Scandal Of The Heart

Chapter 8

The fallout from Eliza’s bold declaration was immediate and devastating. Thornton Manor, once a place of grandeur and prestige, became a cauldron of whispers and judgment. The scandal spread through the ton like wildfire, with every household discussing the shocking turn of events at the dinner party.

“A lady in love with a servant? Unheard of!”

“She refused Lord Daventry for a footman? How scandalous!”

“Eliza Thornton has disgraced her family. How will they ever recover from this?”

By the next morning, it seemed that all of London knew of the scandal. Eliza could hardly leave her room without hearing the hushed voices of the servants discussing her betrayal of her father’s wishes. She hadn’t seen Thomas since the dinner, and the uncertainty gnawed at her. What was to become of them now?

But the worst part was the silence from her family.

Her father had not spoken to her since the dinner, his fury palpable even in his absence. Her mother had retreated behind a mask of cold politeness, speaking only when necessary. Even her brothers, who had always been protective of her, seemed distant, their disappointment obvious.

Eliza sat by her window, staring out into the gardens that now seemed so far removed from the life she once knew. She had expected fallout—she wasn’t naïve—but the weight of it was suffocating. She had made her choice, but at what cost?

A knock on her door broke the heavy silence.

“Eliza?”

Her mother’s voice was soft, but there was no warmth in it. Eliza turned to see the countess standing in the doorway, her face unreadable.

“Mother,” Eliza said, standing from her chair.

The countess entered the room, closing the door behind her. She stood for a moment, looking at Eliza as if seeing her for the first time. “You’ve caused quite the scandal,” she said quietly.

Eliza swallowed, but held her head high. “I had to follow my heart, Mother.”

Her mother’s lips thinned. “Your heart? Do you realize what you’ve done? You’ve thrown away everything. Your future, your standing, your family’s reputation. All for a… a servant.”

Eliza flinched at the venom in her mother’s tone, but she didn’t waver. “I won’t apologize for loving him.”

The countess sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. “You are young, Eliza. You don’t understand the gravity of your actions. Society will never forgive you for this. Your father… your father may never forgive you.”

Tears pricked at Eliza’s eyes, but she blinked them away. “I know,” she whispered. “But I couldn’t marry Lord Daventry. I couldn’t live a lie.”

Her mother’s gaze softened, but only slightly. “Life is not always about love, Eliza. Sometimes, we must make sacrifices for the greater good.”

“I’ve already sacrificed enough,” Eliza said, her voice trembling. “I’ve sacrificed my happiness, my dreams. I won’t sacrifice love too.”

The countess was silent for a long moment, her eyes searching Eliza’s face. Finally, she sighed again, a weary sound. “Your father will be speaking with you soon. Be prepared. His anger has not lessened.”

With that, she turned and left the room, leaving Eliza alone once more.

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That afternoon, Eliza was summoned to her father’s study. The walk down the hall felt like a death march, her heart heavy with dread. She had stood up to him once, but she knew the full force of his wrath was yet to come.