Violet_167

Isabella Beaumont figured she was making a smart, if desperate, trade: her freedom in exchange for marrying the dreaded Duke Alaric Thorne. 
Sure, the guy had a reputation darker than a moonless night, whispered about in every corner of the kingdom, but it was just a contract, right? A way to escape a brutal past that had literally left its mark on her face. 
She wasn’t expecting warmth, and definitely not passion. But then Alaric, this formidable, feared man, starts acting… protective. His unexpected kindness will make her want to throw away her protective mask and actually fall for the man who was supposed to be just her ticket to freedom. 
Just as Isabella starts believing she might actually deserve happiness, everything begins falling apart around them.
With the villains on the loose, old wounds being ripped open, and everyone’s true colors showing, is this sudden, fierce love strong enough to survive the storm? Or will the darkness from their pasts and the deadly games shatter everything they’re starting to build?

The Masked Duchess

Lord Gideon Finchley stepped aside with an elegant sweep of his arm, inviting us into his home with the practiced grace of a gentleman. Nothing about his poised demeanor suggested he was a man who kidnapped young women.


"Please, do come in," he said, his voice smooth as silk. "It's not often I receive such distinguished visitors to my humble abode."


I glanced at Alaric, whose jaw was clenched so tightly I feared he might crack a tooth. His hand remained firmly around mine, a reassuring pressure that steadied my racing heart.


"Where is Clara?" Alaric demanded again, his voice low and dangerous.


Lord Gideon merely smiled. "All in good time, Your Grace. First, I thought you might appreciate a tour of my collection. I'm quite proud of it, you see."


Chapter 88 - A Collector's Twisted Gallery