Too Scandalous To Love

Eleanor wandered through the grand halls of the manor, her bare feet making barely a sound on the cold marble floor as she walked mindlessly. A maid trailed behind her, carrying a pair of shoes in hand. The maid's shoulders were stiff as she looked around to see if they were being followed. 

"My Lady, please wear your shoes," The maid pleaded for the hundredth time, 

Eleanor's lips pulled up into a fond smile, "Linda, let me enjoy this luxury a little bit more." Her smile faltered. "I hate those shoes, they make so much noise." 

"Lady Jane will have my head if she sees you like this," The maid said, her eyes darting round the hallway.

"Don't worry; I will handle her," Eleanor replied confidently. You are safe with me."

Eleanor's fingers trailed along the wall as she walked, her mind lost in thought. Despite the bustling activity of the manor, with servants scurrying about, attending to their duties, Eleanor couldn't shake the feeling of deep loneliness that had taken residence in her heart. It seemed to be a part of her now. 

She felt like a stranger in her own home. She envied the servants, at least after a stressful day of running around the manor, they had families waiting for them somewhere. The one family she thought she had… She stopped her mind from wandering towards her brother. 

As she turned a corner, she failed to notice the manor's butler, Mr Jenkins, standing in her path. She bumped into him. 

"Sir Jenkins, I am so sorry," She quickly apologised. "I didn't see you."

"I should be the one apologising, Milady. I should have been more careful." The butler replied, his voice crisp and unfriendly.

Eleanor didn't bother to acknowledge his apology. Instead, she merely nodded and continued on her way. It was no news the man didn't like her for some odd reason. Thank goodness the feeling was mutual. 

Linda whispered to her young mistress as they walked, "Sir Jenkins gives me chills, Milady."

Eleanor chuckled, a wry smile twisting her lips. "Me too," she admitted. "He gives me a bad energy."

The sound of shattering glass echoed through the hallway, drawing Eleanor's attention. "What was that?" she asked, quickening her pace.

As she entered the entrance hall, she spotted a girl about her own age, kneeling on the floor amidst the broken pieces of what looked like a teacup and saucer. 

Eleanor rushed over to assist the girl, concern etched on her face. "Are you alright?" Eleanor asked as she helped the girl to her feet. "Oh no, you're bleeding!"

The girl shook her head frantically, tears welling up in her eyes. "I-I'm so sorry, milady. I was carrying the tea tray, and I tripped...I didn't mean to break them…I was just trying to adjust the cup when—"

"That's enough," Eleanor snapped. You should be more worried about your injury than about some useless cup that can be replaced in a blink of an eye!" 

"But," The maid began again, eyes darting around the hall as if expecting someone to jump on her any second.

"Don't worry about it. Accidents happen." Eleanor's expression softened, and she gently took the girl's hand, examining the cut.

"What is happening here?" A familiar voice startled Eleanor from behind. "Is that…You clumsy little wench, how dare you break my favourite teacup?" The woman yelled. 

The maid visibly trembled. "I am sorry. I was—" she began to explain, but her mistress cut her off.

"I will teach you a lesson you won't forget in a hurry. I will have you whipped and locked up, maybe then you will learn to carry out your duties right. Where are the guards?" Lady Jane asked, eyes searching of the manor guards.

"Mother, please, allow me to handle this. You shouldn't bother yourself with irrelevant matters like this." Before the woman could utter one word, she quickly added, "I will make sure she receives a befitting punishment." 

Lady Jane's gaze swept over the scene before her, her eyes lingering on the broken glass. "You are right. I shouldn't allow things like this to bother me when I have more serious things to attend to." She exhaled. "Well, in that case, I will leave you to handle this mess."

Eleanor's eyes flashed with relief. "Thank you, mother. I won't disappoint you."

"You better don't," Lady Jane nodded, "But this can wait for now. Follow me to the tea room, I have something important to discuss with you." 

"I will do that," Eleanor replied. When Lady Jane's eyes darted to Eleanor's bare feet, her gaze followed, "I thought it would be nice to feel the coolness of the floor for a few minutes," Eleanor explained, trying to sound nonchalant.

Lady Jane was having none of it. "Let this be the last time I will see you like this. Put those shoes on right now," she ordered and walked away, expecting Eleanor to follow.

As soon as Lady Jane was out of earshot, Elora turned to the maid and asked, "Are you alright?"

The maid nodded, still looking frightened. Elora smiled reassuringly and said, "Don't worry. I am not going to punish you." She turned to Linda, who had been watching the exchange with wide eyes, and said, "Get someone to clean up this mess. Take her to the physician to have her wounds tended to so the cuts don't become infected." She took her shoes and put them on.

"Thank you so much, My Lady." The maid whispered, "You are too kind."

Eleanor nodded. "It's best if you don't come around for a few days." With that, she dashed after her stepmother, her heart racing in her chest. 

She was anxious and curious about what her stepmother wanted to discuss. 

Sunlight filled the modest room, highlighting the fine golden couches and the wooden table. A large, charcoal portrait of Lady Jane, smiling unnaturally, hung on the wall. Eleanor despised it, finding it unsettling.

Lady Jane gestured for her to sit, and she did so, trying to compose and carry herself with as much grace as possible. "Is everything alright, mother?" Though she had called the woman mother thousands of times, it never felt right or natural as it was supposed to. 

Lady Jane cleared her throat, her lips pulling up into a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Eleanor dear, I have wonderful news for you,"

Suddenly alert, Eleanor asked, "Wonderful news? Is it about Ryder? Did he reply?"

Lady Jane's eyes narrowed into slits, "Young woman, how many times have I told you not to mention that name in this house?"

"I'm so sorry, I thought..." The brief surge of excitement drained from Eleanor, leaving her shoulders heavy.

"Don't be ridiculous, Eleanor. After years of complete abandonment, you still call him your brother?"

Eleanor fidgeted with her dress. "Are you sure the letters were sent to the right prison?" she dared to ask, eyes fixed on her stepmother's light blue ones.

In a low voice, Lady Jane said, "Your brother has been out of prison for many months now." There was a small pause in the room as she allowed the young girl to process the information.

"Ryder is out of prison?" Eleanor asked, surprise evident in her voice, "How come I didn't hear about it?"

"I didn't tell you because I didn't want to get your hopes up. I thought by now he would try to reach out to you, but nothing like that has happened. He knows where you are, so what is stopping him from reaching out to you?" 

Eleanor's heart sank deeper into her belly, and her emotions were a whirlwind. Of course, she was happy Ryder was out of prison, but the fact that he hadn't tried to reach out to her only deepened her resentment toward him. 

Lady Jane sighed, "Eleanor, I didn't call here to talk about your brother. Like I said, I have wonderful news." She said, her voice dripping with an unusual sweetness. "Lord Henry has proposed marriage to you.

Eleanor's eyes widened in horror. "Marriage? Lord Henry? Which of the Lord Henry, if I may ask, Mother?" She asked, her voice hard,

"The one we both know," Lady Jane replied, her lips pulling up into a smile, 

Eleanor shook her head in disbelief. "Mother!" She whisper-yelled, "How can I get married to a man older than my father?! That is unfair."

"You ungrateful little brat! What do you know about what is fair and not?" Lady Jane scolded, nose flaring in anger, "Forget about the age. Age doesn't matter in marriage. Marrying Lord Henry would be a fantastic opportunity! He is a wealthy and influential man. Imagine the doors it will open for you and this family."

Eleanor felt a surge of anger and hatred towards her stepmother. It's always about her and her son— no one else mattered. "What about my feelings? What about what I want?" She asked, struggling to keep her voice steady. 

Lady Jane's smile faltered. "Your feelings are irrelevant, dear. What matters is what's best for this family. Just think of it as you repaying me for my kindness."

"Does father know about this arrangement?" Eleanor asked, swallowing back her tears, 

"Yes, I have already spoken to your father, and he is in agreement with me." Lady Jane replied confidently.

Eleanor's eyes slightly narrowed. To her, the woman had the face of an angel and the heart of a demon. She knew exactly what the woman was doing to her father, but she didn't dare utter a word about it. 

"I need some time to think about it," Eleanor finally said, trying to stall for time.

Lady Jane's face lit up with a fake smile, "Of course, El. I will give you time, but know that it has already been decided upon, and there is nothing you can do."

Eleanor nodded and left the room. She felt overwhelmed by everything that was happening in her life. She was tired of pretending to be someone she wasn't, tired of her stepmother controlling her like a little mut.

She longed for someone to share her burdens with, someone to trust. But that someone was nowhere to be found.