The Duke's Bed Warmer

The next day Audrey requested a private meeting with Austin in his study. The moment she walked through the corridors, the castle buzzed with whispers.

The last time she had been in Austin’s study, he had shouted at her about castle operations. But this time there was complete silence.

The servants in the corridor exchanged nervous glances. Lady Pemberton found an excuse to walk past twice, but no one knew what was happening inside. Half an hour later, the door finally opened.

Audrey stepped out first and looked transformed. Her confidence, which was slightly shaken, was back, and she smiled as if she had won something she didn’t have to fight for.

Austin came out ten minutes later, looking cold and distant. He walked down the corridor without looking at anyone and went straight to Maren’s office.

By afternoon, Audrey had taken control of the narrative. She sat beside Austin at lunch, her hand resting lightly on his arm, smiling warmly.

She waited until everyone had taken their seats. Then she spoke.

"Austin and I have been working together to ensure Ravenmoor’s internal security meets the standards my father expects," she turned to him, smiling. "I’m grateful for his thorough investigation into household operations. It has found gaps that needed attention."

The narrative changed immediately. What had sounded like an accusation before now sounded like a mutual effort to strengthen the castle’s defenses. Alina, who had been framed, was now just someone who had been caught in a systemic problem.

Alina sat at her new seat and watched Audrey. She was back to what she used to be; chatting and laughing with everyone again. She had turned a public humiliation into a leadership opportunity within few hours.

She is better at playing this game than anyone else.

After the lunch, three courtiers approached Alina in the corridor, looking hungry for information.

"Is it true that the princess was involved in the investigation?" A young lady who had never talked to Alina before asked.

"His Grace said the household office was compromised," another lady asked. "But was he saying it was Her Highness’s fault or her problem?"

"I heard the princess is leading the review personally," the third one said. "And she was the one who asked His Grace to make the announcement to demonstrate transparency."

Alina looked at them with disbelief. They weren’t asking questions out of concern. They wanted to know who to align with, who to blame, and who to fear so they could choose sides.

"You should ask the princess," Alina replied. "She seems to have all the answers."

Then she walked straight to Maren’s office for the intelligence briefing.

"The dead drop at the waypoint village is gone," Maren said the moment Alina stepped inside.

"When? How?"

"After Austin’s speech. Someone warned the handler, and he vanished overnight."

"You’re saying someone present in the hall warned the network?"

"Or someone in the household office heard about the investigation and acted independently," Maren replied.

"Can we trace the person?" Alina asked.

"I’m already working on it," Maren replied. "But they didn’t just close that dead drop. They shut down three communication points within a five-mile radius simultaneously. It means it was a preplanned action, triggered by Austin’s mention of the household."

Alina hesitated for a moment, then spoke.

"You think Audrey..."

"I think someone in Audrey’s household has access to information and authority to act. Whether that’s Audrey herself or someone else..." Maren tilted her head. "That’s what we need to find out."

"So...how do we move forward?"

"We need to wait and watch," Maren replied. "We need to let Audrey think she has won before making our next move."

Alina nodded.

"That’s why I want you to stop your investigation as well."

"Fine."

Alina stepped out and headed for the garden. She wanted to relax. The sewing circle was already at work. She picked up her needle and began stitching. Marguerite and Lady Brennan sat beside her, but they didn’t mention anything about Audrey’s announcement. Everyone kept themselves busy with their work, as they should, unaffected by the outside gossip.

"Audrey’s household is being reorganized," Evelyn said quietly. "The courier, Garrett, has been reassigned to the capital. Three maids have been moved to different wings. The lady-in-waiting who managed the correspondence office has been sent to the guest quarters."

"She is cleaning her house," Alina remarked.

"Or protecting them by moving them out of investigation range," Evelyn replied.

Both were possible.

"She is the best when it comes to handling such matters," Evelyn said. "And that’s what makes her dangerous. Be careful."

"Don’t worry," Alina replied. "Danger works both ways."

That night, she was at the desk, working on the collar prototype when Austin entered. She didn’t look up. She heard him remove his coat and boots, then sit on the edge of the bed.

"The investigation will take time," he said.

She kept working.

"I know."

"Audrey is a princess. We can’t accuse her without concrete evidence, and it will be difficult to gather that evidence when she has the king’s network behind her."

She set down her needle and looked at him. He looked exhausted.

"So what do we do?"

"Let Maren handle the investigation," he replied. "And you focus on the uniform commission for now."

She looked down at the collar prototype in her hands.

"You are right. The sewing circle needs me."

"Exactly."

"And you?"

He looked at her, a flicker of surprise crossing his face.

"I mean with the investigation."

He sighed and began to remove his coat.

"The sewing circle needs you more."

She nodded and returned to her work.

"The honeycake. You said you would make another one."

He went quiet, clearly not expecting this question from her at that moment. Especially when he knew how terrible it was. He looked at her. She was still working.

"I did."

"Really?" She asked, amused. "Did you burn it again?"

"No."

"Was it edible?"

"It was...fine."

She smiled.

"Why didn’t you bring it then?"

"I wasn’t sure you would want to try it again, given how terrible the previous one was."

"Bring it next time you make one," she said.

He didn’t answer. But she heard him sighing in relief, as if he had been waiting for her to say it.