My Secret Lover

ery Ugl

zingly gentle and soft that Adrien found himself wanting to strangle her. She was no lady of gentleness as she paint

y, uttered, "If you choose to go through with this wedding at

back at him, she uttered, "Your name is what I merel

tresses while you live in my house, in your own bedchamb

money for I have enough. As to a dowry, it shal

Her golden globes wavered for a second before she moved them back to stare at his blue ones squarely. "Why are you doing t

. But it was gone before he could name it. "Your name shall guarantee

away. "I will make you mise

d walked to the door. "I wish to be wed in the church of my choosing. Your aunt has promised to take care of everything else." When she reached the doorway, she stopped again and added, "I should like t

d fate and his entire bloody life. "I never took you to be this greedy, Mary Featherton. You can keep your bloody fortune, my name, and you can keep

ood day, my lord. See

*

g when she reached her

finally

her. She simply wanted to stay alive and keep her promise to her father. Adrien Haverston's n

led down her cheeks. She would never forgive herself for ruin

ruth. It would be the end if she did. It was bad enough that he had to be forced to marr

im away from his mistresses or the Mary House. She would let him live the li

ll on

eep breath and went to her writing ta

*

lled it THE G

e women, most of them, were not quite as scandalized as Adrien had first thought. Some had expressed their relief tha

to Aunt Gertrude's relief. It merely said that Mary Featherton had finally

She had, of course, called for her brother, the Lord of Haverston, who only ordered Adrien to no

fact that his sons were still eligible bachelors. He had even reached an agreement with Cressida Belverst's parents to marry Calan of

ld not run off anywhere. Aunt Gertrude walked out to prepare for t

he wedding was happening with no accidents from both parties, much to Adrien's disappointment. The Herald never missed a day without mentioning the Great Scandal and Adrien had to bit

past two dreadful weeks was when one of his brothers, the

you take on mistresses," McKenzi

ty," he had snapped back, causing his

said as farewell. "I shall be at your wed

s horse and gallop away to the farthest corner of the Town or simply kill himself. Much later, after Ca

don't deserve this," he gritted

wedding?" He threw his brother a darting look. Yes, he had laughed at Calan's fate months ago. How fun it

e'd stay a virgin-for that's what she still is-all her life." Calan merely raised his brows at his grim words. "I am n

Adrien. You will get the E

e me an heir," he explained. "She would stay a wife in na

ll be your wife, after all." His brother shook his he

*

n get the fortune i

't wish to

nt to be in her wil

do you mea

ent of our choosing, one that is fatal, of course. Her child will get everyth

ink it can

son, it wi

She held her fingers to stop her lips from shaking. She reached out to flick her lamp on, he

to cross paths with them in the

ow and their plans woul

r legs. Burying her face between them, her sh

he is very much like her moth

ng you are," she w

curled in bed with fear and

*

r amused faces. His aunt and father were sitting at the other end, both looking content. The other guests he dared not mind for he was not feeling accommodati

elf go numb. How could one look like an angel and be a scheming wench all the same? His anger flared ev

he must be mistaken for there was not a part of her that was remorsefu

ly turned and faced the vicar, ready to say the vows without intent

*

y and Collin Featherton were among the guests and their presence was enough to make her endure this horrible event. Of course, she had seen them for the

id, drawing Mary's mind away from the

lit with promise to punish her, and bent

half-heartedly given, the felic

ight to Oakham Manor where she would have to live with him. He'd make her suffer and she'd wholehearted

her uncle and his son standing outside the church with contempt on their handsome Featherto

ome, but she