"Your Grace," Aiden said as he entered Eric's sunlit study at the dye establishment. "The Duchess is here."
Eric looked up from the complex formula he was reviewing, his pen pausing mid-air. "The Duchess?" he asked, a look of pure, delighted disbelief on his face. "My wife?"
Aiden nodded, a small, knowing smile on his own lips.
Eric's smile was wide and immediate. He stood up, his work completely forgotten. Then, he looked at Aiden with a sudden, playful annoyance. "Well, why is she standing outside? Why didn't you bring her in, Aiden?"
"She said she does not want to come in, Your Grace," Aiden replied calmly. "She said she wanted me to call you out for lunch."
"Fine," Eric said, already grabbing his coat from the stand by the door.
As he was about to leave, Aiden held the sleeve of his coat, a mischievous glint in his eye, causing his master to halt. Eric looked down at his aide's hand, then back up at his face, his brows raised in a silent question.
