n only by Rosalind's hiccupping sobs. Eleanor an

ing! What does my brother have to do with

son, the heir, would refuse his duty was unthinkable. "Adeline, yo

gaze steady. "I'm telling the truth. If you don

uke's heir on such a matter would be a mo

threats. Eleanor looked about to call

ice cut through from the

tall and coldly authoritative. His gaze swept the scene-the shattered bowl, Rosalind's tears, Eleanor's rigid

s! You have to do something about her!" She pointed accusingly at Adeline. "She re

s empty because you refuse to behave like a husband. Then she

umph. "She told me that instead of buying her

complete

ly fractured. His jaw locked, and a hard flush rose beneath his

said

ng. "I suggested that medicine should

in his nec

e your mother and sister. She claims the empty cradle is not caused by any defect in

ut beneath it lay something more immediate: the raw offense of a man whose most

onged. Now he could either deny her and let his family resume forcing drugs i

enial made both mother and sister uneasy. They e

poke through cl

ong about the

pped. "Brother, wh

eline's. "I am the rea

ore he added, each word clippe

r and Rosalind. "Let no one in this roo

nd shrink back. His pride had been

" he continued. "That decis

fection-alliance. Strategic positioning that instan

She will not be forced to drink concoctions of questionable origin." He turned to h

k, face pale, fresh tears of

d by her own son, in defense of this woman-she was l

better. This wasn't protection. It was control. He was protecting his own decree, not her, asserting authority over ever

he looked at Adeline again, the humiliation she had

me." Not

d a shattered bowl and two women starin

ion as impassive