Novels by Popcorn

The grand chandelier in the Duke of Marlborough’s ballroom glittered like a thousand stars, casting golden light across the swirling dancers and elegantly dressed guests. The air was thick with the scent of perfume, expensive wines, and the whispers of scandal waiting to unfold.Victoria Windsor stood near the grand staircase, her emerald silk gown clinging to her curves like temptation itself. She knew eyes were on her—some filled with admiration, others with suspicion. But it was the Duke’s gaze that burned the hottest against her skin.“You seem deep in thought, my dear Duchess,” a smooth, velvety voice interrupted.Victoria turned to find Lady Evelyn Ashford standing beside her, a vision of elegance and power. Dressed in midnight blue, the widow exuded an effortless confidence that set her apart from the others.“I was merely admiring the spectacle of the evening,” Victoria responded smoothly, offering a practiced smile.Evelyn’s eyes gleamed with something unreadable. “Ah, but ar

The sun rose over the estate, casting a deceivingly warm glow over Victoria’s gilded prison. The drawing-room curtains fluttered in the breeze, but the air inside remained suffocating, thick with the weight of unspoken threats.Victoria sat still, spine stiff as Lady Fawnshawe’s knowing smirk played at the edges of her lips.“So quiet, dear,” Lady Fawnshawe murmured, tapping her teacup with a delicate finger. “One would think you were hiding something.”Victoria’s fingers twitched around her own cup. “I assure you, my lady, I have nothing to hide.”Lady Fawnshawe exhaled a quiet chuckle. “That, my dear, is a lie.”A chill crawled up Victoria’s spine.Lady Fawnshawe tilted her head, eyes sharp with amusement. “Do not look so pale, child. If I intended to tell your husband what I saw, I would have done so already.”Victoria’s heartbeat pounded in her ears. “Then why haven’t you?”The older woman leaned in. “Because I find this game far too interesting.”Victoria swallowed hard.Lady Faw

The air in the chamber turned suffocating as the heavy footfalls of Lord Thomas echoed closer. Victoria’s pulse pounded in her ears, her breath tight in her chest.James stood rigid, his darkened eyes locked on her, silently demanding an answer. The Duke of Marlborough, ever composed, barely shifted, though the amusement in his gaze sharpened.“Victoria?” Lord Thomas’s voice rang out again, this time closer—too close.James reached for her hand. “Say the word, Victoria.” His voice was raw, desperate. “Do you want me to leave?”Her fingers twitched against his.The Duke’s lips brushed her ear, his whisper as dangerous as silk. “Be careful, darling. You can only have one of us. Choose wisely.”The heat of his breath sent a shiver down her spine, but it was nothing compared to the fire in James’s eyes.Choose.The weight of it crushed her.The door handle twisted.Victoria reacted on instinct. In one swift motion, she shoved James backward, toward the open balcony. “Go!” she hissed.His

The carriage ride home was suffocating. The tension between Victoria and Lord Thomas was a thick, heavy thing, pressing against her chest like a vice. He hadn't spoken a word since they left the ball, but his grip on his cane was so tight that his knuckles had turned white.Victoria kept her gaze forward, willing herself to remain composed, but she could feel his eyes burning into her profile. When the carriage finally pulled up to the estate, Thomas stepped out first, offering no hand to assist her down.As soon as the doors shut behind them, he spoke."You humiliated me tonight," Thomas said, his voice deadly calm.Victoria removed her gloves slowly, not looking at him. "I don’t know what you mean, my lord."His hand snapped out, gripping her wrist so tightly that she gasped. "Do not play games with me, Victoria. I saw you with him."She jerked her hand free, rubbing her wrist as she stepped back. "You saw a conversation. Nothing more.""A conversation?" He let out a bitter laugh. "

The ballroom was still alive with murmurs and stolen glances as Lady Victoria stepped onto the terrace, her pulse hammering beneath her corset. The cool night air did nothing to soothe the fire raging within her. She could still feel the Duke of Marlborough’s touch lingering on her skin, his voice curling around her like silk.Behind her, the heavy drapes shifted, and a shadow emerged.“You left rather abruptly, Your Grace,” the Duke’s voice drawled, thick with amusement.Victoria spun to face him, her mask of composure slipping into place. “Is that a complaint, Your Grace?”His lips curved into a slow, knowing smile. “An observation.”She turned her gaze toward the moonlit gardens. “I found the air inside… stifling.”The Duke stepped closer, the scent of expensive cologne and something distinctly male enveloping her senses. “Or perhaps,” he murmured, “you found our conversation a little too stimulating?”Her breath hitched, but she refused to let him see the effect he had on her. “Yo

The silence in the room was deafening, broken only by the shallow, uneven breathing of its occupants. Victoria stood frozen in place, her gaze darting between Thomas's livid face and James, whose fists clenched at his sides. The atmosphere was thick with tension, a storm waiting to break. "Explain yourself, Victoria," Thomas demanded, his voice low but trembling with fury. "I'll give you one chance. What is the meaning of this?" "Thomas, it's not what it looks like," she started, her voice weak, unsure. "Then what *is* it?" he snapped, stepping closer, his towering frame casting a long shadow over her. "I walk in to find my wife alone in her chambers with a *servant*, and you expect me to believe it's innocent?" James took a step forward, his expression defiant. "Your Grace, with all due respect, this isn't-" "Do not speak!" Thomas barked, cutting him off. His glare was icy, and his hand twitched at his side, as if restraining himself from further action. "Thomas, please," Victo