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His gloved fingers flexed as he adjusted them carefully.

“I will not allow this scandal to tarnish my name. We must act quickly to restore Fiona’s honor and repair the damage done to both our families.” His words hung heavy in the air.

Yvette crossed her arms tightly against her chest, her wary eyes fixed on him. Something about the duke’s commanding presence unsettled her—perhaps it was his calm confidence, or the intensity in his gaze as he turned it toward her.

She blinked, trying to decipher what was swirling in his mind.

However, at that moment, his mesmerizing eyes fell on her, and with startling clarity, he spoke. “Ye must marry me.”

Yvette froze. The quiet field seemed to grow even more silent as his declaration registered.

Edward’s reaction was immediate, his protective instincts flaring as he stepped between his sister and the duke.

“What? No. No, Killian, surely there must be another way?” Edward protested, his expression one of utter shock, as though the mere suggestion was incomprehensible.

The duke opened his mouth to reply, but Yvette cut him off sharply.

“I will not be used as a pawn in whatever this is,” she declared, stepping out from behind her brother to confront the duke directly.

Yvette’s thoughts churned. This sort of maneuvering was precisely why she had avoided society for so long.

However, the duke was not one to be easily deterred. His dark brow arched as he regarded her.

“Do ye think I wish for this?” he asked, his thick accent carrying a note of annoyance.

The weight of his words, coupled with the sharpness of his gaze, silenced both brother and sister. He sighed, running his fingers through his dark hair in a display of exasperation.

“It is the only way. We must show our two families united together against this scandal. Thetonwould never expected me to wed ye if yer brother is truly guilty of ruining my sister. Once we marry, I shall do everything within my power to uncover the root of this false rumor. But with you as my wife, thetonwill be more inclined to see that it was all false.”

Yvette hesitated, still processing the proposal.

“This is not about us, my lady,” he continued, his voice lower now but no less resolute. “It is about our siblings. About our families.” He paused for a moment, then added with a piercing look, “do ye not wish for yer nephew to have a future in society?”

The mention of her dear, sweet nephew struck a nerve. Yvette felt her resolve wavering, though she refused to let it show.

She had always been fond of her brother’s young son, exchanging letters with him during her years at the nunnery. The thought of him growing up ostracized, bearing the weight of a scandal not of his making, was unbearable.

She let out a soft, defeated sigh, and Edward, noticing her hesitation, reached out to take her hand. “Yvette,” he murmured, his voice laden with guilt and regret.

“Yer nephew deserves a chance, and my sister deserves redemption. If at all what your brother claims as the truth is indeed the truth. This union could save them both.”

Yvette looked between the two men—her brother, who had dragged her into this mess, and the duke, whose unyielding determination left her feeling cornered.

Her mind raced, weighing her options, but every path seemed to lead to the same conclusion. She could not marry the duke. She would not marry the duke.

Edward’s grip on Yvette’s hand tightened, silently imploring her. She pulled away, turning slightly to face him.

“And you,” she said bitterly. “What of your part in this? You expect me to sacrifice my life to fix a mess you created?”

“Yvette, I—” Edward began, but he had no defense, and his shoulders sagged under the weight of his guilt.

The duke stepped forward, his imposing presence filling the space between them.

“This is not a punishment,” he said firmly, addressing Yvette directly. “It is a solution.”

“A solution,” she repeated, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “One that benefits you most of all, does it not?”

The duke’s jaw tightened, but he did not rise to the bait. Instead, he met her gaze steadily.