Coveting the Duke

A Winter Farewell

The days Elena spent with her family over the winter break felt like heaven. Hurbert had brought treats from Valtara, from the candies she longed for to small trinkets sent specifically for her from traveling merchants-souvenirs from their journeys abroad.

Every moment was surreal, filled with laughter, shared meals, and warm memories that felt fleeting. They all knew these moments would soon end, a pit stop before they returned to the demands of their new reality.

On the final day, a deep stillness settled over the landscape, as if the world itself paused in recognition. The family took a walk around the frozen lake, arm in arm, savoring their last moments together. In Valtara, walks by the black-sanded beach had been their cherished routine, a time when everything seemed fine. Though the worst had passed and their debts cleared, things were no longer the same.

"Is your carriage packed and ready?" Catherine asked, trying to delay the inevitable.

"There's not much left to pack, is there?" Hurbert replied, looping his arm with hers as they approached Alice and Charles, who watched Elena ready her things.

"Did you have a good break without us, Tomas?" Elena called, handing him her luggage.

"Of course, Lady Elena," Tomas responded with a polite smile.

"It's been a while, Tomas," Hurbert said, extending his hand. "How's Bethany?"

"Very well, sir. It's good to see you in good health," Tomas replied, shaking his hand firmly.

Hurbert's eyes softened. "I can't thank you and Bethany enough for looking after my family. Please, continue watching over them until we're all together under one roof again." His words came out steady, but even Tomas could see the trace of pain hidden within them.

The situation-this separation-was a constant reminder of all he had lost. Hurbert still couldn't fathom how a promising investment had unraveled so disastrously, but dwelling on the past was a luxury he couldn't afford.

"Always, sir," Tomas assured him. To many, Viscount Sinclair was simply another fallen noble. But to Tomas, he was the man who had changed his life in ways he could never repay.

Tomas's life had been hard-marked by the bitterness of the streets after he'd been thrown out of the church orphanage. He'd grown up with little but a fierce will to survive, making his way by doing odd jobs at the seaport.

When work was scarce, he'd had to resort to petty theft just to make it through the night, often seeking shelter in damp alleys or abandoned market stalls. It was a life with little promise and less hope, a boy viewed by society as another faceless street urchin.

All that changed when Viscount Sinclair came to Valtara searching for workers to help on his farmland. Hurbert had chosen him without judgment, never looking down on him or questioning his worth. Tomas found himself valued for the first time, a steady income and a warm place to sleep during his time on the land.

Years passed, and Tomas stayed with the Sinclair family, devoting himself to them with a loyalty born of gratitude. Through the viscount's influence, Tomas had found stability and, eventually, love-a life he never imagined possible.

When the news of the investment collapse came, Tomas had been there. It had been a sudden blow to him too, yet abandoning the Sinclairs was never a consideration. If anything, it solidified his resolve.

Therefore, when Hurbert asked him to accompany Catherine and Elena to the capital, he didn't hesitate. And Bethany, understanding the depth of Tomas's loyalty, encouraged him, offering her own support.