Chapter 124

Was she deliberately excluded? Were mother and daughter at odds with one another?

"Does that mean you were not aware?" Margaret asked slyly.

She had stumbled upon a particularly delicious morsel, and she intended to savor every last bit of it. More than that, she intended to torment Vivienne with it for as long as she could. She was like a predator circling its prey, waiting patiently for the perfect moment to strike.

Vivienne caught the glint in her eyes and immediately straightened her shoulders.

"I don’t know what you mean," she replied haughtily.

Margaret’s smile became feline, tasting the blood in the water before going in for the killing blow. "Your daughter is set to marry Draven Montague."

"No. That’s ridiculous. Idle gossip, that’s all it is. It cannot be true. I would have known."

Margaret smirked mockingly. "Oh, would you?"

"Yes." Vivienne’s voice hardened. "I would have known if something of this magnitude had happened."

Margaret hummed softly, as though considering the argument.

"My dear, why would I invent something like this? What could I possibly stand to gain from it?" she asked. "Vivienne Ashford, surely you cannot expect me to believe that you were completely oblivious. Though perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised. You have practically withdrawn from society altogether these days. You are nearly a recluse, barely appearing at social gatherings unless your attendance is absolutely unavoidable. You spend most of your time right here. If I did not keep tabs on you and continue visiting, you would be entirely cut off from the rest of the world."

She paused deliberately, enjoying the suspense.

"And besides, I have my ways. I was at Lady Chandler’s ball. I saw Cassandra there with His Grace, and they seemed rather friendly. Too friendly, some would say. They even danced three times."

One dance meant very little. A second might suggest interest. But three dances with the same gentleman, particularly when both parties had ample opportunity to choose other partners, could hardly be dismissed as meaningless.

"And before you ask," Margaret continued, "I did not immediately assume anything. I thought perhaps they had simply enjoyed one another’s company. I was willing to be charitable."

Her smile suggested that Margaret had never possessed such a virtue.

"But then I heard that the Duke had begun calling upon Cassandra at the palace. Then there were the promenades at Kingswood Park. One occurrence after another, all of them painting a rather clear picture. They weren’t even trying to be discreet." Each word seemed to drive the blade a little deeper. "A proposal followed shortly afterward, to nobody’s surprise."

"How romantic." Margaret sighed wistfully. "Love truly does exist, it seems."

Vivienne could barely hear her anymore. Heat had crept into her cheeks, stinging from humiliation.

What made it worse was the realization that Margaret, who had no familial claim upon Cassandra whatsoever, knew more about her daughter’s life than Vivienne did.

Margaret gave her another knowing look. "Though I must admit, I am still astonished that you knew none of it."

Vivienne held her gaze for a moment before speaking. "And I would prefer that this remained between us."

The amusement vanished from Margaret’s face. "Between us?"

"Yes. It cannot be too difficult for you."

Margaret’s mouth tightened.

Not because Vivienne had insulted her. The request offended her for an entirely different reason. She hated being denied the opportunity to spread such an exceptionally valuable piece of gossip.

"Please," Vivienne added, her voice quieter now, though no less firm. "For the sake of our friendship, do not let this information leave this house."

Margaret scowled indignantly. It was almost comical how personally she took the request.

"Very well. I shall protect your secret." It was painful for her to make such a promise. Her smile returned, thin and sharp."And I shall make certain no one ever discovers what a miserable failure you have been as a mother."

It was a pointed jab but there was no point taking offense. This was how they spoke to one another.

Margaret landed her blow but Vivienne had endured much worse from her. Such was the way of friends who secretly despised each other.

After a brief silence, Margaret rose to her feet, smoothing her skirts.

She made her farewells before taking her leave.

Vivienne watched her go. Only when the door closed behind Margaret did the pleasant mask fall away.

Her thoughts raced.

Cassandra.

Engaged to the Duke.

Vivienne rose abruptly and stormed out of the drawing room. There was one thing she hated above all else: being made to look like a fool. Margaret had managed to do precisely that only moments ago, and Vivienne was still smarting from the humiliation.

Margaret might have won this round, but Vivienne had no intention of letting her keep the upper hand. It would not take much to bring her down from that lofty perch.

"You there! Come over here." She barked at a passing maid.

Vivienne’s moods were notoriously volatile, and her temper was something the servants had learned to fear. They were often the unfortunate targets of her anger whenever she was displeased, forcing them to tread carefully around her for fear of provoking her wrath.

Yet even as the maid hurried obediently toward her, it did little to calm the storm in Vivienne’s eyes.

"Where is my husband?" Vivienne demanded.

"I believe Lord Ashford is somewhere on the estate, my lady." The maid answered, stumbling slightly over her words.

"Go and find him."

The maid bowed deeply. "Yes, my lady."

It took only a few minutes for Vivienne to learn that Nathaniel was outside speaking with several men near one of the estate’s outbuildings.

She did not wait for him to finish whatever business had occupied him. Taking up her parasol, she ordered her maid to accompany her before sweeping through the doors and across the grounds.

The afternoon sun beat down brightly, and gravel crunched beneath her shoes as she strode toward her husband. Her maid struggled to keep pace, but Vivienne barely noticed. Her anger propelled her forward.

Nathaniel came into view ahead.

He stood with two men, speaking in the relaxed manner of a man entirely unaware that his afternoon was about to be disrupted.

Vivienne quickened her pace.

It was not long before Nathaniel noticed her approaching. One glance at his wife’s expression was enough to tell him that whatever she intended to say was not meant for the ears of his companions.

He dismissed the two men with a brief flick of his hand.

They bowed respectfully before taking their leave.

Vivienne reached him moments later.

"Why did you not tell me that Cassandra is engaged to the Duke of Norham?"

Nathaniel stared at her as though he suspected she had taken leave of her senses.