When the air gets chilly, I grab the cover that is lying on the other seat. It’s not easy to do so without alerting the Duke, but somehow I succeed.

I cover the sleeping man’s legs and then fix the blanket on his shoulders. The carriage’s seat is too short for him. His legs are folded, while his arms have surrounded my hips.

I lean my head on the sidewall of the carriage and close my eyes to rest for a while. I can’t fall completely asleep because my shoulders are cold. However, the warmth of the Duke’s body is keeping the rest of me comfortable.

After a few hours of travel, Alexander gets up abruptly. I try to open my eyes but fail. Half-sleeping like this is so tiring.

When one of his arms surrounds my shoulders, I sigh relieved. The warmth that I’ve craved for so long is finally here…

He makes me lie down next to him and covers my body with the blanket.

I finally manage to open my eyes, and I stare at him as if I didn’t just wake up. I realise that this seat isn’t as large, and the Duke might fall down if he’s not careful.

«Come closer,» I whisper, and I clench his shirt. «You’ll drag me down with you if you fall.»

He passes his arm under my head, and I use it as a pillow. His other hand is on my back, and his leg surrounds mine.

«Is this close enough?» he inquires. His grin is the same as always, but his eyes are still tired.

Thanks to Alexander’s arms, the leaping of the carriage becomes bearable. The cold is just a memory, thanks to his hot skin. His breath stinks of alcohol, but I won’t complain about it.

I fall asleep, this time for real. When I wake up again, it’s already morning. I move the curtain and notice the azure light typical of the hour before dawn. I’d like to observe the scenery, but I can’t move from here.

Not until the Duke wakes up again.

He hits the wood of the roof a couple of times, and then he sits on the back seat. He rubs his face and hair, trying to get rid of the hangover.

«We’ve left the city, so we can slow down now,» he explains, while the carriage gradually stops its ride. He grimaces when his own voice troubles his aching head.

I reach him and delicately rub his temples. He lets me do, even though I’m sure it isn’t helping much. Still, he warmed me during the night. I can at least try alleviating his sufferings.

When the carriage is still, Alexander doesn’t wait for the servant to open the door, but he jumps down and breathes some fresh air. He catches the flask one of the knights passes him, and he drinks with the thirst of a castaway. He then washes his face, hoping it will help him get back at his original self.

«Is there anything to eat?» I whisper while reaching the door.

The knight with long hair offers me his arm, and I support myself by gripping his elbow. My knees are a bit feeble after sleeping in a crouched position.

The knight doesn’t reply to my polite smile, yet his arm is stable, and his back is straight. He didn’t wait a second before offering me his help. His face might be as gloomy as Patricia’s, but he’s dutiful and loyal. His presence isn’t annoying, so much that I notice him only at times, even though he’s always nearby when the Duke isn’t with me.

Kate runs down from the carriage behind ours, and I notice how many people are travelling altogether.

Some of the lower-tier nobles asked to tag along for better safety. They will part their ways when it’s convenient. However, until then, they’ll be under my Duke and his guard’s protection.

«Your grace,» Kate whispers, looking at the knight with a frown. «I’ve brought some food and water.»

Ah, finally! Alexander was in such a hurry that I was starting to fear he forgot to prepare some food.

Wait! That should have been my duty, right?

I part from the knight and grab the packet from Kate’s hands.

«You can rest now,» I nod to the both of them, and I reach my husband.

Alexander lifts his head and offers me his arm. I accept, and we walk a few metres.

«How long will we rest here?» I inquire.

«A few minutes,» the Duke mutters. «I want to get as far as possible from the capital. When we get out of the region, we’ll slow down.»

«Are you so eager to get home?»

«I’m more focused on getting away from that damned place.»

«We don’t need to rest for long, but you don’t look at your best, Alexander. Are you sure you don’t want to sober up first?»

«I am sober, unfortunately,» he murmurs. «So sober that my head hurts like hell.»

He then seems to notice something.

«Where is your sleeve?» he asks, noticing my bare shoulder and the red marks on it.

«I think it’s somewhere on the floor in the carriage,» I shrug.

He takes off his coat and wraps me in it.

«It’s cold!» he states.

I lift a brow, wondering what the reason behind this is. Is my Duke ashamed to see the effects of his drunken passion?

I can’t stop a wily grin, and the Duke moves his eyes away. Is Alexander embarrassed for what he thinks he did, or for the fact that he doesn’t remember?

«Would you like to hear what happened in the carriage?» I mutter, pretending to be cool about it. Actually, my heart is pounding, and I’m feeling hot all over. I hope my face doesn’t show all these emotions. Seeing Alexander’s shy expression is so new to me that I don’t want to ruin everything with my own reactions.

His mouth reaches my ear, and his breath hits the lobe when he whispers his naughty reply.

«You can show me instead,» he proposes.

Then, he steps away and continues to walk, looking down to protect his eyes from the light of the rising sun.

He’s so wily even when in a hangover.

«I can try,» I stutter. My intention was to sound alluring, but my voice is too uncertain. I’m not yet used to flirting.

I have to train, and, unfortunately, the only way is to do so with this shameless husband of mine.

«Did I hurt you?»

«Hmm?» I murmur, returning to reality. «No, you didn’t. You just said a lot of confusing things. That’s all.»

I won’t tell him what use he made of the sleeve. That would be too embarrassing. What if he likes the idea and tries to do that again?

I was more complaisant than usual since he saved my life, but this Duchess can’t just be tied as he wishes!

«Are you hungry?» I ask, changing the topic and showing him the package I’ve brought with me. «It’s time for breakfast, isn’t it?»

«It’s a bit early, but we won’t stop for breakfast, so you better eat something,» he starts, and I sigh desperately.

«I haven’t asked you because I was hungry,» I point out. «I’m offering you the food, my Duke, not asking to eat. How heartless do you think I am?»

«Oh,» he breathes.

Then, he smiles happily and convinces me to walk back to the carriage.

«We’ll eat on the way,» he says.

I’m sure he’s planning something, but I don’t say anything. I’ll share a carriage alone with him for days. It’s better if we get along rather than not.

«Also, don’t forget some water,» I remind him.

He will be thirsty for the whole day if his hangover resembles those I had after drinking alone in my room. Maybe I should have ordered some tea.

«Oh, I was in a hurry to get away from the Palace,» he admits. «I didn’t think about anything, just to get you far from danger. I drank too much.»

So, he realises he overdid it.

«Let’s go back,» he continues, and he places his hand on my back.

We get on the coach again. Seeing the Duke back, all the people around hurry to get ready to depart.

I open the package with the food and offer some bread with some smoked meat. Alexander bites the sandwich, but he doesn’t look happy to be eating.

I nibble some cookies while looking at him. The water is soon delivered to us, and we return to move.

«You can sleep some more, if you want,» Alexander offers.

«I’d prefer to look at the scenery,» I reply. In fact, we’re going through a green valley. Even though it’s autumn, the grass has such a vivid colour. There aren’t any trees for miles, and the fields were plugged recently, revealing their black soil. Some farmers are directing a skinny bull with the plough.

The scenery is so relaxing, even though rustic.