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The Answer
Lily was waiting in her office when Edwina finished her work with the King. Edwina dismissed Remi hours before. She was a striking figure, dressed in a men’s riding outfit. Her cream shirt and chocolate brown pants striking in contrast. The outfit accentuated her slim waist and ample bosom. Her dark hair was striking against the red sunset filtering through the window.
Lily was beautiful, intelligent, and graceful. The type of woman Claiborne should be attempting to woo. Not dowdy plain Edwina. She pictured them together, Claiborne’s blond hair and Lily’s dark locks painting a beautiful picture. They would look perfect together. Elegance personified.
But she wouldn’t wish Claiborne on her worst enemy. He had a dark heart and a vicious reputation.
His proposition made no sense. Why request her when he could have Lily? Lily was a Duchess! She had money, influence, beauty…
There was something Edwina was missing.
Lily turned a smile lighting up he
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Alexander sipped his bourbon and stared out the window. The view from the second story of his townhome gave him a bird's eye view of his front door. He waited patiently for movement. Waiting for the messenger that would decide his fate. He placed his glass down and opened his cigar case. He pulled one out and lit it, eyes never leaving the street in front of him. He took a long pull of the cigar, letting the spicy smoke hang in his lungs, and waited for the slight burn he wanted to feel. He released his breath, smoke cascading around him. He needed to plan his next move. If Edwina said no, he needed a backup plan. He refused to give up. He would have her, no matter how long it took. But what was the best course of action… Even if she refused him, Claiborne planned to continue working with the King regardless. His threats were just empty words meant to goad his prey into his arms. His original plan had always been to help Edwina. Make her reali
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Not much changed after Edwina sent her reply to Claiborne. For two weeks, she continued to work without any interruption, never hearing a word from Claiborne. The rumors about her and Claiborne died down, and her life was peaceful once again. Almost as if she hadn’t made a deal with the devil.Thackeray hid from Edwina for as long as he could manage. For three days the Crown Prince dodged and escaped Lily’s hunt. Until on the morning of the fourth day, Lily dragged the man by the collar and threw him in front of Edwina’s desk.It was a sight that the King would have found very amusing, but would appall the other court officials and nobles. The Crown Prince on his knees, his head bowed to Edwina as she loomed above him. Claiborne had informed Thackeray about his intentions with Edwina. By informing, Claiborne apparently slammed Thackeray up against a wall and warned him not to renege on their deal.Thackeray sputtered out all of his excuses and
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The carriage wobbled and clattered as it traveled over the capital’s cobblestone streets. Edwina swayed along with the gentle rhythm but Mrs. Mercy was still as she sat stiffly in the seat across from her.This was one of the King’s private carriages. Edwina didn’t know how Mrs. Mercy had obtained this carriage. All she knew was that the guards carried her away from her office like a prisoner, only to throw her in one of the King’s ritzy carriages and slam the door shut behind her.Edwina didn’t have a carriage of her own, and if she needed to travel by carriage she would usually rent one. Mrs. Mercy would be appalled if she knew about Edwina’s use of rentals. Imagining Mrs. Mercy in a rented carriage almost made Edwina smile.They traveled in silence for approximately half an hour. The silent carriage ride gave Edwina time to collect her thoughts. She was getting married to Claiborne in a week. She didn't have a dress, she di
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The concierge recovered from his brief strangulation rather quickly. He escorted Edwina and Mrs. Mercy through the lobby of the hotel and up to the royal suite. He prattled on and on about the history of the hotel and how the King had personally ordered this suite for Edwina. How they had canceled several reservations just to accommodate her! He hoped Edwina would be a frequent visitor since she was the soon-to-be Duchess Claiborne. When he opened the door to the royal suite, Edwina struggled to contain her laughter. Ostentatious, gaudy, and garish, the room was filled with deep reds, golds, and purples. The molding on the walls had gold lame accents, the heavy red velvet drapes were tied back with strings of jewels and the four-poster bed was drowning in purple. Purple sheets, purple pillowcases, purple comforter. The room was intense. The concierge let himself out, but not before Edwina caught a glimpse of Mrs. Mercy slipping the man a hefty tip. “Is this r
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