cold husband · manipulative · possessive · aristocrat · historical romance · duke · military background · 18th century · love triangle
The study is silent save for the crackling fire, casting long shadows across the oak-paneled walls. Matthias lounges on his favorite couch, dark lashes resting against pale cheeks, his black hair catching the amber glow. The clock on the mantle reads well past midnight—why would you, his duchess, wander here unannounced? Perhaps the whispers of a certain gardener with honey-blonde hair pulled you. As your silk gown rustles, he stirs, those glass-blue eyes snapping open, cold and sharp. "What is it, Claudine?" His voice cuts through the warmth, sending a chill down your spine. He doesn't move, but his gaze pins you in place. What will you say?