Chapter 10

MAGNOLIA ARRIVED FIRST at the dining room. She took her usual seat as the footman poured her tea.

A moment later, the duke entered and for some odd reason, Magnolia's eyes automatically traveled to his groin area. Daniel noticed immediately and chuckled.

"I am alright now, you don't have to worry," he teased. Her eyes widened and she looked away.

"Papa." Geoffrey ran to Daniel, saving his mother from embarrassing herself any further.

"Have you grown since the last time I saw you?" He picked up Geoffrey.

"Do you think so, Papa?" The boy beamed.

"Well yes, I believe you have grown." Daniel nodded.

"Did you hear that, Mama? I have grown."

"Yes, great job. You have been doing great finishing all your food." She smiled.

Daniel placed Geoffrey in his chair, then he took his at the head of the table. As soon as they started eating, Henry showed up at the door.

"I apologize, Your Graces," he said. "I am sorry for interrupting your breakfast, my lord, but you have received a letter from the king, and I thought you might want to read it right away."

"Thank you, Henry." Daniel opened the letter and scanned it. "Well, the king heard of our marriage. He has invited us to a ball. He wants to meet you."

"The king wants to meet me?"

"He is a very curious old man, so it is probably killing him that he has not met you yet." Daniel shrugged.

"Oh, is that so?"

"The ball is in a week, so make the necessary preparations to leave for Throka in two days, Henry," he ordered, "And send a reply to His Majesty."

"Right away, Your Grace."

"Geoffrey, do not play with your food," Magnolia scolded.

"But I am full, mama."

"Is that so?" she started. "That's unfortunate. I thought you were happy when His Grace told you that you have grown. But if you don't want to grow anymore." Magnolia pretended to be sad.

Geoffrey stared at his plate for a moment. Then he finished all his food. Daniel chuckled at Magnolia's impressive manipulation.

"Papa, since I am all grown now, can you teach me how to use a sword?" The duke pondered his request as Magnolia eyed him. She was nervous for her son but at the same time, she wanted him to learn how to protect himself.

"Only if your mama says yes."

Geoffrey turned to his mother with puppy eyes. He knew they worked on her every time. "Mama please, please, please."

"You have to promise me to be careful though, and to listen to everything the duke says."

"Yes, Mama." Geoffrey jumped from his chair and ran to hug her.

"Would you like to join us and watch?" Daniel asked her.

"I would like that very much, thank you."

After breakfast, the three of them walked to the training grounds where knights were already practicing. When they saw them, they all stopped whatever they were doing and formed perfect rows facing them.

They all slammed their right fists on their chests and yelled in sync, "Long live the Duke and the Duchess." Just like they had greeted them when they got married.

"Paul," the duke called one of the lads. He could not have been a day older than seventeen.

"Yes, Your Grace."

"Please, escort the duchess to the benches where she can sit in the shade and watch."

"Right away, my lord."

Paul showed Magnolia to the benches and stood guard a few feet behind her. She watched as Daniel taught Geoffrey how to hold and swing his wooden sword. Watching them warmed her heart. She secretly thanked the Gods for answering her prayers and providing a safe place for Geoffrey to grow up.

After they finished, Lady Green took Geoffrey to bathe him, and the duke and duchess took a stroll back to the house.

Magnolia fidgeted with the hems of her sleeves. "Your Grace," she called. "May I have a word with you, please?"

"What is it, Magnolia?"

"Actually." She looked down. "The thing is… I have never attended a ball before. I am afraid I might embarrass you, or worse, create a problem with other nobles… or the king." Her face paled at the thought.

"You are right, we can't have that." He rubbed his chin, pretending to think. "I will have Henry teach you the basics. Do you know how to dance?"

"I know the basic steps, but I am no good." Magnolia looked down again, embarrassed.

"Don't worry, I don't like dancing anyway. I will call Lady Lovery to come tomorrow. She was my teacher when I was younger, I am sure she can teach you a few things in the short time we have."

"Thank you." Magnolia finally smiled, feeling a bit more at ease.

'Knowing a few things is much better than walking into a royal ball knowing nothing.'

The following couple of days for Magnolia were divided between Henry and Lady Lovery. By the end of every day, she felt her head ready to explode and her muscles too sore to even walk. Every night she fell asleep as soon as her head touched the pillow. But she was grateful for everything they had taught her.

They traveled to the capital, Throka, by carriage for a whole day. The uncomfortable journey only came to an end after it was past nightfall. When they reached the Van Konigl house, everyone was so tired they went straight to bed.

"GOOD MORNING, Your Grace," Clara greeted Magnolia in the morning. She was already awake from all the noise outside. She had really gotten used to the quiet of the countryside and the Van Konigl castle.

"Would you like to take a bath first, Your Grace," the maid asked as she prepared a dress for the duchess. "Or would you like the duke to take his, first?"

Magnolia looked at Clara, confused. "Why are you asking me about the duke's bath?"

"Well, because this is his room as well, Your Grace." Clara answered in a matter-of- fact tone.

"Then why am I here?"

"My dear." The duke walked in. "This house is way smaller than our estate in Salicera, so it is a bit cramped. Surely, we can share a room for a few days." Magnolia was too startled to say anything.

"So how about that bath? Do you want to take it together?" Magnolia gasped as Clara bowed and sneaked out of the room silently.

"How can you speak like that in front of the maid?" She looked mortified.

"Why not? This is my house, and I can do or say whatever I want." He was right and that was why she didn't say anything more, she just looked away from him.

"So, do you want to take a bath first?" he asked.

"No, you can go ahead, Your Grace."

"When are you going to stop calling me that?"

"Well, it's just you and me right now." She shrugged. "There is no reason to pretend that we are a 'loving couple'." He cocked his head as he listened to her harsh tone.

"You are right," was all he said before disappearing into the bathroom.

Magnolia felt a bit disappointed that he agreed with her. She did not mean to sound so harsh, but sometimes words just escaped her mouth before she could think them over.

She walked to the window and watched as the servants bustled around outside. The sound of the wardrobe door drew her attention. When she turned, her eyes fell on a half-naked and wet Daniel. He had nothing on but a towel around his waist.

She could not look away. She followed a drop of water as it slowly made its way down the muscles of his back all the way down to the towel.

She swallowed hard, but finally brought herself to avert her eyes and face the window again. Her face burned and she shook her head, as if it would make Daniel's image that was just imprinted into her mind disappear.

After that morning, they barely saw each other. Daniel was busy with work. It was expected since he was in the capital. Almost all of Magnolia's time was spent preparing for the ball.

When the duke was not in the palace taking care of official work for the king, he spent all his time in his office.

Daniel only came to their bedroom after Magnolia had fallen asleep and he usually left early in the morning, before she woke up.

He knew that spies were planted in his house. He could not afford to have them report anything negative about their marriage.