My hands were shaking as I confronted Alistair in the drawing room. The betrayal stung sharp and hot in my chest, making it difficult to breathe. I had trusted him completely.
"How could you?" My voice was low but unmistakably hurt. "After everything we've been through, how could you tell her about the mines?"
Alistair's normally composed face crumpled with remorse. He looked older suddenly, the lines around his eyes more pronounced as he bowed his head.
"My Lady—Duchess, I deeply regret my carelessness. It was never my intention to—"
"Intentions don't matter when the damage is done," I cut in, wrapping my arms protectively around myself. The pregnancy had made me more emotional, but this wasn't just hormones. This was genuine hurt. "You know what kind of woman Dowager Duchess Annelise is. You've seen how she manipulates people."
