"I am the sovereign of my own domain. The idea of becoming your queen is one I cannot entertain," I asserted firmly, my voice steady despite the tumult within.
Without a hint of subtlety, Edmund retorted, "So you yearn for the life you once led and are eager to return to your former pursuits."
The weight of his words hung heavily in the air, the silence that followed was deafening. My heart raced painfully, each beat echoing in the stillness, a stark contrast to the shock of his unexpected statement. The sting of his words was a blow I had not anticipated.
---
In the grand world of 19th-century London, Lady Morgana is the unmatched queen of seduction and pleasure. Her lavish pleasure house attracts men from all corners of the globe. They come to experience the captivating charm of this infamous temptress. Morgana possesses an extraordinary beauty that draws attention. Just to catch a of her costs a fortune, and those who wish for a taste of her forbidden delights must pay even more.
However, when King Edmund Blackwood enters the scene, everything changes. Known for his fierce reign and unquenchable desires, he learns of legendary Morgana, who had foreigner walking in and out of his kingdom. Soon, admiration alone is insufficient for him. He has tasted her allure and now desires her exclusively-for himself and himself alone. As his fascination deepens into an obsession, Lady Morgana was not prepared to surrender herself to any man or at least not the one who she held no feelings for, she now finds herself facing a significant dilemma.
Will she give up her independence in exchange for the king's lavish promises? Or will she risk everything to stay the mysterious queen of her realm?
Just when she's decided to leave the Town, Lady Cressida Belverst is forced to marry Lord Calan Haverston, the man who coincidentally knows a way out. Agreeing to marry for all the wrong reasons, can Cressida and Calan find out where their hearts truly belong?
***
It is impossible to leave the Town, but one woman is determined to escape with the help of her betrothed.
Lady Cressida Belverst has always been judged as a walking scandal. Oh, how she tries (on some rare occasions) to be proper! When her parents arrange for her to marry a rich lord, Cressida has had enough. She has to leave the Town because she will not be forced to live with a man she doesn't love. But what happens if the very man she's betrothed to is the only one who can help her get out?
Calan Haverston, the Lord of Easton, takes the risk and helps his betrothed by using his knowledge of the Town's secrets because he is as willing as she to stay free of marriage for reasons completely different. He has dark secrets he cannot share with her, and his life is not one he can likewise open to anyone. But what happens when she leaves after awakening desires he thought he has under control? And what happens when he finds himself longing for her?
Cressida goes to a completely different place, one she has only heard in stories and read in books, with hopes of finding what her heart has always longed for. But love, mystery and secrets will chase her and it will only be a matter of time before she realizes what her heart truly desires.
*This story is a standalone title in the Haverston Family series.