Yes, there were women who would gladly have married him for the title. Chaste, pure women who would sire heirs in exchange for a position in society. But he had believed that with Elise he had a chance at happiness that had been denied his uncle. Happiness that his parents had but a fleeting taste of. He should have known better.
That type of love, that type of happiness, was so rare he was foolish to have hoped he could have a piece of it, even for a short period of time. No matter what she’d said about loving him. No matter that she’d led him to believe it possible.
A soft feminine voice, speaking clear and sure, pierced through the shield encasing his heart. I have never been anything but honest with you, Michael. The image, the expression on her face at the moment his accusation regi
