The Empress's Second Chance

d affair that could secure a f

hold, excitement was repl

gripped my hands, her face

to do this for us.

in my cousin Emily' s place, "fail g

ds a haunting echo from

ime, I bel

ucted, but nobody

rn, enduring humiliation and grueling lab

money to return, I found red l

ily, was marr

at the gate, tatt

?" she spat. "You' re a

inside filling my ears as I collapse

I wo

y mother' s voice

have to do

augh almos

the very mome

, things woul

her grasp, a cold resol

l go as Sarah Thompson