The Unwanted Duchess Claims Her Throne

eatrical, unmistakably deliberate. It was followed by a man's low

udience. "Do you think she can hear us? Poor thing. Waking up o

red male reply. "She might

silk, chilling her skin in stark contrast to the stuffy, cloying air. She was on the floor, her head

estate and forgot she existed, who raised his new wife's illegitimate daughter in the manor as if she were the true-born heir. A political marriage her father had orchestrated and forced upon her. A wedding day. This wedding day. Her

of a foreign consciousness. Operative. Code name: Nig

overly sweet incense-a soporific, probably with an aphr

dden by the voluminous skirt. She pressed her back against

ference. Entangled with him was Isabelle, completely naked, making no effort to cover herself. She let the silk she

etter you learn now where his heart truly lies." She traced a lazy finger down Sterling's bare chest. "Sterling had no choice but to marry you. Your father demanded it, and the cont

tbreak so profound it nearly made her gasp. This was the culmination

none of it. The heartbreak curdled into something

scream. She

e at being interrupted. He swung his legs over the side of the bed and pulled on a silk

pped with condescension. "It s

to hide behind him, peering at Elenor

looked directly at Sterling not as a husba

ot the reaction they had anticipated. Where were t

arm. "Since you're awake, you might as well

en she moved-a slight shift of her weight, a subtle

tarily stunned. He stared at his empty hand, then

y with Sterling!" she cried, voice thick with false tears

quiet but cutting. "I

air, sharp and deadly. St

s exquisite," she continued, conversational, detached. "

on her sister. Isabelle flinched, stepping back instinctively, her

little affair feel like destiny. If Sterling truly loved you, Isabelle, he would have moved heaven and earth to marry you. Contracts can be broken. Alliances can be renegotiated. Men with power get what they want." She tilted her head, her smile widening. "But he didn't fight for you, d

driven straight into Isab

ous red. She lunged forward, all pretense gone, r

on his wife with a new, dangerous intensity. The timid lamb h

faces. Inside, she felt nothing but a vas