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Eryx sighs. “Perhaps you are daft. I’m trying to give you an out,woman. You could start over. Find a happy marriage this time around, a true one with a man you could love. Isn’t that what every woman wants?”

Not me. I crave freedom. Marriage is the exact opposite of that. “I will not lie to obtain what you want. Besides, I hardly see how renouncing my claim as dowager duchess helps you or me.”

“You could return to your family. Live with them. Surely you want that? You would keep all your gifts from the duke and your allowance, and as I stated previously, I’m happy to double it.”

What he says might sound reasonable to anyone else. We clearly do not get along, and I gain more financially by taking Eryx’s offer.

But Iwon’t.

Because if I agree, I go back to my father an unwed, unsullied debutante back on the marriage market. Father can try to marry me off again. Alessandra may have changed the law where brideprices are concerned, but that doesn’t mean Father can’t threaten me with disinheritance if I don’t wed the next man of his choosing. I’d be back to being beholden to the men around me. I won’t do that again.

I worked damned hard to get myself wedded to the duke. I put up withhellto get my hands on that fortune, on the freedoms afforded to me as a dowager duchess. I will never give that up. And if I stay, if I remain the dowager, I’m only one person away from reclaiming all that should rightfully be mine.

Eryx needs to go, not me.

I will make sure of it.

“I’ll ask one more time,” Eryx says. “Think carefully about your answer. Was your marriage to the duke consummated?”

I take in his arrogant features and condescending tone. He fully expects me to play along. He thinks he’s about to take this all from me, and I’ll just go willingly. Because he’s a man. Because he’s big and intimidating and already threatened me once with a dagger and revolver.

What he doesn’t realize is that since letting the real Chrysantha out, Icannothide her away again. I will not play the fool again. I will not cater to the men around me again. I did my time, and now it’s time for me to shine.

Whether it takes days, months, or years, I will be rid of Eryx Demos, and I will have all that is rightfully mine.

I smooth the skirts of my dress, still standing tall. “Listen carefully, little man, for I will not say this again. Hadrian Demos and I consummated our marriage on our wedding night.”

Eryx’s eyes narrow, while his lips turn down into a scowl. “You said he was bedridden. He barely had any strength.”

“Shall I draw you a diagram of how we made it work? Is your imagination or your knowledge of intimate relations so lacking? Do you need me to explain how I climbed atop him? How I—”

Vander squeaks, and his hands cover his ears. “Your Grace, that is more than sufficient!”

Eryx’s face has gone blank. I have no way of knowing if he believes me or not, but that is of no matter. As he stated before, the duke is gone. No one can refute my words. They must be taken as fact on the matter.

“In that case,” Vander continues, “the duchess is to remain living at the Pholios Manor. She will take up residence in the duchess suite and resume her duties as lady of the house until such a time as His Grace marries.”

I’m watching Eryx’s face, so I see him grimace at the mention of his own marriage.

“Must she stay in the duchess suite?” Eryx asks. “Surely a room in the attic would be more than suitable?”

I put on a nasty smile. “If you don’t like it, I suggest you marry quickly,Your Grace.” I say the last words ironically, as though they’re an insult instead of an honorific.

“I amnotmarrying,” Eryx says. “And I will not have only a door separate us at night.”

“Scared an accident might befall you in your sleep?” I ask innocently.

“Hardly.”

But he won’t say anything more.

“In that case, I’ll resume residence in the master suite, and you can find a room more suitable to you in the attic,” I announce.

A dimple appears between Eryx’s eyes, and I realize he’s furious. “Is there nothing legally I can do to be rid of her?” he asks Vander.

“I’m afraid not, Your Grace,” Vander says. “Until such a time as either of you is married, things will remain as they are now.”

Eryx snatches on to that bit of hope. “Her marriage?”