The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

Damian looked over at Maurice and gave a slight nod, gesturing for him to show August to an available office space down the hall.

”Thank you, Your Grace,” August said smoothly. He cast a brief glance at Eilika before turning on his heel and walking out, following Maurice into the corridor.

”I will send an official inquiry to the King immediately,” Damian muttered. ”I need to know precisely why His Majesty saw fit to send him back here.”

”I believe he simply thinks Prince August may prove useful to you in uncovering the answers to these unresolved cases,” Eilika suggested, stepping closer to his desk. ”The King... you need to trust his judgment. He wouldn’t have sent Prince August back to Varos without a deliberate reason.”

”If I ask August directly, he will only give me evasive answers. I just hope he does not intend to create any further trouble for us here,” Damian muttered, staring at the closed doors with deep apprehension.

~~~~

Rosaline wiped the sweat from her forehead as she finally finished her chores for the day. Her entire back was throbbing with an ache; she had never experienced this kind of grueling physical pain before in her life.

Desperate to change out of her uniform and slip away before she risked crossing paths with Eilika again, she hurried toward the changing room.

But just as she shifted into her regular clothes and turned to leave, the head cleaning lady stepped directly into her path, blocking the exit.

”You need to come in much earlier tomorrow morning,” the woman ordered coldly.

”Why?” Rosaline asked.

”Look at that arrogance! This is exactly why the Duke punished you and sent you down here,” the lady snapped, crossing her arms. ”Stop questioning me and just do what you’re told to do.”

Rosaline swallowed her anger, forcing her gaze downward to hide the resentment brewing in her eyes. She gave a stiff nod. ”I understand, Ma’am.”

Fuming with resentment, Rosaline stormed toward the front gates, intent on leaving the premises as quickly as possible.

However, her steps faltered when her eyes landed on Eilika standing near the entrance, deep in conversation with Maurice.

Rosaline reached the top of the grand stairs just as Eilika looked up, and their eyes locked for a brief, tense moment.

Deciding it was best to keep her distance and avoid another humiliating encounter, Rosaline turned on her heel and hurried away, disappearing into the crowded courtyard.

”Your Grace, you really must not consider speaking to Prince August privately,” Maurice stated as he looked at her. ”As for the true reason behind his sudden arrival, I assure you I will find out.”

”Damian has been entirely consumed by anger ever since the truth came out,” Eilika murmured softly, her gaze lingering on the far gates where Rosaline had just vanished. ”That is the only reason I thought it best to meet Prince August myself and ask him directly.”

”Yes, but we don’t know his intentions,” Maurice stated.

Eilika didn’t respond and simply contemplated on her own decision.

~~~~~

”Dowager Duchess, when is your daughter-in-law going to give us the good news? Has it not already been more than two months?” Lady Karolina asked, her tone dripping with faux curiosity. ”My own son and daughter-in-law delivered the good news to us just a month after their wedding. And now, as you know, they have been blessed with a healthy baby boy.”

”For such a thing to happen, the Duke and the Duchess would at least first need to consummate their marriage,” Lady Charlotte interjected, setting her porcelain teacup down onto the saucer with a soft click. She glanced over at Georgia, a thoroughly mocking smile playing on her lips.

”Their marriage is not quite like every other union,” Georgia stated calmly, holding her composure against the subtle barbs. ”They are simply taking the necessary time to understand one another.”

”Understand one another? Did they not just travel all the way to Netham for their honeymoon?” Lady Evelyn questioned, pausing to take a bite of her cupcake. ”Dowager Duchess, it is perhaps not my place to speak on this, but your daughter-in-law clearly fails to comprehend her basic marital duties. You truly need to tell her that it is high time she learns to initiate.”

Georgia simply offered them a polite smile, remaining silent as Lady Charlotte glanced over at her nearby attendant. The maid quickly stepped forward, holding an embellished velvet purse from which Charlotte smoothly withdrew a tiny, tinted glass bottle.

”It is an incredibly potent aphrodisiac, Your Grace. Why do you not give it to them?” Charlotte suggested, sliding the small vial across the table. ”They clearly will not come close to one another unless you step in and do something about it. Surely you want to welcome another grandchild into the family?”

Georgia hesitated, her gaze dropping to the small bottle before she looked back up. ”They both are not ready for such a step yet, nor do I have any desire to force them into it,” she asserted firmly, pushing the vial gently back toward Charlotte.

”Tsk!” Lady Karolina chuckled, shaking her head. ”At this rate, you will see your next grandchild in ten years’ time, Dowager Duchess. No matter how much they put on an act in front of the public, everyone knows that behind closed doors, your son remains completely in love with his late wife. The current Duchess simply isn’t alluring enough because of that unsightly scar, which is precisely why the Duke shows absolutely no interest in her. She may be performing wonderful duties as a mother to the young heir, but as a wife, she is failing entirely. You truly need to intervene. Take this vial and place a few drops of it into your son’s drink.”

The three noblewomen exchanged meaningful glances with one another, watching intently as Georgia stared down at the small glass bottle, caught in a wave of deep hesitation as she weighed whether she should actually go through with it.