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“Yes, I wasn’t speaking of forcing anything. Merely providing an incentive.”

“Incentive,” I repeat stupidly.

“Yes, you seem quite fond of spending money. So Vander and I had a talk. Upon your engagement to the man of your choosing, I will grant you a dowry of ten thousand necos. Per the Shadow Queen’s edict, this money is for your personal use, and your future husband will have no right to it. In addition, you will receive your monthly stipend as stipulated in my grandfather’s will. And if you marry well, I’m sure you can negotiate an additional stipend from your new husband. You will be wed and rich. I will be alone and happy. We both win.”

Ten thousand necos.I’ve never heard of such a large sum being exchanged in a marriage agreement. In fact, I thought the seven- thousand-necos brideprice my father received was exorbitant.

I’m stunned. I’m greedy for it. And yet—

“Why the hell do you want me gone so badly?” I say, personally affronted.

“Because you’re awful,” he says, as though it were obvious.

“Oh,I’mawful. What about you? Moody and broody. Arrogant and stupid. Poorly dressed and ill-mannered. Waving guns around and making enemies of all the staff. No one wants you here, and since there’s legitimate concerns over your real identity, you’d think you’d tread a lot more lightly.”

He steps forward, invading my personal space. “If you’re so concerned that I’m not who I say I am, then why don’t you take the matter to the constabulary? Or the king? Do something about it if you’re so sure you’ve got everything figured out.”

He’s got me there. I can’t go to the king, because my sister has his ear. I can’t go to the constabulary, because they’re not going to risk angering a man in such a position of power. They will always believe a duke over a duchess; that’s why I have to hire a private investigator. But this feral man has all my money!

I have no retort, for I’m fuming over the reminder of my cutoff stipend.

“Listen,” Eryx says, his voice taking on an uncharacteristically gentle tone. “I am not required to provide a dowry for you, because I’m not your father. I’m doing this as a kindness.”

I snort. “After you just said I’m awful and you want me gone? You’re doing this for yourself.”

“Fine.” His voice returns to normal. “I’m doing this for myself, but you can’t deny how it helps you as well. Look at it as me taking care of both our interests.”

“I have no interest in being married again.”

“Don’t judge marriage so quickly. You didn’t exactly get the cream of the crop last time, did you? This time, you’ll get to pick your partner. You can probably have whomever you want. I’ve seen the number of correspondences that come for you. I know you have options.”

“And those options will be taken away the second I marry. I will be beholden to my husband.”

“But you’ll be wealthy.”

“Is that what you’d choose? Bondage over freedom for the right price?”

He flicks his long hair out of his eyes. “Bondageis hardly the right word.”

“How about prostitution, then?”

“Excuse me?”

“That’s what I’d be trading. Sex for money.”

“That’s not—”

“Isn’t it?” I ask, cutting him off. “Men need heirs to pass on their titles. That’s why they take wives. Else they’d be content with mistresses forever. A wife is but an object, a vessel for his progeny.”

Eryx quiets for a moment. “I hadn’t thought of it that way.”

I’m absolutely shocked that he took a moment to even consider my words.

But then he says, “So find a manyoudesire. Flip the tables. Fall in love. Change the game.”

“Oh, just find a sexy man, is that it? What happens when he opens his mouth? Seriously, it’s like you haven’t met a man.”

“Need I remind you that you were paying for the company of a man? If you found one tolerable man, then surely you can do so again, this time with a nobleman who doesn’t need anything from you.”