He nodded at the guard, then at Duke Caenum. “I accept the invitation, my lord.”
“Wonderful!” Duke Caenum clapped, taking over his guard. “Let us head to my estate and have a simple feast. Your entire entourage is welcome, Lady Beatrix.”
I didn’t have a clue what this invitation was about.
When my entire group was accommodated in the Duke’s estate, letting the horses rest and the men served with food in their mess hall, I along with Mia, Elias, and my knights were brought to the manor’s dining hall. I seated myself in the middle chair on one side of the long table, while Elias took the spot directly across. My knights and Mia stood behind me, waiting and cautious.
The duke’s two daughters entered the dining hall next, followed by the Duke and Duchess. I was about to stand up and greet them when the Duke motioned for me to stay in my seat.
“Please, Lady Beatrix, this is an informal dinner,” he chortled, taking his seat at the head of the table. His daughters sat on either side of Elias while giving googly eyes to my bodyguards, which made my blood pressure rise.
“Thank you for having us, Duke Caenum.” I had to talk and distract myself or else I might stab a bitch. Or bitches. I knew I was being irrational, so I tried my hardest to calm down. Apparently, even without ale, I could be a crazy-jealous woman, and wasn’t that unfortunate.
When the delicious-looking food was served, introductions were had, and eating had started, the Duke found it the right time to relay his motives.
“I want to propose your marriage to my third son, Theodore,” he casually dropped, that I almost choked on the meat in my mouth. My innuendo would normally make me laugh, but when I heard the clinking of armor behind me, and Elias’s steel gaze on my face, it sobered me up quickly.
“My lord? A marriage?” I asked, pretending I didn’t hear him right the first time.
“I think you’ll be perfect for our son.” It was the Duchess who answered me, the Duke nodding beside her. “Forgive me for presuming, but I believe your personalities are compatible. Theodore loves reading! He’s also quiet, keeps to himself, and a decent mage. You will be a magnificent couple.”
Well, she was right; Theodore and I did sound similar. I wasn’t sure about the mage part, but the rest was accurate. But still …marriage?
“Our son is getting older, and he’s still not interested in finding a bride for himself,” the Duke sighed, swirling his wine. “As you may already know, Lady Beatrix, the Caenum lineage stretches back generations. We preserve it by ensuring meaningful marriages for every son or daughter in the family. We do not take this lightly, I assure you.”
I didn’t think I could fully grasp the implications of this decision right now! And besides, wasn’t this usually handled by the parents? Should I rely on my father and mother in deciding for me?
“I can see the panic in your eyes, my lady,” the Duke laughed, gulping down his wine. “Do not worry, this is not a formal proposal. You do not need to decide anything now, and possibly not anytime soon. But we want you to keep the thought in your head and really consider it.”
Dismissed from dinner, I let Mia and my knights have theirs in the kitchen since they’d be starving, while Elias accompanied me as we were led to the set of guest bedrooms offered to me bythe Duke. The manor was several times bigger than ours, and I would be lost if I didn’t have anyone guiding me.
When the Duke’s maids left, leaving me alone with Eli, he didn’t wait to ask. “Are you seriously considering it?”
“The marriage proposal?” I opened my door to let both of us in, with no hesitation from him. “Of course not. Like the Duke said, it was only a suggestion. Although it was heavy-handed, it was stilljusta suggestion.”
And besides, I had more important things to think about. Like getting out ofhere. Before any more talk of marriages or engagements came up.
When I turned and closed the door to the bedroom, Elias loomed behind me and pressed both of his hands on the door on either side of my head, locking me in his space. I felt his breath on my neck. My hair stood up in the most nerve-wracking but also delicious way. “Don’t, Ela. Please.”
I would certainlynot,but I was feeling bratty, and while the warmth of his body heat was enticing, the man also had to learn control. Even though he was my childhood friend. “Don’twhat, Elias? Use your words.”
His breath hitching against my skin was delectable. I tried not to let anything show through my reaction. “Don’t get married to that guy. Or any other guy. Please.”
Turning around, our faces only inches apart, I didn’t stop myself from lifting a hand and tracing his jaw with my finger, from the side of his ear to his chin. I enjoyed how his breathing became ragged while his golden eyes never left mine. “That kind of political maneuver takes careful thought and planning, don’t you think, Elias Drakon?”
“I never cared for politics,” he growled, and was thatsmokethat came out of his lips? It certainly smelled like it. “But I understand what you mean. Thank you for heeding my advice.”
I dropped my hand to my side. “Now, let’s go to sleep. We have a long day ahead of us. We’ll arrive at Aerahelm within the same day if we’ll be consistent with our speed of travel.”
Elias tensed as he glanced back to the lone bed in the room, then back at me. “Do … do you mean to sleep with me, Ela?”
Oh heavens, this man. That would be desirable, if only to satiate this unreasonable libido. But not here, not now, and not with strings attached. Though this would definitely be at the back of my mind now.
But fuck, now that he brought the subject up, I was wavering. Politics be damned! What was the problem with getting laid before we got to the magic academy? What if there was a “no sex” rule? I wouldn’t last five years!
It fell through when there was a knock on my door. “Miss Bea?” Mia’s tinny voice pushed through the thick wood. My momentary distraction was enough for Elias to move, heading to the balcony and giving me a sad smile before hejumped out.
I would be concerned if I didn’t know Elias was very agile, and jumping from the second floor was probably nothing to him.
