Page 29 of A Scandalous Agreement with an Earl

Chapter 29

“I’ve heard some troubling rumors, Edward,” his uncle said the moment Edward stepped in his study, where he had been summoned urgently.

It had been three days since Vivianne had disappeared, and there were no clues as to her whereabouts. Her parents were out of their minds, not only because of their daughter’s disappearance but also because of the rumors that were slowly starting to take over the ton . Now, it seemed that those same rumors had reached his uncle as well.

“What did you hear, Uncle?” Edward asked exasperatedly. He knew very well what they were. But he believed his uncle to be smarter than to believe everything the ton deemed to be true.

“The woman you have been courting,” his uncle spoke gravely, “it seems that she hasn’t merely disappeared. Word has it she’s eloped with someone else and her parents are merely trying to cover her tracks.”

Edward’s teeth gritted. “That’s not true,” he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for doubt. “Vivianne would never do something like that. She is in trouble, and I am doing everything I can to help find her.”

“Regardless of what you believe, Edward, the rumors alone are damaging. It reflects poorly on your choice of a fiancée. You need to consider that this could make her unsuitable to be your wife, and also, a member of our family.”

Edward’s face flushed with anger. Although his uncle had never been married, but he could hopefully understand that one didn’t simply give up when faced with obstacles that seemed insurmountable.

“You don’t understand, Uncle,” Edward assured him. “Someone has been spreading those malicious rumors, and I think I know who.”

Now, he knew he had to go and see William again. He had to know something about this. But it was too soon to mention anything to his uncle. He had no definitive proof of anything. In order to clear both his and Vivianne’s names, he would need it. For the time being, it was best to keep quiet about the information he possessed regarding his cousin.

“Who?” His uncle immediately lifted an eyebrow.

“I will tell you when I am certain of it,” he replied. “But for now, I need you to believe me, Uncle. Vivianne has been taken against her will.”

His uncle’s voice remained resolute, though laced with a hint of exasperation. “You must think of your own future and reputation. If she’s involved in such a scandal, it’s better to distance yourself from her and allow her parents to handle the situation. You should consider finding a more suitable match.”

Edward shook his head. “You told me to find someone and I did.”

“I told you to find someone from a good family,” his uncle reminded him.

“She is from a good family,” Edward snarled.

His uncle’s gaze tightened under the pressure. “Edward, this is a difficult situation. But you must be pragmatic. Sometimes, it’s better to cut your losses and move on.”

Edward shook his head, his resolve unshaken. “No. I refuse to abandon Vivianne. I’m not letting go of her, no matter what anyone says. I will find her and prove that these rumors are false.”

Upon those words, he left his uncle’s study, slamming the door angrily behind him. He was still breathing heavily as he stood in the corridor, where the weight of the entire world seemed to be pressing upon him. There was opposition on all sides. The rumor of Vivianne’s supposed elopement, combined with the disapproval of his uncle, made him feel as if the entire world was conspiring against them.

But that was exactly what Reginald was counting on. He was biding his time, keeping Vivianne hidden from Edward, from everyone else, so he could soil her reputation and claim that she had been with him all this time, of her own free will.

In a fit of frustration, he turned to the nearest wall. He felt powerless, helpless. He had never known those sensations before. He had always been in control of his life and even of the people around him. Now, it seemed that he was in control of nothing, not even what mattered the most, and that was his own heart.

He slammed his fist against the wall, the sound of the impact echoing in the hallway around him. The sharp pain in his knuckles reminded him that he was still there, still alive, still unwilling to give up, although it did little to ease the deep sense of powerlessness that gripped him and refused to let go.

His breath came in ragged gasps as he leaned against the wall, trying to steady himself. He felt as if the entire world was crumbling beneath his feet. But he had to keep going. He refused to give up on Vivianne. He refused to believe the rumors.

He took a moment to collect himself, his hand throbbing where it had struck the wall. The anger and frustration slowly gave way to a grim determination. He couldn’t afford to succumb to despair, no matter how dire the circumstances seemed.

***

Several days had passed since Vivianne had been taken. Each morning, she woke to the same oppressive reality, the chain still fastening her to the iron hook in the wall. Though the chain was no longer as physically restraining as it had been, the emotional chains were heavier than ever.

Vivianne found herself in the difficult position of trying to maintain a semblance of civility toward Reginald, despite the deep-seated revulsion she felt. Every interaction with him could potentially bring her one step closer to freedom, and that was what she kept repeating to herself.

Her attempts to be polite and engage in conversation with him were filled with internal conflict. She struggled to mask her true feelings, fearing that he would see through her efforts at any moment.

She had to bide her time. She had to keep him complacent. Fortunately, all he seemed to want for the time being was politeness and courtesy from her. She had read the book he had given her and told him how much she liked it.

He continued to bring her meals, engaged her in conversation, and presented small tokens of his affection. Each gesture was obviously intended to show his care and to soften her demeanor. What it actually did was deepen her sense of entrapment.

Every word of polite conversation felt like a betrayal to her true self. It was a constant struggle to force a smile and make pleasant small talk, her true emotions suppressed under layers of forced civility.

She often gazed out the window, watching the changing sky and wishing for freedom. She wondered how Edward was. She wondered if he was still searching for her. Her thoughts were an endless well of hope and despair, one always winning over the other. As for her days, they seemed to blend one into the other, with no sign of rescue on the horizon.

That morning, Reginald entered the room with a tray in hand, a small smile on his face. The tray held a scone, still warm and golden-brown, accompanied by a small pot of jam. There was also freshly brewed tea, the only source of solace she could find in those days.

The aroma of the scone filled the room, and Vivianne’s stomach growled in response, despite her inner turmoil. She was surprised how little it took for her to actually be happy at that moment. Despite her feeling wretched and desperate, the sight of the scone and the jam filled her with new hope, as if they alone were enough to get her out of the predicament she was in.

“Good morning, Vivianne,” Reginald said, setting the tray down beside her. “I’ve brought you something to enjoy. I hope it’s to your liking.”

Vivianne forced a smile, trying to mask the repulsion she felt at the sight of him. “Thank you, Reginald. This looks lovely.” She took a bite of the scone, chewing slowly to maintain the pretense of gratitude. “It’s delicious.”

As she ate, she winced slightly, rubbing her ankle. Reginald’s eyes followed the movement, and he looked concerned. “Is something wrong?”

Vivianne hesitated, then said, “My ankle is quite sore. The chain has been rubbing against it, and I think it might be getting worse.”

Reginald’s brow furrowed. He set the scone aside, walking over to her. “I’m sorry to hear that. I’ll see what I can do to help.”

With reluctant hope, Vivianne watched as he approached the iron hook where the chain was fastened. He retrieved a small key from his pocket and knelt down, unlocking the chain from her ankle.

The moment the chain was removed, Vivianne felt a rush of relief, though it was tempered by the fear of what might come next. Her ankle was sore and bruised from the constant restraint, but she moved it gingerly, feeling the freedom for the first time in days.

Reginald looked up at her with a mixture of satisfaction and concern. “I hope that helps. You must be more comfortable now.”

Vivianne nodded, trying to suppress her relief and the underlying betrayal she felt. “Thank you, Reginald. I appreciate it.”

As she felt the surge of freedom, or at least, a small semblance of it, her mind raced with newfound determination and strength. This was her chance—her moment to act. Her eyes darted around the room, searching for anything she could use as a weapon. The teacup on the tray still steamed with hot tea. Summoning all her strength, she grabbed the cup and, with a desperate lunge, hurled the contents directly at Reginald’s face.

The scalding tea splashed against him with a hiss, and Reginald's eyes widened in shock and pain.

“ Aaaargh! ” His screams tore through the silence around them.

He stumbled backward, wiping at his face as he staggered away from her. The unexpected attack gave Vivianne the precious seconds she needed.

Without waiting to see his reaction, she dashed toward the door, her heart pounding in her chest. She wrenched it open and fled down the corridor, bare feet pounding against the cold stone floor. She had no idea where she was. There seemed to be a million doors all around her and she didn’t know which ones to open, which ones led to freedom.

She had to keep moving. The sound of her own footsteps seemed to chase her down the labyrinthine passages, urging her to run faster because at any moment, someone might catch up.

Finally, she spotted the stairs at the end of the corridor. She dashed toward them, hoping they would lead to an escape route. But before she could reach the staircase, Reginald’s firm grip seized her from behind.

She struggled against him, trying to wrench free. She had no idea where all of that strength had come from. She moved with the force of a tidal wave, but it wasn’t enough. Reginald was relentless. He refused to let go of her no matter how hard she fought. His hold was stronger. It was unyielding, and he pulled her back from the stairs.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he hissed in her face.

She didn’t wait to hear more. She swung her arms, trying to strike him, but his anger and frustration made him almost as determined. In the chaos, Reginald lost his footing, and as he stumbled, he inadvertently shoved Vivianne toward the edge of the stairs with a sudden, jarring force.

She lost her balance and tumbled down the steps, each jarring impact sending sharp, painful jolts through her body. She cried out in shock and pain.

When she reached the bottom of the stairs in a crumpled heap, her head spun as darkness began to close in. Her entire world was lost in a swirling haze of pain and disorientation. She felt a throbbing ache in her head and limbs, and her vision was blurred, making it difficult to make out her surroundings.

A figure loomed over her, a familiar yet unrecognizable presence. Through the fog of her consciousness, she could make out a pair of concerned eyes and a face she couldn’t quite place. The figure gently shook her, and the sound of a voice pierced through her disorientation.

“Viv, please… wake up… I am so sorry, I didn’t mean to do that… please, wake up…”

The voice seemed to echo strangely in her ears. She tried to focus on the figure, but her vision was still too impaired to clearly see him. Her breathing was ragged, and her head spun with every attempt to make sense of her surroundings.

Her mind was slow to piece together the identity of the person speaking to her. She didn’t recognize him.

All she could do was ask one frightening question. “Who… are you?”