But it was too late.
“Good heavens!” Miss Armitage hurried forward to clasp Penelope’s free hand. “What a terrible thing for your family. You have suffered so much!” Warm sympathy infused her voice as she drew Penelope close. “You must tell me all about it immediately.”
“It has been quite dreadful,” Penelope agreed happily. “You mustn’t tell anyone else, of course, but the things she’s said and done since it happened—”
“—Are blunt,” Elinor said through gritted teeth, “and honest. Never mad!”
“Mrs. De Lacey.” Sir John cleared his throat heavily. “I understand you’re an old friend of my wife’s, so you can’t be best pleased by this news, but I think you’ll agree that the opinion of a trained physician—”
“One hired by you,” said Elinor, “to give the diagnosis you prefer. Do not treat me like an idiot, Sir John!”
“Then don’t treat me like a servant, ma’am,” he snapped. “This is my household, and I’ll run it as I see fit. I made that clear to Mary when we first wed. If she can’t tolerate that anymore, then she’ll just have to deal with the consequences!”
Elinor’s fists clenched at her side. How many times had she had to stand silently by in the last six months, while he made stupid, brutal decisions about her and everyone else? But she wasn’t a poor relation anymore, and shewould notlet him do this to her aunt.
She couldn’t. Not when it was her own foolish, careless wish that had brought it all about in the first place.
“You may run this household, Sir John,” she said, “but when word spreads throughout fashionable Society that you and your daughter, between you, have had your wife locked up for selfish reasons, Penelope’s reputation will be ruined along with your own.”
Sir John’s face reddened. “By God, ma’am—”
“Oh, come now, Mrs. De Lacey,” Miss Armitage said, her voice as smooth as silk. “Do you really think the word would spread? Who among us would spread it, may I ask?”
Elinor kept her eyes locked on her uncle’s furious face. “I would,” she said, “and I think you all understand whatmyword is worth in Society. Is that truly a risk you wish to run, Sir John? Because I will not stand by and allow my oldest friend to be abused.”
“Abused!” Penelope gasped. “How can you say such a horrible thing? As if anyone would ever abuse my mother! All we want is to keep her in a cozy little cottage where no one has to hear her ravings. It’s what she’d prefer, I’m sure, if she were more herself. We’ll get her an attendant who knows just how to properly look after her. Papa told me! She’ll have all the comforts she could ever want, I am sure. What could there possibly be in that to complain about? It is only to keep her safe, you know.”
“To keepyousafe, you mean,” said Elinor. “Just because she doesn’t give in to you on everything anymore—”
Benedict cleared his throat warningly. But it was Sir John whose bellow cut her off.
“That’s enough!” He strode towards her, bull-like shoulders thrust forward and big hands knotted into fists. “From the moment you first arrived, ma’am, it has been one demand after another. But when it comes to threatening my daughter’s reputation…”
“You won’t let her do it, Papa,” Penelope said. “You couldn’t let her…oh, everything goes wrong for me nowadays! You’re all against me.” She burst into tears.
“Now, now,” Miss Armitage murmured. She tucked Penelope’s head into her shoulder, and Gavin Armitage moved to shelter the two of them protectively...but both Armitage gazes remained locked with keen appreciation upon the scene in front of them.
They were only gnats on the verge of Elinor’s consciousness, though, as Sir John bore down on her. She lifted her chin as high as it would go and stood her ground. “You are the one threatening your daughter’s reputation,” she said. “All you need do to remove all danger to Penelope is simply to forget this cruel scheme you’ve concocted.”
“Oh, is that all I need to do?” He spat the words, and spittle flew out from his mouth, one wet drop landing against Elinor’s cheek. “You take an eager interest in all of my family, don’t you, ma’am? First you make demands about my nieces, and now…”
“Nieces?” Miss Armitage murmured. “Which nieces are those?”
“I’ll tell you this, Mrs. De Lacey,” said Sir John. “If you still care so much about those nieces of mine, you’ll do well to forget your concern about my wife.”
Elinor froze. “What do you mean?”
“Purely to satisfyyourwhim,” he snarled, “I promised not to pursue Elinor Tregarth despite her theft from my daughter. Only to makeyouhappy, I promised not even to warn those poor innocents sheltering her sisters of the danger they’re in from those serpents.”
Elinor’s voice came out thin and strained. “I told you, if you want me to attend and help Penelope’s début…”
“And how much help do you imagine you’ll be if you’re busy spreading lies about my daughter?”
Her aunt…
Hersisters…
She couldn’t let him hurt Rose and Harry. Shecouldn’t.
