e sprawling estate was as quiet as a tomb. Kian hadn't returned since the hunt three weeks ago. The official reason: urgent business o

e table by the window, her movements hesitant. "Happy birthday, my lady.

one offered an abandoned wife, clearly believin

Her face was pale, her eyes large and shadowed, but the

hereabouts no longer interested her e

from shop revenues. Rents had been diverted into unfamiliar accounts. Individually,

e trusting that the foolish, lovesick wife wo

more than whether Kian

head butler appeared at her door, face flushed with

n settled back into its slow steady rhythm.

r. He was pulling off his riding gloves, expression grim. He

ome," he said, voice sharp, and tossed his glov

n the mirror. "Wel

olite. The way one

space in three strides, clamped his hands on her shou

e," he bit out, his face close to hers.

hing else-a faint sweet scent. White

y of poison, the scent of betrayal, all mixed together. She

e said, quiet, and stood, pu

abbing her wrist and yanking her against him, his ot

ending toward hers. "You need to learn your place,

lips cold and wet from the rain. She turned her head sharply at

go of

with such controlled finality that the

emed to truly see her-the absence of the adoration that had always been there. The

d them. "What is this? You're acting like a child. Is this about Isabe

serting physical dominance, reminding her of her duties. His hand sl

e roses was suffocating. As his head dipped

ia

en without a trace of war

e for an a

ound of rain against the

issolved, replaced by pure unadulterated shock. He released her as if burned, s

say?" His voice w

s gaze without flinching. "I want to petition the ec

her voice calm enough to ma

y taken enough o

ot have ano