Deena sighed and rose, smoothing her skirts and squaring her shoulders. She descended the grand staircase slowly until she reached the breakfast room and heard the murmurs grow louder.
The butler opened the door for her, and she stepped into the room. A hushed silence fell upon the crowd, and she immediately felt all eyes on her.
What is going on?
“Good morning,” Deena greeted Lady Amelia and the group of ladies she sat with, who were all staring, smirking, and gaping at her.
Lady Amelia scoffed in response and continued eating her breakfast. She was always quite rude towards Deena, but the new standoffish behavior was surprising. The ladies around her followed her actions like sheep. Deena decided to ignore them just like they ignored her, but as she continued to her seat, she overheard her name being whispered.
“Lady Deena’s utterly shameless,” Lady Amelia hissed disgustedly, and the girls around her mumbled in agreement.
Deena’s skin prickled as she realized that some of the lords and ladies had a paper in hand and seemed to be glancing her way.
“Ever since she came back to London, she’s been as bold as brass…”
Deena’s stomach plummeted; she stopped in her tracks, and heads turned in her direction.
The room went eerily silent.
A fan snapped shut. Mouths pursed into thin lines and eyes widened, then narrowed in her direction before the whispers started again, louder, and bolder this time.
“She has some nerve showing her face here, and the Dowager permitted this?”
“After what she did? Polluting Paris and London with her filthy behavior.”
“You know what they say? Birds of a feather…”
Deena stood frozen to her spot. She began to feel lightheaded. She looked around for Selina or Dominic but did not find them.
Oh, dear God, help me.
Panic surged through her as she saw Miss Waldron approach her from across the room. She waited for an insult or perhaps a judgmental look before being ignored.
“Lady Deena.” Miss Waldron surprised her when she gently placed a hand over Deena’s shoulder.
“Miss Waldron, it will be safer if you don’t associate yourself with me,” Deena said coldly.
Miss Waldron flinched but did not leave her.
“I am sure you noticed by now that I am not one to believe in gossip, Lady Deena,” she responded sternly, and Deena believed her.
Deena glanced atThe Daily Scribein one of the lord’s hands; she was too terrified to ask for it. The blackmailer did not give her time. What personal sins of hers would she find scrawled across the pages for the whole of London to see?
“Come with me, Lady Deena.” Miss Waldron still held onto her and slowly led her to a quieter spot where the whispers eventually died down.
Deena sat and exhaled loudly.
“Thank you, Miss Waldron.” Miss Waldron looked at her compassionately before glaring at a group of ladies who quickly looked away.
“Bunch of vultures,” she muttered under her breath.
Deena let out a small laugh that did not ease the panic that continued to rise in the pit of her stomach.
“I should read it,” she said, surrendering to her doom.
“You don’t have to.” Miss Waldron gave her a sympathetic look.
The last thing I need is sympathy.
