Chapter 2 - Whispers in the Gallery
The sharp intake of breath from Beatrice echoed loudly in the suddenly quiet ballroom, betraying a panic she desperately tried to conceal beneath her severe exterior. Eleanor watched the older woman closely, noting the subtle twitch in Beatrice's jaw and the way her trembling fingers gripped the handle of the water bucket. The guests had backed away, sensing that the private war between the family matriarchs had just crossed a dangerous threshold. Little Lily remained on the floor, her small hands still clutching the white cloth, though she had stopped crying, her wide, observant eyes shifting between the two women.
"You're losing your mind, Eleanor," Beatrice recovered quickly, forcing a cold, dismissive laugh that didn't quite reach her eyes. "A safe combination in a child's dress? The pressure of this estate is finally breaking your judgment."
"Is it?" Eleanor challenged, taking another step forward. "Because you looked awfully terrified just a second ago when I mentioned the vault. Shall we open it right now, Beatrice? Shall we let everyone here see what you’ve been hiding behind the family portrait for the last ten years?"
Beatrice's eyes narrowed into slits. "You wouldn't dare. That vault holds documents that protect this entire dynasty, including your precious inheritance. Exposing it destroys us all."
"I care nothing for this dynasty if it was built on lies and stolen lives," Eleanor said firmly. She turned her attention back to the little girl, her expression softening instantly as she knelt down once more. "Come, Lily. Let's get you out of this cold room."
As Eleanor extended her hand to help the child stand, the heavy mahogany doors at the main entrance of the hall suddenly swung open with a loud bang. A tall man in a tailored charcoal suit stepped inside, breathless and soaked from the sudden rain outside. It was Arthur, the estate's chief legal counsel, who had supposedly been out of the country for the past week.
Arthur scanned the tense room, his gaze locking immediately onto Beatrice, then onto Eleanor and the stained white dress on the floor.
"You shouldn't have brought her back here, Beatrice," Arthur shouted across the room, his voice shaking with urgency. "They already know about the audit."
May you like
Beatrice gasped, dropping the bucket of water as Arthur pulled a sealed manila folder from his wet coat, revealing a stamped red label across the front that made every color drain from Beatrice's face.
---
