The Duke's Unwanted Second Wife

The next morning, Eilika made sure Roman ate a hearty breakfast before seeing him off to his academy with Maurice. Damian remained within the estate, deeply buried in his official paperwork.

”Dear, the sports tournament for Roman is tomorrow, is it not?” Georgia asked, seeking confirmation as they sat together in the morning room.

”Yes, Mother. It begins tomorrow morning,” Eilika replied.

”Splendid! I intend to go and cheer for the boy,” Georgia answered warmly. ”I shall invite my friends to join us as well.”

”That would be wonderful, Mother,” Eilika said, offering a bright smile. ”Now, if you will excuse me, I must head upstairs. The new drapes for the bedchambers need to be hung today.”

”Of course, go ahead, dear!” Georgia said.

Eilika stood up and left after bowing to her mother-in-law. Guiding the servants and ensuring the chambers were properly decorated with the new fabrics consumed more than two hours of her morning.

”Joanna, I shall be heading to the Duke’s study now,” Eilika informed her maid, before making her way into the grand corridor alone.

Along the way, she spotted a maid carrying a silver tray with a cup of hot coffee for Damian. Eilika stopped her with a gentle wave of her hand. ”I will take that to him. You may attend to your other duties.”

Taking the tray, Eilika continued down the hall and knocked softly on the heavy oak door of the study.

”Come in,” Damian said, his voice preoccupied as he kept his eyes fixed on the documents spread across his desk.

Eilika stepped inside, the soft chime of her jewelry drawing his attention. Looking up, a subtle warmth softened his features when he realized it was her holding the tray.

”I saw the servant bringing this to you and told her I would deliver it myself,” she said, setting the tray down gently on the low table near the sofa.

She poured the coffee into the fine porcelain cup and carried it over to his desk. ”I wanted to ask if I might go somewhere this afternoon. Prince Sylvian requested me personally to deliver an envelope to his lady.”

”His lady? What do you mean by that?” Damian asked, taking the saucer from her. ”Thank you.”

”Prince Sylvian is courting a woman and wishes to pursue her. But with everything happening so suddenly, he had to rush back to the capital. I believe he and Lady Iliana were supposed to meet, but the unexpected departure ruined their plans,” Eilika answered. ”He gave me her address, but it is a bit far from the estate. I intend to take Maurice with me for security, so perhaps you could bring Roman home from the academy? What say you?”

”I will go with you,” Damian replied without hesitation.

”What about your work, then? You cannot simply leave it half-done,” Eilika said, her gaze drifting over the mountain of documents spread across his desk.

”I cannot allow you to travel that far alone. Maurice is perfectly capable of fetching Roman from the academy,” Damian asserted, already rising from his desk and moving toward the brass stand where his overcoat hung. ”I can easily work late into the night, but you are not going out there without me.”

Eilika stepped into his path, trying once more to dissuade him. ”Damian, there is no need to disrupt your entire day for a simple delivery.”

”I need to meet an informant in the central district later this afternoon regardless. It is far more practical if you accompany me,” Damian insisted, slipping into the coat and leaving the front buttons loose.

Knowing his stubborn nature, Eilika gave a resigned sigh. ”Very well. How about I help you sort through your official correspondence once we return?” she suggested.

”I would greatly appreciate that,” Damian answered with a rare, genuine smile as he stepped closer. Taking her hand firmly in his, he led her out of the room, turning the brass key in the study door behind them.

~~~~~

The driver brought the vehicle to a smooth halt in front of the designated address, the engine idling quietly against the curb. Eilika turned to her husband. ”I shall go inside alone. It is best if you remain in the car,” she noted.

”Very well,” Damian agreed, settling back into the leather seat.

Eilika stepped out onto the narrow lane, unlatching the low wooden gate that led to the house. She made her way up the cobblestone path toward the modest residence.

Before her hand could even reach the brass knocker, the heavy wooden door swung inward.

”Your Highness!” Iliana gasped, lowering herself immediately into a deep, formal bow. ”I—I saw the motorcar pull up from my window. Please, come inside.”

Her voice trembled slightly, a palpable undercurrent of anxiety in her tone. The unexpected arrival of the Duchess at her doorstep clearly filled the woman with apprehension.

Eilika stepped into the small, neatly kept parlor and took a seat on the modest sofa, while Iliana remained standing near the hearth, her hands clasped tightly in front of her.

”Please, sit down, Lady Iliana,” Eilika said gently.

With clear hesitation, the young woman took the armchair across from her, her eyes tracking Eilika’s movements as the Duchess reached into her cloak and placed a sealed parchment envelope on the low table between them.

”Prince Sylvian requested that I deliver this to you personally,” Eilika explained, keeping her tone reassuring. ”He also wished to convey his deepest apologies for failing to keep his promise to meet you. A matter of grave urgency arose at court, forcing him to return to the palace without delay.”

”Oh. I understood that Prince Sylvian might have gotten busy,” Iliana said softly as she accepted the envelope from her, her fingers lightly brushing the wax seal.

She held the parchment carefully, a lingering trace of worry shadowing her face. ”I hope everything is fine with Prince Sylvian.”

”Yes, it is,” Eilika answered, offering a calm, reassuring nod to put the woman’s mind at ease.