Chapter 329: What Are You Trying to Do?

Margaret had a pounding headache. After briefly entertaining the guests, she retreated to her chambers. Agnes and Eleanor followed suit.

Eleanor was restless. The moment she finished her soup, she left. Susan, a girl from Vermelle Hall, would know what to do. And yet, Eleanor couldn’t shake off the unease in her heart. Though she was using Susan to pave the way for her own future favor, ensuring her leverage against both Isolde and William’s future wife, the thought of Susan being on equal footing with her gnawed at her pride. After all, William barely spared her a glance these days. If she didn’t have someone speaking for her in his presence, she’d never regain her standing. But Susan? She was just a woman from Vermelle Hall. The idea of being on the same level as her was downright revolting.

“If you don’t want to go out and socialize, Mother, then don’t. It’s just Oliver’s wedding, not my brother’s,” Agnes said.

Margaret scoffed coldly. “You think I’m doing this for Oliver? You’ve seen how your father treats me. If I don’t make an appearance today, do you have any idea how much gossip will spread?”

Agnes seethed. “This is all Isolde’s fault! Because of her, Father blames you!” She cast Margaret an annoyed glance. “We were supposed to teach her a lesson today, but you stopped us! If not for you, she would’ve made a complete fool of herself at her own wedding!”

Pablo’s voice was sharp. “She’s already married into the family. If she’s humiliated, wouldn’t that be a disgrace to the entire Langley family? Your grandfather returned today to maintain appearances. If anything happened, do you think he wouldn’t be livid? And you—an outsider now that you’re married—should stop meddling in your mother’s household affairs. Last time, you shoved Cristina into his bed as a concubine, and now we’re stuck with her. She acts all high and mighty, doesn’t even respect me. If it weren’t for you, if I didn’t have to protect your reputation from Oliver’s gossip, do you think I’d tolerate this? Stay out of it. As for Isolde, I’ll handle it.”

Agnes still wasn’t happy, but Margaret’s harsh tone made her hold her tongue.

Just then, William strode into the room. Eleanor lifted her gaze to him, her jealousy spiking at the sight of his slightly disheveled hair and the wrinkles in his clothes. That wretched Susan—she wanted to scream. But before she could say a word, William suddenly dropped to his knees.

Margaret startled. “What are you doing?”

William raised his head, his tone unwavering. “I beg you to approve my marriage.”

“Marriage?” Eleanor shrieked. “You want to marry Susan? No! She can only be a concubine!”

William’s gaze snapped to her, sharp and severe. “What did you just say?”

Eleanor realized she had misspoken in haste, but she was unwilling to back down. She knew Agnes was unreliable, so she fell to her knees, weeping. “You can’t do this to me! William can’t marry Susan! Susan is…”

Agnes, furious, shoved her. “Shut up and let Mother speak!”

Margaret cast Eleanor a cold glance but ignored her. Instead, she turned back to William. “Who exactly do you want to marry?”

William took a deep breath. “Martha. She and I… it’s already done.”

“You fool!” Margaret’s fury exploded as she struck him across the face. “Are you out of your mind?! The Langley family is already drowning in scandal, and you want to marry one of their women? Are you completely brainless? Forget it. I will never allow it!”

William’s jaw tightened. “If you refuse, I’ll go to Father. I ruined her reputation—I have to take responsibility.”

Margaret, though livid, forced herself to think rationally. She needed to understand what had happened before deciding how to dismantle it.

Eleanor, meanwhile, spun to look at Agnes, her face drained of color. Martha? she thought, horrified. Wasn’t it supposed to be Susan?!

Agnes lowered her gaze, equally perplexed.

William explained, “I had a few drinks earlier and went to my room to rest. Just as I was settling in, I heard that Ashley had fallen into the water. I rushed out to check, but it wasn’t Ashley—it was Martha. She was soaked, shivering. I took her to my room to change, and… I lost control. Ashley saw everything. I have to take responsibility.”

Margaret narrowed her eyes. “You lost control? How, exactly? Were you watching her undress?”

William’s face darkened. “No, she hadn’t even started changing. I don’t know what came over me…”

Margaret’s expression sharpened. William wasn’t the type to act on impulse. Something wasn’t right.

“Think carefully,” she pressed. “Did Martha give you anything to eat or drink? Did you notice any strange scents on her?”

William shook his head. “No.”

Margaret didn’t believe it. He must have been drugged; there was no other explanation.

She turned to Eleanor. “Earlier, you mentioned Susan. Who is she?”

“She called herself a cousin,” William answered before Eleanor could. “She was helping Martha and addressed her as ‘cousin’ too.”

Margaret’s mind whirred. A cousin? That was a problem.

Instead of revealing her thoughts, she continued questioning. “Did you bring Susan?”

Eleanor nodded, her face ghostly pale. “Yes. I brought her to introduce her to William, to have her pay respects.”

Margaret scoffed. “Same generation, and she needs to pay respects? Unnecessary…”

William’s expression suddenly shifted. He pointed at Eleanor, his voice thunderous. “You gave me water earlier. Did you put something in it?”

Eleanor frantically shook her head. “I—I didn’t! I wouldn’t dare!”

“Liar! Right after drinking it, I felt unbearably hot. I tried to walk it off, but before I could, the servants came running in… It was you! You wretched woman!” Furious, William struck Eleanor hard across the face, sending her reeling.

Eleanor clutched her cheek, sobbing. “It wasn’t me! It was Agnes! She told me to do it! She wanted you to take Susan as a concubine!”

Agnes nearly smacked Eleanor herself. Was this girl an idiot? If you’re going down, at least take it to your grave!

William’s fury turned to Agnes. “You again! First, you led me to the Langley estate and humiliated me in front of Isolde. Now, you’ve drugged me? What the hell are you trying to do?!”