tte

furious footsteps fade down the hall. My heart was a still, sil

a mask of worry. "My lady, ar

y voice firm. "From now o

ve years, I slept soundly. I had mad

my usual time. I wore a simple but well-made

e table. He looked tired, with dark circles under

ssing the servant beside me. "A glass o

erved him. He cleared his throat

Mr. Wright is apologizing for yesterday's events,

ave him. It was simply the first step in a merch

ed. He looked like

t box, pushing it across the table toward me. "I cho

e necklace, brilliant and

u feel you owe me something, I suggest you sell it and give me the equiva

he was making a grand gesture, and I had just

rifted from the doorway.

as clearly not hers-it was mine. She looked pale and fra

she was now so at home here she could

Why are you out of bed? The doctor said you need to res

se of me," she said, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "Lady Annette, please don't blame Creed. It's all my faul

played the victim, highlighted my conflict with Cr

rformance and felt nothing

nto outfitting his knights, only to be rivaled by a woman whose

ing to destroy his marriage for?

fork, dabbed my lips w

so much, by all means, let h

Coralie's eyes. Creed looked relieved,

p the necklace. I didn't hand it t

"I will be deducting the cost of this necklace from the compensation you o

to Coralie's hands as if

my gaze direct, "my clothes are not for just any

turned a blotch

ed out of the dining hall, leaving a stunned silence and two m