A Sense of Propriety

Chapter 32

Cordelia found her aunt sitting in the drawing room when she entered soon after leaving her friend to continue with her needlework. The Dowager was currently seated close to the window, allowing the natural light to aid her as she continued her fine work of an intricate tapestry.

She was not alone, for Lady Topham was currently reading on the other side of the room, though she looked more asleep than anything else.

However, her presence did not deter Cordelia as she walked towards the window seat. "Aunt Eloise, I must speak with you," she stated, her voice calm but determined.

She did not break her movements with the wool and thread, but her gaze lifted momentarily. "Yes, Cordelia. What is it?"

"What do you know about the night I left Midrake?"

Her fingers paused, her expression tightening. She glanced back down at her tapestry and slowly placed the needle aside. "What is it you wish to know?" she spoke solidly, but with an air of expectancy, as though she knew this conversation would rear its head sooner or later.

"What did the Marquis say to you that day he came to Mayfield House in London? I do not remember much of that night, but I know you discussed it with him. I deserve to know what happened."

She watched her aunt's tight expression closely and noticed the way she glanced at her friend in the corner of the room, who was now steadfastly asleep. With a soft sigh, she gestured to the chair next to her and waited for Cordelia to settle before speaking in a low tone.

"I did not know initially what had happened. As you can imagine, I was extremely angered by the whole event. I had even sent a groomsman to Midrake in an attempt to discover what may have happened, but he came back empty-handed. No one seemed to know anything."

Cordelia nodded, urging her to continue.

"It was several days later when the Marquis came to the door, demanding to see you. Naturally, I would not allow it, but he was insistent. He told me of what had happened, hoping it would get him in my good graces to allow him entrance to speak to you."

"What did he say?"

She hesitated briefly, as though what she was about to say was physically painful. "His . . . mother and the Viscount had laid a trap for you. The Viscount was in a great deal of financial trouble. The Dowager knew this and played it to her advantage. She promised him a large sum of money if he convinced you to marry him. She . . . helped this initiative by guaranteeing you were heavily dosed on opium to ensure your capitulation on the matter and craftily made the Marquis walk in at the wrong moment. That is why you were sick for so many days. They had nearly killed you with the amount you consumed. I would not put it past that that was her true intention."

Cordelia was almost stunned into silence, but her mind was quick to question. "But how did he discover this? He might have made it all up!"

"The Viscount admitted it to him himself. My assumption is that is why the Dowager left the country so quickly, for if such a rumour were to spread, it would have meant the end of her in England."

"And the Marquis most likely threatened her as such," Cordelia whispered with wide eyes, causing her aunt to look at her in confusion.

"Excuse me?"

"Alicia told me that they met a lady who was a close friend to the Dowager while on their travels. There was a rumour that she had been threatened into leaving, though by whom and for what, no one could say, though it was very clear that she was not leaving the country willingly. But . . . why would he do that? Surely, he should have known that playing such a dangerous card would have adverse effects on his reputation?"