Chapter 7: You are still my wife
"We should be able to sell this," Belle remarked as she and Mia carefully sorted through her collection of jewelry. They had spent hours packing items of value that could fetch a fair sum and had managed to gather quite a few.
"Thank goodness I did not refuse his gifts," Belle added with a wide smile, envisioning the amount of money the trinkets would bring. She had never cared much for extravagant things, but out of politeness, or perhaps reluctance to upset the Duke, she had always accepted them. Her initial intention had been to pass them on to those in need.
Who would have thought that *she* would one day be the one in need?
"My lady, shall we sell some of your gowns as well?" Mia suggested, her eyes gleaming greedily as they flicked toward Belle's wardrobe. She was already calculating the profit they might make from such fine garments.
"No, we cannot," Belle replied firmly, shaking her head. "The gowns were purchased under the Duke's name, I have no claim to them. However, the shoes...those are mine, and they are valuable enough to sell." She revealed.
Mia's gaze lingered on the wardrobe a moment longer, but she didn't press the matter. Belle, meanwhile, forced herself to look away from the gowns, her heart heavy. The truth was, she could never part with them, not because of their claim, but because of the promise she had made to Quinn long ago.
Before their relationship soured, Quinn had lavished her with gifts and had made her swear never to let another wear the gowns he had chosen for her. Though her feelings for him had grown bitter, her conscience would not allow her to break that vow. Better to return them than to sell them, she thought.
Mia opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by the sudden and violent flinging open of the door. The noise startled both women into a scream, and Mia clutched her chest as her heart raced.
"My lady, are you well?" Mia asked once the commotion had settled, hurrying to stand beside Belle.