The Duchess's Secret Heir

fully stacked blocks into a tower, his face scrunched in concentration. Isabella sat nearby, mending a tear in his coat, her needle movin

gh he had agreed to wait for her decision, she knew his patience was not infinite. She gl

roke through her thought

bella replied, trying

who is he?" Edward's blue eye

rced her hands to keep moving, pulling the needle through the coat wit

fingers idly toying with one of

e, so far removed from the tangled history she shared with

ugh the word felt heavy on h

ooked at me funny," he said, his brow furrowed in t

ith a mixture of longing and regret, emotions too complex for Edward to

gs they want to say but don't

his small shoulders relaxing

she said, keeping her tone calm. "But you don't need t

from the doorway, her hands gripping the edge of the frame. How could she explain Adrian's presence without shatte

to her, his hands clutching a bouquet of wildflowers he ha

ling to accept the flowers. "You've got

quickly grew serious. "Mama, do

he sudden shift in conversation

rising and falling. "He looked sad.

ike a knife. He had no idea of the complexities, the pain, the history tied

tly, brushing a stray curl from his

force. As Isabella prepared breakfast, he perched on a s

n live here?" he asked, hi

af of bread she was slicing. "Because he has his

ward asked, his eyes w

the knife down. "Very big, wi

than o

much b

r a moment. "Do you think he ge

never admit it. But how could she explain that to Edward without revealing t

ands gripping the edge of the table

ning at the earnestness in his eyes. "Of course he does, sweetheart," s

me," Edward said, frownin

s. "Sometimes, people have a hard time finding the right w

l hands clutching her sleeve. "W

ead, her thoughts spinning. "I don't know, my love," she said honestly. "But no matte

His questions had exposed the delicate balance she was trying to maintain. Edward deserve

t of Adrian's face when he saw their son for the first time, the flicker of emotion that had passed through his

ong as she could. But deep down, she knew the day would come when she would have to answer his questions f