The Duchess's Secret Heir

st space, while Isabella remained near the hearth, her arms crossed defensively. Edward sat outside in the garden, his la

was the look of a man who had already made up his mind. "This is not a request, Isa

her ground. "I'm not going back, Adrian," she said,

ed. "You cannot

nothing more than a means to carry on the Blackthorn name. I won

u think hiding him away in a village will protect him? That y

sabella snapped, her eyes flashing. "A family that should have nur

ou left me no choice, Isabella," he said, his voice softer but no less intense

. But she quickly hardened her resolve. "I did what I had to do," she said. "You

is voice rising slightly. "He is

ve to me that you see Edward as more than just the Blacktho

able. For a moment, silence hung between th

d we live in demands certain things. Expectations, traditions-they're not just ideal

ning slightly. "He doesn't need expectations or tradit

ides. "You think I don't want that for him? Tha

manding we return to a pla

home. It's where he belongs, Isabella. You may despise the life I've built, bu

mple, but it was also fragile. The small cottage, the modest earnings, the constant worry of being discovered-it was far from the life

I become if I return? The dutiful duchess? The woman who smiles

ave to be that way," he said. "I've... made mistakes, Isabella. I know that.

ore her was not the same as the one she had left behind. He seemed worn, as thoug

m. Isabella turned her gaze toward the sound, her heart aching. She wanted nothing

es more than this, Isabella," he said, his tone almost pleading. "Let

ilt in Willowbrook was safe, but it was also precarious. And while she hated to admit it, Ad

ce, of surrendering herself to the world

he said finally, her voic

ed. "I'll stay in the village for a few days," he said.

more. "Edward is not something you can tak

replied, his voice firm. "I will d

mind raced, torn between the life she had built and the life she feared. Adrian's presence h

. "Think carefully, Isabella," he said, his tone

sank into a chair by the hearth, her hands trembling. She glanced out the window at Edwar

decision she made, it woul