Page 38 of To Tempt a Scandalous Lord
“So perhaps you need to wield the critiques against Medlinger as deftly as he is wielding them against you,” Alicia pointed out.
Niall immediately halted his steps, his gaze intent on her face. But it was Lord Matthews who demanded her attention. “Such tactics are not gentlemanly.”
Alicia scowled. “So it’s perfectly fine for Viscount Medlinger to engage in ungentlemanly behavior, tarnishing Inverray’s standing with voters, but he is not allowed to respond in kind? That seems shortsighted at best, but mostly foolhardy.”
“Foolhardy?” Matthews enunciated every syllable.
“Yes.Foolhardy.” Alicia looked to her husband, who continued to stare at her with an indecipherable expression on his face. “You bemoan the fact that the author of these chapbooks has pointed out flaws in Inverray’s campaign instead of using it as an opportunity to address them. And, when you can utilize the same weaknesses the author illuminated in Medlinger’s campaign to cast doubt on his viability as Prime Minister, you balk. Do you want my husband to win or not?”
Lord Matthews appeared as if he had been hit in the head with a heavy object. His eyes were wide and unblinking, and his jaw hung ever so slightly agape. Alicia looked to her husband, uncertain of what she should do and worried she may have gone too far in censuring the older man. But Niall shook his head slightly, and the specter of a smile on his lips eased the tension in her.
Tugging on his cravat, the viscount seemed to collect himself. “This is a perfect example of why women should not be involved in political matters. If Inverray were to attack Viscount Medlinger in such a manner, it would spell the end of his bid. Electors would not stand for it.”
Alicia gritted her teeth at his dismissiveness. “I doubt that, my lord. Medlinger has not lost support for utilizing the arguments made in the chapbooks, and this is a man who’s been linked to an affair with a married woman! In fact, I’d say they have galvanized voters for him.” Alicia arched a brow. “I may be just a woman, but it seems to me that voters would rather have a flawed candidate who can see the error of his ways, than a supposed perfect candidate who continues on course as if he is not steering the ship into an iceberg.”
Now she’d really done it. And she wasnotsorry.
Matthews was studying her as if she were an unknown specimen of bug pinned to a board. It was clear he wasn’t used to someone pointing out his erroneous thinking. The man was operating under the misguided assumption that politics was just the same as it had been when he’d been a young man, and unfortunately for him, it wasn’t.
The Reform Act had ushered in changes to who could vote and how they voted. There was still much more to be done, like giving women a right to the ballot box, but Alicia was well aware that change happened at a glacial pace. Still, the viscount’s determination to hold onto the old way of things did nothing to aid Niall now.
Matthews was well respected, and even feared, in some party circles, but Alicia didn’t give a two pence damn about what the man thought of her suggestion.
Niall’s was the only opinion that mattered.
“Steering the ship into an iceberg?” Niall chuckled, and it was the first genuine laugh she had heard from him in a good, long while. “For all that it’s humorous, it is also the perfect visual for how electors are treating these opinion pieces. That’s what they are, Matthews. The opinion of one man. And he’s shared his opinion of not only me, but Medlinger as well. I know you consider it ungentlemanly, but I see nothing wrong with echoing the words the author shared of the viscount’s voting record, just as the viscount has used the author’s analysis against me.”
Matthews exhaled a noisy breath. “And I consider it a foolish move. Are you going to trust my opinion or that of your new wife?”
Niall flexed his jaw.
A trickle of sweat ran down Alicia’s spine, anxiety pounding through her blood. Surely he knew that she didn’t expect him to draw a line in the sand now. She wouldn’t dream of trying to step into Lord Matthews’s position as his advisor; she was simply offering a different opinion of the situation.
Abruptly, she wanted to throw something. Why couldn’t men accept that dissenting opinions were not attacks on their manhood? On their self-worth? Faith save her from the egos of fragile men.
“I believe I am going to take the afternoon to consider both of your well-formed opinions and decide how I want to proceed.” Niall nodded his head, as if he were a king handing down an edict to his subjects.
“How very diplomatic of you,” Matthews said, with sarcasm as sharp as ice.
“Thank you,” Niall said, a cheeky tilt in his tone. “As Prime Minister, shouldn’t I strive to be diplomatic?”
“Perhaps.” The viscount narrowed his eyes as he studied them. “You know, Lady Inverray, that if your husband chooses to follow your advice and he loses the bid, you will be to blame.”
Fury locked Alicia’s jaw and it took her a heartbeat to respond. “My fault? Are you saying that if my husband heeds my advice and chooses to address those areas he could approve upon, and electors decide to vote for Medlinger anyway, I’m to blame for their free thinking and agency? As far as threats go, this one seems rather…flimsy.”
“Flimsy?” Matthews growled. “In fact, it is your claims, youradvice, that is offensive, my lady. And many would say they’re misguided.”
Alicia folded her hands calmly and sighed. Loudly. “I don’t understand how we are at odds, my lord. We both want Inverray to win. We both want him to overcome the challenges born of the political chapbooks. We’re simply suggesting different ways he can combat their claims. Differing plans of attack do not make us enemies, Lord Matthews.”
The viscount grunted, his mien making it clear he did not agree. Turning to Niall, he lifted a shoulder. “I’ll do what I can, but I can’t promise that electors will continue to support you, should you follow your wife’s ill-advised suggestion.”
“I understand,” Niall said, holding out his hand to the older man. “I appreciate your wisdom, as always.”
Matthews nodded, raking Alicia over with one last look, before sweeping out the door.
They stood in silence for several tense moments after Matthews left, each with their gaze trained on the door. Alicia didn’t know what to say. She had originally sought Niall out, intent to be of assistance, and instead she had caused a fracture between him and his longtime advisor.
An apology sat on the tip of her tongue, yet she struggled to release it. She wasnotsorry. Her heart told her that if Niall wanted to be Prime Minister, he had to utilize every weapon at his disposal, even if some thought wielding such a tool was distasteful. Those people were not seeking the highest elected office in the land.
