The next morning, Damian held his arms out as the valet eased the structured sleeves of his blazer into place. A soft clearing of a throat broke the silence, and Damian turned his head slightly.
"Your Grace!" The valet bowed low, seeing the Duchess, and immediately stepped back.
"Leave us," Damian instructed.
The valet exited without a word, clicking shut the double doors behind him.
"Did you sleep well?" Damian asked. He picked up a silk scarf from the dressing table, preparing to knot it around his collar.
"Yes, thank you for staying by my side," Eilika replied. "Damian, if you summon Jayden now, it will only fuel the gossip. Besides, I did file a formal complaint with the local police back then."
"And what did the police actually do?" Damian's expression didn't change, but his eyes narrowed. He held the scarf out toward her. "Help me with this," he urged, a silent command for her to step closer.
