Chapter 10: Low Funds
Both Soleia and Orion turned their gazes to the door, their eyes wide as Lucinda stood by the doorway. Her eyes were equally as round, holding out a hand as she pointed back and forth between Orion and Soleia.
Surprise morphed into outrage as Lucinda stormed into the study, her arms immediately reaching for Soleia to pull her away from Orion.
"What do you think you're doing, you hussy!" Lucinda screeched, her voice reverberating through the air, enough that there was no doubt everyone in the estate had heard her. "Get away from my cousin!"
"Excuse me? Hussy?" Soleia's mouth fell open in shock at the audacity of Lucinda's words. "I am his wife!"
"Oh ho," Lucinda said with a huff. "But you're not going to be his wife for much longer! I have heard about it all."
Pushing Soleia to one side, Lucinda came over to Orion, practically clinging onto his arm as she fluttered her long eyelashes with great interest.
"I've heard that my dear cousin has found a new bride," she said, puffing her chest proudly. "Isn't that right, Cousin Orion?"
Orion stared at her with round eyes, so much so that it almost seemed to Soleia he had completely forgotten about Elowyn for a second there despite the huge commotion they caused when he returned with her. However, that state of surprise only lasted for a second. When Orion blinked again, it was gone.
He pursed his lips into a fine line, choosing not to address this issue. Instead, he said, "Where were you?" Slowly, he pulled his arm free from Lucinda's grip. "And where is Mother?"