Lord Donmere was none other than Rosaline’s father, meaning that he was the very last person who Thalia wanted to run into this morning… or ever, for that matter. The last time that she had seen the man was at the wedding that Thalia had interrupted, and she could still picture clearly the red of his face as he screamed at his daughter not to flee.
“It is… good to see you,” Thalia stammered as she took a step back.
“Somehow, I doubt that very much.” He was not particularly tall, but he was stocky, and with a neck so thick that it seemed to reach his shoulders. Beady eyes, a small mouth, and a thick mustache, the man was more than capable of intimidation when it was required.
“I… I think I owe you an apology,” Thalia said, doing her best to straighten.
“Oh?”
“For what happened with Rosaline.”
“What you did to Rosaline, you mean.”
She swallowed again. “All I did was help her. Lord Donmere, your daughter did not wish to marry His Grace. Surely, you must see that?”
“So, you are not sorry at all?”
“I am.” Her eyes flicked past him, searching for a way out. “I am sorry for the trouble it has caused. What I am not sorry for is helping my friend.”
“And the fact that you have managed to find yourself married to a duke must surely help to soften the blow of guilt. Is that right?”
“I… no, that is not –”
“Listen to me, Your Grace.” He kept his tone flat, but his eyes brimmed with fire as he took a step toward her. The aisles of the library were narrow, and they felt even more so with the thick-bodied viscount leering over her. “What you did was not only improper, but it was the height of indecency. Never in my life have I been so insulted.”
“I did not mean to –”
“His Grace is married to you now,” he spoke over her. “And there is nothing I can do to change that. But if you think that I have forgotten about you, or that I will forget, know that I have not. Nor will I ever.” Another step closer and Thalia froze. “You were always trouble, and I should have never allowed my daughter to spend so much time with you in the first place.”
“Rosaline is my friend,” she tried. “All I did –”
“Was corrupt her,” he said sharply. “Loose women tend to pull down those around them, and my daughter was no exception. You might think that your husband can protect you, but know this, even he cannot stop –”
“Is there a problem here?” a familiar voice spoke from over Lord Donmere’s shoulder.
Thalia exhaled with relief when Lord Donmere turned to see Octavia scurrying toward them. She wore a large smile, seeming to skip as she walked, and it did much to diffuse the tension brought by Lord Donmere.
“I could not help but overhear,” Octavia said pleasantly. “Which I suppose is the issue.” She blinked a few times. “This is a library, I will remind you, and I will ask that you keep your voices down.”
“I will speak how I wish,” Lord Donmere said.
“Perhaps I should take my own advice!” Octavia laughed. “Listen to me, nearly shouting when asking others to keep it down. Oh,Octavia, you really are too much.” Her smile grew and she fixed it on Lord Donmere.
Lord Donmere sneered at Octavia and then sneered at Thalia. “Very well. Your Grace…” He held his sneer on her for a moment longer. “It was lovely seeing you.”
“As it was you,” Thalia said.
He stepped around her and stalked down the aisle, and Thalia could feel the anger wafting from him as he went.
“Your Grace?” Octavia blinked at Thalia. “What did he mean by that?”
“Nothing…” Thalia watched after Lord Donmere a moment longer before turning back to address her savior. “Thank you, Octavia. That was… rather awkward.”
“He did seem a tad upset, didn’t he?”
“That is one way of saying it,” she laughed. “Although perhaps I am to blame? I have found lately that I have a knack for…” Thalia trailed off when an idea suddenly struck her.
“A knack for what?” Octavia asked her.
