Page 64 of Disguised Desires of a Scarred Duke
“Trust yourself, my darling. And visit your mother soon.”
Chapter 26
Eleanor was more shocked by Margaret’s reaction to her shaky reputation since returning from the house party than she was by the scandal itself.
Her stepmother seemed almost pleased that her eldest daughter was on the brink of ruin. What clearly didn’t please Lady Whitfield was how the scandal was affecting her youngest daughter’s reputation as well.
When Cousin Harrison came to town to discuss their circumstances, the woman of the house was not in a bargaining mood.
“I think the only solution is to have Eleanor marry Mr Phillips immediately. Both girls will be restored soon in society, and we will have no further contact with that Mr Black fellow. I knew he was a bad influence the moment I saw him. But you let that man go unchecked, didn’t you, Lord Whitfield? I told you it was better for me to watch over the young ladies and their marriage prospects!”
Lady Whitfield sat up straight in a lounge chair in the drawing room like a queen on her throne. Eleanor and Regina sat on the other side of the room, watching the exchange between Margaret and Harrison with little hope for an amicable outcome.
“Now Margaret …” Cousin Harrison began, then promptly realized his mistake when she grunted. “I mean Lady Whitfield. I observed Eleanor and Mr Black on a daily basis. There is no doubt in my mind that they truly care very much for each other and make a good match. Perhaps that relationship can be salvaged with our support?”
Margaret blinked a few times, then a low chuckle-like sound emanated from her throat.
Eleanor and Regina looked at each other with furrowed brows, then shared a confused look with Cousin Harrison.
Was my bitter stepmother about to allow herself to laugh?
More rumbles that vaguely resembled chuckles rolled up Lady Whitfield’s throat until she leaned back in her chair and laughed like a rooster with hiccups.
To Eleanor’s ears, that’s exactly what Margaret’s laughter sounded like, and it was rather shocking, to say the least. It had been so long since anyone in this house had heard a laugh from Margaret that everyone just stared at her until she was through.
“Oh, you jest, Lord Whitfield! Certainly, that was a joke, was it not? Eleanor will never see that foul man again. I forbid it, and I think you would, too, knowing how he has tarnished the Whitfield name. We have no choice now but to depend on Mr Phillips’ forgiving nature and kindness. He has agreed to marry Eleanor against his better judgement. We should all count our blessings for his willingness to do so.”
Cousin Harrison glanced at Eleanor, then tried one more time to turn things around.
“Lady Whitfield, what matters most to you? Your daughter’s happiness or a rumour that’s been blown out of proportion and will die away soon enough?”
“That’s a good example of how you and I differ, Lord Whitfield. You separate our happiness from our reputation, but I argue that they are one and the same. So, I need you to agree to Eleanor’s engagement to Mr Phillips. We have delayed the inevitable long enough. I think Eleanor would agree that this is the best course now to save Regina’s reputation in the long run.”
Margaret stared at Eleanor with her lips pursed together. Her message was clear without saying another word.
Eleanor squeezed her sister’s hand and sighed. There had been no note or visit from Anthony that would have indicated his intent to intervene. The man who claimed to love her could try to fight for their right to be together. But his silence spoke volumes. He hadn’t reached out or said a word in her defence in the three days since their return.
Has something happened to him, or did he just give up?
Without Anthony in her corner, Eleanor’s confidence fizzled out. She was a woman in a society that didn’t respect her right to choose. Or one that would grant her that right, to begin with.
Perhaps she could make a life with Cecil if they had separate rooms on separate ends of a very large house.
As long as Regina was safe and happy, that’s all that really mattered anymore.
“Yes, Stepmother. I will agree to marry Cecil Phillips now.”
“Eleanor, no!” Regina protested. “Mother, this cannot happen! I don’t care about my silly reputation, and neither should you. Eleanor, where is your fighting spirit? We can come together and fight for the man you love!”
Eleanor stood and pulled her hand away from Regina’s. “My love has no future here, dear sister. I don’t think that it ever did.”
Regina cried out with a grief-stricken wail, then continued to try to convince her mother to change her mind.
Eleanor walked out of the room as if her soul had left her body and was now floating above it. She looked up towards the ceiling for a second as if to search for what was missing inside her, then moved up the staircase feeling like a ghost. One with no future and one so insignificant that she barely existed at all.
Maybe even one with no reflection anymore?
Eleanor decided to find out. When she reached the top of the stairs, she walked over to the wall where her mother’s golden-framed mirror would reveal whether she was truly invisible.
