Novels by Sophie King

“Let me help you up,” Julian said, reaching for my arm.I pulled it back before his hand could close around it. “I’m fine.”“You’re clearly not fine. You’re bleeding.”“Marta’s already getting the kit.” I looked past him, toward the top of the stairs. “I don’t need your help.”Marta returned a moment later with the first aid kit, and I let her clean the cut on my arm while Julian stood there watching. “I can carry you to your room. He said. “Your knee..”“I can walk.”I couldn’t, not easily, but I got up anyway, gripping the railing hard. Julian reached out again, and I stepped away from his hand before it landed.“Francesca.”“I’m fine, Julian.”I made it up the remaining stairs on my own, even though I was slower.I didn’t hear from Julian again until a few days passed. I was in the drawing room, sketching, when he appeared in the doorway.“How’s your knee?” He asked.“Healing.”“Good.” He didn’t come in but he stood there for a moment, then left.As the week went by, I stopped eati

Sophie stood in the doorway, hand still on the frame. She looked at Julian, then at me, and then back at Julian.Nobody said anything.Julian stepped back first, putting distance between us so fast. “Sophie.” His voice cracked a bit “This isn’t…”“Isn’t what?” She wiped at her eyes, though I hadn’t seen a tear fall. “Isn’t exactly what it looked like?”“Nothing happened,” I said. “And even if it had, you don’t get a say in it.”Her eyes snapped to me. “Excuse me?”“You heard me. You ran from this marriage. You don’t get to come back and act like you still own it.”“I never stopped being his fiancée in my heart.”“That’s a nice line,” I said. “You should write it down before you forget it, since you’ll probably need it again.”“Francesca.” Julian’s voice, low, a warning.I turned on him next. “Don’t. Don’t ‘Francesca’ me like I’m the one who needs to calm down. You’re the one who ran the second she walked in.”His jaw tightened. “That’s not what happened.”“It’s exactly what happened.

Francesca’s POV I still couldn’t sleep much after I went back to my room. I stayed up all night tossing and turning. Time went by quickly and before I knew it, it was morning already. I lay there staring at the ceiling for a long time before I made myself get up, take a shower, and get dressed. I left my room, hoping not to run into Sophie, but well I was unlucky. Sophie was already in the hallway, arms crossed, watching me come down like she’d been waiting. “You look different today,” she said. “I look the same.” “No.” Her eyes narrowed slightly. “You look like someone who slept badly for a good reason.” “I don’t even know what that means and I don’t have the strength for tantrums this morning.” “Tantrums?” She said looking offended “Yes tantrums.” I repeated. “Julian left his room early this morning.” She tilted her head, studying me. “Where do you think he went?” “I have no idea.” I said “Neither do I. Isn’t that strange?” She smiled, “You’d think a husband would te

Francesca’s POVI put the photograph back exactly where I found it. My hands weren’t steady enough for exactness, but I tried anyway. I closed the drawer and I stood there for a long moment, staring at the cabinet like it might open itself again and tell me I was wrong.I wasn’t wrong. The necklace, the mask, the way he’d looked at me like he was trying to place a stranger’s face.I left the library before anyone found me there. When I reached my room, I decided that I wasn’t going to ask him.Not yet.Not when I didn’t even know what I’d be asking for. Confirmation? An apology? I didn’t know what I wanted from Julian Windsor, and until I did, I wasn’t saying anything.So I said nothing.I went down for breakfast the next morning like any other day. Sophie was already at the table, wrapped in a robe that cost more than most people’s rent, stirring her tea like she’d always belonged there.“You look tired,” she said, not looking up.“I slept fine.”“You didn’t. You never do when you’re

Francesca’s POVI barely slept because I kept wondering why Julian reacted that way towards my pendant and when Sophie even had time to borrow it.I had almost forgotten about the necklace until he noticed it. It was one of the few pieces I had designed for myself, a thin gold chain with a small emerald pendant. I had worn it for years. I had no idea why he had looked at it that way. Or why, for a brief second, he seemed unsettled.By morning, I had convinced myself it meant nothing. I was halfway down the stairs when I heard shouting.“Let me through!”I stopped, my hand tightening on the railing. The voice was familiar.“Sophie.”I reached the bottom of the stairs just as the front doors opened. Sophie stood in the entrance looking different from the last time I had seen her. Her hair was styled perfectly, her makeup was flawless, and she wore a cream colored dress that made her look fragile and innocent. Exactly how she liked to look when she wanted people to feel sorry for her. Tw

Chapter 2: The woman he blamed Francesca’s POVThe Windsor mansion was quieter than I expected. The moment I stepped through the front doors, I felt it. The staff moved around me politely, but nobody smiled. Their eyes followed me before quickly looking away.Julian didn’t seem to notice. Or perhaps he simply didn’t care. He walked upstairs without waiting for me. I followed a maid until we reached the second floor where she opened a door.“Your room, Mrs. Windsor.”I stepped inside. The room was beautiful. Cream walls, tall windows, a sitting area and a balcony overlooking the gardens.Julian appeared at the doorway. “This is where you’ll stay.”“Okay.”He turned to leave but I stopped him. “Julian.”I hesitated, my hand still gripping the strap of my bag. “Are you going to tell me what happens now?”His expression hardened. “You stay here.”“And?”“And nothing.”“That’s comforting.”His eyes narrowed. “You’re not my wife in any real sense.”I looked at the ring on my finger, still