mahogany and smelled of old books and power. He sat behind his massive desk, his face carved from granite. Vi

have indulged your presence in this house for five years o

"You will move out of the main estate and in

fied. "Theodore!

e steel. "And his wife will now be the mistress of it. You ha

ia, who met her gaze with an expressio

dy to begin her exile, her reign over t

he staff now answers to you. Mr. Hayes wi

to take a more active role in Hadley's personal care immediately." She paused, adding with a

early pleased by this show of

eparing the supplies for a bed bath. His demeanor was pr

g up the sleeves of her simple blouse

. Sinclair, it is a diffic

r argument. Her true motive had nothing to do with wifely duty. She needed unrestricted access to Hadle

d themselves on opposite

e," Aria instructed.

weight onto his side. Just as he was balanced

ed out, as if

tally" let h

ly into the firm mattress wi

f agony and pure, unadulterated rage. His nose felt

or. "Mrs. Sinclair! My g

er of a smirk touching her lips before she quickly

too hard. "He's a strong one, isn

ng to a conspiratorial whisper. "Don't you worry

was a study in c

e added the finishing touch. "I even kn

eping girl he had seen in the hallway to this crude, slightly terrifying wo

llion. The threat, however she meant

a manipulator. She was a barbaria

ch a potent combination of fury and, terr