The Heiress Forbidden Love

he balcony of her bedroom, she could see the towering oaks that lined the edge of the property, their bare branches stark against the pale winte

ers, embroidered tapestries, and polished wood floors-but all of it, no

n planned for her bef

nd languages-preparations for her eventual role as the perfect aristocratic wife. But somewhere along the way, amidst the balls, the dinners, and the endless parade of suitors, Evelyn had

iting the inevitable. Tomorrow, her engagement to the Duke of Ashcombe would be formally announced. The Duke, a man of impeccable standing, whose wealth and title would o

elyn, it w

ramed by long lashes. She looked every bit the aristocratic beauty she was meant to be. And yet, as she stared at her own image, she felt a growing dissonanc

elyn turned to find her standing at the door, her expression filled with the

t smile. "I suppose I should prepar

know, my lady, you need not marry him if you do no

e of me if I didn't, Clara? A woman alone, without the protection of a husband or fa

other choices, my lady. There are places in th

understand the weight of Evelyn's world-the world that required her to uphold her family's reputation, to marry the Duke and secure the future of W

voice tinged with weariness, "you mustn

e nodded, retreating back toward the door. "As you wish, my lady

upon her like a heavy cloak. Her father had already spoken of the engagement as if it were a matter of fact, as though Evelyn had no say in the matter. The Duke, she knew, wa

had never dared voice aloud? To be free from the suffocating expectations of her title, to love not for duty but

tiful daughter, the heiress destined to marry for convenience. In that life, perhaps, she would fi

ht was in

ng since learned that dreams were

ep into a future she did not choos

ight © 2022 novelmanga.com All