Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 19: Selfish (1)

"Dante, will you explain to me why the servants took furniture to that woman’s chamber? Victoria lies sick on her bed, not knowing if she will live to see another day, and what do you do? Reward the woman who tried to kill her!" Cecilia yelled, frustrated that Dante never listened.

Cecilia was upset to awaken to the news that Dante was rewarding Ophelia with better furniture.

Dante didn’t think about the message this would send to the servants. This was why, in Cecilia’s eyes, men weren’t suited to interfere with the work of servants.

"I am looking into what happened with Victoria. If I suspected Ophelia was behind it, she would still be in the dungeon," Dante said, trying to keep focus on his work.

"It is her. We all know it is her. It is not a mere coincidence that when she sat at the table with us, Victoria was poisoned. So rather than giving her new furniture, you should kill her."

Dante leaned back on his chair. His mother was quite the headache these days. No, she was a headache for Dante since his father died.

"She’s been confined to her chamber since she arrived. When would she have had the time to poison Victoria? Do you suspect she is working with someone here? That the Valthorns managed to sneak in a spy?" Dante asked, giving his mother a chance to back her suspicions.

"Perhaps it is so," Cecilia answered.

"It could be so," Dante said, nodding his head. "But rather than Victoria, I expect her to kill you, mother. You’re the unreasonable one."

"Victoria is your lover. You have little idea of what jealousy pushes a woman to do," Cecilia said, certain Ophelia had good reason to go after Victoria. "She likely thought Victoria would be an easy target."

"It’s not her. Thanks to you keeping her guarded, I know it isn’t. I am not going to kill an innocent woman-"

"But you’ll allow an innocent woman to lie sick on a bed while you reward a woman you have not known for long. Victoria has always been like a daughter to me. Just as you promised her father to protect her, I promised to treat her like family. She is our family first," Cecilia tried to remind Dante.

"You mustn’t send her away. She is awfully terrified of what her uncle will do and only feels safe here. I will stay out of your way as long as you allow Victoria to stay. I fear that if I let her out of my sight, she shall wither away. Please," Cecilia pleaded.

"Matters of my wife are to be dealt with by me. If you can stop going out of your way to target Ophelia, I will allow Victoria to stay for now. Can you promise you will leave her be, mother?" Dante asked, using his mother’s wishes to his advantage.

Cecilia gritted her teeth.

It wasn’t unusual for the mother of the husband to command the wife. In Dante’s case, Cecilia needed to watch Ophelia more than ever.

"I am waiting," Dante said, his patience running thin.

"I will leave her be as long as you promise me never to let that woman fool you. She’s a vixen just like her mother. Her mother was married once before she married Joel," said Cecilia.

"Will you punish me for my father’s mistakes?"

"Certainly not-"

"Then I will not do it to another simply because you hate her," Dante said, once more, using his mother’s words to silence her.

So far, Ophelia wasn’t much of a threat, but Dante kept it open that there might be a surprise from Ophelia in the future.

"I am wary of her just as you are, but until she shows her hand that she is a threat, she will be left alone. Have you forgotten the words of your husband? We leave innocent people alone."

Cecilia didn’t think anyone from the Valthorn family could ever be innocent. "Don’t you dare use your father’s words against me. I will leave her alone, and then you will see what a mistake you have made. You must keep your promise never to send Victoria away."

"I made no such promise that I will never send her away. I said, for now, she may stay. Rather than trouble yourself with what Ophelia received, you should be at Victoria’s side. I trust Eliza to put Victoria back in good health. Stop worrying," said Dante.

"It is impossible that I stop worrying about her. Think of how she must feel to have held your heart for so long, only to have to see that woman arrive and be named your wife. I pity her. Victoria has been by your side all for nought," Cecilia said, hopeful Dante would open his eyes.

"I have given you what you wanted. You should leave before I take it back. If you are so concerned about Victoria, go to her side instead of standing here," Dante said, no longer interested in what his mother had to say.

"And while we are on the matter of sending someone away, gather your things," Dante said, having had enough of his mother’s behaviour.

"Dante! I agreed to leave her alone," Cecilia said, confused as to why she was now being sent away.

"Yes, you did agree, but that was for when you visit the castle. Before Ophelia came, you were not living here, and I want to keep it that way. Leave quietly before I have the servants gather your things and send you away," Dante advised Cecilia.

Cecilia didn’t wish to follow along, but she knew she wouldn’t be out of the castle for long. "When I am gone, you shall see that I was right."

***

In her chamber, Victoria kept staring out the window. She was worried about what Eliza or Dante would find the more they looked into the culprit behind her poisoning.

When the door opened, Victoria moved too quickly to take a look and felt dizzy.

"Nora," Victoria whispered.

"I did as you asked, Milady. So far, only Ophelia was accused of poisoning you, but it is odd. Lord Hastings ordered that new furniture be taken to the old tower, and he personally removed her from the dungeon," Nora repeated all that she heard.

"It is the right thing to do. She wasn’t the one who poisoned me. They were to think of my uncle, not Ophelia. We didn’t plan well," Victoria muttered.

"But isn’t the plan working either way? Lord Hastings wouldn’t possibly send you away now, and he won’t let you two sit together. The maids are all angry that you have been injured. They have taken your side," Nora said, hoping Victoria would be happy.

Nora wasn’t worried about Victoria’s state since, along with the poison, she had provided the antidote, which Victoria took while the doctor was away.

"I should be happy, but how can I be when they are blaming someone who didn’t poison me? Where is Lady Cecilia?" Victoria asked, knowing Cecilia would be upset and lashing out at Ophelia.

"I do not know, Milady. Should I leave and look around?"

"No," Victoria shook her head. "It might be suspicious if you keep following others. You are right that I should be happy. I cannot leave the castle. I will pray for the one Dante finds guilty for this crime."