"You mean, I would live longer if I professed to be your ally." It was one thing to be polite to a viper, quite another to listen to this drivel.
The following silence was pointed. Morgana set her teacup down, judging by the rattle of the saucer. "I have no such intentions toward you, my dear. Indeed, you are a very valuable little—"
"And now you sound like my father."
"I wonder what he'd think of this little display of viciousness from his precious daughter, hmm?"
"He'd probably mouth something meaningful to you, pat you on the hand, and then come to ask me precisely how to bring you down." Cleo bit into a biscuit. She was through with being helpless. "You are two of a kind, after all."
Morgana actually laughed. "Well, perhaps you aren't the little fool I mistook you for after all. He doesn't see it, does he?"
"Who?"
"Your father. He thinks you his obedient little pet. Do you know what I think?"
"I'm sure you'll tell me."
"I think... that there's a reason Eleanor Ross was creeping about your father's estate," Morgana's voice dripped with satisfaction. "I'm fairly certain I know what that reason was, but your poor, dear father doesn't have a clue."
"Eleanor Ross?" Cleo repeated in a horrified voice. Then added quickly, "Who is Eleanor Ross?"
"Oh, nobody of importance. Not for much longer anyway. Would you like another cup of tea?"
What had happened to Mrs. Ross? How had Morgana gotten her hands on her? No doubt that was precisely what she was meant to ask. The question had been baited. "No, thank you," Cleo said quietly. "I find I've had quite enough."
Silverware clinked. "Clever and careful. I'll have to watch you very closely. Indeed, it's a shame we cannot be friends. I admire clever young women."
"I find that difficult to believe."
"Oh, now you're making me wonder what my son's been whispering over the pillow—"
"It wasn't... He didn't..." And then Cleo stopped, realizing that she'd walked into Morgana's trap. Very well. It wasn't as if the woman wouldn't have checked the sheets. Still, she had to recover somehow. "He's... a monster." It made her feel ill to say it, but she had no doubt Morgana would believe this lie—for Sebastian did.
"Most men are," Morgana replied with little sympathy. "That's why you cannot trust them. They believe it their right to control the world and do as they wish with their womenfolk. Even when they make you believe them to be kind, there is always that ugly beast within that can turn on you at any moment. Don't ever trust a man, my dear. Learn to use them instead."
Cleo didn't know what to say. There'd been bitterness there toward the end. "You speak of your divorce?"
"Ah, my noble husband Drake." Definitely bitterness. "A thousand promises that he made me, all of them broken."
"I thought you were involved in the poisoning of his nephew?"
"Do you know it's the one time in my life that I haven't actually been guilty of what was accused? There is irony for you." Morgana set her teacup down. "Of everything else, yes, I did it all. But... I believed Drake when he told me he would love me forever. I actually forgot, for a moment, what men were like. Let's put it down to the misguided hope of youth." Her voice roughened. "I never made that mistake again. And would you think me so foolish as to kill Drake's heir? The trail led back to me as neatly as a line of breadcrumbs. I am many things, but not a fool."
"Then who do you think did it?"
"Lady Rathbourne, I'd probably guess. She wanted my husband, but he wouldn't stray, not unless he had cause."
Cleo tilted her head. Did she dare believe the woman? "Last night I felt the collar that you have put on your son."
"He's a man," Morgana replied. "He even looks so very much like his father. How could I trust him?"
"So you leashed him instead. A self-fulfilling prophecy by the sound of it, and I would know."
There was a long moment of silence. "What did Eleanor Ross tell you?"
"I thought we were speaking of your son, and I still do not know who this Eleanor Ross is."
Morgana's smile echoed in her voice. "Well, let's play along then. Eleanor Ross is my ex-husband's mistress. Goodness, perhaps she murdered Drake's nephew and blamed it on me? She always did tag along at Drake's heels like a puppy. What did you tell them?"
