Sacrificial Bride to the Feared Lord Hastings-Chapter 45: Meeting with enemies (4)
Ophelia sat back down once Althea was out of sight. There was plenty of food on the table, which she didnβt think should go to waste. ππ«ππ²ππππ§π πππ₯.πππ
Dante managed to get breakfast for them both, but it wasnβt enough for Ophelia. She needed more if she was to put her body back at a good weight.
Victoria sat back down and glanced at Ophelia. Each time she sat with Ophelia, Ophelia always kept herself busy with food.
"What did you think of the queen, Ophelia?" Victoria asked, trying to spark a conversation.
"The queen seems to be a wonderful woman. I am honoured to be in her presence and look forward to speaking with her a little bit more," Ophelia answered.
"You should hope to be in her presence again. Her majesty was being kind because you are the new Lord Hastingsβ wife, but the queen is always picky with who she sits with. Youβd better stay on your toes and never disappoint the queen," Freya said, but it was what she hoped for.
"If I lose favour with the queen and I am no longer invited to gatherings, then so be it. I wouldnβt want to pester her to change her mind, but thank you for the advice you had to offer," Ophelia said, refusing to let Freya see her panic.
Ophelia wanted to see Freya walk away. "Now that the queen no longer sits with us, I suppose you would want to be on your way."
"I am becoming well-acquainted with Miss Victoria. Do you know that before your marriage, Victoria was the one lady many thought would wed Lord Hastings? They would have been the perfect match because of her standing and the closeness of their fathers," said Freya.
"Freya, you are lacking manners. We have not long cleared up that what you heard about Victoria and my husband has all along been rumours, yet you would speak of them being a suitable match now. Think of how Miss Lowe must feel," Ophelia said, smiling since Freya failed once more.
Freya gripped a handful of her dress. "You cannot tell me about manners. So what if he dolled you up so he could parade you around? You are still the same Ophelia that I once knew."
Ophelia enjoyed how easy it was to upset Freya. "Careful, Freya. You forget that we are not alone, and your mask is slipping."
Freya acknowledged Victoriaβs presence. "Was I rude to you, Miss Victoria?"
"No, not at all. The rumours do not upset me, but I do worry they trouble Lady Hastings. Now that your sister is married to Lord Hastings, it is not surprising that she wouldnβt wish to hear that I would be a suitable match for him. Lady Hastings," Victoria said, her eyes meeting with Opheliaβs.
"What your sister said is something you will hear during your time in the palace for the next few days. Think nothing of it since there was never a drop of love between your husband and me. We are simply friends," said Victoria.
"Oh, I am not upset by it. I was merely worried about how it would affect you. My husband has told me of how you are friends and of your troubles. Since you are so near and dear to him, I find it my duty to protect you," Ophelia replied.
Victoria frowned.
What could Dante have possibly told Ophelia?
Victoriaβs troubles with her uncle werenβt something she wanted Ophelia to know about. Ophelia was still a stranger.
"Thank you," Victoria said, but she had more to address.
"Miss Lowe, I think now is the perfect time for you and me to leave. Our time is better used elsewhere with ladies who can understand us," Freya said, ready to leave since the queen was gone.
"I will join you, but if you donβt mind, I would like to speak to Lady Hastings in private for a moment. I will be with you shortly," Victoria promised.
"Then, when youβre finished, I want to have a moment alone with her, and we can leave together. I wonβt be far," Freya said, sparing Ophelia one final glance before leaving.
Ophelia kept herself busy with food. She wanted a basket to place what would be left behind inside so she could eat on the way out of the palace.
"What are you doing?" Victoria asked, needing to know Opheliaβs motives.
"Eating. You should eat so it doesnβt go to waste,β said Ophelia.
"No, I meant, why did you speak of me to the queen?"
"You couldnβt have missed that she wanted to have fun with the rumours about you. You needed the talk about you being a mistress to end, so I helped you. Well, I helped the two of us. I donβt want to hear anymore of them trying to pit us against each other," Ophelia explained.
Ophelia continued to eat instead of worrying about things which did not matter to her.
"How could you eat at a time like this? You spoiled my plans, and you spoke of there being an attack, yet you are not concerned. You are the only one who is relaxed in the palace. You should be more careful, so donβt bring harm to Lord-"
"I donβt need anyone to tell me what to do concerning my husband. If you truly want others to stop with the rumours that you are his mistress, you should stop telling me what to do. Be his friend. Take your concerns to him, but leave me out of it," Ophelia pleaded.
Ophelia had a feeling that Victoria couldnβt voice her concerns to Dante, so she came to who she thought was the perfect target.
Unfortunately for Victoria, Ophelia didnβt care as she did.
"I am thinking of his best interest. I pity that your family kept you out of sight, but it has created a flaw for Dante. Along with that, I donβt need you to speak about me. Let me be the one to clear up the rumours-"
"So you can twist it to your favour," Ophelia finished for Victoria. "You are quite predictable. I wonder if it is because you lean on him so often that you keep acting so childish. If you are to stop rumours about you two having an affair, then stop it. Donβt let it go on until it becomes a bigger mess."
"Why does it matter to you what I do?" Victoria asked, angry that Ophelia kept overstepping.
"What a foolish question. What woman wants to be trapped in gossip that her husband has a mistress?" Ophelia questioned, thinking it foolish that she needed to explain it.
"Well, there might be some truth to the rumours," Victoria said, attempting to hurt Ophelia.
