The Duke's Bed Warmer

The castle was still echoing with last night. Alina walked into the great hall and the energy shifted.

They didn’t know what she was anymore. But one thing was clear she wasn’t someone who could be treated poorly now.

Austin stood and walked to her without hesitation. His hand settled on her waist as he led her to the table and seated her three places from his own, making it clear to everyone that this was her place now.

Then he returned to his seat and sipped his tea. Audrey arrived late that morning and the energy of the hall shifted again. She walked to Austin’s side as if nothing had happened.

Her composure was so perfect that several courtiers started doubting what they had heard last night.

Maybe they had misunderstood? Maybe the duke had been talking about a different household?

She looked at Alina and smiled warmly.

"Miss Ashworth. You look well. I’m glad."

"Thank you, Your Highness."

The court watched the exchange like spectators at a match where no one understood the rules. The duke had accused the princess’s household and the princess was smiling at the woman she had been accused of framing.

Someone was lying, but nobody could tell who.

But the game had just begun. In the afternoon, Audrey sent a private gift to each woman in the sewing circle.The packages were delivered by Audrey’s personal maid when they were done with their work.

There were high quality embroidered silks, expensive fabrics and best quality supplies. Each package came with a personal note written by Audrey herself.

Dear Lady Brennan, your work on the uniform commission has been exceptional. I am so proud of what our women are creating together.

Dear Marguerite, your production schedule is a model of efficiency. The castle is fortunate to have you.

Dear Lady Talbot, your eye for quality and cost has saved the commission significant resources. I have noted your contributions in my report to the steward.

Dear Evelyn, the kitchen has not lost you entirely, I hope. Your stitching is as impressive as your delicious food.

Each note praised their work and mentioned how impressed the princess was with "our women’s initiative." She was claiming co-ownership of the circle making it look like a castle project the princess had always supported.

Lady Talbot brought her package to Alina in her room, looking worried.

"She is buying the women with gifts. By next week new ones will think the circle was Audrey’s idea which was implemented by you."

Alina looked at the silk Lady Talbot had brought. The color was beautiful and the thread was soft and expensive.

"Let her try," Alina said. "The women know who built this. Audrey’s gifts can’t change their views."

"Are you sure?"

"I have full faith in my circle," she replied.

Later that evening, Alina went to the archives to look for old uniform records. If she was going to improve the design, she needed to see how it had been made before.

The room was quiet and dim, located in the older part of the castle. Shelves lined the walls, full of ledgers and rolled parchments.

She stepped inside and walked towards the military section when she heard the door close behind her.

She turned and saw Austin.

Of course.

"I didn’t know you were here," he said.

"I needed to check something," she replied and turned back to the shelves.

"I’ll be quick."

"So will I."

They moved around the same narrow aisle, reaching for different files until both of them reached for the same ledger. Their hands brushed briefly but she pulled back.

"You take it," she said.

"You found it first."

"I don’t need it that badly."

"But I do."

She looked at him, annoyed.

"Then take it."

"Thank you."

The space between the shelves was narrow. When he stepped forward to take the ledger, he ended up being very close to her. Her back pressed against the wooden shelf behind her and his arm was beside her shoulder as he leaned in to reach it.

He paused.

"Move," she said.

"There’s nowhere to move."

"Then step back."

"You step forward."

"There’s no space."

"Exactly."

For a moment, they just stared at each other.

Then he moved his hand a little and grabbed the ledger, but didn’t pull away. His other hand rested against the shelf beside her, trapping her without actually touching her.

Her heart began to pound.

"You’re doing this on purpose," she said.

"I’m not."

"You are."

"I’m not."

He finally picked up the ledger but instead of stepping back, he stayed where he was. Alina waited but when he didn’t move, she spoke.

"Done?" she asked.

"Yes."

"Then move."

He cleared his throat and stepped back, breaking the moment. She sighed and reached for another file, pretending it didn’t affect her.

He watched her for a second longer, then turned and walked out. Alina stood there, staring at the shelf, her fingers resting on the book.

"Ridiculous," she muttered and went back to her work.

At night, as usual, Alina sat at the desk, sketching a new collar design for the military uniform. Austin entered the room and saw her working. He sat on his side of the desk and began reading the dispatches from the northern troops.

They worked in silence for a while, both absorbed in their own work. Then his eyes landed on her sketch.

"What’s that?"

"A collar design," she replied without looking up. "The standard military collar is too low. If a soldier is hit from behind, the fabric doesn’t protect the neck. Moving the reinforcement here..." she pointed at the position. "...fixes it without adding weight."

He leaned closer, his shoulder brushing against hers and looked at the sketch with his full attention.

"That’s a good design," he said.

"I know."

"I’ll send this to the quartermaster."

"No," she said. "Send it to my circle. We’ll prototype it. After all, we are the ones making the uniforms."

"Fine," he replied.

She went back to her sketch and he went back to his dispatches. The silence returned, but it was lighter now. The weight of the accusation was still there, but it had settled into something they were both learning to carry.

"Maren wants a second briefing with you tomorrow," he said, without looking up.

Her pen stopped.

"About the Voss network?"

"About the household connection. She wants your input in the investigation."

Maren is inviting me as an intelligence consultant? And that too without Austin’s recommendation?

She smiled.

"I’ll be there," she said.

"Good."

She returned to her sketch and added a notation about thread tension. The conversation was over.

"The honeycake was terrible," she said suddenly.

He gaze moved to her.

"I know."

"It was burnt on the outside and raw on the inside."

"I had followed the recipe."

"Then that recipe was terrible."

He was quiet for a moment.

"I’ll make another one," he said.

"You don’t need to. Leave the kitchen to kitchen staff."

"But I want to," he replied.

She froze. She looked at him and found him already looking at her.

He looked calm but his eyes looked softer, their usual coldness replaced with something warm. She frowned slightly, unsure what to make of it.

Then she turned away, but not before her lips twitched slightly, just enough for him to notice.