Episode 29

The afternoon was bright, but the turmoil in Lilian’s heart turned the day gray.
The carriage ride beside Lady Penelope should have been comforting—after all, her godmother was the only person with whom she could be completely honest—but at that moment, she felt trapped.

Lady Penelope placed a gentle hand over hers. “You look pale, my dear.”
Lilian forced a smile. “I just didn’t sleep well.”
It wasn’t a lie. The encounter with Gabriel, the confrontation that followed, his betrayal… But what tormented her wasn’t just her feelings; it was the realization that she had lost the only man she had ever loved. And now, she felt like a prisoner in a gilded cage.

The carriage stopped in front of Lady Fitzroy’s residence, where a small afternoon tea gathering was being held among high society ladies. A common event, yet for Lilian, it now felt like a minefield. They all know. From the moment she entered the house, she felt the stares, the false smiles, the conversations that turned into whispers whenever she passed. They’re watching me. And they’re talking about me.

Lady Fitzroy greeted her with a light, polite smile. “Lady Lilian, what a pleasure to have you here! We were just talking about you!”
Lilian smiled out of courtesy, but the tightness in her stomach intensified. “I hope it was something pleasant.”
Lady Fitzroy chuckled softly, taking her arm and leading her into the sitting room. “But of course, my dear. We are all so pleased to hear that your engagement to Lord Whitaker is progressing well. After all, with the rumors circulating, it would be a tragedy if there were any misunderstandings, wouldn’t you agree?”

Lilian’s blood ran cold. The rumors.
Before she could respond, Lady Harriet, an older woman known for her sharp tongue, approached.
“My dear, I do hope you haven’t been too affected by the gossip about Lord Sinclair. It is such a shame that he tried to stir up a scandal, but now that the existence of this Emily has come to light, I believe no one will doubt that Lord Whitaker is the right choice for you.”

Lilian felt dizzy for a moment. So this was how society saw the situation? That Gabriel was the deceiver? That her marriage to Whitaker was inevitable?

Lady Helena, a young debutante, leaned in slightly, curiosity barely hidden in her gaze. “But tell us, Lady Lilian, was it very difficult for you to endure the situation? It must have been devastating to discover that Lord Sinclair had a secret fiancée in the Caribbean. Did the king know about this when he granted him his title?”

Lilian felt the ground slip beneath her feet. This was it. It didn’t matter what she felt. It didn’t matter that she loved Gabriel, that she didn’t want Whitaker. Society had already decided her fate.

Lady Fitzroy gave her hand a light squeeze, offering her a benevolent yet condescending smile. “Do not worry, my dear. We all support you through this difficult time. Your wedding will be a grand event, without a doubt. Lord Whitaker will know how to protect you from the shame of this situation.”

Lilian tried to speak, but her voice failed her. It was as if they were talking about her, but not to her. As if she had no choice. The teacup trembled slightly in her fingers, and Lady Penelope intervened. “I believe my goddaughter needs some fresh air.”

With gentle but firm hands, Lady Penelope stood, taking Lilian’s arm and leading her to one of the quieter corridors of the house. Only once they were alone did Lilian finally take a deep breath.

“Now do you see?” Lady Penelope’s voice was low, but weighted with meaning. “This isn’t just about you and Gabriel. It’s about what they expect from you.”

Lilian ran trembling hands over the fabric of her gown, trying to process what she had just heard. “I... I can’t...” Her voice broke again.

Lady Penelope sighed and took her hands. “If you marry Whitaker, it will be forever, Lilian. Society will never forgive you if you break an engagement to be with another man. But listen to me carefully, my dear…”

Her eyes gleamed with intensity. “If you do nothing now, you will never forgive yourself either.”

A knot tightened in Lilian’s throat. “And what if I can’t?” she thought. She was trapped. But worse than that… for the first time, she realized that maybe, just maybe, she wasn’t capable of running.

***

Gabriel knew something was wrong the moment he stepped into White’s. The club, once a refuge where he had enjoyed moments of relaxation, now felt like a courtroom filled with judgmental stares and concealed smirks. It was no secret that aristocrats delighted in scandal, but there was a difference between being the man who created gossip and being the man everyone was whispering about. And today, Gabriel was the target.

Damien, beside him, let out a low whistle. “Well, Sinclair, looks like you’ve become the main attraction of the day.”

Gabriel ignored the remark, striding into the hall as if he didn’t feel the piercing stares following him. But the murmurs were impossible to ignore. Among the whispers, he caught a few distinct words: “I thought he’d have the decency to hide after the scandal.”