He led me away from the ballroom, down a side corridor, into a small antechamber. The door closed behind us with a decisive click.
Then he turned to face me.
"Why," he said, his voice dangerously quiet, "did you announce the annulment? I specifically said we would keep that information private for now."
I swallowed hard. "I'm sorry, Father. I wasn't thinking. Arabella was spreading rumors that I was cheating on the Duke, and I just reacted."
"You REACTED." He pressed his fingers to his temples. "Roxanne, do you understand what you've done? The nobles already don't trust you. They tolerate you only because you're my daughter. And now…..."
"I know," I whispered. "I'm sorry, father."
He sighed heavily, the anger draining from his expression, replaced by worry. "The court is divided. Half of them think you're a liar who framed Arabella. The other half is scandalized by the annulment. This is....."
"A disaster," I finished. "I know."
