He had Ethan hand Eleanor a heavy gold ingot and then left

e was still wearing the same clothes from yesterday, b

map, her eyes red and strained from a lack of sleep. In the past, Arthur would have

. He walked right up to her, ignoring

"I ran into your stepsister on my way back to the mansion. I w

ontinued, "The East Pavilion is vacant

. He wasn' t asking for her permi

Eleanor no

f any warmth. "Alright. The East Pavilion is conveniently close to your

d, it made Arthur panic. A flicker of unease crossed his face, but he su

r. No matter what, I

h of his body. He was still the man she loved, but her heart

moved in th

eanor' s study with her maid in

r voice trembling. "Otherwise, why would the jade hairpin m

t Eleanor was mistreating her. The servants stand

ames. "Then you should go investigate how you los

eave so she could get back to work. But just as she was a

uke is

iately saw his gaze land on Clara. His express

ent, Eleanor heard his vo

er move in this morning. What

en form a response, Clara fell to her kn

ladly give it to you," she cried. "But this jade hairpin is the only

you were a child?" His voice was cold. "A gentleman does not act without purpose

old ingot, holding it out to her. "If you'

e of the story, he had condemned her. He had deci

ling over her. She remembered a time when, even if she had a petty arg

ove Clara Mille

k, Uncle, what I could possibly be jealous of? I have eve

cause I' m carrying t

bled out before Ar

napped, his voice

o late. Elean

is concubine, why he had even gone to her brother Michael. Clara

wn her face again. But this time, Arthur didn' t look at her. Instead,

it' s just

Just give it back to her, and l

inguishing the last embers of anger in her heart. If he still believed she wa

right, I won' t make a fuss. So, Duke, how do you plan to de

ng for a moment. "Starting today, you will no long

rd. She was leaving soon anyway, so it didn' t matter to her who

she could manage the mansion in her p

vants and announced, "The Duchess is unwell. My stepsiste

heads, not daring to questi

f them. Clara Miller stepped forward, a triumphant smirk on he

the same. If they don' t get what they want a

believe me now? I will eventually repla