This ends tonight. No more Marcus and Olivia. Let me think of the best way to drive them apart.
She called on the stars in the constellations above; Andromeda, Cassiopeia and the planet Venus to rise up and vanquish this trollop and her paramour.
She knew the familiar words, which she had learned at her grandmother’s side as a child.
If only he had wanted me, then none of this would have been necessary. His mother wanted me to be the next duchess, then that milksop Lady Olivia Sherwyn appeared on the scene.
If I can't have Marcus, Then I will make sure that no one can.
As she closed her eyes, the pathway before her became clear in her mind's eye.
I swear to the ancient ones, the moon goddess, that by the time this ball is over Marcus will know the ugly truth. The absolute ugliness that is Olivia Sherwyn.
As she silently willed these words, deep within her mind, a group of indigo clouds appeared in the sky, obscuring the light from both moon and stars.
Cressida looked at the sky, feeling satisfaction that her decision had been made, her course was set. She had much to do, she wriggled her body, feeling power spreading through her veins and arteries.
I feel better. So much better
Now I need to get to work. I have much to accomplish this evening. By the time this ball ends I will have scattered drops of slanderous poison, which will ruin Lady Olivia Sherwyn.
Chapter 12
Immediately after the waltz, Marcus had taken his leave of Olivia to search for his cousin. The arrival of the dazzling marquis of Hastings must have taken Colin by surprise. He did not doubt the attraction Colin felt towards Lady Jocelyn.
The difficulty was that Colin was new to the polite society of thetonand he had met Lady Jocelyn on his first night of the season. He was right to be cautious and take his time. Jocelyn was young and not yet presented at court, and if Colin had declared himself too early, there was potential for Jocelyn to agree to a match and then have second thoughts.
Yet the arrival of the marquis, and his clear agenda of wooing and offering marriage to Lady Jocelyn, changed things considerably. Colin may have to act quickly and declare his intentions to Jocelyn or risk losing her to another.
Being so preoccupied with Colin he did not immediately notice the change in atmosphere in the ballroom. He suddenly became aware that there had been a change, and he had a feeling that the air had become emotionally charged, as if some scandal had been revealed.
Something strange was happening. He didn’t mean his private feelings for Olivia. No, this was something else. He noticed as he walked up to Lady Percy and her party that they all stopped talking immediately and looked embarrassed.
As he walked through the ballroom he noticedtabbies of theton,murmuring behind their fans and avoiding eye contact with him.
This was one of the few times when he wished his mother had been there, as she would have found out what they were talking about.
He stood back in a corner to watch what was happening. He noticed that it went further than him. Olivia seemed unaware, but the same thing was happening as she walked past groups in the ballroom.
Lady Cressida was behaving oddly too. She seemed to be making a point of moving between groups in an almost planned way, staying only a short time to talk before moving to another group.
I shall ask her to dance. That way I might find out what they are talking about.
He made his way across the room, noticing the strange reaction as he approached people. The startled expressions, and the sudden cessation of conversation.
He smiled brightly at Lady Cressida as he joined a group where she held the limelight, talking in confidential undertones.
“She does so well, poor dear. Most of us would retreat to the country if we had the same disfigurement. I do wonder if she has made the right decision, in being part of society and risking ridicule, rather than living quietly and discreetly at home,” Marcus heard Lady Cressida saying.
“What do you mean, Lady Cressida?” asked one of the older ladies in the group. “I have seen no sign of anything to blemish Lady Olivia’s beauty.”
“She is doing a great job at concealing the reality of her situation. She hides it with her hairstyle and perhaps some rouge from Paris,” explained Lady Cressida.
This last comment caused shocked glances among the women. They all wore rouge on their cheeks but would never admit it publicly.
And so the tongues tattled. There had been no secret about the Sherwyn’s losing their family in the fire at Silverton Hall, but Lady Olivia’s Sherwyn’s changed appearance was unknown to Marcus, and it appeared had not been common knowledge, but that was changing tonight.
Marcus wondered why Lady Cressida had suddenly turned into a spiteful, malevolent force.
