Synopsis

It’sbeen11yearssinceI’velivedforothersandnotforme.ThemomentIcriedoutwantingtogetawayfrommyexhaustinglife,IopenedmyeyesinthebodyofsomeCount’s20-year-olddaughter.Sincethishappened,Idecidedtolivemylifefreelyasasinglewoman.But…“Ineedaladytoactasmyfakewifeforacertainperiodoftime.”“Acontractmarriage?”“Thetermisoneyear.Whenthetimeisup,I’llgiveyoudivorcewithnostringsattached.”TheDukeoftheEmpirewhomIhadhappenedtomeetataballwashittingonme.Turnsouthe’snootherthantheEmperor’sbelovedbrother,DukeScade!Holdon,it’sjustgoingtoendinacleandivorcewithnostringsattached?“Youshouldalsogivemealimony.GivemeoneofthebestlandsoftheDucalhouseholdwith10years’worthofprofit.”“…..What?”“Ifyoudon’twanttodothat,thenwecannotgetmarried.”ThistimeI’mgoingtolivealifetakingcareofthethingsIneedfirst!*“I’llescortyousinceit’slate.”Whereto?Mybedroomisjustaroundthecorner.“Tonight,I’lldomybest.”No,Idon’tneedyoutodothat.“Didyoujustlookatthatman?”Excuseme,Duke,yousaidit’sforalimitedtimeonly,sowhydoyoukeepobsessingoverme?