Coveting the Duke

Season for Introspection

Time seemed to fly by, the term had ended, and winter break had begun. Elena and her mother now found refuge at her grandparents' cottage, a much-needed retreat before the new term and new year. The snowy landscape and the warmth of the fireplace offered a much-needed respite.

Though much had happened recently, this was a time for quiet celebration. Elena had maintained her midterm grades and held her top ranking through the end of the term, despite the challenges that had tested her resolve.

Catherine felt immense pride in her daughter. Not only had she bravely faced false rumors about her mother but also the challenges of starting fresh in a new place. Yet, Elena had still managed to excel academically.

Now, with Hurbert set to join them in just a few days, Catherine felt a quiet excitement at the thought of their family being reunited here.

This would be the longest she and Hurbert had been apart since their marriage—a strange feeling. Even when work took him to far places, it hadn't kept them separated this long.

As the snow drifted down outside, Catherine settled into the peace of the moment, savoring a rare sense of calm that came only here, surrounded by family and a quiet, snowy world. For now, the cottage was their sanctuary, a familiar place that allowed them to step away from the worries of the academy and society.

The thought of Hurbert's arrival drew Catherine back to their first winter visits to the cottage. Elena, barely a year old, seeing her first snow. Hurbert had taken her outside, cradling her carefully as she marveled at the glittering flakes. When he set her down, she grabbed a handful in her tiny fist, ready to taste it.

Catherine laughed softly at the memory. It felt like just yesterday that they'd welcomed Elena. So much had changed since then—Elena was sixteen now, and somehow, Catherine realized, she'd drawn her mother into a strength she hadn't known she needed.

Amid the shifting seasons and all that had unfolded this year, Catherine felt a reassuring sense of home. Being here, with her family soon to be together, offered a comforting peace.

"Why are you smiling like that?" Alice asked, entering the room.

"I was just thinking about our first winter here with Elena," Catherine replied with a soft smile.

"Me? Why?" Elena chimed in, following closely behind.

"You were too young to remember," Catherine said, "but I miss those times a little."

"Are you thinking of having another child, Catherine? It's never too late," Alice teased with a grin.

"Mother, are you really?" Elena asked, suddenly serious.

"Of course not, Elena," Catherine laughed, shaking her head. "Mother, stop that—you'll have her thinking I actually am! If your father and I wanted another child, we'd have done it long ago."

"Have you really never thought about it?" Elena asked, genuinely curious.

"We have," Catherine replied hesitantly, "but in the end, we decided our beautiful Elena was more than enough."

Elena smiled softly. "I used to wonder what it would be like to have a sibling," she admitted.

"You've never told me that before, Elena."

"It was just a passing thought—and besides, I wanted to be an only child, like you," she said with a small grin.

When the evening winded down, Elena lay awake, her thoughts wandering over everything that had happened since arriving in the capital. It would soon be a year since her father had given them the devastating news that had upended everything.