tals, and golden candelabras cast flickering light across the sea of silks and velvets. The air buzzed with polite conversati

mond necklace a testament to her station. She was every inch the Duchess of Sussex, untoucha

It was a dangerous game, one that had already spiraled too far out of control. Victoria felt the heat of h

cto

sharp features softened by a rare smile. "You're

g," she replied,

y observe," he teased, leaning in c

awe's voice cut through the crowd. "My dear D

rimson gown clinging to her like a second skin. "Thank

Tell me, is it true that Lord Alexander is considering a trip to P

he two women. "I hadn't decided yet, but perha

as unmistakable. Elizabeth's smile faltered, and she quic

erable," Vict

ropping. "But she's not wrong about o

arned, steppin

his tone soft. "We

ou mean," she said,

And you think hiding behind your ti

ander," she snapped,

is hands in mock surrender. "Bu

-

lroom, needing air and space. The cold night greeted her as she stepped onto the balcony, t

r Gr

James standing in the sh

issed, glancing over her shoul

away," he admitte

began, but he

nd urgent. "The way the air shifts when we're near ea

it, to tell him he was wrong,

distance between them. "Victoria

" she whispered,

shing against hers. "For once, stop thinking ab

the breath from her lungs. His hands moved to her waist, pullin

eps on the balcony

cto

as Alexander appeared from the shadows, his

he said, her v

ere?" he demanded, his gaze

," she began, but her words fa

wife is dallying with a serv

rotective. "With all due respect, my

r's laugh was bitter. "Do you

," Victoria snapped,

nder warned, his voice l

into the manor, leaving Victo

" she whispered, her vo

said, his hands gripping he

ew closer, she couldn't shake the fee

-

, her mind a whirlwind of emotions. She paced the r

houghts, and she opened it to find Ca

ping inside and closing th

you mean," Victoria

arply. "I saw Alexander tonight. He

art sank. "Ca

id, her voice softening. "And if you're

, and she sank into a nearby chair. "I don't kn

hands in hers. "You need to end this, V

pered, the weight of her

everything," Cat

-

the darkened landscape. The house was quiet, but she knew it wouldn't last. Se

r made her turn, and she found James standin

seeing you," he said, cl

" she said, though her

to stand before her. "Victoria, I meant wh

s meeting in a desperate, fiery kiss. His arms wrapped around her

hallway shattered the illusion, and th

she whispered,

voice firm. "We'll fig

stormed in, his face a mask of fury,

s voice cold and sharp. "Wh

ing as the man she had betrayed s

d, his posture prote

Victoria. "I trusted you," he said, his voice tre

an, but the words c

d, his voice low and menaci

t, the weight of hi

efully constructed world had finally crumbled, lea