Fated Eclipse: The Illegitimate Princess And Her Alpha Suitors

Chapter 310: A Most Unconventional Date

Lyria’s POV

Earl Hawthorne carried the scent of freshly laundered linen mingled with polished leather and something subtly woodsy—cedar, perhaps, or sandalwood. Beneath it lingered a warm fragrance I could not quite place.

It was... pleasant.

For a fleeting moment, I found myself wishing I were not wolfless, if only so I might catch every note of that scent. I did not doubt it would be even richer then, every fragrance more distinct than it already seemed.

My heart began beating faster.

I swallowed carefully, praying he could neither hear the frantic rhythm of my pulse nor feel the slight tremor threatening to betray me beneath his hands.

He murmured something quietly to himself as he continued his examination.

His voice was so low that I could not quite catch the words.

His hands moved down to my wrists before gently turning them over, examining the delicate bones and tendons there.

”Your arms are rather slender,” he observed thoughtfully. ”But that is not necessarily a disadvantage. Speed and precision can be just as valuable as brute strength. At times, even more so.”

I nodded, though I was not entirely certain I had heard everything he had said.

It was rather difficult to concentrate upon his words while he stood so close.

I did not mind it, though.

I did not mind the way his touch made me feel.

I did not mind the way my heart raced or how my breath seemed to catch within my throat.

I did not mind any of it.

And perhaps...

That was the most surprising part of all.

The great doors to the training grounds suddenly swung open.

”Ah-ha!” a familiar voice called, rich with amusement. ”I knew my senses had detected something exceedingly sweet, accompanied by the unmistakable presence of a certain macho man.”

Earl Hawthorne released my hands at once, stepping back as though he had been burned.

A long, weary groan escaped him.

”Alistair,” he said, sounding thoroughly exasperated. ”What are you doing here?”

Duke Thorncrest strolled into the training hall with the effortless confidence I had come to associate with him. His dark hair was slightly tousled, and mischief danced openly within his warm brown eyes.

Behind him walked Baron Redwick at a far more measured pace, his spectacles resting neatly upon his nose and his expression one of quiet curiosity.

”Now, now, big man,” Duke Thorncrest said, his grin widening as he approached. ”Do not stop on my account. Pray continue whatever it was you were doing. I am most curious to discover what other methods you have devised for winning the princess’s affections.”

Earl Hawthorne’s face immediately coloured.

”I was not—”

But Duke Thorncrest dismissed the protest with an airy wave of his hand.

”Of course you were not,” he replied with exaggerated sincerity. ”You were merely inspecting Her Highness’s rather slender arms.”

Baron Redwick stepped forward, adjusting his spectacles with a measured motion.

”Alistair,” he sighed quietly, sounding as though he had expected nothing less.

He then turned towards me and bowed.

”Your Highness,” he said respectfully. ”It is a pleasure to see you again. I trust you have been keeping well?”

I smiled, grateful for his calm and composed manner.

”I am q-quite well, my lord,” I replied. ”Thank y-you for asking.”

Duke Thorncrest, however, appeared far from finished.

He crossed the remaining distance between us with easy confidence before bowing elegantly.

The grace with which he moved seemed entirely at odds with his incorrigible personality.

He gently took my hand before lifting it to his lips, placing a light kiss upon my knuckles.

My heart gave another unexpected flutter.

First Earl Hawthorne...

With his gentle touch and quiet concern.

And now Duke Thorncrest...

With his effortless charm and surprisingly gallant manners.

Why did they both seem so willing to disregard propriety?

And why...

Why did something so simple make my heart race?

”It has been far too long since we last had the pleasure of seeing one another, Your Highness,” Duke Thorncrest said warmly. ”I have quite missed your company.”

Before I could answer, Earl Hawthorne stepped forward and promptly smacked Duke Thorncrest’s hand away from mine.

”You ought not to touch the princess without first obtaining her permission,” he said firmly.

I very nearly laughed.

The irony of those words was almost impossible to ignore.

After all...

Earl Hawthorne himself had certainly not sought my permission before touching me earlier.

Duke Thorncrest appeared entirely unoffended.

If anything, his amusement only deepened.

”Big man,” he said with a grin, ”do not be so disagreeable. I was merely offering Her Highness a proper greeting. Surely there is no harm in a gentleman kissing a lady’s hand.”

”Stop calling me that,” Earl Hawthorne muttered with a sigh. ”I beg of you.”

Baron Redwick stepped forward, looking every bit the patient man resigned to an unchangeable fate.

”You may as well surrender, Benedict,” he said. ”Alistair has made it his life’s purpose to assign affectionate pet names to everyone he knows. I fear none of us shall ever escape.”

He paused before adjusting his spectacles once again.

”Evander, for reasons I have yet to understand, seems perfectly content to indulge him.”

Duke Thorncrest beamed with unmistakable satisfaction.

”Julian,” he said dramatically, placing a hand over his heart, ”you wound me.”

”I reserve pet names only for those whom I hold in the highest esteem. Consider it an honour.”

Baron Redwick merely released a long-suffering sigh.

Then his attention shifted back to Earl Hawthorne.

His expression became genuinely curious.

”Now then,” he said, ”what precisely is taking place here? I was under the impression the two of you were meant to be enjoying a date.”

Earl Hawthorne straightened slightly, a trace of defensiveness entering his posture.

”This is the date,” he answered simply.

Baron Redwick frowned.

Clearly, he was struggling to understand.

”How is this a date?” he asked. ”Surely you ought to be spending time together—conversing, perhaps taking refreshments.”

His gaze swept around the vast training hall.

”Not standing in the middle of a training ground while you examine Her Highness’s muscles.”

Duke Thorncrest’s face suddenly lit with understanding.

”Oh!”

He snapped his fingers.

”I see now!”

He looked at Earl Hawthorne with open admiration.

”Benedict, you clever fellow.”

”You have arranged an unconventional date.”

”One that allows you to spend time with Her Highness while engaging in an activity that is both productive... and enjoyable.”