“What do I speak of?What do I speak of? You dare to ask as though you do not know? Do you take us for fools?”
Cecilia nudged Lionel lightly out of his inexorable anger at the Regent for his subtle slight against her. “Forgive us, Your Royal Highness, we do not and would never take a man of your eminence for a fool but we are, ourselves, somewhat ignorant in this. Perhaps some gossip has overtaken us?” she said calmly.
The Regent’s eyes darted to her. “Madam, it is not you that is to blame. I understand your predicament very well. I have been appraised of it by my trusted advisor, the Viscount of Thorpe. A man of the army, as I am. A man who has known the horrors of war, faced the dastardly French and won through,” he glared at Lionel, advancing across the floor towards him.
The gathered courtiers parted before their liege like the Red Sea. Thorpe followed the Regent, keeping a step behind and to oneside. His eyes darted from Cecilia to Lionel and back as though he feared an attack from either of them.
“What did you do to protect your country against the French?” the Regent demanded.
“Nothing, Your Royal Highness. I was crippled by a gunshot wound to my spine. It took me five years to learn how to walk again,” Lionel replied smoothly. “I was no use as a soldier without that basic ability.”
Cecilia’s hand tightened on his arm. It felt like cords of steel, tense and unyielding. She could hear the control in his voice, keeping the anger in check.
“And how did you come to be so wounded? An accident at a hunt, was it not, Thorpe?” the Regent said, looking over his shoulder.
“I believe so, Your Royal Highness.”
“That is precisely what happened,” Lionel replied with a smile.
Cecilia felt a flash of pride at the self-control Lionel was demonstrating. Her heart thudded in her chest and with every venomous snipe from the Regent, she wanted to slap the rotund man’s face. Wanted to tell the room the truth about Thorpe. But it would do no good. This was his territory. He had the ear and confidence of the Regent. It was up to Lionel and herself to try and at least dispel the negative views that Thorpe had put intothe Regent’s head concerning them. And maybe from there, seek justice in a more orthodox manner.
“Your Royal Highness, you say that I am not to blame. That you understand my predicament. I am happily married and quite content with my lot. To what do you allude?” Cecilia began.
“Madam, I allude to the fact that this rogue forced you into a false marriage to avoid scandal. I suspect he was trying to get his hands on your family’s estates. The greed of the current Duke of Thornhill has been made known to me,” the Regent intoned.
“Your Royal Highness…” Lionel began but was silenced when the Regent raised his hand and turned on his heel.
“I do not wish to hear anything from you. What is it with the Dukes throwing a ruckus at my court? First, that Valebridge Duke and his complicated family, now this.Pah! I wanted you to come here so that I might look into your eyes, as I once looked into the eyes of the French. Of those blackguards Soult and Nee.” At this, Cecilia noticed more than one of the courtiers hiding smiles behind their hands.
He spoke as if he had been present on the battlefield. As far as Cecilia had learned, he had never left England during the war with France. But this man seemed far from stable.
“Look into your eyes and tell you to your face that you are not welcome at this court. You are banished to your estates. Forthwith!”
At that, Thorpe moved closer to the Regent and whispered in his ear. The Regent looked to Cecilia and then nodded.
“But… not your wife. She shall remain and Lord Thorpe has most generously agreed to act as her guardian. Do not worry, my dear. We shall help you extricate yourself from this ruffian.”
“You bloody great oaf!”
Lionel gaped. He had been in the act of drawing breath, face reddening with anger when Cecilia had stepped forward and snapped the insult. The Regent’s mouth fell open. Thorpe stared, thunderstruck. Silence ruled the room.
“You think that Lord Thorpe has my best interests at heart? He murdered my brother, and two nights ago, tried to kill my husband!” Cecilia accused, pointing at Thorpe.
She knew nothing of the kind for certain, but rationally, that is what must have happened. Lionel stared at her in disbelief. Thorpe was recovering his wits now and the beginnings of a smile was appearing on his face. He glanced at the Regent, then back to Cecilia with the eyes of a wolf.
“I cannot believe what I am hearing!” the Regent exclaimed, “Lord Thorpe is…”
“A liar and a coward,” Cecilia finished.
“Have a care, madam,” Thorpe echoed. “I would call out a man who spoke thusly.”
“Then call me out if you dare. I call you a liar and coward. I name you murderer,” Cecilia spat, “and I stand ready to back my claim with blood.”
“Are you mad, woman?” Thorpe demanded. “Sir, control your wife,” he said to Lionel.
Lionel shrugged indifferently.
“No one controls me. Are you afraid, Lord Thorpe? Afraid of a woman?” Cecilia demanded.
