Carter frowned when he heard the words. “Speaking of motive…”

His eyes raised, looking ahead. He seemed about to start speaking, but he stopped himself, his gaze then returned to Madeline's face.

“By now, I assume my status should be clear to you?”

Madeline calmly met Carter's eyes, looking straight into his black pupils. “Well, noble viscount, do you intend to use your identity to suppress us husband and wife?”

Carter could hear the irony in Madeline’s words, but he did not care for it. Ins