Chapter 186

Merissa stared at her before erupting into a fit of laughter. The grin that followed was bright enough to banish the lingering disappointment from her face, and Cassandra leaned back with satisfaction. It was a small victory, but a welcome one.

"I had no idea you had an interest in matchmaking," Lorelei remarked.

"Neither did I." Cassandra replied. "Perhaps I have discovered a new calling."

"So, dearest sister-in-law, tell us what have you been up to lately." Lorelei sat at the edge of her seat, interest piqued.

Cassandra touched her chest, her smile widening. "Me? Well, if you must know, I am hoping to join the Ladies’ Coterie Club."

Lorelei wrinkled her nose. "Why would you want to join that? I hear half its members are aging, snobbish women. It cannot be particularly enjoyable to spend hours in their company."

"Not all of them are like that. My friend, Lady Georgina Harrington, is a member, and she has promised to recommend me for admission. The existing members will vote on the candidates, so I must wait and see whether I am accepted."

"I am still not convinced," Lorelei replied, though her tone was not unkind. "But if that is what you want, I hope you get in."

"Thank you." Cassandra turned towards Merissa, who now looked intrigued.

"But I agree with Lorelei," Merissa chimed in. "Why would you want to join such a club?"

"Because those women are influential. I know some may be snobbish, but sometimes, if we want something badly enough, we must learn to overlook the less pleasant parts to achieve it."

Lorelei regarded her curiously. "What do you hope to achieve by joining?"

"I want to make things right. It has been a long-standing wish of mine."

It wasn’t solely for her own personal gain. She also had to uphold her end of the bargain, and helping Draven improve the chances of his bill passing was part of fulfilling that obligation.

She offered no further explanation, and Lorelei, sensing that Cassandra had said as much as she intended, did not press her.

When she eventually rose to leave, Merissa was still discussing what dress she would wear to the ball.

"Rest well," Cassandra told her. "I want you to be walking comfortably again before long."

"I will do my best."

Cassandra bid Lorelei goodnight and left the room with a lighter heart. Merissa’s injury was minor, and the prospect of the ball had given her something pleasant to look forward to. The household had endured enough tension of late; a little ordinary happiness was welcome.

---

Days later, Nathaniel Ashford sat in the parlour of Magistrate Harland’s townhouse, a glass of port in his hand.

The room was furnished with understated luxury. Heavy curtains framed the windows, and polished wood gleamed in the lamplight. Harland sat opposite his guest, his own glass balanced in one hand but he was far less at ease.

"I must tell you," Harland began, "that your daughter is proving more troublesome than I anticipated."

Nathaniel raised his glass to his lips. "Is she?"

"She has presented evidence concerning the mining disaster and appears determined to pursue the matter until your mine is permanently shut down and labeled a safety hazard. She has already visited me repeatedly, and each time she returns with further questions. I have explained the difficulties involved in the case, yet she seems unwilling to accept that the matter cannot proceed on her preferred terms."

"Then perhaps you have not explained yourself clearly enough."

Harland’s face tightened. "I have delayed the proceedings as far as I reasonably can without inviting scrutiny. I have raised inconsistencies in the evidence and insisted upon further corroboration. I have made it clear that a case against a man of your standing cannot rest upon allegations alone."

"And yet she persists." Nathaniel was not pleased by this. He was scowling, even when the rest of him appeared relaxed.

"Yes. Which is precisely why I am concerned."

Nathaniel regarded him over the rim of his glass. His daughter had always been very determined, though he had once believed that her ambition could be directed towards pursuits that benefited the family.

Her marriage to Draven had changed her position considerably. Cassandra now held a title of her own, enjoyed access to more influential circles, and was married to a man whose status commanded attention.

Nathaniel had little doubt that she regarded those advantages as weapons she could use against him.

"So this explains her haste to marry the Duke," Nathaniel remarked thoughtfully. "She believes that becoming a duchess places her on equal footing with me."

He set his glass down after draining its contents. "And what have you done to prevent that?"

"I mean to keep her dangling until she grows weary of the pursuit and becomes too frustrated to continue." The magistrate explained. "If she comes to realise that every step forward will be thwarted by a dozen fresh difficulties, she may at last be persuaded that further efforts are a waste of her time."

"Then keep delaying it." It was a simple solution and Nathaniel’s tone said as much. "She may be determined now, but determination is rarely sufficient when a person finds every door closed against them. She has spent enough time in political circles to understand how these matters are managed. Surely she knows that challenging a man in my position is not a simple undertaking."

Harland was not reassured. He had seen Cassandra’s face during their last meeting, had heard the controlled anger in her words, and had recognised the resolve with which she challenged his excuses.

She wasn’t the type to back down easily. It would take a lot more to dissuade her.

"I would not rely too heavily on the hope that she will simply abandon the matter," the magistrate warned. "She does not seem inclined to surrender. If she continues pressing for an explanation, I may find it increasingly difficult to justify the delays."

"Then you must be more careful in how you handle her."

"I have been careful. But I believe you should consider doing something about your daughter before this gets out of hand."

Nathaniel reached for the decanter once more and poured himself another glass.

Harland continued, choosing his words with caution. "She has the means to attract attention to the case. Her marriage has given her greater influence. If she succeeds, you won’t be the only one in trouble. My conduct will be examined as well."

"Then we must ensure that she has no audience willing to listen." Nathaniel stated darkly.

Harland studied him. "How do you propose to accomplish that?"

"Discredit her before she has the chance to open her mouth and ruin everything for us. Do it until it is her word against mine." Nathaniel drained his glass before continuing. "See this through for me, and I shall reward you handsomely."

He rose from his seat, set the empty glass on the table, and straightened his coat.

A glance at the door signaled that the conversation had reached its conclusion.

Harland stood as well.

"One more thing," Nathaniel said before leaving. "You mentioned that she has been gathering evidence. I presume you know the extent of what she possesses?"

"Only what she has presented to me."

"Then find out whether she has anything more. I will not have my daughter’s foolish determination undo years of work. As for the rest, leave it to me."

Harland escorted him to the door. "You intend to speak with her?"

"I intend to punish the insolence out of her." Nathaniel’s smile held no warmth. "She has mistaken a new title for a new measure of power. I shall correct that misunderstanding soon enough."

With that, he departed.