The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

The carriage came to a halt in front of Julian’s house, and the guards promptly opened the door for the Duchess. She stepped out first, then turned back to carefully guide both of the young boys down onto the path.

Before they could take a single step toward the entrance, the estate’s butler stepped forward and bowed deeply to Eilika.

”Your Grace, please, this way,” the middle-aged man requested politely. He led them through the front doors and into a well-appointed drawing room. ”Please take a seat here. The Madam will arrive shortly,” he added, casting a quick glance at a nearby servant, who hastily scurried toward the kitchen to fetch some water.

”Mama, I am going to Julian’s room to play with him,” Roman said, looking up at her with bright eyes.

”Sure. Go ahead,” she agreed, watching with a fond smile as the two boys eagerly dashed up the stairs.

Just then, the sound of a weak voice from the doorway drew her attention. It belonged to none other than Julian’s mother, Amaira.

”Your Grace, please forgive me for not coming right away to greet you,” Amaira murmured, pausing in front of her to offer a respectful bow.

Eilika immediately rose to her feet. ”Please, do not apologize. I am the one who should be sorry for coming here unannounced. Roman insisted that we visit his new friend’s home, and your boy was so deeply worried about your health.” She gently caught Amaira’s hands, guiding her to sit comfortably on the sofa beside her.

The servant returned carrying a silver tray. She carefully set the glasses of water before them and withdrew a respectful distance into the background.

”Prepare tea for Her Grace,” Amaira instructed, her voice straining under the effort.

”No, thank you, there is no need. I will not be staying for tea,” Eilika intervened gently. ”The hour grows close to midday, and my main intention was simply to check on your well-being.” She lifted the glass and took a brief sip before continuing. ”May I ask what ailment has befallen you?”

”I am struck by a severe fever each evening. By nightfall, it intensifies considerably. Julian’s father has been unyielding in his efforts to secure the finest treatments, and we have recently altered the prescription. I can only pray these new remedies bear fruit.” She carried a hope in her eyes that the new medicines would end the fever.

Eilika observed her closely. Amaira’s eyes were clouded with exhaustion, which clearly showed the toll its taking on her body.

”Would it comfort you if I send our personal family physician to examine you?” Eilika offered.

Amaira shook her head weakly. ”I could not possibly impose upon your generosity, nor would I dream of summoning a physician from the House of Varos for a private matter. Nevertheless, I am profoundly grateful for Your Grace’s kindness and consideration,” she replied, declining the offer with a polite bow of her head.

”Oh, please, Lady Amaira,” Eilika asserted gently but firmly. ”Julian is sick with worry for you, and Roman is equally concerned about your health. Consider the physician’s visit as a token of the growing friendship between our boys. He shall arrive by this evening to examine you.”

Seeing the genuine care in the Duchess’s eyes, Amaira did not find the courage to refuse further. Instead, she offered a grateful nod. ”Thank you for your immense generosity, Your Grace. I am truly humbled.”

Eilika offered a warm smile, but as she glanced toward the tall windows, she noted the shifting afternoon shadows. If they did not return to the estate soon, Damian would undoubtedly grow anxious over their delay.

”I believe I must head back to the estate now so that you may rest without further disturbance,” Eilika said, placing her hand over Amaira’s once more in a reassuring gesture. ”You will be well soon, I am certain of it.”

Turning her attention to the middle-aged butler waiting near the threshold, she requested, ”Would you please bring Roman downstairs for me?”

”Right away, Your Grace,” the butler replied, bowing before promptly heading up the stairs.

”I feel terribly remiss that I could not provide proper hospitality for you, Your Grace,” Amaira said, her voice strained by a wave of fatigue.

”It is perfectly alright, Lady Amaira,” Eilika answered with a reassuring smile. ”Once you have recovered, I shall return with Roman. He is already deeply fond of your son, and they will have plenty of time to play together then.”

At that moment, the patter of hurried footsteps echoed from the staircase, and Roman and Julian appeared, both carrying joyful expressions.

”Mama, Julian’s room is so nice!” Roman stated as he walked over to his mother, his lower lip pinning in a slight pout. ”Are we already going? Can’t we leave a little later? We only just began a game of chess.”

”My love, your father must be waiting for us at the palace,” Eilika stated gently. ”Besides, Julian needs to rest after his lessons, and he must look after his mother as well. Furthermore, you have not yet greeted Julian’s mother properly. Come.” Eilika placed a guiding hand on Roman’s shoulder, prompting him to turn toward Amaira.

”Forgive me, Aunt, for not greeting you upon our arrival,” Roman said. He placed one hand over his stomach and bowed his head with polite court manners. ”It is a pleasure to meet you. Julian was so worried for your health, and I pray you recover swiftly.” He then lifted his gaze, looking directly into Amaira’s eyes with sincere warmth.

”Young Lord Roman possesses such fine manners. Thank you for your kind well-wishes,” Amaira replied, a touched smile softening her pale features.

”Now, we shall take our leave. It was a pleasure meeting you, and I bid you a swift recovery,” Eilika said politely, before casting a warm glance at Julian. After a fond wave to the young boy, she led Roman back out to the waiting carriage.

~~~~

Damian checked the time and frowned. ”Where have they gone? They are never usually this late.” He placed the final document onto his desk and walked out of the study.

As he strode down the second-floor corridor, the rhythmic rattle of a carriage drew his attention. Peering down through the tall arched window, he saw Eilika and Roman stepping onto the palace grounds. He immediately turned and headed downstairs to greet them.

”You two are late returning today. Was everything well on the road?” Damian inquired as he met them in the grand foyer.

”Yes, everything was fine.” Eilika offered him a reassuring nod before looking down at their son. ”Go to your chambers and change your clothes, Roman, before we sit down for lunch together.”

Roman offered a proper greeting to his father before obediently heading up the grand staircase toward his room.

”We stopped by the estate of Roman’s new classmate,” Eilika explained. ”Julian’s mother has been bedridden for quite some time, and the boy shared his anxieties with Roman. Today, they both pleaded with me to visit their home, and I simply could not refuse their earnest requests. Your Grace, may I dispatch our royal family physician to examine her? Her fever refuses to break, and it is causing Julian immense distress.”

”Of course,” Damian agreed, his tone softening as a somber understanding crossed his features. ”Roman must have been so deeply affected because of what happened with Liliana,” he murmured quietly.

”Yes. Roman did not speak of it directly, but I could hear it in the way he spoke of Julian’s plight,” Eilika asserted softly. ”He carries a profound softness for anyone facing the loss or suffering of a mother.”

”I think it is because I did not care for Roman properly when he was young,” Damian murmured, regret crossing his face. ”I am the one who made him carry such burdens. I still remember how he used to be terrified of me.”

Eilika hummed softly, stepping closer to gently take his hands in hers. ”Do not dwell on the past, Your Grace. And how did your work fare today? You remained at the estate to handle it, after all.”

”I finished the ledgers well ahead of schedule,” Damian replied, his gaze locking onto hers. ”Which means my remaining hours are reserved for you. You and I are going somewhere after lunch.” He pulled her slightly closer by their joined hands, a deliberate movement that made her pulse quicken.

”Where?” she asked in a low voice, peering up into his eyes.

He leaned down, his breath warm against her ear as he whispered a secret destination that instantly made her lips curve into a bright smile.

”We will return before dinner time,” Eilika said.

”Yes, we will,” Damian answered with a smirk.

At that very moment, Georgia cleared her throat, causing them to stand apart.

”Mother! What are you doing here?” He asked in a surprising tone while Eilika tried pulling her hand back but he wasn’t letting it go.

”It’s grand hall. Anyone can walk in here,” Georgia said with a smile. ”You two shall continue whatever you were doing.”

”Mother, you’re thinking wrong,” Eilika said immediately but by then Georgia had already walked away.