old and still, thick with the scen

hallowed marble. Rows of memorial plaques lined the walls, their golden inscriptions g

a new plaque of polished black marb

nt. Shield of the Re

ed a hand and traced the cold, sharp letters of his name. A man she'd never met. A

s tiny pearl buttons that ran down the back of her wedding gown.

e shook it out. It was a simple, unadorned mourning dress of black wool. She had packed it o

able, finally found her, they froze in the doo

kneeling before Duke Alistair's memorial. Her arms were wrapped around the cold ston

a scorned bride, b

nald arrived moments later,

Philippa shrieked. "Have you no shame?

e to a figure who had just entered the chapel. An elderly woman, her posture ramrod s

her to both Duke Alistair and Lord Reginald, grandmother to

pa, fell silent and dipped

t, fixed on Seraphina. Her voice was calm but

d, but it carried with perfect clarity in the

murmurs rippled th

ilippa cried. "A

locked on the Princess Royal, and in them, there was n

aining strength, "stipulates that I, Seraphina of Hous

act. But his uncle, Duke Alistair, was the rightful Duke and heir unti

legally sound. She was exploiting a l

he foundation of her new life. "I will marry Duke Alistair Beaumont. I

nce. Marry a dead man? It was an insult to the family, a moc

kered in her shrewd eyes. She saw the girl's gambit for what it was: a bril

aughingstock for a generation. Or... accept this strange, solemn girl as the widow of a war hero? It would preserve the alliance w

control, execu

tretched for an eternity, the matr

ncess Victoria s

a picture of disbelief, but they did not

xtended a hand, helping her to her feet. Her

mily chaplain. "Proceed with t

mily members and servants, the most bizarre

but holding the cold, heavy memorial plaque in her

voice unwavering. "T

avy gold signet ring bearing the griffon crest-and

on was

chess of Ironwood. A bride, a