Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Duchess's Desire: Kabanata 51 - Kabanata 52

"You’re unusually quiet tonight," the Duke said, his voice brushing against the silence like velvet against skin.Victoria stood by the tall window, arms folded, eyes lost in the smoky distance beyond the estate walls. The candlelight behind her flickered and danced on her ivory skin."Am I?" she replied flatly. "I suppose silence is safer now."The Duke took a step closer, his boots echoing on the marble floor. "Safer from me?"She turned around slowly, lips curled faintly. "Safer from everyone."Their gazes locked. There was heat there, thick enough to smother."Don’t pretend this hasn’t changed you," he said. "I’ve seen the way your hands tremble when no one’s watching. I’ve seen you drift away. You’re losing yourself to this war."Victoria exhaled, her voice bitter. "I already lost myself the moment James was thrown onto that porch like refuse. And you—” she paused, looking away, “You’re just another blade in the back I never saw coming."He flinched. "You still think I was involv