emotion had passed, leaving behind a cold, clear purpose. The tears she had refused to shed in his

mmoned

paper an

a letter of surrender. She i

ull and uncontested return of her entire dowry; and the official granting of feme sole status, ensuring her indep

egal status so rare that most women in the kingdom had never even heard the

There was no point in waiting. The longer she delayed, the more

n's study. The corridors of Oakhaven had never felt so long, nor so familiar-every st

at his side, grinding ink at his desk-the picture of domestic adorat

t to cold displeasure. Isabelle shrank closer to him, adopting a look of

to the desk, her footsteps the only

ce calm and steady. "I have com

ips. "If you have come to your senses and wis

of her head. She uttered the two words that

s div

ed by sheer, uncomprehending shock. Isabelle's hand, holding the ink s

redulous laugh that was too loud, too sha

cially for the woman. He was certain it was a despera

ish the title of Lady Small. I will take only what is l

he amusement from his face as su

are my wife. By law, what is

er signed, states otherwise," she countered. "

ment, signed when his family was desperate and her gold was the only thi

was the first step toward this. Without her money, his dreams of a grand life in Astoria w

ill not agree," he said with cold finality. "As a Royal Scholar, my reputation cannot be tarnished by such a scan

he would never yield without being f

t is your final word, then we

ingers clumsy with agitation, and produced a large, clanking ring of keys-the keys to the storerooms, the wine

declared, holding them up like a trophy, "I

use, for locks he couldn't find-and a flicker of pitying contempt cr

leaving him holding his useless ring of me

hat she needed: confirmation that he would

justification she needed f