The dining room at Blackwood Manor had never felt more charged with tension. Crystal sparkled in the candlelight, casting dancing shadows across the faces of the assembled party as they took their seats for what promised to be the most memorable dinner in the manor's long history.Victoria had dressed for the occasion in a gown of midnight blue silk that emphasized every curve, her golden hair swept up to show off the diamonds at her throat—jewels that Felicity suspected were meant to remind everyone present of her superior status and wealth. She sat across from Adrian, her smile brilliant and predatory, clearly confident that victory was within her grasp.Dr. Whitmore and Mr. Whitworth flanked her like loyal hounds, their expressions smugly satisfied. They had spent the afternoon no doubt planning exactly how they would spring their trap, savoring the moment when they would watch Felicity crumble under the weight of their revelations.What they didn't know was that their intended victim had spent those same hours locked in her husband's arms, planning their mutual destruction.Adrian entered the dining room with his usual measured stride, but Felicity caught the subtle differences that their earlier conversation had wrought. His shoulders were straighter, his movements more fluid. The carefully maintained suggestion of physical limitation had vanished entirely, though she doubted their guests would notice until it was too late.He paused beside Felicity's chair, and instead of the polite, distant assistance she had grown accustomed to, his hands lingered on her shoulders as he helped her into her seat. The gesture was possessive, intimate—the touch of a man who cherished his wife."You look beautiful tonight," he murmured, his lips close enough to her ear that his breath made her shiver with awareness.Victoria's eyes narrowed at this display of husbandly affection, but her smile never wavered. "How touching," she said lightly. "You two seem quite... devoted to one another.""Indeed we are," Adrian replied smoothly, taking his seat at the head of the table. "Marriage has proven to be full of unexpected pleasures."The way he looked at Felicity as he said this made heat pool low in her belly. There was promise in that gaze, and desire that made her pulse quicken despite the dangerous company they were keeping.Dr. Whitmore cleared his throat importantly. "Lord Blackwood, if I may say so, you seem to be in remarkably good health this evening. Your recovery has been quite... miraculous.""Has it?" Adrian's tone was mildly curious as he accepted a glass of wine from the footman. "I'm afraid I don't know what you mean, doctor. Recovery from what?"The three conspirators exchanged glances, clearly not expecting such a direct challenge so early in the evening."Come now, Adrian," Victoria said with a silvery laugh. "Surely you remember Dr. Whitmore? He treated you after your terrible accident. Those dreadful injuries that left you so..." She paused delicately. "Compromised.""Ah yes, the good doctor." Adrian's smile was sharp as a blade. "I remember you quite well, Whitmore. Tell me, what brings you to Yorkshire? Are you still in the business of providing... creative medical opinions for the right price?"Dr. Whitmore's face flushed red. "I beg your pardon, my lord. I have always conducted myself with the utmost professional integrity.""Have you indeed?" Adrian cut into his beef with deliberate precision. "How fascinating. And you, Whitworth—still following in your father's footsteps, I see. Though I trust you're more competent at scheming than Marcus was."Mr. Whitworth's pale eyes flashed with anger. "My father was a respected businessman—""Your father was a thief and a coward who died knowing the world saw him for what he truly was." Adrian's voice was deadly quiet, but it carried to every corner of the dining room. "The question is whether the son has learned from the father's mistakes."The silence that followed was deafening. Victoria looked between the two men with growing unease, clearly sensing that her carefully laid plans were going awry."Gentlemen," she said with forced brightness, "surely we can discuss business matters after dinner. This is hardly appropriate conversation for mixed company.""On the contrary," Felicity said softly, speaking for the first time since they had sat down. "I find it quite enlightening. Please, continue, Mr. Whitworth. I'm curious to hear more about your father's business relationship with mine."Whitworth's eyes turned calculating as he studied Felicity's serene expression. "Your father trusted mine, Lady Blackwood. They were partners in several ventures. Profitable ventures that unfortunately went sour due to... external interference."Adrian laughed, the sound rich with dark amusement. "External interference. What a charming euphemism for fraud and embezzlement.""That's a serious accusation," Dr. Whitmore interjected. "Do you have proof of such claims?""Oh, I have proof of many things, doctor. Including detailed records of the payments you received for your... creative diagnosis of my condition three years ago."The color drained from Dr. Whitmore's face. Victoria's fork clattered against her plate as she stared at Adrian in shock."What are you talking about?" she demanded.Adrian rose from his chair with fluid grace, moving to the sideboard where he picked up a leather portfolio that Felicity hadn't noticed before. "Perhaps it's time we dispensed with pretense entirely. Victoria, my dear, would you like to see the medical records that document my miraculous recovery? Or would you prefer the financial documents showing exactly how much I paid Dr. Whitmore to spread rumors about my supposed disfigurement?"Victoria shot to her feet, her beautiful face contorting with fury and disbelief. "You're saying... you're telling me that you were never injured at all?""Not so much as a scratch," Adrian confirmed cheerfully. "Though I must say, the charade served its purpose admirably. Amazing how people stop paying attention to a man they believe to be a broken recluse.""But why?" Victoria's voice cracked with emotion. "Why would you do such a thing?"Adrian's expression hardened as he looked at her. "Because I needed to become invisible, Victoria. I needed society to forget about Adrian Blackwood so that I could quietly dismantle the lives of the men who destroyed my family."Mr. Whitworth half-rose from his chair, his face pale with understanding. "You... you orchestrated everything. The business failures, the blocked loans...""Every. Single. Detail." Adrian's smile was coldly triumphant. "Did you really think the sins of your fathers would go unpunished forever? Did you believe there would be no reckoning for what they did to my family?"Dr. Whitmore was trembling now, clearly realizing the scope of the trap that had been sprung around them. "You used us. You made us complicit in your deception.""You made yourselves complicit through your own greed and guilt," Felicity said quietly, her voice carrying surprising authority. "No one forced you to take my husband's money in exchange for lies."Victoria whirled on her, eyes blazing with fury. "You! You knew, didn't you? You've known all along!"Felicity rose gracefully, moving to stand beside her husband. When Adrian's arm came around her waist, she leaned into his warmth with complete trust."I've known since our wedding day," she confirmed. "My husband told me the truth because he believes in honesty between spouses. A concept you might want to consider, given your habit of deception.""My habit of deception?" Victoria shrieked. "He's the one who's been lying to everyone for three years!""Yes," Adrian said calmly. "And now I'm done lying. Tomorrow, I'll be making a full announcement to society about my remarkable recovery. I'll be returning to London, taking my seat in Parliament, resuming my place in society. With my beloved wife by my side."The emphasis he placed on 'beloved' was unmistakable, and the way he looked at Felicity made her heart flutter with joy despite the chaos erupting around them."This is impossible," Victoria gasped. "I won't let you humiliate me this way!""You've humiliated yourself," Adrian replied with devastating calm. "You came into my home, insulted my wife, conspired with criminals, and attempted blackmail. What did you think would happen?"Victoria's composure finally cracked completely. "I loved you!" she cried, tears streaming down her perfect cheeks. "I would have married you, scars and all! I came back for you!""No," Adrian said gently, and there was almost pity in his voice. "You came back because you heard rumors that I might not be as damaged as everyone believed. You came back because you thought you could claim a prize that had been denied to you."He pulled Felicity closer against his side, his voice softening with unmistakable love. "But the prize, Victoria, was never mine to give. It belonged to the woman brave enough to marry a man she thought was broken, kind enough to love him anyway, and strong enough to stand beside him when the truth came to light."Felicity felt tears prick at her eyes at the beauty of his words, at the absolute certainty in his voice when he spoke of her."I love my wife," Adrian continued, his gray eyes holding Felicity's captive. "Completely, desperately, eternally. And tomorrow, all of London will know exactly how fortunate I am to have won her heart."Before Victoria could respond to this declaration, Adrian turned his attention back to the two men who had been growing paler by the minute."Gentlemen, I believe you have a choice to make. You can leave Yorkshire tonight and never darken my door again, or you can stay and face the consequences of your actions. I have enough evidence to see you both prosecuted for fraud, blackmail, and conspiracy."Dr. Whitmore was already rising from his chair, his hands shaking. "We'll leave. Tonight. This very hour.""Excellent choice," Adrian said approvingly. "And doctor? If I hear so much as a whisper about my wife or my family from your lips, I will ensure that your medical license becomes a very expensive piece of decorative paper. Do we understand each other?"Dr. Whitmore nodded frantically and practically fled from the dining room. Mr. Whitworth followed more slowly, but with equal determination to escape Adrian's wrath.That left only Victoria, standing alone in her midnight silk, tears streaking down her cheeks as she stared at the couple before her."How could you choose her over me?" she whispered brokenly.Adrian's expression softened with something that might have been genuine regret. "Because, Victoria, she chose me first. Not my title, not my wealth, not my position in society. She chose the man she thought was broken and scarred and damaged beyond repair. And that kind of love... that's worth more than all the beauty and breeding in England."Victoria's shoulders sagged in defeat. Without another word, she turned and walked from the room, her silk skirts rustling like autumn leaves in the sudden silence.Alone at last, Adrian and Felicity stood wrapped in each other's arms among the ruins of their enemies' schemes."That," Felicity said wonderingly, "was the most romantic thing anyone has ever said to me."Adrian's laugh was warm and rich as he spun her around the dining room. "My darling wife, that was nothing compared to what I plan to say to you for the rest of our lives."When he set her down, his hands cupped her face with infinite tenderness. "Are you ready for tomorrow, Lady Blackwood? Ready to take London by storm as the wife of a man who's no longer hiding behind a mask?"Felicity's smile was radiant as she rose on her tiptoes to kiss him. "With you beside me, Lord Blackwood, I'm ready for anything."As their lips met in a kiss that tasted of victory and love and promises yet to be fulfilled, Felicity couldn't help but think that her fairy tale had turned out better than any story she had ever read.After all, what heroine could ask for more than a husband who loved her enough to reveal his deepest secrets, and who thought her brave enough to face the future by his side?
