The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

The small boy had been standing just outside the door, his hand raised to knock, when the muffled sound of his parents’ voices reached him. He froze, his breath hitching as he heard Eilika’s firm, gentle tone claiming him as her own son.

’Mama is so good,’ he thought, a warmth spreading through his chest that he hadn’t felt in a very long time. ’She truly wants me.’

Steeling himself, he gave a polite knock and pushed the door open. ”Good morning, Mother,” he said, offering a humble, practiced bow before turning to Damian to repeat the greeting.

”Good morning, Roman,” Eilika said, her eyes brightening. ”I must say, you are dressed quite handsomely today. This outfit suits you perfectly.”

She sank to her knees, her olive-green skirts pooling around her on the rug, and reached out to straighten the silver brooch on his tiny waistcoat. With a deft flick of her fingers, she centered the pin. ”There. Now it is perfect. Give Mama a kiss,” she said, tilting her face toward him.

Roman leaned in and planted a quick, enthusiastic kiss on her cheek, breaking into a bright giggle as he pulled back.

”Now, my entire day is going to be well,” Eilika declared with a smile. She rose to her feet, smoothing her gown, and took his small hand in hers. Together, they turned and led the way out of the room, with Damian following a few paces behind, his gaze fixed thoughtfully on the back of his son’s head.

”Mama, I had a dream. I was being chased by a scary dog,” Roman said, his voice dropping as they began their descent.

”A dream? Did it frighten you?” Eilika asked, her hand tightening protectively on his as they navigated the stairs.

Roman nodded solemnly. ”A dog my friend brought once chased me. Dogs scare me,” he whispered, the memory of the encounter clearly still vivid in his young mind.

”It was only a dream, my love. There is nothing to be afraid of here,” Eilika reassured him. They reached the final step, and Roman, his brief moment of fear forgotten, suddenly leaped from the last stair. He let go of her hand with a joyful shout.

”Uncle Louis, good morning!”

His bright voice echoed through the living room, startling Louis, who was standing by the window with a newspaper in hand. Louis turned, a slow smile spreading across his face.

”Good morning, Young Master. I see a glow on your face today. Tell me, what is the happy occasion?” Louis asked, leaning down with genuine curiosity.

”It’s a secret, Uncle!” Roman replied, tapping a finger to his lips with a mischievous grin.

”I’ll leave you three to your secrets then. I must check on the kitchen,” Eilika excused herself, offering a parting nod to Damian and Louis before disappearing.

”Roman, I will be taking your mother out today. You’ll stay here with Louis and Maurice,” Damian informed his son.

”Okay, Father!” Roman replied, flashing a wide, toothy grin.

Damian was privately surprised; he had expected a protest or a plea to join them, but the boy seemed strangely supportive of the arrangement.

Louis, standing nearby, watched the exchange with a calculating glint in his eyes. ”I’ve heard the Netham Tulip Hills are quite a sight for newlyweds this time of year,” he suggested smoothly. ”Why doesn’t the Duke take the Duchess there?”

Deep down, Louis had a different motivation. The hills are known for treacherous weather once the sun dips, he thought. If they are caught in a storm, they’ll be forced to find shelter together, far away from the distractions of the court.

”Father, Mama would love a place like that,” Roman chimed in, nodding eagerly. ”You should definitely take her to the tulip hills.”

Damian considered the suggestion and found it fitting. ”Very well. I’ll take her there. But you must promise me you’ll eat your meals on time. And if we are delayed, you are to go to bed without a fuss. Understood?”

Roman nodded solemnly, his eyes bright. ”I promise, Father.”

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.

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The carriage came to a halt at the base of the rolling emerald slopes, leaving them at the start of a winding, narrow trail. Damian stepped out first, offering a hand to Eilika, before looking up at the steep incline that disappeared into the morning mist.

”Louis failed to mention that reaching these famous views required a hike,” Damian remarked, adjusting the collar of his coat. He looked slightly out of place in his structured traveling gear against the rugged wildness of the path.

”Well, a hike is good for the health,” Eilika countered with a spirited smile, already stepping onto the dirt path. ”Besides, we will get to see much more of nature this way than from behind a carriage window.”

She began to climb with a surprising lightness, her olive-green skirts gathered slightly in one hand to keep them from catching on the low-growing shrubs. Damian watched her for a moment, struck by her sudden energy, before following close behind.

The air grew thinner and cooler as they ascended. The path was lined with ancient trees and the occasional burst of wild heather.

”Are you holding up alright?” Damian asked after a particularly steep stretch. ”We can stop if the incline is too much for you.”

Eilika paused, turning back to him with a playful glint in her eyes, her breath coming a bit faster but her expression bright. ”I am perfectly fine, Damian. Are you sure you can keep up? Or has the life of a Duke made you too accustomed to cushioned chairs?”

Damian let out a short, surprised huff of laughter, a sound so rare it seemed to startle even the forest around them. ”I assure you, I am more than capable of reaching the top.”

”Really? Then we must see who reaches the top first!” Eilika challenged, a flash of defiance in her eyes before she pivoted and began running up the trail.

”Careful, Eilika! You’ll fall!” Damian called out, his voice sharp with a sudden, protective edge. When she didn’t slow down, he let out a frustrated huff and lengthened his stride, his athletic build allowing him to close the gap quickly.

After a few minutes of spirited climbing, Eilika came to a halt, pressing a hand to her chest as she drew in deep, ragged breaths. ”I... I feel thirsty all of a sudden,” she murmured, her face flushed from the exertion.

”I told you to walk slowly,” Damian said, though his tone had softened. He unslung a leather water gourd from his side, uncorked it, and handed it to her.

Eilika tilted her head back, the cool water quenching the heat in her throat. As she pressed the cork back into place, she looked around, her brow furrowing. The woods here were dense, the canopy knitting together to block out much of the morning sun.

”Damian,” she whispered, stepping closer to him. ”Don’t you think this place is abandoned? Look at the path. It’s choked with dead leaves and brambles, as if no one has walked this way in years.”

Damian’s gaze sharpened, his hunter’s instincts snapping into place. He realized she was right; the ”famous” trail Louis had described was overgrown and eerie.

Before he could respond, a low roar ripped through the silence of the trees.

The blood drained from Eilika’s face. ”Was that... a lion?”

Damian stepped in front of her, his hand instinctively reaching for the dagger at his belt. ”Yes, but they sound a fair distance from here. Let’s reach the end of this trail first,” Damian reasoned.

Eilika nodded, though her heart was still hammering against her ribs. Damian reached back and grasped her hand, his grip firm and grounding. He kept himself a half-step ahead of her, his eyes scanning the dense thicket for any movement.

”What if a lion truly comes? They are massive, Damian,” Eilika whispered, her voice trembling slightly. ”Perhaps we should turn back while we still can.”

”Don’t panic,” Damian told her, his tone commanding but calm. ”We are nearly through.”

As they broke through the final cluster of overgrown trees, the oppressive shadows of the forest vanished.

The view opened up into a breathtaking vast expanse, a literal sea of tulips swaying gently under the brilliant blue sky.

The colors were vibrant, ranging from deep crimsons to soft buttery yellows, stretching as far as the eye could see.

In the distance, the sight of several small huts and thin plumes of chimney smoke offered a silent promise of safety and civilization.

Eilika stood frozen, her eyes wide as she took in the scale of the beauty before them. Her earlier fear evaporated completely seeing the tulips.

”They are beautiful,” she murmured, her voice barely a breath. ”I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Damian let out a quiet sigh of relief, his hand finally relaxing its grip on hers, though he didn’t let go entirely. The tension in his shoulders dissipated as he looked from the flowers to the soft expression on his wife’s face.