I honestly wonder what kind of story some of you guys wanted. A soft, quiet, slow romance about a woman recovering from abuse? But you have to remember that she wasn't just recovering from abuse, she was a death row inmate, vilified and framed for a crime she didn't commit, in a country where women are treated like second class citizens. Do you want her to just ignore all that and find her own happiness?
Plus, the duke is not her lover, friend, or family. It's natural that he took her in for his own goals. If she was truly just a damaged damsel, he would've left her alone, but she showed that she had the guts, intelligence, and willingness to fight and help him with his plans. She's not being forced, she does have a choice.