The carriage jolted over the uneven stones of the Duke of Ashworth’s sprawling estate. Inside, clutched her lace shawl tighter, pulling it higher to obscure the jagged line of the scar that traced from her temple to her jaw. In London, she was a "cautionary tale," a debutante whose beauty was stolen by a fire. To the Duke of Ashworth , however, she was a business arrangement—or so she thought.
Their relationship shifts during a late-night encounter in the manor’s vast library. As they speak of their shared isolation, the physical scar on Elara’s face becomes a symbol of her rather than a mark of shame. Arthur confesses that he didn't marry her for a dowry or out of duty, but because he saw a kindred spirit —someone who had survived the "fire" of society and come out stronger. A New Chapter The Duke’s Scarred Bride by Harriet Caves
As the weeks of their unfolded, the story reveals that Elara isn’t the only one carrying marks of a difficult past. Arthur’s "coldness" is a shield for his own emotional scars , born from a family legacy of betrayal and the heavy weight of his title. The carriage jolted over the uneven stones of