The Duke's Bed Warmer-Chapter 54: Missing Him

Silence fell between them. Alina was torn between wanting to stay and run away.

"Harrington saw someone near the east wing door today," he said. "Was it you?"

She froze. The warmth of his jacket suddenly disappeared. She tried to free herself from his hold but his grip only tightened on her waist.

"I was walking and got turned around," she mumbled.

He tilted her chin up, making her look into his eyes.

"You’re lying."

She didn’t deny it. He already knew.

"There are things in this castle that are only mine," he whispered. "The east wing is one of them. Don’t go near it again."

It was an order. She didn’t nod or speak. Then slowly, he stepped back and loosened his grip.

"Don’t stay here for too long. It’s cold," he added before walking away.

She stayed there, watching him go, then turned and gripped the railing.

There is definitely something going on there that no one knows about.

When she went to his room later, he was already asleep. She stopped in the doorway and watched him for a second. Then she took off his coat, hung it over the chair and lay down on the bed, still thinking about the east wing.

After breakfast the next morning, she stood on the same balcony again. Austin passed through the corridor below in his riding clothes.

"I’m riding to the north tenants," he said without looking up. "To assess the storm damage. The weather is decent if you want to ride."

He walked away without waiting for her answer.

She had no plan to go initially, but a few minutes later, the thought of riding under the open sky tempted her. She quickly changed into her riding clothes and went to the stable.

Austin was already on his horse and Sapphire was prepared as well as if he were sure she would come. Alina climbed onto her horse and Austin nudged his horse forward.

They rode out with a young stable boy following them for safety. She kept her horse slightly behind him. For the first time in days, she could breathe. He glanced at her once and noticed the relief on her face but looked away before she could catch him.

After two hours of riding, they finally reached the farm. A man named Rowan came out and bowed.

"Your Grace...we didn’t expect..."

His wife followed and bowed as well. Austin dismounted and walked straight towards them.

"Where’s the damage?" he asked.

Rowan pointed to the barn.

"The roof, Your Grace. The storm took half the thatch and the main beam shifted. We moved the animals, but the grain is still inside."

Austin went to the barn with Rowan following him, while his wife Mary stayed behind with Alina.

"I’m sorry for the mess, miss," Mary said nervously. "We haven’t had time to clean up..."

"Don’t apologize," Alina said. "I know it’s a lot especially with two children."

"How did you..."

"They’re hiding behind the door," Alina smiled. "I used to do the same thing when strangers visited my parents during my childhood."

Mary turned and sighed.

"I told them to stay inside."

"They’re curious." Alina crouched and looked at the children. "I’m Alina. What are your names?"

The boy stared at her while the girl hid behind him.

"They’re shy," Mary said.

"I was too once," Alina replied.

Inside the barn, Austin was examining the damage himself. This work was usually done by his men, but today he was doing it personally. No one knew why.

He looked up at the two support beams, one was cracked and the other leaned at a dangerous angle.

"The grain is still dry," Rowan said. "But if the beam falls..."

"It will fall," Austin cut him off and walked deeper into the barn. "It needs to be replaced soon. I’ll send men tomorrow."

Suddenly, a loud groan echoed above them. Everyone looked up. The beam cracked.

"Move!" Austin shouted as he shoved Rowan towards the door.

Rowan stumbled out just as debris fell, blocking the entrance. Then a heavy beam fell on Austin’s leg, trapping him inside.

"I’m fine," he shouted. "Don’t come in."

Rowan was trembling while Mary screamed.

Alina immediately walked to the barn door and saw his one leg stuck under the beam. He was trying to move but it was too heavy.

"Don’t come in," he said again. "It’s dangerous here."

She ignored him and stepped inside.

"Alina..."

"Stop talking." She crouched beside him and looked at the beam.

It was too heavy for her to lift alone. She turned and saw the stable boy standing at the door, frozen.

"Come here," she said. "And bring something to lift this."

The boy hesitated.

"Now!"

He grabbed a broken fence post from near the woodpile and brought it to her. She set it under the beam against a stone. The stable boy pushed it down, and the beam lifted.

She pulled Austin back by his arms, and his leg came out. She dragged him towards the door, and they staggered out together into the yard.

His leg was bleeding and already swelling.

"Bring me clean water and cloth," she told Mary.

Mary instantly ran. Alina then knelt in front of him and pushed his trousers up. The cut was deep. She took the cloth from Mary and pressed it against the wound.

"You’re an idiot," she muttered. "You knew the beam was cracked and walked under it anyway."

He looked at the blood on her hands and the dust in her hair, noticing how she was giving him orders as if she owned him.

"I told you not to come in," 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"And I told you to stop talking," she shot back. "Now, keep quiet and let me clean the wound."

She bandaged his leg but it was already darkening with blood. He insisted on riding his horse despite her protesting against it.

Within a mile, it was clear he was struggling. The stable boy suggested returning until a carriage could come from the castle, but he refused.

They finally reached the castle at dusk. Mr. Harrington was already at the gate. His face went pale when he saw Austin’s blood-soaked leg. Austin waved him off before he could speak.

"The barn roof collapsed. Send men immediately," he ordered.

"Your Grace, your leg..."

"Is fine."

Harrington nodded and walked inside the castle.

Austin’s leg nearly gave out when he dismounted but he caught himself and walked inside without looking at Alina. She handed Sapphire to the stable boy and walked straight to her room.

After washing herself, she sat on the bed and replayed the barn scene in her mind.

He could have died today, and I would have been standing outside watching it happen.

The thought hit her hard. Fear filled her chest and suddenly it began to ache. She didn’t understand why.

At night, he didn’t come to his room. She lay on her side, facing his side of the bed, waiting. After an hour, she got up and opened the door.

His steward was in the corridor, speaking quietly to a servant. He looked at her when she opened the door.

"His Grace is with the physician," he said. "He’ll stay in the infirmary tonight."

She nodded, returned to the bed and lay down. Then she placed her hand on his side, trying to feel him. The sheets were cold.

It felt oddly strange. She wasn’t used to this kind of emptiness, and she realized she missed him.