Chapter 4
Arabella slowly wiped the smile from her face, her eyes narrowing slightly as a cold, sharp gleam flashed through them.
She said, “The Marquis’s estate holds many assets tied up with the Farrow family. Before I divorce, I’ll need to sort everything out and reclaim what’s mine.
“And the tens of thousands of dollars I gave as wedding gift to support the household–I’ll be sure to get every coin back, with interest.”
She paused for a moment, lowering her head as she took a few steady breaths. Then, gritting her teeth, she continued, “Before my father passed, he called in some of his old subordinates to the estate and instructed them to help Charles secure his position in the court.
“All the connections he has now are from my family. Before I leave, I’ll burn every bridge–every last one.”
Hearing this, Clarissa let out a sigh of relief. She had been worried that Arabella might still have some lingering attachment to Charles–perhaps unwilling to let go because of his face or her feelings.
She had feared Arabella might endure the situation and continue living with it.
She thought, ‘Why should she? Her family is rich beyond measure. Arabella can live comfortably anywhere, surrounded by capable men. Why should she stay and let the Farrow family take advantage of her?‘
“Exactly, that’s how it should be. Once it’s all settled, we’ll return to the south, settle in Ardwood, and I’ll find you a few handsome scholars. I guarantee you’ll live in luxury and happiness.”
Arabella smiled at her words, letting out a soft laugh. She reached out and playfully tapped Clarissa’s forehead. “Shameless.”
At that moment, Rosalie entered the room, carrying a bowl of soup.
“Speaking of the south, it reminds me of the young man who came to our villa four years ago, injured and seeking refuge. I wonder how he turned out. Did he manage to reclaim his family’s inheritance from his stepmother and half–brothers?”
At the mention of him, Arabella’s smile faltered. Without thinking, she gripped the handkerchief in her hands. The light shifted, and memories from those days in Ardwood flooded her mind.
The young man Rosalie mentioned had worn a mask and carried himself with a quiet nobility.
He had stumbled into the villa, covered in blood, claiming his stepmother had sent men to kill him over their family’s wealth. He barely escaped with his life, severely injured. If he had continued on his journey in that state, he would have surely died.
Out of sympathy, Arabella had taken him in and arranged for a doctor to treat his injuries.
They spent only a short time together–barely half a month. He always kept his mask on, and she kept her face veiled, so they never saw each other’s faces.
Years had passed, and she had forgotten much about him, but she still remembered his eyes–intense, captivating eyes that seemed to hold a strange power. Those eyes.. those eyes…..
“Rosalie, stop speaking recklessly,” came Clarissa’s sharp voice, pulling Arabella back from her thoughts.
Clarissa continued, scolding her, “Do you realize where we are? If anyone from the Farrow family finds out you’ve had contact with another man, who knows what kind of trouble that will stir?”
Rosalie, not as reserved as Clarissa, muttered under her breath, “But Mr. Farrow has other women even after marriage. What’s the big deal if Ms. Everhart met a man before marriage?”
Clarissa opened her mouth to reprimand her, but Arabella stopped her. “She’s young. Don’t be too hard on her.”
Clarissa shot her a disapproving look. “You spoil her too much.”
Arabella laughed softly.
She had followed the rules for so many years, but the six months she spent in the south had been the happiest time of her life.
If she could, she would want Clarissa and Rosalie to live freely under her protection. That way, their years of loyalty to her wouldn’t be in vain.
Outside, the sky was beginning to darken.
After a long day, Arabella felt the weariness creeping in. She had planned to rest after dinner, but just as she instructed Rosalie to go to the kitchen and prepare a meal, Seraphina sent one of her attending maids over.
1/3
Chapter
The maid stood outside the screen, her voice cheerful as she called out, “Congratulations, Mrs. Farrow! Mr. Farrow has just instructed that he will be staying in your room tonight. Please prepare in advance.”
Arabella nearly choked, the mocking smile on her lips turning colder.
She thought, ‘Stay in my room? Who do they think they are fooling? The way they speak makes it sound like a favor. Do they really think I am so desperate that I would accept just anyone?‘
“Gabriel, I’m so sorry. I went to the shop this afternoon to settle some accounts, and I got caught in the rain on the way back. I’m feeling a bit feverish now.
“Since Mr. Farrow just returned, it’s a happy occasion, but please don’t worry about me and risk catching a cold by coming into my room,” she said.
Gabriel frowned, her wrinkled face creased in disapproval. She thought, ‘So, because Mr. Farrow has taken a concubine, Arabella is now throwing a fit? What a disgraceful lack of composure.’
But, knowing Arabella’s influence in the household, Gabriel didn’t dare to retort. After offering a few concerned words, she quickly backed out.
Rosalie looked at Arabella in confusion and asked, “Ms. Everhart, you just embarrassed them in Chamber of Roses earlier. Why would Mr. Farrow think of coming to Silver Suite tonight? What are they up to?”
Arabella exchanged a knowing glance with Clarissa, both of them sharing a small smile.
Clarissa snorted. “It’s probably Seraphina’s doing. She’s probably pushing Mr. Farrow to consummate the marriage tonight so she can control things with you later.”
Rosalie’s temper flared. “How shameless! They bring in a seductive woman to the house in the afternoon to make things awkward for you, and now they think they can come and take advantage of you? It’s disgusting!”
Arabella patted her hand lightly, accepting the soup Clarissa had offered and drinking it in one go. She thought, ‘Seraphina really isn’t above any dirty trick.
“Let’s put on a good show. Clarissa, go fetch our trusted physician,” she said.
“Of course, Ms. Everhart.”
In Chamber of Roses, Seraphina’s anxiety grew after hearing the report from the maid.
She thought, ‘Of all times, Arabella has to fall ill now? It is obvious she doesn’t want to sleep with my son. What does this mean? It means Arabella wants to preserve her innocence and is ready to leave him at any moment.
‘She thinks she can just walk out of the Farrow family after entering? A fool’s dream!‘
“Charles, hurry back to Silver Suite and make sure to consummate the marriage tonight. You can’t let Arabella control everything.”
Charles nodded in agreement.
He too thought Arabella was going too far. ‘What is the big deal with taking a concubine? How much longer would this go on? How could she be so jealous? I honestly don’t understand how the Marquis’s estate raised her.’
Charles arrived at Silver Suite, only to run into the physician hurrying out with her medical kit.
He stopped her, frowning. “What’s wrong with Arabella?”
The physician lowered her head respectfully. “Mr. Farrow, Mrs. Farrow has a fever. I’ll prepare some medicine to bring down her temperature.”
Charles hesitated for a moment, wondering, ‘She is actually sick?‘
At that moment, Arabella’s weak, soft voice came from inside. “Is Mr. Farrow out there? I’m terribly ill. I don’t think I can attend to you tonight. Perhaps you should move to the front courtyard.”
Charles paused, raising his hand to lift the curtain and enter.
But just then, one of Helena’s maidservants rushed in, speaking urgently. “Mr. Farrow, please go to Velvet Hall quickly! Maxwell is ill–he might have a fever from the change in environment.”
Charles’s eyes darkened. Without another word, he turned and walked quickly toward the courtyard.
Inside, Arabella listened to his receding footsteps, pulling the damp cloth from her forehead.
2/3
Helena wasn’t foolish–she knew exactly when to stir things up and heighten the tension between Arabella and Charles. Arabella didn’t mind. With someone like Helena causing trouble, dealing with Charles would be much easier.
At Velvet Hall, Helena was soothing her crying child, giving orders to the nanny beside her. “Use the Thornfield family’s connections in Althoria to spread the word that Arabella is forcing me into becoming a Bedchamber maid.
“By tomorrow, I want all of Althoria whispering–How could Lady Arabella, in her petty jealousy, dare insult the daughter of a war hero?”
She intended to force the court to give her a respectable position.
