He looked from them to Honoria, the woman against whom
he had plotted--the woman who triumphed in spite of him--for he could
not imagine that grief for a dead husband could have any place in the
heart of a woman who found herself mistress of such a domain as
Raynham, and its dependencies.
Lady Eversleigh's astonishment was unbounded. This will placed her in
even a loftier position than that which she had occupied when possessed
of the confidence and affection of her husband. For her pride there was
some consolation in this thought; but the triumph, which was sweet to
the proud spirit, afforded no balm for the wounded heart. He was gone--
he whose love had made her mistress of that wealth and splendour. He
was gone from her for ever, and he had died believing her false.
In the midst of her triumph the widow bowed her head upon her hands,
and sobbed convulsively. The tears wrung from her in this moment were
the first she had shed that day, and they were very bitter.
Reginald Eversleigh watched her with scorn and hatred in his heart.
"What do you say now, Lionel?" he said to his cousin, when the three
young men had left the dining-hall, and were seated at luncheon in a
smaller chamber. "You did not think my respected aunt a clever actress
when she fainted before the doors of the mausoleum. You will at least
acknowledge that the piece of acting she favoured us with just now was
superb.
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