The Duchess's Secret Heir

and shopkeepers peeked out from their windows. At the heart of the market square, an imposing figure dismounted from a sleek black horse, the animal's

oots clicking against the cobblestones as he moved. Whispers followed him like a shadow. Nobles were

an murmured to anoth

nion, clutching her basket of eggs.

nd though his men had been careful not to alarm her, he was growing impatient. Months of searchin

the rows of vegetables. Edward sat nearby, engrossed in his favorite pastime of stacking ston

c clatter of hooves on cobblestones. She straightened, her heart skipping a beat. From he

she said, her voice s

nts as she stepped toward the road. She stood at the g

was unmistakable, his proud bearing and commanding presence unchanged. The years ha

How had he found her? How long had he been searching? And m

garden like a ghost from his memories. The sight of her hit him with a force he hadn't expected. Her

phantom conjured by his desperation-she was here, alive and very real. But the sig

inst the gravel. Isabella's knuckles turned white as she gripped

, his voice smooth

he refused to call him by name, refused to let him s

e said, gesturing faintly to the cottage and garden. H

, her chin lifting slightly. "W

know why I'm here," he said evenly. "Did you think

f to meet his gaze. "I'm not running," s

his tone hardening. "You had

rising. "You wanted to mold him into a replica of yours

ghtened. "You d

ward as a legacy, not a child. And I won't let you str

ched at his sides as he struggled to control his emotions. He wanted to argue, to

broken by a sma

his small frame partially hidden behind a bush. He clutched a stick

rom his features. This was the first time he had truly seen Edward-

curiosity outweighing his

ard Edward, kneeling to his level. "This is... an old f

rate understatement. He stepped forward, crouching slightly to meet Edward's g

lutching his stick tightly.

d, his voice steady

le and nodded, though her mind was racing. She had to tread carefully,

to Isabella. "We need to talk," he sai

ne. But not here." She glanced at Edward. "Sta

yes remained fixed on Adria

rival had shattered the fragile peace she had worked so hard to create. She didn't know what his next move wo