Lydia

Camilla gasped, her cheeks flushing crimson, whether from fury or embarrassment, I couldn’t tell. “How dare you!” she hissed, standing from her chair so fast it nearly toppled over.

I lifted a hand before she could storm out. “Sit down, darling. No one’s storming anywhere until I’m done.” My tone was sharp, commanding. They both froze…oh, the beauty of authority.

Stephano leaned back, arms crossed over his chest, looking smug even though I knew he was one step away from unraveling. “She doesn’t want this either, so can we wrap it up and let her leave?”

Camilla glared at him. “As if I’d tie myself to a man who...