Chapter 428
"Eleanor, how could you be so careless with your silverware during dinner with Grandfather? Have you forgotten all your etiquette?" Penelope scolded Eleanor with visible disapproval.
"That's quite enough. It's merely a dropped fork. Must you berate the child so harshly?" Reginald immediately came to his granddaughter's defense, his protective instincts flaring.
Beneath the table, Penelope's fingers curled into tight fists. It seemed even her breathing offended the old patriarch these days.
"Grandfather, Father, Mother... I've finished my meal."
Eleanor kept her gaze lowered, cheeks burning with humiliation as she bit her lip and hurried from the dining room.
Nathan watched his half-sister's retreating figure with a contemplative expression, his drink momentarily forgotten.
Cassandra barely concealed her satisfaction at seeing Eleanor humiliated.
"You should have remained your usual silent self, Eleanor. This embarrassment is what you get for daring to approach Julian. Know your place - see who our parents truly favor, and who deserves to stand beside Julian Montgomery!"
"Julian?" Reginald blinked in confusion. "I was under the impression he was interested in Evelyn."
Leonard, Penelope, and Cassandra all winced at the blunt observation.
Nathan choked on his whiskey, coughing violently as he gripped his crystal tumbler.
"Why would Julian be interested in Evelyn, Grandfather?" Cassandra's face flushed crimson with outrage.
"Doesn't he favor Evelyn? I may be eighty, but I'm not blind. Julian couldn't keep his eyes off Evelyn during my birthday gala. The man clearly has a devoted nature when he finds the right woman."
As he spoke, Reginald cast a meaningful glance at Nathan, who scowled darkly. "Since Julian shows such interest, I considered introducing him properly to Evelyn. The Montgomerys move in the same circles as the Kingsleys. More importantly, Julian genuinely cares for Evelyn. I believe he could provide her with an excellent life."
An excellent life? As if Julian and Evelyn would ever have that together.
Nathan's grip tightened on his glass until his knuckles turned white.
Though Reginald never mentioned Nathan by name, the pointed remarks struck their intended target with precision.
Julian had been sowing wild oats since sixteen and couldn't keep his pants zipped, yet Reginald had the audacity to suggest matching him with Evelyn? Some observational skills.
Nathan had no words.
"Am I your granddaughter or is Evelyn, Grandfather?" Cassandra's voice trembled with barely contained fury. "Julian loves me, not her. You should be supporting my happiness!"
"You may fancy Julian, but does he return your affections?" Reginald asked pointedly.
"I... He..." Cassandra floundered for a response.
"I observed Julian's behavior toward you at the celebration. You exchanged no words, and he barely glanced in your direction."
Humiliation burned through Cassandra as she clenched her jaw.
The painful truth left her no room for argument.
"Our family doesn't require marriages of convenience, but neither should our women throw themselves at uninterested men. Forced matches never end well."
Reginald shook his head skeptically. "Besides, your temperaments clash terribly. Julian has a fiery disposition - I can only imagine the explosive arguments if you married."
"Grandfather!" Cassandra's eyes welled with angry tears.
"What answer do you expect from Cassandra, Father? She's a young woman - have some consideration for her feelings," Leonard interjected smoothly. "Julian does have feelings for Cassandra. He came by the manor just last week specifically to speak with her. Penelope and I witnessed it ourselves."
As Cassandra recalled Julian's actual words that day, her stomach twisted.
She knew Julian couldn't stand her, but what did that matter?
With her family's full support behind the match, Cassandra believed she could eventually make Julian fall for her. Given time, he would surely succumb to her charms.