"Then the court will drag your house into the mud," she said. "Choose."
The room felt smaller under the weight of that choice.
The Duke took one hard breath, then another.
When he finally spoke, his voice was rough.
"If I agree to this, it does not mean I will force Kraven."
The Queen Mother raised a brow. "Explain."
"I will not stand in your way," the Duke said, each word clearly costing him. "I will not expose what you are doing, and I will not use my authority as his father to stop you from approaching him. But you will have to make Kraven agree yourself. I will not order my son into your bed."
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "So you accept the demand, but place the difficulty on me."
"I accept enough to keep you from burning this house down tonight," the Duke answered. "That is all. If Kraven refuses you, that is his refusal. Not mine."
For a moment the Queen Mother studied him in silence. Then the shrewd smile from before returned.
