“Who?” Anne asked, though she already knew the answer.
The maid hesitated. “Lady Vivian Marlowe.”
“The audacity,” Eleanor hissed.
Suddenly, another voice cut through the corridor. “Save yourselves the trouble. I know what I am doing.”
Lady Vivian entered before anyone could stop her. She looked disheveled in a way Anne had never seen before. Her hair was slightly mussed, her eyes too sharp to disguise the desperation underneath, and the usual polished smile she wore so effortlessly had cracked into something brittle.
Her gaze landed immediately on Dorian, who had just entered from the opposite side of the hall after speaking briefly with Anne’s mother.
“So it is true,” she said, her voice tight. “You came here.”
He went utterly still at the sight of her. Whatever softness had existed in him moments ago vanished. His face hardened in a way Anne had never seen before.
“Leave,” he ordered.
Lady Vivian gave a short, incredulous laugh. “No.”
Dorian’s voice remained flat. “This is your only warning.”
“You were going to ruin me.”
Eleanor folded her arms. Her earlier amusement had returned, much to Anne’s chagrin. Anne did not want everything to get worse. She simply wanted Lady Vivian to leave, and she knew her friend would only make it worse.
“If that surprises you,” Eleanor drawled, “you are dimmer than I thought.”
Vivian shot her a glare before looking back at Dorian. “Would you truly destroy me over this?”
Dorian’s expression did not change. “Overthis? You poisoned a horse. You manipulated servants, you spread lies, and you worked with Holloway for months to sabotage Tempest before the race and undermine my stables.”
“You cannot prove that.”
“I can,” Dorian said coldly. “Pembroke found enough evidence to bury you both.”
Lady Vivian stared at him, and Anne felt her pulse pounding.
Dorian’s voice lowered further, somehow becoming more dangerous. “And that would have been enough, but that is not everything you have done.”
“I do not know what you mean.”
“You know exactly what I mean. This stopped being about racing the moment you decided that destroying my marriage was a game worth playing.”
“Destroying your marriage?” Lady Vivian’s expression twisted. She laughed, but the sound cracked at the edges. “I did not destroy your marriage, Your Grace. I only uncovered what was already there.”
“No,” Dorian bit out. “You exploited my worst instincts. You weaponized my fear. You manipulated Anne. You manipulatedme.”
Lady Vivian lifted her chin, her anger returning. “You hesitated all on your own. I cannot be blamed for that, Your Grace.” She then turned toward Anne, her eyes flashing. “You saw it yourself, did you not? He stood there. He said nothing. He hesitated because part of him knew exactly what I knew—you are wasted on him.”
“Enough,” Dorian barked.
“She is too good for you,” Lady Vivian snapped. “You ruin everything you touch. You know I am right.”
“No.” This time Dorian’s voice carried absolute certainty.
Lady Vivian stopped.
Anne stared at him.
