are you

t trembling in her hands. "To marry the heir

ed to hang he

the northern lands he ruled. He could be summoned to the batt

n, yet he had three adopted sons. Marrying him mea

d, a trace of genuine warmth softening her g

anity. Inside were the few precious belongings left by

ed and forgotten, she had voraciously read books o

ining chip and weapon

list of ingredients. "Take this to the estate's apothecary," she instr

er expression a mix of confusi

e expressed the humble concern of a bride-to-be for her fiancé as he prepared to fulfill

warm, fragrant vial alongside the sealed letter. "Ha

ed in dark, imposing oak. The air within the Marqu

plight, reflecting his handsome yet granite-hard features. His eyes were a deep, sto

ly and placed a box from the Curtis ma

rriage; it was an arrangement forced upon him by his gra

rd," Finn reported softly

brows. He set the sword aside and opened

contrasting sharply with the smell of old

e handwriting was graceful,

e weave of etiquette and concern. He had expected something else-perhaps

fell upon the

ook a sniff, his eye

rk and de

iption for the old war wound he so carefully

rded secret. How cou

ing to gauge his mood. "Shal

fore setting the vial back on the desk.

. For the first time, this arranged marriage felt like more than just a na

: "Blackwood, you need a mistress to manage t

la would be the righ

ived. She was escorted into the vast, lu