Chapter 1

Marie sighed heavily as she sipped on her glass of champagne. Even hiding in the corner didn't seem to provide her with enough coverage to keep herself from the scrutiny of the ton.

Ladies whispered behind their fans and glared at her while the men chose to avoid her as if she carried the plague. All eyes seemed to be on her as the hosts of the ball were making their way toward her.

The ball was in full swing, and all the important lords and ladies of the ton had come to open the season with a bang. Everyone wore their finest dresses and jewels, adding to the already splendorous look of the stately manor. The crystal chandelier overhead had been with hundreds of candles that illuminated the marble flooring and pillars.

It had been five years since Marie had set Emma Crawford up with the Duke of St. Clair; they had been the first successful match that had set her up for all the others that followed.

"Miss Webster! I can't tell you how delighted we are that you came. It's an honor to have you here." The Duchess of St. Clair gushed as she came forward and kissed her cheeks; her plump face was filled with color that matched the rose-pink dress she had chosen for their ball. Even her gold spectacles with the carvings of ducks on the side had been polished for the occasion.

"It is you that I must thank for inviting me, Your Grace. It is wonderful to see just how far the two of you have come." Marie shook off the glares from the other ladies and looked from Emma Galloway to her husband. The Duke was tall with jet-black hair and deep green eyes. He was just as stoic as ever with the added softness of the glances that were reserved solely for his wife.

"We would not have been here without your expertise, Miss Webster. For that, I thank you. Only you could have drawn Duchess St. Clair away from her books long enough to notice me." He bowed stiffly and smiled at her, still seeming to harbor some resentment from the past yet attempting a small joke.

Marie stifled a giggle that threatened to escape her throat. The Duke had been adamant about never marrying anyone, much like other members of the ton…

Nudging her husband gently with her elbow, the Duchess of St. Clair smiled. "It wasn't just me who was too shy; you were stubborn," she teased him gently with an adoring look in her eyes.

The Duke smiled down at her face with equal measures of adoration.

"We have to greet the other guests, but I am honestly so delighted to see you here," Emma repeated her sentiments and squeezed Marie's hands before guiding her husband away.

As Marie watched them go, Emma's golden hair swung behind her plump figure in an intricate braid. They had been exactly what the other person had needed, and Marie was glad that Nicholas had finally caved in the end. They made a great couple, bringing out the best in one another.

"Why is she even here?" A whisper floated to her ears as Marie looked up to see that a group of women were still adamantly focused on her.

The nasty sneers she was receiving inflamed her anger; the personal invitation she had received gave her just as much right as anyone else to attend the ball. She had even gone as far as having a brand-new emerald dress made for the occasion.

"Don't you know that she set the Duke up with his wife? They were her first successful match." One of the women with light brown hair smirked at her from behind her fan, knowing full well that Marie could hear every word they were saying.

"I don't know how the Duke and duchess show their faces after using her services, but even so, I hardly see why she received a pity invite. Her family came from very little money and has no social standing whatsoever." A tall blonde with a smug smile on her nasty face pulled up her nose and laughed, looking Marie up and down as if she had crawled out of a piece of cheese.

Bristling with anger, Marie handed her empty champagne flute to a passing footman and turned her back, making her way toward a balcony that seemed to be secluded. She needed some fresh air to clear her mind before she lost it entirely and gave these painted peacocks a piece of her mind.

The cool air kissed her skin with a welcome embrace as she stepped onto the much quieter terrace. The noise from inside the ballroom drifted away on the winds as she heaved a sigh and chose a more secluded corner. She had wanted to be part of the ton for as long as she could recall. All of the gowns, romance, and allure of the lifestyle felt more enchanting to her than any fairytale. Yet she wasn't accepted. No matter how wealthy she became, she was always the underdog, born into a life of poverty and unfortunate circumstances.

Bile rose in her chest as her anger grew, causing her to clench her fists on the cool stone of balcony railings.

None of it is ever fair.

"You seem a little upset." The unsteady male voice sent a shiver down her spine as she turned to see James McFunnugh standing behind her with a sickening grin. His eyes were red around the dull brown irises, signaling the fact that he'd had too much to drink.

"I was just catching my breath." She cleared her throat and glanced at the open doors, hoping that nobody would spot them alone. Even for a woman like her, being caught alone with a man would only fuel the rumors of her tarnished character.

"That seems awfully lonely. Are you having a spot of trouble with the ladies? I heard them whispering about you, you know. Unfair cows the lot of them." He sauntered toward her, placing his empty glass on the stone railing.

Marie had to act quickly and stop it from falling when he placed it a little too close to the edge.

"You shouldn't pay any attention to them. In fact, I think you should set your mind on more important matters…" The way he drew out the last few words made her shiver with regret.

What was he doing at the ball in any case? He wasn't a lord or anyone titled, yet she supposed that his business connections made him eligible for an invitation. The hungry way he licked his dry lips before allowing his gaze to sweep over her figure made her feel uncomfortable in his presence.

"You know, I was thinking that you and I should spend more time together. I feel like you have been avoiding me of late—every time I come to the shop, you send that little piece of a thing out to pay the rent. You aren't trying to hide from me, are you?" He cocked up an eyebrow and leaned against the railing for support.

"Of course, I haven't been avoiding you. You know how busy I am. I have to make the money that pays the rent otherwise I wouldn't be able to pay you," she told a half-truth and felt her stomach coiling when he continued to undress her with his eyes.

James narrowed his eyes at her when she glanced at the open doors and shifted in that direction. His thick brown hair was slicked back to an almost oily wave. He was a tall man of decent build that would have been considered handsome by most. "You think you are better than me, don't you? Uppity little Miss Webster with all her noble connections. You may have noticed that you weren't the only one who received an invitation this evening."

The sudden change in his demeanor had her looking for an escape. "I wasn't lying, nor was I implying anything, James. We are both privileged to be here this evening, and I am glad that you are having a good time." She made a move toward the door but quickly found her path being blocked by his lanky frame.

"You silly little cow. I ought to raise your rent, trying to get away from me as if I were a leper. You wouldn't be where you are today in that shop if I hadn't given it to you at such a cheap price. As a matter of fact, I think I ought to double your rent and make up for lost profits over the years." His thin lips parted in a grin, revealing his yellowing, broken teeth.

Her eyes widened in fear as she felt her heart skipping a beat. "You can't do that to me. You know my grandmother and I both rely on the money from my services. She's old. She won't have a place to live anymore, and she needs her medicine."

"You should have thought of that before you were so rude, but I think I can come up with another arraignment that might be agreeable to both of us." His grin only broadened as he gripped her wrist with surprising speed and backed her against the balcony wall.

The sickening smell of drink on his breath made her wince as he tightened his grip.

"You can marry me then all of this will go away. I will look after you and your precious little grandmamma. You won't have to pay a single cent if you accept my offer and become my wife." His lips came dangerously close to her ear as she shut her eyes and pulled away, readying herself to fight back.

What kind of man would place a woman in such an impossible position? If she refused to marry him, then she would place her grandmother's well-being in jeopardy as well as her own. Yet she couldn't stomach the thought of being his wife. His hands would be over her all the time, and he would more than likely force her to stay at home and hand over all the wealth that she'd acquired over the past five years.

Her mind ran through all the impossible scenarios that would more than likely come true. Even with her savings, having to pay double the rent would ruin her within the first month or two.

"Please, James, let's talk about this in the morning. You've had enough to drink." She winced again when his lips almost brushed the tip of her ear.

The drink was beginning to take hold of him as he swayed from side to side.

"Just say yes, and everything will be well." He sniggered at her and twisted her arm again until the flesh turned red.

"Get off of me!" she hissed under her breath and attempted to push him away.

James's eyes widened as she stared at him in shock. A force caused him to stumble backward as he reached for the stone railing.

Her breath caught in her chest as her eyes fell on her savior.

Dominic Harding had showed up just in time to come to her aid. He held her gaze for a moment, his eyes falling on the pink finger indentations on her wrists before he scowled angrily and turned to the other man.

"Leave now before you regret your existence." He balled his fists at his sides and cracked his neck as he moved it from side to side.

James seemed to panic, looking around frantically as he cowered against the railing. "Who are you?" His voice was shakier now as he looked the Duke over who was at least a head taller than him and ten times more muscular.

"I will be your worst nightmare if you ever dare to touch her like that again." His voice was low, barely above a whisper as he threatened the man.

Marie felt her heart racing as she stared at Dominic's back. Out of all the men in London who could have come to her aid, she would never have thought the Duke of Wiltshire would be the one.

James's complexion paled considerably as he eyed the Duke. There was no question of who would win a fight between the two of them. He hurriedly scrambled away from the railings and stumbled past Dominic but not before shooting Marie a threatening look of his own.

A shiver ran over her body that caused her to wrap her arms around her waist.

What if he kicks me out?