Duke Battle-Grey was a calm person on normal days. Never one to raise his voice or need to be heard above others. People listened when he spoke and that was something he seldom did. He was often called The Silent Duke. Among other names that was the one he considered matched him the most. This was until he met the duchess. Alora de Eclare was someone the Duke admired for being a woman that spoke her mind and the world would listen because she was always right. Debaits with her were always entertaining to watch. She was in his opinion the perfect match for him. The Duke had needed to take on a wife before leaving for the battlefield. Being the only child in the line of Battle-Grey was a blessing and a curse. There wasn't anyone that would manage the estate while he was gone. The predicted time on the battlefield was five years. There needed to be a duchess that would tend to the homestead while he was away.

He had one of his assistants reach out and look for willing bachelorettes. When he came across Alora de Eclair, it was actually by accident. There was a party he was required to attend. It was a show of face to the other aristocrats. He knew her name as she was considered well-read and a hard woman to tolerate. He had always watched her conversations. A background listener if you will. She was always considered a hard woman to tolerate, but the Duke found it was exceptionally attractive when she would put them in their place. When a man is afraid to talk to a woman, that is no man at all. If she was well-read or well educated it was to her benefit.

Approaching her was easy, she wasn't surrounded by other women. Yet she had a small group of them, talking with her. There were a few gentlemen that came around and listened to her putting in their opinions only to be out smarted. Those men were drawn in by her beauty. While Duke Battle-Grey was on a mission, he took notice of her. A strong build with doll-like features. She was small but if he touched any part of her, he knew that she would be dense. 

With long straight red hair that was tinted by the light of the ballroom. It was the eyes that drew him in. A deep Jade green that had a light behind them. Hers wasn't a beauty that needed to be adorned by large jewels or extravagant riches. A light amount of makeup and a delicate necklace that held a black diamond. The piece itself was enough to catch the eye. In different lighting, it reflected different tones of other colors. While a simple piece it displayed itself much like its owner, with elegance. But, that was all this woman needed, as her eyes met his there was an emotion that flickered there. No matter what it was he reached out one hand behind his back and one with the palm up.

"Viscountess Alora de Eclare, would you permit me a dance?" He smiled at her, hoping she wouldn't refuse. A man of his status had no fear over someone under him refusing a dance. Let alone a bachelorette, however, there was always a chance.

"It would be my honor Duke Battle-Grey." She took his hand and they swept out to the dancefloor. 

They spend the entire night with one another. Talking and enjoying one another's company. Dancing the night away and drinking some of the sweetest wine the Duke had ever tasted. Her conversations were thrilling and to have them all to himself was a blessing. The night ended and before they left and parted ways he made sure to have her join him at his estate. He had three weeks to enjoy her company and ask her to do the unthinkable and marry before he was gone. 

He had made it clear when they first met for tea that he would be leaving. That their time together would be short and sweet. But the comfort that she would have would be unparalleled. A higher rank in society, money that could be spent on a whim, and the promise of a war hero on his way home to her. Her response was peculiar in many ways.

"You know that you will return victorious?" She looked at him inquisitively.

"Yes. Without a doubt." Duke Battle-Grey was a well-known fighter. It was no secret hence his name. But it was how he was able to win his battles that was less known. The blaze of his own eyes was a hint. Gold with red fire flakes in them gave off the magical properties that only his family carried.

"They say you are an excellent fighter. So I don't doubt you but, why did you seek me out?" This was one of the more predictable questions. She was bound to be curious as to why he reached for her hand above the rest. With a lean of his chair and a light tap of his teacup on the table, he smiled up at her.

"I am not a man of many requirements when it comes to a woman. Though some might call me silent and less approachable I do enjoy the company of others. Especially so when it comes to someone who can give me a conversation worth listening to. Though I may be a bystander I find that yours are the conversations I listen into most intensely. Beauty is something other men would seek. I find that where your beauty lies is not in outward appearance but what is within that insatiable mind. That is why I sought you out." While not one of many words the Duke could at least pride himself on the fact that a light blush had crept across her cheeks.

"I will relay the same question to you. Why did you say yes?" He anticipated a response of power or a half-hearted lie to try and hide her true intentions.

"My, lord it has been my pleasure to watch you hover from afar. Always an avid listener, why I responded was to try and quell my fluttering heart whenever I caught your eyes upon me." She was a deep scarlet and was more focused on the details of her tea cup than looking at him. The Duke found himself openly staring at her now, he wasn't watching the details around her. He was waiting for those eyes to look back up at him to confirm what she was saying, that it wasn't a lie or some sort of ruse. Being a man of silence allowed him to pick up a few skills that could detect a ruse.

"Alora, my lady do you truly mean the words you speak?" Abated breath.

"Indeed my lord, I have been waiting to approach you. Maybe befriend you first, however, it seems while I might be outspoken when it comes to matters like this it seems I fall a bit short." She looked up at him then. The blush was receding but there was a look of honesty in her eyes. He smiled at her and placed his hand out reaching for her. Always a man of action it seems. He noted, never one to voice his feelings only to show that he felt the same. She tenderly lifted her hand and placed it in his. Gripping it gently he placed a soft kiss upon it. Treasuring how soft her skin was.  Leaning up he looked at her and tried his best to convey with a single look all what he couldn’t say. With a breath he looked down at and tried the hand he was grasping. Noting how slender her fingers were.

“Of all the things to get caught off by. A confession is something I least expected.” He smiled at her then, a rare expression to cross his face.

“This is unexpected, I could’ve never imagined you would feel the same way.” He looked to her hand again. Being honest was easy when it came to the truth, but it seemed like Alora this was one of those exceptions where Duke Battle-Grey faltered. But here came the difficult part.

“Alora,” dropping formalities with a Viscountess was something he would refrain normally from doing.  But the next few statements would require him to be more direct.

“I am to leave for the war front in twenty-one days.” He paused gathering his thoughts while allowing her time to take in the information.

“Our courtship will only be for that duration; then I would ask for your hand.” He had explained this before but he wanted to add a clause/condition to this marriage. 

"Should you wish it, we can marry within the next week or when I return. The ceremony can be large or small depending on your tastes." He looked at her and almost laughed at what she was doing. She had stopped sipping her tea to stare at him with bewildered eyes. The idea of marriage within a week might have done that. Or the idea of planning any wedding she could dream of might have been an inspiration. 

"If you are ok with it my lord. I'd like to hold of on the ceremony until you return." That was an interesting response, the duke noted.

"If that is what you wish."

"Indeed, that way you must return home." The words slipped from her mouth as if it was the most natural thing in the world. The Duke set his tea cup down as he almost choked on it a moment ago. She smiled at him knowing she had caught him off guard. A maid came by to switch out the tea and pull the dishes aside. The Duke had almost forgotten they were sitting in the gizibo in the garden. Alora finished her cup as the servant cleared up everything before them. In a swift and clean movement the table was clean. When she had let go of his hand he barely recognized it's disappearance. But as it was now gone he felt such a absence that it was almost difficult to focus on their conversation. It was a strange feeling, one that he would place in the back of his mind to be reviewed later.

"Indeed, to be welcomed home would be nice for a change. Especially if it was my wife and children." New tea was poured during that time and he looked up to the maid. A scrawny girl he had picked up on the outside of his territory.She had been pregnant at the time and it was not in his nature to leave someone behind. Mulling it over for a moment he spoke up.

"Extra," She looked up at him and spoke timidly.

"Yes my lord?"

"Your job while I am away is to be Alora's main handmaiden." Alora looked up at the young woman, she made a thought/assessment of her before turning back to the Duke.

"Dextra is one of our newer additions, but that doesn't mean she can't show you the ropes around here. That is unless you would prefer someone from your own household." Alora shook her head before looking at him blankly.

"I was in the process of purging my staff due to negligence on the last count." The fire behind Alora's eyes was back and she seemed furious with whatever had occured 

"I have no problem changing staff and I am more than willing for a change." It was odd that she would be having problems unless the workers were under contract from the previous count. Duke Battle-Grey made a mental note to give her 'that' at a later date.

"Three... no maybe four?" Alora had spoken out loud and caught the Duke's attention.

"Countess Alora." He spoke prying her from the thought.

"Three or four what?" He had a vague idea thanks to the conversation they were having befor Dextra showed up. A deep blush erupted on her cheeks and he could see her stiffen as if she had been caught. For all intensive purposes the duke had definitely caught her.

"Nothing my lord, I was just planing something's." Now that was a half truth, sure planning was one thing but the subject at hand was what he wanted to hear. While he might've let it slide while they were dancing now they were talking marriage and he wanted more from her. Not a lady or the contriversial woman she was, but the true version of herself.

"Vicountess ALora de Eclare." That got her attention. 

"While half truths ma be acceptable for other me, I don't approve of them." He gaged her reaction. She looked away almost guilty.

"So, lets try that again? What were you mumbling about three to four over there" He relaxed his gaze and put a sly grin on knowing she knew he had caught her. 

"My apologies Duke Battle-Grey..." She stalled gathering up the courage to say the next words.

"I was thinking about children and how many would be appropriate for a dukedum." He blinked, she had been so forward about it. But now she was managing to hide in her lovely red locks. Her face was hidden from view and that was unacceptable for this conversation; actually for most conversations it would be. The wind picked up and exposed her face if only ever so briefly. The deep scarlet that danced across her cheeks and a light hand she had laid across her lips as to try and hold back the words she had just said. The Duke paused admiring the few seconds he got to view this rare sight.

"Let's start with one, when I return."His response was short and sweet but needed elaboration.

"After you and I have enjoyed our time as a couple together." He reached for her opening his palm out once again before grasping her delicate hand when it fell upon his.

He looked at her and spoke changing the subject.

"Be that as it may the expected time of my return is still five years. The war with Ventanos was unexpected but we will prevail." He looked away getting serious.

"On that note, you understand that while I maybe away for quite sometime. I hope you would refrain from taking on any lovers or committing lustful acts with another man." Alora de Eclare looked at him with a bright fire of rage in her jade green eyes. It swirled there and the Duke knew the next statement would be said in a light fit of fury.

"Duke Battle-Grey, I know we haven't known one another for long; however I hoped you would have better faith in me to keep our marriage sacred." Her eyes had narrowed and with a sharp and pointed tone she continued.

"I despise people who would cheat on their loved ones while they are away. Or even while they are at home, it is an outrageous act. Given permission or not never in my life old I commit such a decrepit act." She looked away from him breathing out a huff of air. If she was a dragon the garden they were currently sitting in would be compleatly aflame.

"Then we have an understanding. Let me put this into word as well. You have my word that no other wife/concubine or other woman will deter my sight so long as you remain mine." The Duke had ment it to sound possessive as to give her an idea of what she would mean to him. Plus it soothed a part of him that heaven he could barely keep tamed.

"Duke Battle-Grey, I have one request." Alora's eyes were large and pleading. It was a new look on her, and the Duke seemed a little pleased that she would ask him of something. Whatever it was she wanted so very desperately.

"Promise me that you will come home." He almost responded but he paused as she spoke the second half.

"I want to be able to get to know you these twenty-one days. I also want for us to be able to date properly when you return. So you must return to me." She clenched his hand and looked him in the eyes.

"You will come back to me wont you?" Her eyes were glassy and with the setting sun looked so intense and filled with color, he almost broke and told her the secret to always coming home from a battle. But, clamped his mouth shut as fast as possible.

"I can guarantee that I will return, you have my word."

And with that last sentence Duke Battle-Grey and Viscountess Alora de Eclare started a twenty-one day courtship with the intent to marry. Before Duke Battle-Grey left for war they had wed in all the legal sense. Alora de Eclare became Alora de Battle-Grey. With one sweet kiss and what felt like a heartbeat later Duke Battle-Grey was gone.