“It was manageable at first,” Ironvale continued. “Even expected, considering how your marriage began…” He winked at Caspian, who glared back. “The point is, despite Donmere’s harsh words, most were willing to ignore it. In fact, most thought that what he said was brought about by jealousy. As odd as it isto comprehend, your marriage is considered a love match, and Her Grace’s actions…” Another wink, this one aimed at Thalia. “… were done in the name of love and all things good.”
“As we intended to be the narrative,” Caspian said.
“Indeed,” Ironvale agreed. “Which is why Donmere has of late doubled-down on his rhetoric. Worse than that, he has changed tracks. No longer content with simply dismissing your marriage as a scandalous thing, he has come upon the ingenious method of attacking your individual characters as a means to sew discord and invite gossip.”
Caspian groaned.
“What is he saying?” Thalia pushed.
“Oh, the usual…” Ironvale leaned back and waved a dismissive hand. “That you are a spinster, that he is a rake, that your babies will be demon spawn sent straight from hell.”
“Be serious, Ironvale,” Caspian snapped.
“I am!” Ironvale decreed. “Perhaps a little exaggerated, but that is the point! Donmere is saying everything and anything he can, hoping that something sticks. His aim is to discredit you not among our peers in the ton, but our business associates. He is trying to make you seem like a bad bet, which in turn will have our creditors questioning if you are worth the cost, which might just see some of them choosing to cut ties with you andme entirely. And yes, I say me, because what happens to you, Caspian, happens to me.”
“Bastard!” Caspian growled. His fingers twitched slightly, something that in any other man might have finished with a punch to the wall.
“You can say that again,” Ironvale said.
“But surely, nobody will believe him?” Thalia asked.
Ironvale shrugged. “It is not a sure thing, and a rather sloppy method. Donmere does not expect everything he says to be believed. In fact, most of it won’t be. But the thing about rumors is that when there are enough of them, people stop listening to the specifics.”
“And they begin to questionwhythe rumors exist in the first place,” Caspian finished for him with a deep growl in the back of his throat. “It is not the rumors that matter, but the fact that they are there at all.”
“Oh…” Thalia said, looking down.
“Oh indeed,” Ironvale added.
While this was not entirely her fault, Thalia could not help but feel slightly responsible for it. After all, Lord Donmere’s attacks started because of what she had done.
The only good that might come from this, or that had already come from this, was how resolutely it was bringing her and Caspian together. While Lord Donmere wished to tear them apart, his actions were having the exact opposite effect.
As if she felt the need to prove this true, Thalia took Caspian’s hand and rested it in her lap. And Caspian did not so much as flinch at the action. If anything, she could feel him relax.
“What are we going to do about it?” Thalia asked. “What can we even do?”
“For now…” Caspian was looking dead ahead, lost in a thousand-yard stare. But he squeezed her hand as if he needed to remind himself that she was there. “There is not much we can do. To attack Donmere directly will look petty and purposeful. It might have the exact opposite effect.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Ironvale said. “I think our best bet is to sit tight and wait and see. Dispute the rumors. Shore up our allies. And remind the ton who we are and why we are not to be discounted or questioned.”
Caspian was nodding. “Yes, to attack Donmere outright is the wrong method. But we can’t just ignore him either. We will need to continue as we are, strengthening our reputation and giving the mob nothing to latch on to.”
“Strength in unity,” Ironvale agreed. “I love it.”
There was nothing much left to say after that. They spent another fifteen minutes or so going over the rumors, detailing the nastier ones and where Ironvale had heard them. Then they discussed various contracts that they would need to affirm, and a few people who they would need to reach out to.
Mostly, this was about not getting ahead of themselves and doing anything rash. The rumors would blow over in time, and all they needed to do was sit tight, wait it out, and not give the sharks any fresh meat to feast upon.
“I will write to you if I hear anything else,” Ironvale was explaining as he walked them out of the drawing room.
“Do,” Caspian said. “And I will do the same for you.”
“Donmere…” Ironvale clicked his tongue and shook his head. “I never did like the man.”
“Nor did I,” Caspian said. “It is nice to know at least that my dislike was – argh!” Caspian cried out suddenly as he tumbled head over tail and crashed hard onto the floor.
“Caspian!” Thalia spun about to see what had happened, only to burst into laughter when the picture became clearer. “Oh, no…” She covered her mouth to hold back the laughter. “That is… are you hurt?”
