The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

”No, Eilika.” Damian shook his head, his gaze fixed upon the wall. ”You could have lost your life. And the fault lies entirely with me.”

”If blaming yourself brings you some measure of solace, then by all means, continue,” Eilika stated calmly. She picked up her own teacup and a biscuit from the tray, taking a quiet bite before washing it down with a sip of the warm brew.

Damian tilted his head, his dark eyes shifting to study her face closely. ”Does it still pain you?” he asked, his fingers gently reaching out to trace the edge of the wound on her forehead.

”Only a little. The medicines have managed to dull the ache,” Eilika replied, leaning slightly away from his touch. ”Drink your tea before it loses its warmth,” she added, redirecting his attention to the steaming cup.

”Do you not feel that your life has only grown more perilous since you wed me?” Damian asked. ”First, you had to endure so much simply to make me believe that I am capable of love again. And now, these constant attempts on our lives...” He trailed off, unable to voice the rest as she gently pressed a finger against his lips to silence him.

”You speak far too much during tea, Your Grace,” Eilika stated softly, though her gaze remained firm. ”I have no desire to hear anything more of attacks or our past today,” she asserted, lowering her hand.

Damian smiled faintly, the tension finally leaving his shoulders as he took a quiet sip of his tea.

”Roman is finishing his lessons from school at the moment,” Eilika noted, setting her cup back onto the saucer. ”Tomorrow marks the start of the weekend. Shall we take him out somewhere? Or do your duties demand your presence here?”

”I can always find time for my wife and my son,” Damian stated, his smile widening slightly with genuine warmth.

”Then let us take Roman to the newly opened park in the town. Joanna was speaking rather highly of it,” Eilika suggested.

”Public spaces are strictly out of the question for the time being,” Damian answered, setting his cup firmly back onto the saucer. He picked up a biscuit and took a thoughtful bite. ”Are you truly feeling well enough? Because I will only arrange an outing if you are fully recovered.”

”Yes, I am much better. Can you not see that I am managing all my duties perfectly well?” Eilika remarked. ”And Roman needs to experience the things other children do.”

”You are right,” Damian conceded, his gaze softening. ”Shall we take a carriage to the coast instead? A private stretch of the beach, perhaps?”

”Can we truly?” Eilika asked, her eyes widening with pleasant surprise.

”Yes. We shall reserve both Saturday and Sunday entirely for ourselves. I own a private estate along the coast, so security will not be an issue,” he asserted reassuringly.

”What if we set out this evening instead?” Eilika inquired, her mind already organizing the details. ”That way, Roman will have the entire morning tomorrow to enjoy himself there.”

”That is a wonderful idea,” Damian agreed, nodding in approval. ”You may instruct the attendants to begin packing our luggage immediately.”

”Of course.” She smiled, already feeling a sense of relief at the thought of Roman enjoying a brief escape to the coast.

Damian pulled a silk cord to ring the service bell, summoning a servant to clear the silver tray and take the teacups away. Once the heavy doors clicked shut from the outside, leaving them in absolute privacy, he turned back to her. ”You did not question my decision regarding Elias’s wife. You did not ask why I ignored her pleas.”

”Because I support your judgment,” Eilika answered without hesitation. ”And I know that if you find her innocent of her husband’s treason, you will not punish her, nor will you hold her son accountable for his father’s sins.”

”Hmm.” Damian studied her face.

”What? Is there something upon my face?” she asked, a sudden flush rising to her cheeks as she brushed her fingertips against her skin, her teeth lightly catching her bottom lip.

”No. Am I no longer permitted to simply look at you?” he mused, a soft smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

”No, you may. It is only that you rarely fix your gaze upon me in such a manner,” she murmured, casting her eyes downward.

”Is that so?” His expression turned serious, a single eyebrow rising as he held her gaze.

”Yes.” She then rose from her seat, smoothing down the skirts of her gown. ”I shall go to Roman now. He is still occupied with his lessons.”

As she turned to leave, Damian caught her by the wrist, his grip firm but gentle, and pulled her back down onto the settee beside him.

”Damian!” She gasped softly as he leaned forward and pressed a lingering kiss against her cheek.

”Roman is perfectly capable of completing his studies independently,” Damian murmured, his voice low. ”Stay here with me until lunch is ready.” He brought her captured hand to his chest, holding it over the steady beat of his heart as he leaned closer still.

”Very well, I shall stay,” she agreed, a smile touching her lips as she once more pressed a finger against his mouth.

”Why are you stopping me from kissing you?” he asked, tilting his head slightly, his gaze dropping to her lips.

”I am not stopping you,” she whispered back, her cheeks warming. ”But it is the middle of the day. What if someone interrupts us?”

”We will deal with that if it happens,” Damian murmured. His fingers traced the line of her jaw, gently lifting her chin before he leaned down and pressed his lips against hers. Their noses nuzzled softly as the kiss deepened, their lips parting as they lost themselves in the quiet warmth of the moment.

”Your Grace, Prince Sylvian has arrived,” a servant’s voice announced loudly from just outside the doors, shattering the silence and forcing the two of them to instantly break apart.

”Why is Sylvian back?” Damian murmured, his voice laced with annoyance. ”They cannot even grant me a quiet moment with you.”

Eilika smiled softly. ”That is precisely why I told you it is daylight,” she replied, smoothing down her hair. ”You must go and welcome the prince. I shall use this time to join Roman.”

”Hmm. I suppose I must presentable first,” Damian said, rubbing his temples to stave off a brewing headache.

”Do you require my assistance?” She stepped closer, her fingers deftly doing up the remaining buttons of his half-open shirt before resting her hands gently upon his broad shoulders. Leaning in, she stole a quick, parting kiss from his lips. ”I shall see you at the luncheon table, Your Grace.”

”Very well. I can manage the rest myself. Go to Roman before he leaves his lessons to search for you,” Damian whispered back, his expression softening as he let her go.

With a graceful nod, she turned and walked out of the chambers.

~~~~~

”Aunt Georgia, I do hope my sudden arrival does not cause you any inconvenience,” Sylvian said as he stepped into the reception hall.

”Not at all, my dear. You have arrived at a wonderful time; lunch is almost ready,” Georgia answered warmly. She then turned to the head butler, instructing him to ensure a grand guest chamber was prepared immediately for the prince.

”I’ll be back soon,” Georgia said and headed to the kitchen to check the preparation herself.

”Damian!” Sylvian exclaimed in genuine joy as he caught sight of the Duke descending the grand staircase, looking perfectly hale and hearty.

The two men exchanged a brief, firm embrace before Sylvian pulled back, his expression turning serious. ”I heard of the treachery at the estate. Is Eilika unharmed?”

”Yes, she is well, by the grace of God,” Damian answered, his posture stiffening slightly at the mention of the attack.

”Was it August? Father dispatched him here,” Sylvian murmured, his brow furrowing with deep suspicion.

”No. The culprit was a maid who once served Liliana,” Damian revealed, his voice devoid of warmth. ”August actually assisted in apprehending her. She harbored resentment toward me because I chose to move on with Eilika.”

”What? That is sheer madness!” Sylvian said, his expression tightening with anger. ”Have you ordered her execution? A person who commits such an atrocity does not deserve to draw another breath.”

”Not yet. But whatever brings you back so soon? I was under the impression you would be occupied with selecting yourself a bride,” Damian remarked, his brow lifting in genuine bewilderment.

”That is precisely why I fled,” Sylvian replied, a roguish grin breaking across his face.

”What? Why? The Queen will certainly not permit you to hide away here for long,” Damian asserted, shaking his head at his cousin’s recklessness.

”I intend to fall in love before she can force my hand. The capital is drowning in ambitious high borns, and I have absolutely no desire to marry a noblewoman simply for status.”

”You cannot simply break royal protocol, Sylvian,” Damian countered.