Melodic laughter filled the sun-soaked parlor of the Dunstan Manor. Adella flicked a calling card onto the floor. “No, tell her I am not at home.”
The Dunstan butler shifted from one foot to the other. “You are turning away Lady Giuliana?”
“Did I stutter?”
“No, b--”
“Then do as I have bidden you.” She looked across the table at Penelope. “I can’t possibly have such a woman cross the threshold of my home, right?”
She nodded eagerly. “Yes, Ms. Dunstan. It simply isn't done. Aren’t you curious why she is here?”
“I know what she wants,” answered Adella. “She wants me to back off and I won’t.”
Penelope licked her lips. “Though I have my own reasons for disliking Lady Giuliana, do you have other reasons for seeking her downfall?”
“Is her being evil not good enough?”
“It’s a good enough reason; however, if you wish to get others on our side, that may not be enough. What evil deeds has she done?”
“Her existence is enough.”
Penelope’s eyes darted here and there. She was quiet for a moment and then replied with conviction. “You’re right.”
“If the Elite need proof, I can easily concoct some instances.” Adella blinked her eyes, tears pooling in them. “Can you believe how she harassed my servants to demand to see me? I was so frightened that she’d attack me like she attacked them.”
Penelope’s blue eyes dimmed and she gave a single nod. “You’re right, Ms. Dunstan, it was such a horrible sight to see. I heard her say she wanted to kill you.”
Adella’s lips curled upwards. “I’m so lucky to have a friend like you, Penelope. I hope that you will pass on what happened here to your father.”
“Of course, Ms. Dunstan! It’s shameful that she is allowed to roam free when she is so ill-mannered.”
“You understand then why it’s important that she goes away.”
“Exile? To where?”
“How can you be exiled from a place to which you never belonged? Her mother is from Rasna, so she really isn’t from Etria.”
Penelope cocked her head to the side. “I suppose you’re right. Then what do you want to do with her?”
Her friend giggled into her tea cup and replied happily, “Extermination.”
She swallowed her confusion and nodded along. “It’s the only way.” Penelope’s hand trembled as she reached for a sandwich. Ms. Dunstan stared into the depths of her teacup.
“It’s her fault. She should have kept her head down like before and I wouldn’t have to resort to this.” Adella flicked her focus to Penelope. “You believe me, don’t you? That I’m the heroine of this story and she’s the villainess?” Her usual confidence trickled out of her voice to be replaced with fear. “It has to go how it’s written...it has to!”
Penelope patted Adella on the hand. “Yes, of course, I believe you, Ms. Dunstan. W-When you say…’written’, do you mean like a prophecy?”
“Y-yes! A prophecy!” Adella’s smile grew manic. “I had a dream where a voice spoke to me!”
“A voice? It’s unusual for people to have prophetic dreams.” Unusual was putting it mildly. It was not the practice in Etria, which Adella should know. Penelope side-eyed Ms. Dunstan. Huh.
Adella nodded her head with renewed vigor. “Yes! I know.” She preened in her chair, patting down her strawberry hair.
“Will you tell the king of your prophecy?” She asked with great care. If the girl dared to do such a thing, she’d be locked up.
“I think not.”
“Why?”
“So she doesn’t win.”
“What does her winning look like?”
“Becoming a Duchess.”
“Ah, I see.” But, to be frank, Penelope did not. She felt as if she moved in a fog most days, akin to a drunken stupor. Her head was heavy, thoughts distrubed with a single-minded determination to oust Lady Giuliana. “We’ll dispose of her, Ms. Dunstan. Don’t fret over it and the Duke will be yours as it has been written.”
“I knew you’d believe me,” Adella replied, letting out a relieved sigh. “This is the story the Goddess has written and we can’t stray from it.”
“Understood. What is our next step?”
“I need to get the Duke alone. But how?”
“I know a person who wishes to see their engagement dissolve as you do.”
“Who?”
“Sir Jasper Pinnick. He’s been obsessed with Lady Giuliana since the Academy.”
“Sir Jasper,” she repeated. “Send him a letter, Penelope. We are not introduced, so it’d be improper.” Her sea-green eyes glinted in the mid-afternoon light. “How far will he go to get that woman?”
“To the ends of the earth and to the farthest star in the sky…” Penelope paused to giggle. “At least, that’s what he told her at the Graduation Ball.”
“Might they be in a relationship already? A man does not say such words to a woman without encouragement?” Her tone was sick with sweetness. “Wouldn’t you agree?”
“She can’t be counted upon to stay true.” Penelope turned her head slightly toward the open terrace. A breeze blew through the vines of jasmine that crawled up the side of the manor. Their scent washed over her and the fogginess lifted. She blinked at her hostess.
Why was she here with Ms. Dunstan? Where was Alexina and Gwendolen? Why did she just feel oh so very tired?
“Ms. Dunstan, you’ll have to forgive me but I have a previous engagement with my father.” Penelope shot to her feet unsteadily and curtsied. “I will call on you soon.”
Adella sat still, dark circles pooling beneath her eyes and fine lines etching in her brow. “Do as you must.” She answered, leaning back in her chair. Penelope curtsied once more and grabbed at her reticule from a maid.
“What just happened?” Adella murmured, staring at the back of her hand, now littered with freckles and wrinkles. She hid her hand in the folds of her skirts. “I’m going to retire,” she called out to her maid. “I shall not be disturbed.”
“Very well, my lady.” The maids never looked her in the eye, a rule Adella introduced when they first moved into this grand manor. It was better that way when the enchantments slipped. It happened from time to time, but this occurrence had been too sudden. What had changed? She saw in Penelope’s eyes that the charms she had meticulously placed had vanished in an instant. All that hard work undone. She’d likely sleep for a day or two and Adella wouldn’t be able to get close enough to place them again.
That horrid Lecia wouldn’t dare let her into the house. She rightfully suspected Adella, but had no proof and no logic behind it, just a gut feeling. In Etria, you needed, at least, the illusion of proof.
Ah!
The illusion of proof might work well in regards to that woman and this Sir Jasper Pinnick. Adella shut her bedroom door and turned the key to lock it.
There was much to do to move the plot along.
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