The Duke's Bed Warmer-Chapter 47: The King’s Arrival

Alina lay awake in the dark, staring at the canopy. The room was quiet. Austin wasn’t there yet. He was always late now, busy preparing for the king.

Her thoughts drifted back to what the guard had told her about her mother. Strangely, the fear that had been suffocating her for days about the king’s arrival was pushed aside.

The door opened and Austin came in earlier than usual. He looked exhausted. He, too, had been working tirelessly for the king’s arrival.

He sat on the edge of the bed and began to remove his boots.

"You look troubled," he said.

She didn’t answer, still thinking about her mother.

"The king," he continued, misreading her silence. "You’re worried about tomorrow?"

She opened her mouth to correct him but then stopped herself. She didn’t want to talk about her mother with him. So, she let him think what he wanted.

"The king is sixty-two," he said. "He married Audrey’s mother for alliance, but he grew to love her. She died when Audrey was sixteen. He never remarried."

She listened.

"He loves Audrey a lot. She is his only child," he continued. "And he values loyalty above intelligence. That’s why my military service has kept me in favour, despite our disagreements. I’ve never wavered in my loyalty to the crown and he knows that."

He stood, unbuttoned his coat, hung it on the chair, and sat on the bed again.

"Will he like me?" she asked.

The fear had returned now. Austin was silent for a moment as if thinking about his answer.

"He’ll find you interesting," he said. "And he tends to see interesting things as either valuable or threatening. There’s rarely a middle ground."

"And which am I?"

"That depends on how you present yourself tomorrow."

"If the king decides I’m a threat. If he sends me away or locks me up." She swallowed. "What will you do?"

"He won’t do anything to you," he replied. "I can promise you that no one can remove anything from Ravenmoor without my permission. Not even the king."

"You’d defy the king? For me?"

He didn’t answer.

"Go to sleep. It’s already late."

She didn’t argue and rolled onto her side. She was almost asleep when she felt the mattress shifting. He had turned towards her.

"I would," he whispered.

Her fingers tightened in the sheets and her heartbeat stumbled, then raced. She didn’t move or acknowledge. She just slept peacefully that no matter what Austin had her back.

In the morning after getting ready in the red dress, she walked to the courtyard where the entire castle had assembled. Servants stood near the walls. Nobles stood in order of precedence.

Austin stood at the front, and Audrey was beside him.

The trumpets sounded and the gates opened. The royal procession entered Ravenmoor’s courtyard with gold carriages, royal guards in crimson and gold, and horses with plumed heads.

The king stepped down slowly from his carriage.

He was tall, white- haired with a face that screamed authority.

He hugged Audrey immediately like a father holding his daughter. Audrey’s composure softened in her father’s arms. Her shoulders dropped and her hands gripped his coat. She for a moment, looked like an ordinary daughter instead of a princess.

Alina watched and felt a flicker of jealousy. Audrey had a father who embraced her rather than bartered her away. She looked away before she could get more emotional.

The king then greeted Austin. First with a handshake, then a pat on the shoulder.

"Ravenmoor. You look thinner. Are they not feeding you?"

"The kitchen is sufficient, Your Majesty."

"Sufficient is never sufficient." The king turned to Audrey. "Fix his kitchen."

Everyone laughed. The king’s eyes then scanned the crowd and stopped at Alina for a second before moving away.

Then they entered the great hall. It had been transformed. The high table was elevated on a dais, and royal banners hung from every wall. Every surface had been polished until it reflected the light.

The king sat at the centre with Audrey at his right and Austin at his left. Others arranged themselves below them according to the castle hierarchy.

Alina sat at the mid-table like always. She could feel the king’s eyes on her occasionally. He was mapping her posture and her social interactions.

During the whole meal, the king discussed trade with the southern lords, military problems with Austin, and social matters with Audrey.

Alina watched everything.

This was what power looked like. The king held the room the way the sun held a solar system.

Across the table, Emeric caught her eye. He gave her a small, encouraging nod and she nodded back with a smile.

After lunch, they went to the solar, a quieter room meant for conversations. The king sat in the largest chair with a crystal glass in his hand. Lords and ladies introduced themselves. Each one bowed, exchanged pleasantries, and retreated according to the protocol.

When Alina stood from her seat at her turn, Austin came to her and placed his hand on her back but the touch felt protective today. His fingers spread wider on her spine, as if shielding her.

"Your Majesty," Austin said. "May I introduce Miss Alina Ashworth?"

The king looked at her.

"Miss Ashworth," he said. "Austin speaks of you."

She was surprised but didn’t show it.

"Does he, Your Majesty?"

"In his way. Which is to say he mentioned you once in a letter, and the mention took up half a page." The king almost smiled. "Which for Austin constitutes a declaration of significant interest. He is not a verbose correspondent."

The court tittered. Alina felt Austin’s hand tighten slightly on her back.

"I’m honoured, Your Majesty," she replied. "I hope it was favourable."

The king sipped his brandy.

"He described you as ’uniquely challenging.’" He set down his glass. "I took that as a compliment since Austin doesn’t call someone challenging easily."

He smiled.

"He also mentioned your needlework. He said you altered your own dress. Is this it?"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The king leaned forward and looked at the stitches.

"My wife used to sew. She said it was the only time her mind was quiet." He leaned back. "You have her hands."

The room went quiet. Alina didn’t know what to reply to that.

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

He nodded and picked up his glass. Austin led her away, carefully.

"Half a page," she whispered, when they were out of earshot.

"Stop."

"You wrote half a page about me to the king?"

"It was brief."

"How brief?"

"Alina. Now is not the time."

She almost smiled.

"Uniquely challenging," she repeated.

"That part was accurate."

She laughed softly. They both looked at each other with the king across the room, talking to Audrey. Alina felt the king’s gaze on her for a second, but she didn’t look away.