In the end, Kate and I talk late into the night. We fall asleep when it's almost dawn, so I moan in a complaint when the sun rays reach me from the window.

This early and this annoying can only be my Duke.

«Weren't you tolerant?» I mutter. «Why did you march in here so early?»

«Look at the time, wife. It's not early.»

I glance at the big watch in a corner. Indeed, it's already eight o'clock.

«Time for medicine,» I sigh. How long did Alexander wait before barging in like this?

In the meantime, Kate woke up and started to glare at my husband.

«I feel like having to bypass a watchdog every time I want to reach my wife,» the Duke mutters.

Somehow, I agree. Kate really is protective. She has to learn how to mask her real thoughts, or the Duke might divide us.

When he crouches next to the bed and grabs my hand, Kate winces and almost jumps out.

A single glance of mine is enough to calm her down, and she collects a maid uniform magically appeared on a chair and runs to the closet to change. I can hear her murderous thoughts from here, and I can imagine her suspicious expression.

I free my hands and hug the Duke with transport, distracting him from Kate's temper.

«Thank you,» I say. «I thought I would be alone forever...»

He straightens his back, surprised. Then, he surrounds me with his arms delicately, and he rubs my back slowly.

«Let me see your wounds,» he utters after a while.

I obediently turn my hands upwards and wait.

The Duke looks closely at the scratches, sighing relieved.

«I don't see any infection, luckily,» he mumbles. «And what about the bruise? Does it hurt?»

«Only when I touch it,» I utter.

The Duke looks at me in silence, while I pretend not to have understood that he wants to check the bruise as well. I smile lightly, blinking innocently.

«Let me see,» he repeats, ignoring my expression.

I instinctively clench my nightgown, as if afraid that he would lift it with force. Still, the Duke won't risk to hurt me just to satisfy his curiosity, so my action is useless.

«Thea,» he mutters. «Don't act stubborn.»

«I'm not stubborn!» I deny, but my cheeks burn. I don't have any underwear on, and I can't just lift my skirt like this!

«Thea,» the Duke repeats, slightly threatening.

He reaches out for my hair and moves a lock. His fingers slip then on my neck. His caress is so delicate that I don't even notice that he's gotten closer.

Our lips meet, and I surround his neck with my arms.

When I notice that his hands are on the bare skin of my back, it's too late.

I grab the blanket and try to cover myself, while the Duke's keen eye observes the bruise.

«It didn't worsen,» he utters. «I'm relieved.»

«I am too,» I reply, so embarrassed. «Have you watched enough?»

«Not yet,» he answers, and my face raises in temperature to an unbelievable level.

I eye Kate looking at us from the door of the closet, and her face is in between suspicious and on alert. She's wondering whether to run in my help or walk back in silence.

«I'm hungry,» I say, and the Duke lets go of my nightgown. He pecks my forehead and walks out without further words.

He wanted to check my injuries, and now that he's done it, he doesn't have any reason to stay. I hope the maids didn't predict this, and that the food is good.

«I'll come back in the evening,» he says before opening the door and stepping out.

Oh, well, I can rest for the whole day. I don't want to wear heavy clothes, so I'll just stay indoors today. Even though the Duke wasn't too precise about how far I can go with my comfy gowns.

Maybe, it's all right if nobody sees me. I can stay in a hidden corner of the garden. Still, last time I did that, I ended up with a horrible bruise and a lot of smaller scratches.

«This place is a lot scarier than I thought,» Kate comments.

She's looking out of the window, glaring at the people that launch a look in our direction. They can't see her unless she makes some movement involving the curtains, but her gaze could pierce layers of the best quality glass.

«And there are fewer people than what one would expect!» she exclaims then.

«This is the Duke's private wing. It's to the exclusive use of him and his family,» I explain.

«Which includes you and your maids. Where are they, by the way? Did that man leave you attending yourself alone?»

«No, but there were some problems with the servants whom he entrusted me to.»

«Don't tell me! Those wenches thought that they didn't owe respect to a captive queen. They acted as if you didn't deserve their obedience, didn't they?»

«Something like that,» I chuckle. Not that I couldn't understand the maids' mood.

«I should have come here on my own way earlier!» she exclaims, and I can't help but hug her again.

«You shouldn't have come at all! Now you're in danger...» I point out. «The other maids will try to mistreat you, and I won't be able to protect you!»

«I won't have it worse than you,» she replies with a smirk.

She looks at the food on the table and chooses something she's sure I don't like.

«Do you have a plan?» she mumbles.

«Surviving,» I answer shortly.

This is not the right place to talk about secret schemes. What happened two days ago broke something in my soul. I lost what remained of my will to fight, and I thought about completely surrendering.

Only seeing Kate helped me remember who I am.

If she didn't run in my room, totally unexpected, I would still be lying in that bed and waiting for my destiny. I can't express with words how much strength she gives me, but Alexander must have known.

He chose the right moment to help me this time.