Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 102: Trust (1)

Ophelia stood back as Dante walked Alistair outside. She didn’t want to miss the moment she was waiting for.

"Lady Hastings, might I have a word with you?" Victoria asked, coming to a stop beside Ophelia.

"You may," Ophelia replied, her gaze still on the two men. "Did your talk go well?"

"It didn’t go as I wanted, but it is the most I have spoken to him since my father died, so it is a start. I was thinking of your family. Do you write to them often?" Victoria asked, hoping Ophelia’s being distracted would reveal the truth.

"Why would I? You have seen that I am not close to the Valthorns. Why would I bother myself by writing to them? I would only write to my brother, but it isn’t possible," said Ophelia.

Victoria was startled by a noise outside. "What was that?"

"Dante punished your uncle for all that he said. It would be better if he had killed him. Why didn’t you let him kill your uncle before he rose to more power? Certainly, you know talking won’t get you anywhere," Ophelia said, turning her attention back to Victoria.

"I regret holding Dante back then, and believe me, I won’t do it again. I would like my uncle to be killed, but there are two problems. The king would imprison Dante, and my father’s home would go to the next male heir again. I want to be married and have a son soon," said Victoria.

"Children don’t come quickly, and for me, it would be wrong to bring a child into this world simply for the sake of getting your father’s home. What if you were to get a girl on your first try? Would you hate her? Surely, there must be another way," said Ophelia.

Ophelia couldn’t see how Victoria’s plans would go well. "Where are you going to find someone to marry you and give you a child quickly?"

"Perhaps I should ask Lord Hastings to give me a child. I jest," Victoria said, clearing up the misunderstanding before it sullied her relationship with Ophelia further.

"It is not something you should joke about concerning a man who doesn’t want children. I suggest you sit again and think of another idea. Surely, a better plan than marrying and having a child will come to you," Ophelia said, starting to think of her own plan.

"I hate it just as you do, but it is the only way. They would never allow me to claim the home unless I have a son. I do think it is time that I settle down and start a family. I cannot depend on Dante for much longer, nor can I intrude on what he has with you. I want to marry," Victoria said, standing with her decision.

"Well, it is your life, so who am I to stop you? I hope you succeed since I do not like your uncle. I would have returned to his home and killed him in his sleep. I hope you do not let him dangle anything before you and fall for it. He is a sly man," Ophelia said, watching the carriage leave.

"I know not to trust him. It must bother you to be told of the king. It is good that you will be leaving the capital soon. Nothing good comes from getting the king’s attention, and I fear what would have happened had you stayed in the palace. He is awful," said Victoria.

"That I agree with. Take a moment to prepare yourself for the other guests who will be arriving shortly. Dinner will be eventful. Excuse me," Ophelia said, leaving Victoria’s side to go to Dante. "That was wonderful. You managed to not only hit him, but make him fall into the carriage."

"I did not want to disappoint my wife. Is she well?" Dante inquired, looking up at where Victoria walked away.

"She seems so, but now she is speaking of getting married. You should have a word with her. Our guests won’t be here for a moment, so you may go. I will oversee the arrangements in the dining chamber. Go," Ophelia gave Dante a nudge.

"I won’t be long," Dante replied.

Dante left Ophelia’s side and followed Victoria.

"Victoria!" Dante called to get her attention.

Victoria turned around and smiled. "Forgive me. I didn’t know you wanted to speak with me."

"Surely you knew that I would come to you. Are you going to see the proof he has?"

Victoria frowned.

It hadn’t crossed her mind that Dante would be able to overhear them.

Victoria looked down to avoid his gaze. "I wasn’t going to work with him. I wanted to see it to offer you, so you know if you could trust her. I would never arrange for him to take her. You must believe me."

"Why didn’t you stay by the door to speak of what he told you right away? Were you going to dwell on it and consider the odds because he is offering your home-"

"No!" Victoria exclaimed. Victoria pushed her fingers through her hair, moving it out of her face. "I would never betray you. My loyalty to you should never be questioned. I thought that if there is some truth to her betraying you, you should see it. I was going to take the proof to you."

"I don’t need to see any proof. I know where Ophelia stands with the war, and I don’t need any proof to break the truth she finally placed in me," said Dante.

Victoria couldn’t believe Dante. She didn’t think he was smitten to this degree.

"I don’t trust him, but there is no harm in seeing what it is he will present. I was doing it for your best interest, not to turn you against her. You must believe I would have presented it to you. Are you not curious?" Victoria asked, expecting some doubt.

The Dante she knew would have wanted to see the letter.

"Are you aware that I arranged for a tutor to come to the castle for Ophelia? The report was that she could read small words, and her writing was that of a child’s. The Valthorns didn’t put any care into educating her because she was made to work," Dante explained.

"I did not know this," Victoria said, surprised by what Dante shared. "He was going to create a fake letter."

"Yes, he would have. It would have been more admirable of you to ignore what he spoke of. I will be the one to make the judgment of whether she could be trusted or not. I do not need your help. I suggest you focus more on the husband you claim to want and less on my wife," Dante advised Victoria.