Villains also get Second chance

Marianne pov

How could I be such a fool! I could not believe that I did not notice the man and let him stay with mother for such a long time. It would have been more than an hour already.

I wore the first dress I saw and walked out of my chamber without even wearing jewels or combing my hair properly. Though I was assured that he could not physically harm mother in the palace, there was a high chance that he could offer something to mother to eat, the way marques Wiltshire had given me.

"My lady, you are not properly dressed. Her grace would be disappointing." came the voice of Daulla who was running behind me to match my steps.

"I do not care. Now stop disturbing me and ask the knights to close all the doors and stay in alert position." 

"But my lady, it would need the permission of her grace." 

"Do as I said, Daulla, and do it now."

"Have my brother left for the town?"

"Yes, my lady. My lord left with the knights one hour ago."

"Darn!"

"Language, my lady" I shook my head at both of them, even at this time they were thinking about language!

"My lady"

"I want to meet my mother." This time my voice was sharp and authoritative, which surprised her, since most of the time I did not show authority here.

"Yes, my lady. You can go in '' she bowed her head and i walked in, i would have even if she had denied.

When I opened the door abruptly, my mother, who was looking at the file was startled. She frowned when she looked at me.

I looked around but there was no one except her and she was looking absolutely fine. I think I was overthinking. I took a sigh of relief and walked towards her.

"What kind of behavior is this, Marianne? You should wait for the permission and even if it's nor needed, you can not walk like this. Look at your hair and your dress is wet from the front. Do you have any idea…" she kept complaining to me, while all i saw was her rosy complexion and her perfectly fine body.

She had no idea how many worse thoughts passed through my mind in these 10 minutes.

"Why was Earl Alcantra here?" I asked cutting her lecture.

She looked at me surprised, "are you cutting my words now?" i could see she was getting furious but i didn't care, not at this moment at least.

"Mother, I know that you are angry and I apologize to you, but this matter is urgent and all I need is a few replies. I beg you to just answer a few questions of mine." my words were more authorizing and she finally noticed my pale face and took a deep breath.

"What is it?" her voice came out with so much pressure, but at least she was listening now.

"Why was the earl here?"

"He had a business proposal for your father, but he didn't have time to wait. So he requested me to listen to him and see if there are chances of approval or else he would go to someone else. So, i gave him sometime. I did not like the idea, so i informed him that i will talk to my husband but did not keep his hopes high. 

I think he got the hint, so he left." she replied in a much calmer tone.

"Did he give you any gift or some sweets as a gesture or anything to eat?'' I asked as I looked at the table which had nothing but files.

"No, even if he had bought gifts, I would not have taken them. I do not take gifts randomly, Mari. You should know that." she replied once again getting slightly angry at me.

I sat there and took some deep breaths. 

"Mother, there are few things that you need to know from now." 

"And what are they?'' I looked around to see the number of guards and maid present who had followed me in.

"All of you, leave. We both need to talk." they all bowed and left and the room turned silent again.

"Mother, marquees Wiltshire have killed Cassius parents because they wanted to control him and all the dukedom. They have even tried to harm Killian mentally and they even tried to drug me. 

So it is better that you and father stay away from any person that is related to them. And this earl Alcantara is a very good friend and business partner of marquees Wiltshire. 

There are many things that you did not know yet. I apologise to hide it from you but i have never thought that the flames of fire would start touching this family too.'' I stood up from my seat taking a deep breath as I walked towards the window and looked out.

"Mother, me and Cassius are not getting divorce. In fact, we did the deed.. We have consummated our marriage. And the knight who was coming for night duties is no one else but Cassius. We have planned all this drama since the start. It is just our plan to bring the culprits out. I did not know if this plan would work or not, but i am sure that their guards would be done and we will improve a bit.'' I kept on speaking but I did not hear a word back from her.

I frowned as this was not her nature at all, I have got all my anger from her. She should be shouting at me at this point. I turned to look at her, and asked why she was so silent when I saw that she was on the floor in her unconscious state.

"Mother, mother" I ran to her and held her hand and kept it in my lap.

"Guards, Lina, Daulla." I shouted at the top of my lungs and the door of the room opened. They all looked at me shocked and then at the condition of their mother and came in with hurried and urgent footsteps.