning back. "should stay buried until they can’t be buried anymore."

She smiled and left.