After getting dressed, Annette was escorted to the dining hall, where she had breakfast alone. Though she appeared to be the only one in the room, she couldn't shake the lingering feeling that someone was watching her.
An hour passed as she nibbled at her food until she could eat no more. She had expected the lord or at least someone to join her, but no one showed up, which was strange considering the amount of food laid out on the table.
Surely, they didn't expect her to eat it all.
Annette rose from her chair and made her way to the door. She pressed her ear against it, listening for any sound, but heard none. Slowly, she pulled it open, only to find no one outside. The guard who had brought her there was gone.
Being left unguarded was unusual.
She considered waiting for his return, but she couldn't ignore this slim opportunity to explore the mansion.
Biting the inside of her cheek, she slipped out of the room, closing the door gently behind her.
Perhaps this, too, was part of the Viscount's plan, but she couldn't bring herself to care. It wasn't as though she intended to steal anything.
Smoothing the front of her dress, she drew in a deep breath and began walking down the left side of the hallway, her footsteps echoing softly around her.
After a while, she found herself in a sitting area. It was beautiful, with paintings of various sizes lining the walls. However, the one that caught her attention was the portrait of the Viscount.
She moved closer, lifting her gaze to study it. Standing before it now, she could see every intricate detail. He was seated loosely on a cushion, shirt partially unbuttoned, eyes fixed forward. His hair was shorter in the portrait.
Annette raised her hand, tracing her fingers lightly over the frame when muffled sounds caught her attention.
She frowned, turning toward the direction the noise was coming from.
Before she could think better of it, her feet moved of their own accord, guiding her toward the sound. As she drew closer, the muffled noises became clearer. It belonged to someone. A woman.
She stopped in front of a door—the only thing standing between her and whoever was making those sounds. Taking a calming breath, Annette grasped the knob, twisted it, and pushed the door open.
It was a library.
A ginormous one.
It didn't take long for her eyes to land on the woman crouched beneath a table.
She was murmuring to herself, clearly searching for something.
"Ah, I've found it," the woman exclaimed, jolting up too quickly and slamming her head against the table. "Dear gods—ouch. That hurts like hell," she whined, crawling out from under it.
Her eyes widened when they landed on Annette.
Silence followed as the two women stared at each other.
Annette watched as the woman rose to her feet, brushing dust from her dress and palms.
"Good morning," she said with a bright smile. "I'm Elizabeth. I haven't seen you here before. Who are you?"
Annette eyed her warily. Everyone she had encountered in the mansion so far had been stiff and dull, it was strange to meet someone who seemed so… normal.
From her manner of dress and refined speech, Annette could tell the woman was of noble standing. She was fair—too fair, in Annette's opinion. Her dark hair was pinned neatly atop her head, and her blue dress accentuated her complexion. She looked like something straight out of a fantasy book, like a fairy come to life.
"I'm Annette," she replied, hesitating briefly. "A… guest of the Viscount."
Elizabeth's eyes widened again. She gasped, placing a hand over her mouth. "I've heard rumors that the lord has taken a mistress," she said breathlessly. "I can't believe it's true." Her gaze swept Annette from head to toe. "I must say, you're a beautiful woman." She giggled.
Annette remained still, confusion swirling in her mind. "Forgive me," she said carefully, "but are you somehow related to the lord?"
Elizabeth burst into laughter. "Dear gods, me? Related to the lord?" she laughed. "That would be horrible." She barely managed the words between fits of laughter.
When her laughter finally subsided, she let out a breath and straightened herself. "I'm not related to him," she said. "Unfortunately, he and I are engaged, set to be wed by the end of the year."
Oh. This was her—the Viscount's bride-to-be.
Hmmm
Could this be the key to her success? Annette wondered.
"You don't sound pleased with the engagement," Annette observed.
"I… it's not that I'm displeased," Elizabeth said, rubbing her temples in distress. "It's just that he and I have nothing in common. We aren't fond of each other. I know he's considered a charming man and all, but I can't imagine being married to him."
"If you have no interest in him, why marry him?" Annette asked.
"Oh, my dear," Elizabeth sighed. "You have no idea how the council works. The engagement has already been sealed, it can only be broken by death. And I don't plan on dying anytime soon. I assume the same goes for the
Oh, the Viscount would die soon, Annette thought coldly.
"And you have no issue with him having a mistress?" she asked.
"Not at all," Elizabeth replied with a shrug. "I'll take whatever keeps him away from me."
Hmmm. Interesting.
"Lady Eliza—"
"Please, call me Beth," Elizabeth interrupted gently. "No need for formality."
Annette smiled. "Very well."
Beth stepped closer. "But I do wonder how you two met. From what I know, the Viscount keeps to himself. How did you manage to make him keep you as his mistress?"
Annette's jaw clenched. She despised how they all spoke of being the lord's mistress as though it were some grand achievement. By the gods, it was no different from being a whore, just wrapped in silk and given a prettier name.
"It's a long story, Beth," Annette said carefully. "I wouldn't want to bore you—"
"Nonsense," Beth said brightly. "I truly wish to know." She looped her arm through Annette's, gently guiding her out of the library. "Let's have some tea while we talk," she added with a smile.