Downstairs, the dining room was empty.

Duke Carson turned around and began to walk slowly toward the front doors of the mansion. The clicking sound of his silver cane echoed in the quiet hallway.

Uncle Murry walked respectfully a few steps behind him, ready to escort his master to the waiting carriage.

As they walked out of the drawing room hallway and into the grand foyer, Carson suddenly stopped.

He leaned heavily on his cane. He did not look at Murry right away. He stared thoughtfully.

"Murry?" Carson said suddenly. His deep voice sounded very serious, and highly questioning.

Uncle Murry quickly stepped forward and bowed his grey head.

"Yes, your grace?" Murry replied politely, waiting for his orders.

Carson slowly turned his head to look directly at his trusted servant. The old Duke’s sharp eyes narrowed slightly with suspicion.

"Didn’t you sense the strange undercurrents at the dinner table just now?" Carson asked, probing for the absolute truth.

Murry was completely silent. He stood still, unsure of what the Duke meant.

Carson continued, leaning slightly closer to Murry.

"I am old, Murry, but I am not blind," Carson stated firmly, his voice dropping into a low, serious whisper. "Did you not see their faces? Which truly loving couple talks to each other through their completely gritted teeth?"

Carson shook his head in doubt.

"They were smiling," Carson explained, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, "but their eyes were completely cold. It felt like they were fighting a secret war right in front of my soup bowl. Are you absolutely certain they are getting along?"

Uncle Murry listened to the Duke’s worries.

A wide, highly confident, and deeply knowledgeable smile spread completely across Murry’s wrinkled face. He let out a soft, reassuring chuckle.

"Your grace," Murry replied smoothly, waving his hand slightly to dismiss the old man’s fears. "You are simply overthinking it."

Murry took a small step closer to the Duke. He lowered his voice, making sure the nearby maids sweeping the floors could not hear their private conversation.

"Actually," Murry explained, his eyes sparkling with amusement, "this is just a little bit of fun among young people. They are newly in love, your grace. They enjoy teasing each other. It builds the passion."

Carson frowned slightly, not completely convinced. "Teasing?"

Murry looked around the large foyer cautiously. Then, he leaned very close to Carson’s ear to whisper his biggest, most romantic secret.

"Let me tell you what happened last night," Murry whispered, his voice full of exciting gossip. "Last night, the General came back from the military camp incredibly late. It was the middle of the dark night."

Carson raised a silver eyebrow. "He came home?"

"Yes," Murry nodded eagerly. "And he didn’t just come home. He completely sneaked into the master bedroom like a quiet thief!"

Murry placed his hand over his heart, acting out the dramatic scene.

"He was so afraid of offending the lady for coming home late," Murry whispered happily. "He even told me directly, right to my face, not to let her know he had returned! Because he is so completely afraid of her reprimanding him for waking her up."

Murry smiled proudly at his own brilliant deduction.

"He is completely wrapped around her little finger, your grace," Murry concluded. "He just wants to keep her happy."

Duke Carson listened to the story. He pictured his terrifying, strict, military grandson sneaking nervously through the dark hallways just to avoid waking up his young wife.

The image was so incredibly uncharacteristic for Damon that it actually made perfect sense to the old man. Only true love could make the General act like a nervous little boy.

Carson slowly nodded his head. His suspicions melted away completely.

Murry continued to deliver his final, most important piece of excellent news. He leaned in even closer to the Duke’s ear.

"And your grace," Murry whispered, his voice dropping to the quietest possible volume. He gave the Duke a very meaningful, highly suggestive look. "You do not need to worry about their closeness at all. They have already done what is needed of a healthy, married couple."

Murry remembered the empty bowl of fertility soup. He remembered the messy bed.

"The marriage is fully consummated," Murry promised the old Duke firmly. "So you shouldn’t be worried about their little bickering at the dinner table. It is just a game they play."

Murry slowly pulled his head away, standing up straight with his hands clasped behind his back, looking like a very proud, successful servant.

Duke Carson stood perfectly still in the middle of the grand foyer.

He processed the wonderful news. The heavy burden of worrying about his family’s future lineage completely lifted off his old shoulders.

Carson raised his hand and began stroking his beard slowly. A massive, deeply satisfied smile broke out across his sharp face.

"It is true," Carson spoke out loud, his deep voice filled with pure joy. He looked up at the crystal chandelier, imagining the future. "My great-grandson child will be on the way very soon."

He shook his head happily, tapping his silver cane lightly against the marble floor.

"This is excellent news, Murry," Carson praised the housekeeper warmly. "You have done a wonderful job keeping an eye on them."

But the old Duke was a man of action. He was a military commander himself in his younger days. He knew that a small fire needed more wood to grow into a massive, unstoppable blaze.

"I have to strike while the iron is completely hot," Carson declared suddenly, his eyes shining with a new, brilliant plan. "I need to give this foolish boy a helping hand to secure his wife’s heart forever."

Carson reached out his hand. He grabbed Murry by the sleeve of his neat black coat and pulled the housekeeper closer to him again.

"Listen to me, Murry," Carson instructed softly, his voice full of nostalgic wisdom. "My late wife, the Duchess, rest her soul... she always used to tell me a very important secret about women."

Carson smiled, thinking about his beautiful wife from fifty years ago.

"She always said that men who work hard, men who show their physical strength and their true dedication to their duties, are the absolute most attractive men in the world,"

Carson explained proudly.

Carson puffed his chest out slightly, remembering his own glory days as a strong, powerful young General.

"That was exactly why she fell so deeply for me," Carson boasted with a happy chuckle. "She saw me practicing with my sword in the courtyard, sweating in the sun, and she was completely smitten."

He looked at Murry, his sharp eyes filled with determination.

"We need to replicate that exact same magic for Damon," Carson decided firmly.

He pointed his finger at the older housekeeper, issuing a direct, unbreakable command.

"Tomorrow morning," Carson ordered smoothly, "you must find a good excuse. Have Camilla accompany Damon directly to the military camp. Force them to go together."

Murry blinked in surprise. "To the dusty military camp, your grace?"

"Yes!" Carson nodded eagerly. "Let her watch him work. Let Damon show off his brilliant military skills. Let her see him commanding his men, riding his horse, and displaying his true, masculine power in his natural element. Once she sees how powerful and respected her husband truly is on the battlefield..."

Carson smiled a wide, highly satisfied smile.

Murry immediately understood the old Duke’s brilliant, romantic strategy. It was an absolutely perfect plan to make the young lady fall even deeper in love with her husband.

Murry threw his head back and laughed a soft, highly amused, delighted laugh.

"Oh, your grace, that is a masterful plan," Murry agreed happily, bowing his head. "She will definitely be deeply impressed. Seeing a man in his element changes everything."

Duke Carson nodded his head firmly, adjusting his grip on his silver cane. He turned around to walk out the front doors toward his waiting carriage.

"Of course she will," Carson replied confidently, his voice booming proudly into the cool night air. "He is a Benson. We always know exactly how to impress our women."