city

a simple, high-necked gray dress. My goal was not to impress, but to project an aura of

sical touches-curiosity from the extended family, simmering hatred from Gwyn an

was no place set for me at the long,

simply stood by th

her post behind Eleonora's chair. As the Matriarch's personal maid, she did not move for anyone without permission

rom a sideboard and, with deliberate care, set a

Eleonora's favor. The smi

lence, broken only by the cl

ld not l

gh to cut. "A girl may arrive from the Tate pack with no wolf, no dowry, and no prop

ntempt. "Some women mourn with prayer. Others wear mo

nsel's wolf is more damaged than the Healers thought. It must be starvin

hung in the air. Evie and Ana s

dabbed my lips with my napkin, and then looked d

good name is paramount. So is prope

t seemed to

could be of use. Healer Shaw was just telling me yesterday how well Ansel's spirit is responding.

ying Ansel's recovery d

satisfaction in Pat

shameful than borrowed vows. One restores an Alpha's life. The other ends with a gr

ack in a tide of furious red. The memory of his h

the table, half-rising

m his father, Euan, force

its saucer. "How dare you

nkly about disgrace. Since Lady Gwyn raised the subject of beds and breeding, I as

still. Evie lowered her lashes, but not be

the Carlisle heir and what he did on his bonding day. I am only doing what I can to give t

her mouth opening and

finish my breakfast, ignoring the palpabl