Chapter 209: A Moment of Privacy
Chapter 208: A Moment of Privacy
Lyria’s POV
I knew why the table was bare.
The Queen had arranged it. Of course she had. Every detail of this date—the room, the time, the absence of refreshments—had been selected with care. Not to comfort. Not to facilitate conversation. But to remind me, quietly and continually, that I was not deserving of the same courtesies extended to Jacinta.
I did not say this aloud though; there was no need for that after all.
Duke Thorncrest sighed loudly, then he turned toward the maids.
"You three," he said pleasantly. "Be so good as to fetch some refreshments."
Diana blinked in shock.
The Duke continued before she could respond.
"I cannot spend time with a beautiful woman," he said, "and have nothing to offer her. That would not reflect well on my character."
He paused, then added,
"And besides, it is still morning. I very much doubt Her Highness has had anything sustainable."
The maids stared at him for a while. Not one of them moved.
Duke Thorncrest tilted his head.
"Did I stutter?" he asked. "Why are you still standing here?"
Diana opened her mouth to speak, but then Theresa shook her head.
It was a small movement, a subtle shift of her chin from side to side that would have been easy to miss if one were not watching closely. But it was enough to make Diana close her mouth.
Then they bowed.
All three of them.
They turned and walked out of the tearoom, closing the door behind them with a soft click.
The silence that followed was different from the silences I had grown accustomed to in this palace. It was not heavy. Not threatening. It was... peaceful.
Duke Thorncrest turned toward me.
"At last," he said, "a moment of privacy."
He leaned back slightly against the settee, his posture relaxing in a way that seemed deliberate—a signal that the performance was over, at least for now.
"You look quite beautiful, by the way."
The words were simple. Unadorned with the sort of flourishes I had heard other men use when they wished to compliment a lady.
I felt warmth rise to my cheeks.
"Th-thank you, Your Grace," I said.
He waved a hand.
"Alistair," he said. "We are alone now. There is no need for such formality."
I hesitated.
"I w-would prefer to keep to titles, Your Grace," I said quietly.
He looked at me for a moment. Then he laughed—a soft, warm sound, entirely without offense.
"Very well," he said. "I shall not press the matter."
I inclined my head.
"Th-thank you, Your Grace."
His smile widened slightly, though he said nothing more on the subject.
I folded my hands in my lap and looked at him properly.
"I m-must say," I began, "I am quite g-glad to have this opportunity. I have not had the ch-chance to speak with you p-properly since the interview."
He tilted his head.
"And you wished to?"
"Y-yes."
I paused, gathering my words.
"You ass-sisted me," I said. "You and B-baron Redwick both. You prepared me for the questions I w-would be asked. You t-taught me how to answer without... without m-making myself vulnerable."
His expression softened.
"I w-wished to thank you," I continued. "I have not had the opp-ortunity to say so until now."
Duke Thorncrest was quiet for a while before speaking.
"Do not do that," he said.
I blinked.
"Do not d-do what?"
"Thank me." He shook his head. "I did very little. It was all you."
I opened my mouth to protest, but he continued before I could speak.
"You were the one who sat in that chair," he said. "You were the one who answered every question they put before you. You were the one who did not back down, even when it was obvious—" He paused. "Even when it was obvious the royal family intended to bring you down."
I was quiet.
"They wanted to make you appear as though you did not know what you were doing," he continued. "They wanted you to stumble. To hesitate. To give them something they could use."
He looked at me directly.
"You did none of those things. You did not retreat. You did not crumble beneath the pressure. You answered carefully and intelligently despite being cornered repeatedly."
My throat tightened.
"Even s-so," I said softly, "it was d-due to your assistance that I was able to sit there at all. That I kn-knew what to expect. That I could answer at all."
Duke Thorncrest sighed.
"Nothing I say will convince you to stop thanking me, will it?"
I shook my head.
"No," I said. "I f-fear not."
He laughed again.
"Very well," he said. "Since you are so insistent on thanking me, you are welcome."
Before I could say anything more, thunder cracked suddenly across the sky.
The sound echoed loudly enough through the palace that the windows rattled faintly.
Then the rain came.
It began as a soft patter against the glass, then grew heavier, faster, until the windows were streaked with water and the world beyond had blurred into grey.
Duke Thorncrest turned to look.
Then he chuckled.
"Julian," he said, "is going to be quite annoyed."
I frowned.
"Baron R-redwick?" I asked.
He nodded.
"Princess Jacinta and Julian are having their date in one of the gardens," he said. "Given the storm that has just begun, I imagine it will be cut rather short."
My lips twitched.
"That is q-quite unfortunate," I said.
Duke Thorncrest looked at me.
The corners of his mouth curved upward.
"Indeed," he said. "Quite unfortunate."
We sat in comfortable silence for a moment, listening to the rain.
Then he leaned forward slightly, his elbows resting on his knees, his hands loosely clasped together.
"Enough about the Princess and Julian," he said.
I looked at him.
"I have been curious about you for some time," he continued. "And now that I have the opportunity..."
He met my gaze.
"I should very much like to know you better."
