Awakening Love Reborn to Be His Duchess (Elowen Hale) novel Chapter 617

Awakening Love: Reborn to Be His Duchess

Chapter 617 The Great Hall

* Finished

“Your Grace, please slow down a little,” Mira pleaded as they hurried beneath the glow of the iron wall lanterns. “You’re still carrying the baby, and Lady Elspeth has already been shown to the Great Hall with Lirien. They aren’t going anywhere.”

Elowen gathered the last of her loosened hair behind her ears while continuing forward without

hesitation. “Then why didn’t you wake me earlier? How long have they been here already? Did Nina really come with her?”

Mira looked so unjustly accused that she almost sounded offended. “Lady Elspeth only arrived a short while ago, and she specifically told everyone not to disturb Your Grace while you were resting. I only thought you’d want to see them immediately, so I came the moment everything was prepared.”

That finally made Elowen smile, and she glanced back at her apologetically. “Then I blamed you unfairly. Mira always knows what I need before I do.”

The closer they drew to the Great Hall, the more clearly laughter drifted through the open doors ahead, warm and lively enough to make Elowen’s chest loosen before she even stepped inside.

“Elowen truly knows how to run a proper estate,” Elspeth was saying cheerfully. “A courtyard this large ought to be put to use. Keeping a kitchen garden is far better than letting all that land sit empty, and whenever the cooks need herbs or vegetables, they can simply gather them fresh instead of relying on market deliveries. Once I return home, I’m doing the same thing with our grounds. Perhaps I’ll even keep a few sheep as well, since you’ve always loved roasted lamb.”

Then came Lirien’s bright voice, eager and animated.

“And if we build a fish pond too, we could stock it with trout because Mother loves roasted river fish. I’ll feed them every day until they’re enormous.”

The sound alone made Elowen smile before she even crossed the threshold.

A moment later, she finally saw them clearly.

Elspeth sat near the long hearth wearing a soft gray-blue overdress fastened with silver clasps, her neatly arranged hair partially covered by a finely woven cap, and the healthy warmth in her complexion made her look far younger than she had during their last meeting. She spoke about gardens and livestock with the confidence of someone commanding an entire household, gesturing across the hall as though she were planning military strategy instead of discussing sheep and vegetables.

Beside her stood Lirien, though calling her Nina almost no longer suited her.

Today she wore a pale golden spring gown trimmed with cream-colored embroidery, and her hair had been braided carefully into twin loops pinned behind her head in the style favored by young noblewomen. Her cheeks had finally filled out with healthy color, and she had grown noticeably taller as

well.

Most importantly, the fearful caution that once clung to her had vanished completely.

Back then, she had seemed like some fragile little thing trying desperately to survive a bitter winter.

9:36 am PPPP

Chapter 617 The Great Hall

Now she looked alive in every possible sense, flourishing openly beneath warmth and care.

Elspeth truly had raised her well

“Ella!”

Lirien spotted her first and immediately lit up.

“Elowen?” Elspeth turned just as quickly, delight washing across her face as she rose from her seat and hurried forward.

Elowen smiled warmly. “Aunt Elspeth.”

The older woman immediately took both her hands and looked her over carefully from head to toe. “Look at you. You’ve become even more beautiful since I last saw you.”

Then her gaze lowered to Elowen’s stomach, and her eyes softened at once with emotion. “Your belly’s grown so much already. Tell me honestly, has it been difficult? Are your legs aching badly?”

shoulders Elowen laughed softly and squeezed her hands reassuringly. “Not at all. Cassian massages my and legs every evening, and lately he’s been obsessing over what I ought to eat, so the kitchens are constantly sending up new dishes for me to try. Honestly, carrying this baby hasn’t been hard on me at all.”

“Well, of course he should be taking care of you,” Elspeth said immediately, as though the matter required no praise whatsoever. “That’s simply what a husband is meant to do.”

Only afterward did she suddenly remember something else and glance around the hall. “Speaking of him, where is he? Why isn’t he here with you? I heard he’d lost his title.”

Elowen gently patted the back of her hand. “Everything was restored this morning. His Grace has already recovered both his authority and title, and he’s gone to the royal residence to meet with His Majesty. He should be back before long.”

Then, not wanting the conversation to linger there, she guided Elspeth farther into the hall.

“Enough about him for now. Aunt Elspeth, come sit properly.”

Turning toward the attendants waiting nearby, she added, “Mira, Cora, have water brought in, and ask the kitchens to prepare pastries and warm tarts as well.”

Then she looked back toward Lirien with a smile. “Is there anything you especially like eating? Just tell them

Lirien grinned immediately. “I’m really not picky about food.”

“That girl will eat absolutely anything.” Elspeth interrupted with open amusement. “If she gets hungry enough, she’ll finish two full platters and still sit there tearing apart an entire roasted lamb shank like one of the stable boys”

Elowen laughed outright at the image.

Lirien flushed scarlet from embarrassment and protested at once, “Mother! You’ve only just arrived and you’re already making fun of me in front of Ella?

Vicar Mall

That only made Elowen laugh harder. “There’s nothing wrong with that. When I was your much. After spending all afternoon riding or practicing archery, I’d come back starving en half the supper table by myself.”

As she spoke, she held her hands apart to demonstrate the size.

“I used to devour entire roasted pork joints without even realizing it because I’d be so hung

Lirien stared at her as though she’d finally found someone who completely understood her, brightened instantly. “Exactly! That’s exactly how I feel too!”

Elspeth sat beside them seemed lighter for i

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