Scandal Of The Heart

Chapter 5

The tension in Thornton Manor was palpable the following morning. Eliza sat by the window of her chambers, watching the gentle breeze rustle the leaves of the garden below. She had barely slept the night before, her thoughts consumed by the confrontation with Lord Daventry and, more importantly, Thomas's daring intervention. It had been reckless—brave, yes—but dangerous. She couldn’t stop thinking about how he had looked at her, how he had stood up to a man of Daventry’s status without hesitation.

And now she was left to deal with the consequences.

There was no telling what Lord Daventry might do. He was proud, possessive, and vindictive. A confrontation like the one in the garden would not be forgotten, and Eliza had no doubt that he would seek to cause trouble for Thomas. The weight of it all pressed down on her, but even that paled in comparison to the deeper truth she was beginning to acknowledge: her feelings for Thomas were no longer something she could dismiss.

A knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. “Come in,” she called softly.

The door opened, and her mother stepped inside, her expression unusually stern. Lady Thornton was not a woman to be trifled with. Though she often played the role of doting mother in public, she could be ruthless when it came to maintaining the family’s reputation.

“Eliza, we need to speak,” Lady Thornton said, closing the door behind her.

Eliza’s heart skipped a beat. She had been expecting this conversation, but that didn’t make it any easier.

“About what, Mother?” she asked, keeping her voice as calm as possible.

Lady Thornton took a seat in the chair opposite her, folding her hands in her lap. “I’ve heard rumors circulating from the ball. Rumors involving Lord Daventry and… an inappropriate incident in the garden.”

Eliza’s stomach twisted. The gossip had spread faster than she had anticipated.

“It was a misunderstanding,” she said quickly, hoping to defuse the situation before it spiraled further. “Lord Daventry was… overzealous in his attentions, and Thomas merely stepped in to help.”

Lady Thornton’s eyes narrowed. “Overzealous? That is not the version of events I’ve heard. Lord Daventry has already sent word to your father, expressing his displeasure with the treatment he received. He claimed that you humiliated him in front of the servants and that this footman, Thomas, acted with insubordination.”

Eliza clenched her fists in her lap. Of course, Daventry would twist the story to suit his agenda.

“Mother, I assure you, Thomas did nothing wrong,” she said, her voice laced with frustration. “If anything, he was protecting me from Lord Daventry’s inappropriate behavior.”

Lady Thornton raised an eyebrow. “Inappropriate behavior? You should know better than to accuse a man like Lord Daventry without proof. His family is powerful, Eliza. If you have any hope of securing a suitable match, you must tread carefully.”

Eliza’s temper flared. “I don’t want to marry Lord Daventry!” she snapped, her voice louder than she intended. “I’ve made that clear to both him and Father. Why can’t anyone understand that?”

Lady Thornton’s expression softened slightly, though her tone remained firm. “You are a lady of the ton, Eliza. Your desires do not always align with what is best for the family. Lord Daventry may not be ideal in your eyes, but he is a man of considerable wealth and standing. Refusing him outright would not only damage your reputation but ours as well.”

Eliza felt a surge of helplessness. How could her mother not see the gravity of the situation? How could she not understand that Lord Daventry was dangerous in his own way? But arguing with her mother was a losing battle.