BETRAYAL OF DIGNITY
Part 16
Damien's Lover
As Chloe stirred from her slumber, having drifted off after taking her medicine, she was relieved that the first face she saw was not Damien's. Instead, she found herself gazing up at her attending physician and Marguerite, her devoted maidservant, who wore expressions of both concern and relief.
"Do you feel somewhat better, my lady?" Marguerite inquired.
"You must refrain from any exertion at all costs," the physician advised.
After assuring them that Chloe was free of fever and sternly reminding her to rest, House Thisse's physician excused himself. Chloe laboriously hoisted herself up in bed and leaned against the headboard. As Marguerite placed a cushion behind her, Chloe, her voice raspy, addressed her maidservant, "Marguerite, what of the guests?"
Marguerite barely hid her irritation when her mistress's first words upon regaining consciousness after the icy ordeal were about the visitors. Her annoyance was further stoked by reports from other servants that the guests had shown little concern for the ailing Duchess.
"They have all departed, my lady, except... for one person," Marguerite informed her.
Chloe had a good guess as to the identity of their remaining guest.
"The Marquise?" Chloe ventured.
"My lady, you were the one who fell into the water. Why on earth would she faint? I simply cannot comprehend it." Hearing her maidservant's grumbling, Chloe closed her heavy lids and opened them again. Outside, night had cloaked the world in darkness.
"How fortunate that your husband rescued you so promptly. It must be a divine blessing that the Dowager Duchess was not present in the castle. If she had been aware of this, poor Sir Brun would have had three patients to tend to in one night," Marguerite remarked.
In her blurred vision, Chloe took a moment to gather her thoughts. According to her maid, Damien had fulfilled his duty as a husband and rescued his wife. She tried to overlook the fact that the Duke had also plunged into a potentially perilous situation.
But would she have ended up in the icy lake if he hadn't extended an invitation to his paramour, Lady Isabella? The stationary skating chair couldn't have moved so swiftly of its own accord, suggesting that someone had intentionally pushed her.
"Were there any other incidents?" Chloe asked.
"The greatest mishap was your collapse, my lady!" Marguerite exclaimed.
Chloe recalled the moments just before her fall. Several people had been moving swiftly around her, but she had a fair idea of who might be responsible. The one who pushed her was likely Isabella herself, if not someone under her influence.
However, the situation seemed too grave to be the act of someone hoping to curry favor with the Marquise.
"Marguerite... Where is Lady Isabella's chamber?" Chloe asked.
"Why do you ask, my lady?" Marguerite responded cautously.
"I have something of great importance to discuss with her." Deep concern marred Chloes countenance. It had been apparent from the start that Isabella bore ill toward her. If she had been in love with the Duke for some time, such enmity would be understandable. Given that Chloe had even publicly admonished her in front of other women, she wouldn't be surprised if the Marquise's ill-will had sharpened to a deadly point, much like an icicle lying in wait in the eaves.
However, regardless of Chloe's understanding of Isabella's situation, it wasn't her role to soothe the heart of a marquise wounded by her lover. Had Chloe tried to appease her, she would have undermined the authority of the Duchess, and truth be told, Chloe did not wish to appease the Duke's paramour.
