Chapter 2
“Lady Margaret, everyone here knows the truth. It’s clear Lord Edmund walked into the wrong room, and you, in your desperation, are trying to protect your innocence by offering your life. The nobility here will surely respect your courage.”
My father glared at Margaret. “You’ve learned your mother’s low tricks and are now using them on your own sister? If you are innocent, then prove it by using the silk noose to show your purity. After your death, I will ensure you are buried properly, as my legitimate daughter.”
Margaret shook her head, crying, her voice full of pleas. She crawled to my feet. “Eleanor, you’ve always cherished me, never treated me as lesser for my birth. I know this shames you, but I—I don’t want to die! Please, save me. Let me stay in the household as your servant. I don’t care if I am a concubine or a maid. Please, I beg you. Didn’t you always say we’d be sisters forever? If we both serve Lord Edmund, we’ll never be parted!”
Yes, I had always believed we would be together forever. That was why, in my past life, I never guarded against her–never realized how meticulously she had schemed to enter Norland Keep, to steal my place as Lady Edmund, to climb over my corpse until she and her son ruled the house. But this time, I wouldn’t be deceived.
Edmund stepped forward, his face full of sympathy. “Eleanor, it’s all my fault. Punish me, scold me, but don’t drive her to death because of my mistake. Let Margaret enter the household. Would it not be sweet for sisters to share a home?”
I looked at Edmund, my eyes full of sorrow, tears brimming. “When you proposed, Lord Edmund, you vowed no concubines, no mistresses–only me, life. Yet now you’ve broken that oath. What do you expect me to say? Since you’ve broken your word, then this marriage is over.” Lord Norland and Lady Norland were stunned. The royal connection had been hard–won, and they couldn’t let it Lord Norland, furious, seized a whip from the wall and struck Edmund’s back. “You fool, drunk and lost, how could you wander into the wrong room? Thank goodness she is also the daughter of the Royal Defender. If she were anyone else, what would you have done?” His words cut deep.
go so
easily.
for
Lady Norland stepped forward, holding my mother’s hand. “Madam, Margaret is also your child. Though my son erred, calStafford off the wedding now would only harm Eleanor’s reputation.”
My father’s voice rang out sharply, “It is Lord Edmund who has disgraced us! How does that reflect on my daughter? If Edmund has already been with Margaret, why not let them marry instead?” Lady Norland said, eyes glinting.
Margaret looked up eagerly at Edmund.
Though Edmund had feeStaffords for her, he wasn’t foolish enough to ignore the vast difference between a legitimate daughter and a bastard. Lady Norland pressed
