Felicity found Adrian in his estate office, bent over ledgers with his steward, Mr. Henderson. The afternoon light streaming through the windows caught the dark highlights in his hair, and for a moment she was struck by how handsome he looked when he was absorbed in his work—sleeves rolled up, a slight crease between his brows as he concentrated on the harvest figures."My lord," she said breathlessly, having run most of the way from the manor. "I need to speak with you. Urgently."Adrian looked up at the sound of her voice, and his expression immediately shifted from mild curiosity to sharp concern as he took in her flushed cheeks and agitated state."Henderson, we'll continue this tomorrow," he said, rising from his chair with fluid grace. The steward nodded and gathered his papers, leaving them alone in the oak-paneled office.The moment the door closed behind Henderson, Adrian was at Felicity's side, his hands gently gripping her shoulders. "What's happened? You look like you've seen a ghost."The warmth of his touch and the genuine worry in his gray eyes made something flutter in Felicity's chest. When had she started finding comfort in his presence? When had the sight of him begun to make her feel safe instead of trapped?"Victoria," she said, trying to catch her breath. "She's set a trap, Adrian. She's brought allies—Mr. Whitworth and Dr. Whitmore. They know about your deception."Adrian's hands tightened almost imperceptibly on her shoulders, but his expression remained calm. "What exactly do they know?""Everything. That you're not injured, not scarred. They're threatening to expose you unless..." She swallowed hard, the words difficult to speak. "Unless I agree to an annulment so you can marry Victoria."For a moment, Adrian was perfectly still. Then, to Felicity's complete surprise, he began to laugh—a low, rich sound that sent warmth spreading through her chest."They think," he said, his eyes dancing with amusement, "that they can blackmail me with the truth about my own deception?""It's not funny, Adrian! They have evidence, medical records. They could ruin you!""My dear wife," Adrian said softly, his hands sliding from her shoulders to cup her face with infinite gentleness, "they can't ruin me with information I'm perfectly prepared to reveal myself."Felicity stared up at him, confused. "What do you mean?""I mean," Adrian said, his thumbs tracing the line of her cheekbones in a caress that made her breath catch, "that my reasons for maintaining this charade have... evolved considerably since our marriage.""I don't understand."Adrian's smile was tender in a way she had never seen before. "When I began this deception, it was about revenge. About staying invisible while I orchestrated the downfall of your family. But now..." He paused, his gray eyes searching her face. "Now I find myself with something far more valuable than revenge.""What?" she whispered."You," he said simply. "A wife who sees through my deceptions but chooses to protect me anyway. A woman who faces down aristocratic predators with more grace and dignity than they could ever possess. A partner who makes me want to be the man she believes I am."Felicity's heart hammered against her ribs. "Adrian...""I love you, Felicity," he said, the words falling between them like a benediction. "I think I've been falling in love with you since that first morning when you looked at me without fear, only curiosity. And if revealing the truth about my supposed injuries is the price for keeping you as my wife, then it's a price I'm more than willing to pay."The world seemed to tilt on its axis. "You love me?""Desperately," Adrian murmured, leaning closer until his forehead touched hers. "Completely. Beyond all reason or logic."Felicity felt tears prick at her eyes, but they were tears of joy rather than sorrow. "I thought... I thought I was just part of your revenge.""You were, initially. But somewhere along the way, you became everything." His hands framed her face more securely, his thumbs brushing away the moisture that had begun to spill down her cheeks. "The question is, can you love a man who began by deceiving everyone around him? Can you love someone whose first instinct was to use you rather than cherish you?"The vulnerability in his voice, the genuine fear that she might reject him, made her heart ache with tenderness. This was not the cold, calculating man who had married her for revenge. This was Adrian—her Adrian—laying his heart bare before her."I already do," she whispered. "I think I started falling in love with you the moment you defended me against Victoria. Maybe even before that, when you showed me kindness I'd never expected to receive."The relief that flooded Adrian's features was beautiful to see. "Thank God," he breathed. "Because I have a proposition for you, my darling wife.""What sort of proposition?"Adrian's smile turned wicked, and Felicity caught a glimpse of the dangerous man who had orchestrated such an elaborate revenge. "How would you feel about helping me turn Victoria's little scheme against her?""What do you have in mind?""Something that will require us to work together as true partners. Something that will shock London society to its core and ensure that Victoria and her allies never threaten us again."Felicity felt an answering smile tug at her lips. "I'm listening."Adrian leaned closer, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered his plan. The warmth of his breath against her skin sent shivers of awareness through her entire body, and she found herself leaning into his touch despite the seriousness of their situation."That's either brilliant or completely mad," she said when he finished explaining."Probably both," Adrian agreed. "But it will work. The question is, are you brave enough to help me pull it off?"Felicity looked up into his gray eyes, seeing love and respect and partnership reflected there. Six months ago, she had been scrubbing floors and accepting cruelty as her daily lot. Now she stood in the arms of a man who loved her, preparing to outwit aristocratic schemers who thought they could manipulate her because of her humble origins."I'm brave enough," she said firmly. "But I have one condition.""Name it.""After tonight, no more deceptions between us. No more lies, no more secrets. If we're going to be partners in truth, then I want the truth. All of it."Adrian's smile was radiant. "Agreed. Though I should warn you, the complete truth includes several confessions that might shock you.""Such as?""Such as the fact that I've been wanting to kiss you properly for weeks now, but I was afraid you'd think it was just another manipulation."Heat flooded Felicity's cheeks. "And now?""Now I'm hoping," Adrian said, his voice dropping to a husky whisper, "that my wife might welcome her husband's attentions."Instead of answering with words, Felicity rose on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. The kiss was gentle at first, tentative, but when Adrian responded with a soft groan of pleasure, pulling her closer against his chest, it deepened into something that made her head spin.When they finally broke apart, both breathing hard, Adrian rested his forehead against hers."I love you, Lady Blackwood," he murmured."And I love you, Lord Blackwood," she replied, marveling at how natural the words felt on her tongue."Good," Adrian said, his smile turning predatory. "Because we're going to need that love to carry us through what happens next. Victoria and her friends are about to discover what it means to cross a united front."As they prepared to return to the manor and face their enemies together, Felicity couldn't help but think that her fairy tale had taken an unexpected turn. She might not have married her prince under the best circumstances, but she had found her happily ever after anyway.Now she just had to help him defend it.
