Chapter 191

This was only Cassandra’s second visit to the main office of the Arden Gazette, and just like the first time, there was a serious matter she needed to settle.

The decision to come here was not an impulsive one.

She already considered the possibilities carefully and concluded that Mr. Thornton possessed precisely the qualities she required: ambition and a keen awareness of public interest. He also had no qualms about publishing materials that could ruin another person’s standing, which made him the perfect candidate for the task.

Their previous encounter had provided ample evidence of the last.

At the front desk, a clerk watched her approach.

"Good morning, my lady."

"Good morning." Cassandra returned his greeting with a pleasant smile. "I would like to see Mr. Thornton. Is he available?"

"He is presently engaged in a meeting but I do not believe it will last much longer. Would you care to wait?"

"Of course. I am quite content to wait until he is free. Kindly inform him that Lady Montague wishes to speak with him."

"Yes, my lady." The clerk indicated a small waiting area, where Cassandra took a seat while the man went off to inform Thornton of her presence.

Quietly, she surveyed the room without appearing particularly interested in anything she saw. The purpose of her visit remained on the forefront of her mind.

The clerk eventually returned and informed her that Mr. Thornton was ready to receive her. He led her along a corridor to a familiar office, then knocked before opening the door.

"Lady Montague to see you, sir."

"Thank you. That will be all." Thornton responded without looking in their direction.

The clerk stepped aside, allowing Cassandra to enter, then closed the door behind her.

He glanced in her direction as soon as they were alone and was, to say the least, taken aback by her presence.

When he was informed that Lady Montague had requested an audience with him, he had assumed he would be meeting Octavia and never once considered that it might be someone else.

Now that Cassandra stood before him in his office, he could have kicked himself for making such a foolish mistake.

Cassandra’s marriage to Draven Montague was common knowledge among those who followed the affairs of the nobility.

He gawked at her like a fool, unable to conceal his alarm at her unexpected appearance.

She frightened him, and he had no shame in admitting it, especially after what had transpired during her last visit.

Back then, she had enlisted the prince’s help, and together, they had threatened the life out of him. The encounter had made one thing abundantly clear: she was not a woman to be trifled with.

God alone knew why she had come back. Whatever her business was, he could only hope it did not involve tormenting him further.

"Lady Cassandra," he said, rising from his chair. "I confess I was not expecting you."

"It’s good to see you again, Mr. Thornton." Cassandra said lightly.

She was smiling but Thornton didn’t trust it one bit.

He moved as though to come around the desk, but Cassandra lifted a hand to stop him.

"There’s no need for that."

She walked across the room and settled into the chair opposite him without waiting to be invited. Her movements were lithe, her posture relaxed.

"I must admit that you made a rather strong impression on me, Mr Thornton." She said smoothly. "I can’t help but think that you would be an excellent fit for a particular undertaking I have in mind."

Thornton blinked in confusion, slowly lowering himself back into his seat. "An undertaking?"

"Indeed."

"I am afraid I do not follow. What sort of work could you possibly have for me?"

Cassandra’s smile widened slightly.

"Since you demonstrated that you have no particular qualms about dragging a person’s reputation through the mud, I thought you might be willing to extend the same treatment to someone else."

His surprise and confusion gave way to caution. "Lady Montague, if you have come here to discuss the previous publication, I assure you that the writer has learned from mistake. The correction was printed long ago, and the newspaper has made no further mention of the allegations."

"I have not come to discuss my scandal, Mr. Thornton. I have come to offer you an opportunity."

Thornton was skeptical. "And what opportunity is that?"

"I would like the Arden Gazette to publish an account of the scandal now gathering around Lord Ashford and his mine."

He sat up, studying her for clues. He suspected she had left something unsaid, perhaps to catch him off guard with a trap of her own making.

"Lord Ashford?" he repeated. "Your father?"

"The very same. I trust you have heard the rumours making the rounds."

Thanks to her efforts, it was difficult to venture outside without hearing some variation of the many rumours surrounding Lord Ashford. They ranged from speculation that Cassandra was distancing herself from her family, fuelled by their conspicuous absence from her wedding, to the more ghastly accounts of the numerous deaths at his mines.

Having those rumors featured in the newspapers would make them feel more believable and they would become harder to dismiss. Hopefully, it would put more press on law enforcement to do something about her father.

"I have. You must understand that an allegation of this nature is serious. A mining disaster from ten years ago, involving a prominent landowner, is hardly a matter to approach without considerable care."

"Then it is fortunate that I am not asking you to rely on hearsay alone." Cassandra leaned forward slightly. Her smile sharpened. "I intend to provide you with a list of sources and evidence that can be cited to support the account. I want you to examine the material and publish a report that leaves no room for my father’s conduct to be mistaken for anything other than what it was."

Thornton’s fingers tapped once against the desk before becoming still.

"You are asking me to publish a story that could destroy Lord Ashford’s reputation."

"I am asking you to educate the public on what a monster he is. It is the truth after all. If the truth destroys his reputation..." She shrugged. "Then so be it."

"Your father is a powerful man. He has influence in circles that could make life exceedingly difficult for anyone who crosses him." Thornton’s eyes narrowed. "What happens when he decides that the Arden Gazette has become his enemy? What happens when he comes after me, as you once came to me demanding that I retract a story?"

Cassandra regarded him with mild amusement, as though his concern were understandable but ultimately unimportant.

"If Lord Ashford gives you trouble, you need only call upon me. I will see that the matter is dealt with."

"That is a bold assurance."

"I am the Duchess of Norham, Mr. Thornton." She reminded him. "I do not make promises I can not keep."

Despite all his faults, Thornton was no fool. He required a reason to believe that the undertaking would benefit him.

Cassandra intended to provide one to sweeten the deal.

"Consider what this story offers you," she said. "A major scandal involving a prominent noble family, and a tale of a disaster of this magnitude. The public will want to know how such a thing could have happened, why warnings were ignored, and why no one has been held accountable."

Thornton’s fingers resumed their rhythmic tapping.

"If the evidence is as substantial as you claim," he said, "then the story would certainly attract attention."

"Attention?" Cassandra tilted her head. "Mr. Thornton, I should think it would do considerably more than that. A compelling report, supported by credible sources and published before any rival newspaper can secure the same material, could bring the Arden Gazette a massive increase in readership."