Chapter 249: A Storm [4]
"You mustn’t be so full of yourself," Camille advised Damien.
"Weren’t you the one who most enjoyed how I dealt with the relatives? And now, it is only wrong because I am directing it towards you? How hypocritical," Damien said, shaking his head slowly.
"I know how you are. When backed into a corner, you’ll run to the relatives, questioning every move I make. Worse still, you’ll speak down on my wife and claim you no longer have faith in Jane. I encourage you to do so," Damien said, daring her as he relished the thought of her antics.
Damien looked forward to giving Camille a lesson about consequences. No longer would she be spared.
"Why? Will you kill me or send some woman to slap me? You’ve already threatened me enough. I am disappointed that you would forget all the good times I stood at your side, all because I slapped Jane. All the good I did for you," Camille said, with a mix of defiance and wounded pride.
Damien spoke to her in a manner in which she had never been spoken to before.
"I haven’t forgotten what you did for us, and I am not going to pretend you were never present when we needed you. I was hoping you would show remorse, admit you went too far, and see where you were wrong, but you didn’t," Damien said, unable to let go of Camille’s actions.
"I am sorry about slapping Jane," Camille apologised, trying to make peace. "I do feel guilty about it, and I tried to apologise to Jane, but she walked away from me."
"That apology came far too late. You’ve been the one lady in Jane’s life for some time now. We both know that if she ran from you, you betrayed her. Save your breath with your apologies," Damien said, uninterested. "I don’t want them."
"Damien, I won’t offer them again," Camille said, too proud to keep apologising.
Damien sighed, annoyed. "Isn’t that what I told you? I spare you now not because I am kind. I spare you only because of my cousins. If you were anyone else, your cheek would have been met by a blade by now."
"Only once I shall spare you, only for your children. But if you try to trouble Jane, if you ruin her season, and if you dare speak ill of my wife to anyone, I will kill you. I will kill you and send your family off my land. Either by force or by smoking you out with fire," Damien warned, each threat a promise to Camille.
"You are the devil," Camille spat, disgusted. "You would send children from all that they know. Only a monster would do that, and all because of a slap. You act as though I stabbed Jane."
"You don’t stay a lord and protect your family by being a saint. I have told you the consequences of your actions. It is up to you to decide your fate. This will be the last time I set foot in your home," Damien said, not needing to visit Camille for the time being.
Damien turned his back on Camille after having nothing more to say.
Unfortunately, Camille was not yet done. She chased after him, though keeping her distance, wary of his wrath.
With a mansion full of servants and her children somewhere running about, Camille was certain Damien wouldn’t harm her in the open. Not unless he wanted the town guards upon him.
Gage followed closely behind Damien, watching Camille in case she dared attempt harm on Damien.
Damien walked on, never looking back. If Camille wanted to follow, then so be it.
"You are nothing like your father. I know he would be disappointed in you. To think that my father thought you were some blessing to this family. He was wrong," Camille said, her voice rising so the passing servants would hear. "You are a disgrace to this family."
"I was foolish to be so supportive of your marriage. Not only have you spoiled the good name of this family, but you have ruined Jane. You have ruined what could have been a good season for her, all because you refuse to hurt your wife’s family," Camille continued, bitterness spilling from her lips.
Camille hated that Damien ignored her. She wanted him to react, to let the servants witness his cruelty, to spread word of how ungrateful her niece and nephews were despite all she had done.
"You speak of me being a horrible mother. I could blame it on having to look after you and your siblings. When your parents passed, and you abandoned the estate, I was there," Camille reminded him.
"I was there when your siblings needed someone, so do not speak of me as not being a good mother. If I could take it all back, I wouldn’t, because I care for you. I only wish I had known how all of you thought of me as a mother," Camille said.
Camille clutched the side of her dress as she ran down the stairs behind him, desperate for the reaction she craved.
"It is fortunate my brother didn’t have to bear seeing how much of a failure you have become," Camille lashed out with pure hatred in her voice.
Damien stopped. Camille froze.
Camille knew she had crossed the line by speaking of her late brother.
"I..." Camille began, regret flooding her. "I didn’t mean to go so far," she whispered, realising her mistake. "I didn’t mean to. You must forgive me."
She pressed her hand to her chest, filled with shame. Not only would her late brother be furious, but her parents as well.
Camille took one more step down the stairs, her heart pounding at Damien’s silence. Only Gage’s eyes met hers, wide with panic.
"Damien!" Camille exclaimed, backing away, her foot slipping, causing her to fall.
Her eyes widened as Damien turned to face her with an expression full of anger.
Gage seized Damien’s arm, holding him back. He would not fail Eloise. "Lord Hawthorne, we must go."
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