Edgar’s expression darkened at Ashton’s playful jab, but Ashton simply smiled lightly, clearly relishing the discomfort. "From what you’ve said, Mr. Beaumont, you must be quite the romantic," he teased, his tone dripping with mockery.

The tea began to boil, releasing a rich, earthy fragrance into the room.

Ashton had done his research on Edgar Beaumont. For all his dignified reputation, the man’s past was a tangled mess. He had married three times, ...