Chapter 312: An Audience Uninvited
Chapter 311: An Audience Uninvited
Lyria’s POV
Earl Hawthorne turned to Duke Thorncrest, his expression one of strained patience.
"Now that you understand the nature of our activities," he said, his voice carefully measured, "I trust you will excuse us. Her Highness and I have matters to attend to."
Duke Thorncrest did not move.
If anything, he appeared even more settled where he stood, his posture relaxed and entirely without shame.
"I should dearly love to," he replied, his tone light and wholly unrepentant. "But you see, I find myself rather curious about taking lessons from a war hero. It is not every day one has the opportunity to observe such a skilled instructor at work."
Earl Hawthorne groaned, the sound long and weary.
"Go away, Alistair," he said flatly. "I am quite serious. This is meant to be a private engagement."
Duke Thorncrest merely chuckled in reply.
Baron Redwick, for his part, made no attempt to leave. He stood nearby with an expression of quiet curiosity, his arms folded loosely across his chest, his spectacles catching the light filtering through the tall windows. He appeared perfectly content to remain exactly where he was.
I watched the two of them with a mixture of bemusement and fascination.
Duke Thorncrest suddenly turned, his gaze sweeping across the training grounds as though searching for something. His brow furrowed slightly as he looked from one corner of the hall to the next.
I found myself wondering what exactly he sought.
Before I could ask, however, he strode towards a bench positioned beside one of the marble columns. It was a sturdy wooden seat, simple in design yet befitting the grandeur of the hall, placed where one might comfortably observe the training area without obstructing it.
He sat down.
Then, crossing one leg over the other, he settled back with all the ease of a gentleman preparing to enjoy a theatrical performance.
"Please," he said, gesturing towards the open space before him, "do continue with your lesson, Benedict. I am most interested in learning."
Earl Hawthorne groaned as though in genuine pain.
"This lesson is not for you, Alistair," he replied. "You are nothing but a disturbance."
Duke Thorncrest gasped dramatically, pressing a hand over his heart.
"I am wounded," he declared. "Deeply wounded. I merely wish to learn from you while you instruct Her Highness. Is that truly such a terrible request?"
Before Earl Hawthorne could answer, the great doors swung open once again.
His groan this time was louder still.
"Go away," he called without so much as turning around.
Two gentlemen entered the training grounds.
I recognised them immediately.
Duke Valenridge stepped inside first, his crimson hair catching what little daylight filtered through the rain-streaked windows. His pale green eyes swept lazily across the room, taking in the unusual gathering before him.
Lucian followed a pace behind, his golden-blond hair neatly arranged, his expression one of restrained curiosity. He carried himself with the composed dignity I had come to associate with him, his sharp gaze carefully assessing the scene.
Both gentlemen came to a halt.
Lucian’s brow knitted ever so slightly.
"What," he asked slowly, "is going on here?"
Before Earl Hawthorne had the opportunity to answer, Duke Thorncrest spoke from his comfortable place upon the bench.
"Excellent timing!" he called cheerfully. "You have arrived at precisely the right moment. Our dear Benedict has taken it upon himself to teach Her Highness the art of combat. It has proved most entertaining."
Earl Hawthorne turned towards him.
"That is not what is happening," he said with a weary sigh.
Duke Valenridge’s eyes immediately lit with unmistakable interest.
"How intriguing," he murmured. "I had believed we were coming to assist Julian, yet it appears we have stumbled upon something infinitely more entertaining."
He began making his way farther into the training grounds, his pace leisurely.
Duke Thorncrest promptly patted the empty place beside him.
"There is ample room for two," he said with a grin. "Perhaps even three, should we squeeze together, though I rather doubt either Lucian or Julian would care to join us."
Baron Redwick merely adjusted his spectacles.
Lucian behaved as though he had heard nothing whatsoever.
Duke Thorncrest chuckled.
"The invitation was extended solely to Evander."
"And I gladly accept," Duke Valenridge replied.
Before taking his seat, however, he turned towards me and bowed, his movements graceful despite their casual ease.
"Your Highness," he said warmly. "It is a pleasure to see you again. I trust you have been keeping well?"
I smiled at him.
"I am q-quite well, Your G-Grace," I replied. "Thank y-you for asking."
His eyes softened with quiet amusement.
He then crossed to the bench and seated himself beside Duke Thorncrest, looking entirely comfortable.
Lucian remained standing.
A faint frown settled upon his face as his gaze travelled between the two seated dukes.
"The pair of you ought not to be sitting there," he remarked, his tone carrying gentle reproach. "This is not some performance arranged for your amusement."
Duke Valenridge rolled his eyes.
"Lucian," he replied with exaggerated patience, "Benedict has not truly objected. Had he genuinely wished us gone, he would have removed us himself."
Earl Hawthorne released a sound somewhere between a groan and a sigh.
"I have objected," he reminded them. "Repeatedly. None of you appears inclined to listen."
Duke Valenridge waved a dismissive hand.
"Those were not genuine objections," he said. "If they had been, we should already find ourselves outside these doors. The fact that we remain seated suggests you do not mind nearly so much as you claim."
Earl Hawthorne opened his mouth.
Closed it.
Then opened it once more.
No reply came.
I nearly laughed at the expression that crossed his face.
Lucian, seemingly deciding that the argument was quite hopeless, turned towards me instead.
He bowed with his customary courtesy.
"Your Highness," he said, his voice noticeably gentler. "I trust you rested well?"
Before I could answer, Duke Thorncrest leaned towards Duke Valenridge and stage-whispered loudly enough for every soul in the training hall to hear.
"He believes he has earned himself a point," he remarked with unmistakable amusement. "Simply by asking Her Highness how she slept. As though such a question alone might win her favour."
Duke Valenridge nodded solemnly.
"It is rather transparent," he agreed just as loudly. "One can scarcely help but pity the poor fellow."
Lucian’s jaw tightened.
"I can hear both of you," he said evenly.
"We are well aware," Duke Thorncrest replied with a cheerful smile.
I could not help smiling.
This was the first occasion upon which I had found myself alone in the company of all five gentlemen.
Without the others present, I was able to observe them properly.
At last, I understood—if only a little—what Baron Redwick and Lucian endured on a near-daily basis.
Duke Valenridge and Duke Thorncrest were unlike any noblemen I had ever encountered.
They were irreverent.
Playful.
Entirely unconcerned with the rigid expectations imposed upon those of their rank.
Whatever thought crossed their minds seemed to find its way immediately to their lips.
Oddly enough...
I found it rather refreshing.
Meanwhile, Earl Hawthorne appeared perilously close to exhausting the last of his patience.
"You are interrupting the date," he said, his voice strained. "I must insist that all of you leave. Her Highness and I intended this to be a private engagement, and you have somehow transformed it into a public spectacle."
Duke Valenridge tilted his head thoughtfully.
"Then continue," he said simply. "Pay us no mind. We shall remain as quiet as the walls themselves."
After a brief pause, he added with the faintest smile,
"I assure you... before long, you shall scarcely notice we are here."
Earl Hawthorne stared at him.
"You are seated directly within my line of sight," he pointed out. "How precisely am I expected to ignore that?"
Duke Valenridge gave an unconcerned shrug.
"Close your eyes," he suggested. "Or better yet, direct your attention solely towards Her Highness. She is unquestionably far more pleasant to look upon than either of us."
Warmth instantly rose to my cheeks.
Lucian made a small sound that might have been agreement...
Or perhaps disapproval.
It was rather difficult to determine which.
Duke Thorncrest beamed.
"Well said, Evander," he declared approvingly. "Well said indeed."