Deviating from the original plot

Chapter twenty

"Pardon?" Evelyn blinked.

"You heard me." Celeste's voice grew louder, her composure unraveling. "I find it vile—your little charade. Pretending to be innocent and moral while in fact you are writing secret letters to the prince, trying to steal my place! Don't even think of denying it. I know."

Gasps erupted around the table.

"What?" Evelyn asked, completely stunned.

"Lady Evelyn has been exchanging secret letters with the Crown Prince?" the murmurs began.

"That's not true!" Evelyn said, her voice rising in panic. "He did send them, but I never even replied!"

But before another word could be spoken, Celeste snatched her teacup and threw its contents directly at Evelyn. Some of it splashed onto Victoria who sat there in shock. The action drawing horrified gasps from the ladies around them.

Evelyn froze, blinking at the tea soaking into her gown.

"Oh no..." Victoria groaned inwardly.

"Lady Celeste!" Fiona shouted, rising from her seat. "That was completely uncalled for!"

"You snake!" Celeste shouted, eyes blazing. "How dare you crawl your way into his favor! You must think you are so smart, don't you?"

Evelyn calmly stood, face dripping with tea. Then, without a word, she picked up her punch glass and splashed it right back at Celeste.

The punch soaked Celeste's perfectly styled hair and dress.

The table fell silent. Everyone gawked, stunned.

Victoria stared, jaw dropped. This wasn't how it went in the novel! Evelyn... she wasn't supposed to do that?!

And from the look on Evelyn's face, she didn't regret it one bit.

"You wretched harlot!" Celeste snarled as she stood, her hand flying up mid-swing toward Evelyn.

But before the strike could land, another hand caught her wrist midair.

"That's enough, Lady Celeste," Victoria said, finally intervening. Her tone was calm, but the warning in her eyes was unmistakable.

Celeste turned on her, seething. "Let go of me!"

"I will", Victoria replied evenly, "as soon as you stop behaving like this."

Gasps rippled through the table. Even Ria, seated at the head, raised an eyebrow, very amused.

Celeste yanked her arm free, trembling with fury, her eyes darting between Evelyn and Victoria. "You dare—!"

"Yes," Victoria interrupted. "I dare. Because someone had to."

Celeste opened her mouth again, but no words came out. Her nostrils flared, and after a long pause, she turned on her heel and stormed away from the table, knocking over a glass as she went.

Silence.

Evelyn let out a quiet breath, then offered a small, shy smile as she brushed back her damp hair. "Thank you, Lady Victoria," she whispered.

Ria lifted her glass with a wry smile. "Well... this brunch turned out far more entertaining than I expected."

All of this had spiralled so quickly, and Ria reveled in all of it.

Beside her, Evelyn turned and murmured, "I'd like to go home now."

Victoria nodded. "Of course."

"Would you mind walking me to my carriage?" Evelyn asked, her voice soft.