Chapter29Truth Geoffreysaidnothing,buthisfacedarkened,astormbrewingbehindhissilence.

Finished Seeinghislack ofresponseasconsent,Matildapressedon.DidntyouaskmetoarrangeamatchforHarley?Theestateislittlemorethananemptyhusknow.Evenifwesecureamarriage ,wecantsendashabbybetrothalgift.YouretheDuke.Yourstatusdemandsaweddingbefittingyourtitle.Withthisgold,wecanhostthebanquetinpropersplendor.Itsyourfacewellbesaving,afterall.

Geoffreysexpressionremainedinscrutable,thoughhiseyeshinted at somethingdeeper.DidntPrunellaleaveamanorandshopsthatbroughtinmoneyeverymonth?Howhastheestatebeenreducedtothis-anemptyshell? Matildalookedaggrieved.Themanorsbeenparchedwithdroughtthesepasttwoyearstheresbeennoincome.Asfortheshops,poormanagementhasrunthemintotheground.Theybarelysustainthemselves,andwhentheydont,Ivehadtousehouseholdfundstokeepthemafloat.ThelargersumsareinMotherscare;whethertheyyieldprofitorloss,Icannotsay.

Geoffreyconsideredherwordsforalongmomentbeforereplying.Ifthemanorisbarrenandtheshops.arefailing,thenhandthemovertoIsolde.Theybelongedtohermotherandwillbeherssoonerorlater.

Marildagasped.Handthemover?Toher?Shesayounggirl!Howcanshepossiblymanagemanorsandshops?Besides,thosewerePrunellasdowry,yes,butshesbeengoneforyears.Herdowryispartofthefamilyestatenow.HandingittoIsolde?Peoplewouldlk!Evenifweagreed,thegossipwoulddestroyher.

Geoffreysvoiceturnedicy.IllnotstomachthetheftofPrunellasdowry.EvenifIcould,myconsciencewouldntallowit.WhatdoIcareforthewhispersofoutsidersifhermotherslegacyisreturnedtoherrightfulhands? Matildascomposurefaltered,hervoicerisinginpanic.Butwhat aboutHarley?Youmustthink ofhim !Isoldewillmarryoutoneday ,and ifshetakesthemanorsandshops,whatwillhehaveleft? Geoffreystonesharpened.Harleyisaman.Lethimmakehisownwayintheworld.DidIrelyonanyone.whenIearnedmytitle?NoIfoughtforitwithmyowntwohands.Ifhedesireswe

althorpower,hemustearnithimself.

Matildapaled.Areyousayingyouwontevenpass downyourtitletohim? Geoffreysgazehardened.Wellseewhat hescapable of.Ifheremainsasuselessasheisnow,thengivinghimanythingwouldbeawaste.

Matildarecoiled,stunned.Howcanyoubesocruel?Hesyourson! Geoffreyschesttightenedatherwords,asthoughsomethinghad crushedhisheart.

Harleywashisson,yes.ButIsoldewas hisdaughterthedaughterofthewomanhehadlovedmostinthis world Foryears,hehad abandonedher.Evenafterbringingherback,hehadturnedablindeyetoherexistence.

Intheaccountsyoubring meeachseason,theresalwaysasummarkedforIsoldesclothesand jewelry.YetIvisitedthePearlTowerthisevening andsawbarelyahandfulofgarments.Wherehasthatmoneygone?Whoweretheclothesreallyfor? AR1/3 12:51Fri,Mar Chapter29Truth Finished Hehadntintendedtobringthisuptonight.Hehadalwaysavoidedtroubleinthehousehold,choosingpeaceoverconfrontation.ButMatildaswordshadstruckanerveandstirredhislong suppressedfury Matildastaredathim,aghast.YouwenttothePearlTower?Tolookatherclothes?Youdistrustme?

Afteralltheseyearsashusbandand wife,youdonttrustme Geoffreysvoicewascoldandresolute.No,Idont.Returnthemanors andshops.Allofthem.

Matildastaggeredback,disbeliefinhereyes.ForyearshehadentrustedherwitheverythingPrunellaslegacy,theestatesholdings,theentirehousehold.

Ivepouredmyheartandsoulintothisfamily,shesail,hervoicetremblingwithoutrageandgrief.Andyourepaymewiththis?GeoffreyLangley,howcanyoubesoheartless? Hertearfulwordsandpainedexpressionwouldhavemeltedanyothermansheart.ButtheGeoffreywasunmoved.

HehadneverreflectedonhisfailingstowardIsolde,letaloneMatilda.

WhywouldIwaverforthiswomanthissecondwifewhomeantlittletome? Youhavethreedays.hesaidcoolly.ReturneverythingofPrunellastoIsolde.Withthat,heturnedandstrodefromtheroom,thesweepofhiscloakmarkingthefinalityofhiswords.

Atthedoor,heordered,Harlan,preparetheOrchidChamber.Illmovetherefromnowon.

TheOrchidChamberhadbeenPrunellashome.Eversinceherdeath,ithadremainedsealed,untouched byanyone.

Matildacollapsedinto thechair ,hertone sharpwithdefiance.Fine.Fine!Dontcomeifyoulike,butdontthinkIllhandanythingover.NotonlywillIkeepit,Illtakethemoneytoo.ItbelongstoHarley.

Anneenteredquietly,speakinginahushedvoice.Malam,theresnoneedtochallengetheDuke.Promisehimfornow.Evenifyougiveupthosethings,Isoldewillneverlivetoenjoythem.

Matildahesitated,thennodded.Youreright.Whatsthepoint?Adyingwomannomatterwhatyougiveherwill returnittomeintheend Sherealized,inherpanic ,shednearlyforgottentheplan.

Isoldehadgrownupontheestate,trainedincombat,andstoodmorethanhalfaheadtallerthanMichelle,whohadknownonlyapamperedlife.

WhenHarlanbroughtoverMichellesclothing,itwaslaughablyshortonTsolde.Thesleevesstoppedatherwrists,thehemdangledawkwardlyathercalves,andhergreensatinshoespeekedout,plainforalltosee.Itwas anembarrassment.

Thenextmorning,shepresentedherselftoGeoffreyinthatveryoutfit.

Geoffreyfroze,hisangerobvious.HeturnedsharplytoHarlan.Istherenothinglonger? Harlanshrugged.Nothing Thengettothetailor.Havesomethingmadeto fitherproperly.Immediately.GeoffreycouldntletIsoldeappearbeforethecourtlookingsoabsurd.Onelook,and tongueswouldwagthathetreatedhis byFri,Mar Chapter29Truth owndaughterpoorly.

Finished Harlanleftwitharesignedsigh,leavingIsoldeandGeoffreyinstrainedsilence,staringeachotherdown.

Afteralong,tensemoment,Geoffreyspoke.WhatsthisaboutLordHarmon? Isoldemethisgazecoolly.Didyouaskhimyourself? Idid.Heclaimshesneverseenyoubefore.SaysnoonefromMarysfamilylodgedacomplaint,nordidhesummon you.Geoffreysfrustrationwas clear.HecouldtellHarmonwaslying.Butwhatmanwoulddaresuchbolddeceit withoutcause? Isoldewassilentforabeatbeforeanswering,deliberateandcalm.Marysfamilywouldntdarecomplain withoutundeniableproof.Buttheywouldknowsomething,evenifnotthewholetruth.Ifsomeonestirredthemupthinkingyo

ureeasytoextortitwouldntsurpriseme.Butthecuriouspart?Lord Harmonwasabletosummonme,yetIneverarrivedattheHighCourt.Instead,liketheheir,Iendedup IatWolfMountain.Thinkonthat.

Geoffreyfroze,realizationdawning.Youmean- Hestoppedhimselfabruptly.Shecouldnt knowoftheShadowmereaffair,andyetherwordshintedotherwise.

IfLordHarmonisntactingonordersfromtheHighMagistrate,thenwhoisheserving?And ifthecarriagehasindeedbeenboundforWolfMountain,doesthatmeanLordHarmonisin leaguewiththoseforces? Whoelsehaveyouspokentoaboutthis?Geoffrey demanded.

Noone,Isolderepliedflatly.

AthrillranthroughGeoffrey.Thefogobscuringthetruthhadshifted,ifonlyslightly,revealingtheshadowofsomethingdeeper.

Isolde,meanwhile, loweredherhead,idlystraighteningthetooshorthemofherdress,thoughthesteelinhereyesremainedhidden.

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