Chapter 6 - Rumor is spreading

Another week went by, where Jenny avoided her husband as much as she could, and Lora thought to keep him as occupied as she could in the evenings. Lora didn't talk a lot to him, however, which she hoped would help get her into Jenny's good favour – or at least in a better position in the household than she was at the moment.

Jenny spent most of her time waiting for the rumour to spread. Through Maia, she arranged meetings with Rowan, and they met almost daily in the early hours when the sun graced the earth with its light.

Finally on an otherwise normal Friday Ezra entered the dining room for lunch, with a sour expression on his face.

"Jenny, I need a word," he said barely looking at her. Instead, his eyes moved towards Lora, who quickly looked away, trying to seem occupied with picking the raisins out of her salad.

"Of course, my dear husband," Jenny said in an icy tone and gestured to a chair by the table, "won't you join us?"

Ezra looked from Lora to Jenny and back to Lora with a puzzled look on his face. "No thank you, I think you would like this conversation to be between the two of us."

Jenny put on a fake smile, "and why would I want that dear? After all, everything I have I share with Lora, surely, I have nothing to hide from her." Jenny looked kindly towards Lora and noticed that her ears were beginning to turn red, the colour moving from the top of her ear, down it and down into her cheeks.

Lora stood up still staring down into her food, "I can leave, I wouldn't want to disturb you."

"Don't be ridiculous," Ezra said and frowned as he looked at her, "sit back down."

"Yes, Mr Huxley." Lora immediately sat down, trying to pretend that she wasn't there. Instead, she imagined that she was sitting outside in the garden. She liked the garden and had become quite used to spending time there in the middle of the night when no one else – except the housekeeper Linda – was awake. Lora had come to speculate whether Linda was some kind of supernatural creature or deity, who never needed sleep, food, or water. She seemed to be something entirely non-human. Perhaps an undead creature?

"Please Ezra, dear husband, won't you share a meal with your women?" Jenny tried again to coerce him into taking a seat.

Ezra scowled at her, "fine if that is how you want it." He marched over to a chair a little too far away from Jenny, but close enough that they could hear the cruel words they spoke to each other.

"So, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?" Jenny asked before grabbing another bite of salad.

"Tomorrow a high-standing gentleman – Mrs Basile – and his wife is hosting a dinner." Ezra filled his plate to the brim, "there will be a lot of potential investors in attendance." He began eating and continued speaking through his food. "I was looking forward to attending myself, making some new connections – and of course you would be attending as my wife, charming them as usual."

"Thank you, dear," Jenny said and nodded at him, trying to make him realise that he had just complimented her. Of course, he had never intended it as such and just continued.

"And then imagine my surprise," he said and paused for dramatic effect in the wrong place, "when I find out that we have been uninvited."

"Uninvited?" Jenny asked trying to act surprised, "for whatever reason?"

"There is a rumour," he paused. "You have been seen with another man. In the park, riding, alone. Is there something you would like to tell me?"

"Would like to tell you?" Jenny lifted her eyebrows, acting in surprise, "now I don't know why you are not invited to this dinner, simply over a rumour." She smiled kindly, "it is true that I have been seeing a man – he is quite a good rider you see and is teaching me a lot." Jenny glanced over at Lora, who didn't dare interfere in the conversation. "Surely no are not feeling threatened by this. After all, you have Lora to keep you pleased, why should I not indulge myself too?"

Ezra dropped his fork and stood up. "It is not normal for wives to take lovers, and thus is highly frowned upon. You have shunned us from the better part of society."

"Darling," Jenny said with a smile, "you do not belong in the better part of society." Jenny quickly stood up and walked out of the room before Ezra had any chance to reply.

Ezra looked over at Lora, who had been staring at her food through the entire conversation but hadn't been able to eat anything. And she was still staring down at her plate, her eyes focused on a small piece of tomato.

"My chambers, now," Ezra said and stood up.

Lora moved her head quickly towards him, her eyes wide open and her lips slightly quivering. "Yes Mr Huxley?" she asked carefully.

"What?" he asked his eyes meeting her with a strength she had become used to, but this was the first time that he truly terrified her.

"Just… wouldn't you like to clear the air with your wife before…"

"Why are you acting like this?" he asked and sighed, "my wife means nothing to me anymore. She is running my name and reputation." He closed his eyes as he rubbed his forehead with his hand.

Lora lay down her cutlery and stood up, "forgive me for saying it, but have you not yourself let to…" she stopped herself before finishing her sentence. No, she thought as she realised, she was not this brave, even though she had found understanding for Jenny's situation. "Forgive me," she simply finished her sentence and exited the room followed by Ezra.