Eleanor could still hear Duke Victor's voice in her mind.
"I was late. I should've told you earlier. Maybe I had a chance, even though I'm not the prince."
She sighed, pressing a hand to her forehead as she paced the length of her sitting room. Her mind had been restless ever since their conversation.
It wasn't as though she had never considered the possibility before—Victor had always been kind to her, always carried a warmth in his gaze that she hadn't quite known how to interpret. But she never expected this. Not now. Not when everything with Prince Adrian was finally settling.
She turned back toward Lady Mariel, who was seated gracefully on the settee, watching her with a knowing expression.
"So let me get this straight," Mariel said, setting down her tea. "Duke Victor confessed his feelings to you? And this is only happening now, after you're already engaged to Prince Adrian?"
