In the end, I convince Alexander to go to sleep.

He's been in bed for the whole day, but I am tired. And also, I don't want his condition to worsen just because of some card game.

Morning is closer than what it looks, according to the clock. Outside, it's dark and silent, though.

I lie down next to my husband and close my eyes, trying to sleep for at least a few hours. I had to promise that we would play, one of these evenings. This stubborn Duke wouldn't have let me go if I didn't pronounce the words, so I accepted his extortion.

What use does a lady have of it, by the way? Gentlemen play all the times, but noblewomen don't!

When I wake up in the morning, I'm tired as if I've worked for a week without stopping. Yet, it was a single day.

I stretch my arm out and touch Alexander's forehead. His temperature is back to normal, so I relax and cuddle at his side for a bit more.

Today, I'm supposed to finally meet my lady in waiting! Oh, I've been alone for too long.

I didn't have a choice but to get closer to Alexander, these last few weeks. And I would have gone crazy if I didn't have Kate by my side.

I haven't seen my maid for a while, now that I think about it. It's been at least two days.

Where is she? What has Alexander instructed?

If only I find out that he confined my maid in the kitchens, or somewhere else far from here, he won't hear the end of it!

I open the wardrobe and choose a bright gown. Today, I can compromise on the colour of my clothes. Alexander likes light dresses, so I take out a pink one.

It's the same colour as the roses in Princess Lyland's garden.

I wear it while my husband is sleeping, and then I comb my hair in a simple braid. I will apply make-up in a while because I first have to wake up a needy Duke.

«Morning,» I whisper when he opens his eyes. I press my lips on his cheek and observe how he blinks to wake up.

«Are you an angel?» he murmurs.

He grabs me before I can get up, so I have no choice to sit with a ducal head on my lap and his arms around my waist.

«What is that?» I inquire. As if I can be confused with something as delicate as an angel.

«My Duchess isn't this kind. She usually hits me to wake me up. Or she steals the cover and leaves me in the cold. She's never called me so sweetly this early in the morning.»

«Ah, is that so?»

«What have you done to her?» he continues.

«Are you sure you want to know? Do you want her back so much?»

He nods against my legs, and I chuckle amused.

«So, you're a masochist!» I exclaim. «You like it more when your wife is untreatable and noisy.»

«I like it when she's sincere. It doesn't matter if she treats me bad.»

Oh, he's so sweet this morning.

«And I don't have any excuse to punish a behaving wife. It's boring.»

Let's pretend not to have heard.

«Also, my naughty wife is transparent. You, on the other side, are planning something of which I have no clue.»

«It's not true!» I reply. «I'm not planning anything out of your reach, Alexander.»

«As if I could believe you.»

«It's nothing exotic, really! It's the usual, you know... You have already read everything in my mind, right?»

«I can't read your mind, Thea. I'm just good at understanding your reasons and targets. So, now... What is it that you're unhappy about?»

«Kate,» I utter.

«Oh, figures,» he breathes, suddenly annoyed.

«Where is she?»

«In the kitchens.»

«I knew it,» I spit out. «You sent Kate far from me!»

«I just wanted a couple of days with you,» he explains. «And Kate isn't being exploited there! She's just in a warm part of the castle.»

«You have to introduce me to my lady in waiting as well.»

«Oh, right,» he remembers. Then, he smiles mischievously, as if one of his evil plans came up to mind. I hope he won't imply my companion in it, though.

«And also, you have to do your part of the work. You can't afford to fall behind schedule,» I remind him.

«Why not?»

«Because something is happening.»

«What?»

«I don't know,» I shrug while caressing my Duke's hair. «I've just read the documents in a hurry, and I don't have enough knowledge of your territories. However, I feel like someone is waiting for you to make the wrong step.»

Alexander gazes at me for a second, and then he gets up.

«Noted,» he murmurs while starting to change clothes.

«But don't overexert your body either!» I warn him.

He won't work too much, now that I've said so many depressing words, right?

«I know, wife,» he sighs. «Now stop worrying and focus on your own tasks.»

I nod, but my lips crook in a pout.

After breakfast, we can reach the southern wing of the castle. This is where lower-tier nobles stay.

«You won't be required to walk here often,» my Duke explains. «If you need anyone from here, you can just send a maid. They will come to you.»

«I need a certain amount of exercise to stay healthy,» I point out. It's not good if I live in a few rooms and don't see the rays of light at all.

«I can provide you with that,» my Duke whispers, and my face turns red.

«You!» I spit, and he chuckles amused. «We're in the hallway, Alexander!»

He turns towards a door and knocks.

«Lyana is my mother's relative. She has been married when she was about Martia's age, but her husband died during a hunting incident. From then, she stays at Stoneyard.»

«So, her name is Lyana,» I repeat, trying to gather all the information I have about that woman. «And she's older than me.»

My Duke didn't tell me anything else.

«She's almost twenty-three,» he confirms.

A maid opens the door and bows while Alexander and I walk in.

Lyana is beautiful. She has blond hair. Her eyes are as dark as my Duke's, and she wears only black.

She has a few pieces of jewellery on her, neither of which is eye-catching. Her gestures are slow and elegant.

She really is a refined lady. How come she hasn't remarried? She's still so young!

«I was looking forward to meeting you, your grace,» she says while curtseying.

«Likewise,» I nod. I was curious, and being alone isn't interesting at all.

«Can I have a word with Lyana for a moment?» Alexander whispers. I nod and walk to the chimney. A fire is burning strong, so I just stand here and absorb some of the heat. Did they know I was coming?

People around here aren't as sensitive to the cold as I am.

A maid offers me some tea, and I sit on an armchair near the flames.

Alexander finishes instructing my lady in waiting after barely a couple of sentences. I thought it would take him way longer.

Lady Lyana walks to me in a minute, and she takes a cup of tea as well.

She's older than me, right, but I bet I can have some real conversation with her. A young chaperon would just know how to talk about dresses, and I've had my full in the capital. It will be enough, for now, if we talk about the weather.

«How long have you been married?» I ask, not realising that it's not the right question for a widow.

«Barely two months,» she answers plainly. She doesn't seem troubled by my nosy inquiries.

Oh, just two months. I can't ask lady Lyana for advice, then.

«I'm sorry for your loss,» I stutter, and then I realise that it happened, what? Seven years ago? Maybe even earlier.

«Well, I guess that marriage wasn't my destiny. Not all of us are fit to have a partner,» the lady shrugs.

Rather than miserable, she seems more relieved that her husband isn't alive anymore.

«I'm way happier here at Stoneyard.»

Ah, a lot of people are happier here, now that I think about it.

«The castle indeed is beautiful,» I nod.

Oh, goodness! I'm acting like a dumb child. I'm not skilled in small conversation. I can read a person's intentions and true nature, but it's so much harder to create a personal communication. Let alone a bond.

«It's particularly fresh in summer,» she agrees. «Even though the hallways are so cold in winter. Your grace won't need to walk till here, luckily. The Lord warned me about your preference for warm places.»

How is a Duchess supposed to make friends?

It shouldn't be too difficult, given her familiar bond to my husband. Yet, I'd like to develop a sincere and truthful relationship. I don't need fake kindness and void smiles.

«I thought that Lord Kyre was exaggerating when stating your qualities, but I can't see a point where he wasn't right,» she says, smiling.