She Was Dared to Kiss a Masked Stranger at the Royal Ball… Then the Most Feared Duke Claimed Her

Chapter 2

The letter arrived two mornings later, not by post, but by uniformed guard. The scarlet and black livery of the North stood out like spilled blood against the pale stone of Sienna’s building. Every neighbor witnessed it. Every curtain twitched.

“Miss Sienna Crawford,” the guard announced, his voice carrying across the square. “You are required at Ravenshire Estate tomorrow at noon. A carriage will collect you.”

Required. Not invited.

He bowed stiffly and left her standing in the doorway with heavy parchment pressed into trembling hands. The seal bore the Duke’s crest — a silver raven upon a field of midnight. Sienna closed the door slowly, her stomach twisting into knots she could not untangle. This was retribution. It had to be. One did not publicly kiss the most feared duke in England and escape consequence.