Charles frowned and lowered his voice. “What do you mean, bedchamber maid? She is the daughter of Marshal Thornfield from Ravenholt, a respectable woman from a well–known family. Don’t insult her with that label.”
Hearing this, Arabella felt a rush of anger, her chest tightening with frustration.
She thought, ‘He knows calling her a bedchamber maid is an insult to the woman, yet when he brought her and an illegitimate child back to Althoria without a word, he didn’t even think about my dignity?‘
“Unmarried and living together–does Mr. Farrow plan to take her as a concubine?” Arabella asked.
At her words, the previously composed Helena suddenly bent her knees and dropped to the floor, begging.
“Mrs. Farrow, my father was stationed at Ravenholt for many years, carning great military achievements and the respect of all. Though I am a woman with no power, I know better than to tarnish my father’s name.
“Before his death, he warned me never to lower myself by becoming a concubine. I refuse to fall so low,” she said.
She glanced nervously at Charles, whose face had turned cold, and added with some hesitation, “Moreover, Mr. Farrow and I had a simple ceremony in Ravenholt.”
In other words: she wanted to be his wife, not his concubine.
Arabella couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief. “So you want to be Mrs. Farrow and have me make room for you?”
Helena, somewhat intimidated by Arabella’s presence, nervously twisted her handkerchief and averted her gaze, unwilling to meet her eyes.
But her expression made it seem as if Arabella was simply jealous and unable to accept Charles taking a concubine.
Arabella turned to Charles, who was standing rigidly silent. She casually asked, “Mr. Farrow, do you intend to elevate her to the status of wife, to stand beside me?”
Chapter
Chapter 3
Charles furrowed his brows, lost in thought.
He still had some feelings for Helena. After all, it had been his drunken mistake that led him into her room, and through a series of misfortunes, he ended up taking her virginity.
Not to mention, they had a child together. He couldn’t bring himself to demean her. But Arabella’s relentless behavior was proving to be a problem.
Thankfully, he had used his marriage to Arabella to block the late king’s arranged marriage, avoiding becoming Princess Beatrice’s consort and securing his future in the process.
“If you won’t accept her as a secondary wife, then I’ll have no choice but to divorce you,” Charles said.
At the mention of divorce, Arabella’s eyes flashed with anger. She thought, ‘I have kept my place as a wife for three years without fault, and now this scoundrel dares to suggest such a thing.
Seraphina frowned at Charles’s words.
This marriage had been decreed by the late king, and Arabella had no faults. Plus, the Marquis’s estate’s military achievements were significant, so pushing for a divorce might anger the royal family.
Though she disliked Arabella and resented how others claimed the Duke’s estate’s strength was thanks to Arabella’s family, she knew when to endure.
“Charles, how can you say that? Arabella is the rightful wife of the Farrow family. How could you even think about divorcing her?” she said.
Turning her gaze to Arabella, she continued, “Helena is a pitiful woman as well. Like you, she lost her father and has no one to rely on. Please, show some compassion for her.”
After a pause, she added, “How about this? I’ll raise Helena to the status of a secondary wife. Outwardly, you’ll treat her equally, but in the household, she’ll be beneath you. You’ll be the head, and she’ll be secondary. What do you think?”
Arabella was stunned.
She had thought they were only trying to make Helena a concubine, but now they were aiming for the title of a secondary wife. She thought, “This is too much!‘ She could hear the subtle implication in Seraphina’s words.
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Bringing up Alexander at this moment was nothing more than a reminder that her family no longer had any power to back her up. She was meant to accept this deal, as no one would support her.
She thought, ‘And why is Seraphina so eager to raise Helena’s status? Clearly, it is all about her father’s connections in the court.
‘Seraphina and Charles have already tasted the benefits of their connections, and now they want to exploit the Marquis’s estate’s value while eyeing the military connections of the Marshal’s estate. It is all so hypocritical!
“I’m afraid I can’t agree with you, Seraphina,” Arabella said calmly, her voice firm. “My family’s ancestral law is clear: A wife will never tolerate a concubine lording over her or claiming equal status.
“If forced to choose between such humiliation and divorce, I would walk away without hesitation- dignity spared, my house’s honor intact. ”
She didn’t even call her “mother” anymore. She had made her stance clear.
Seraphina, still holding her position as the senior member of the family, bristled with anger. As she saw Arabella’s boldness, her fury surged.
“Arabella, you are a Farrow now–the matriarch of this house. Leave your clan’s outdated edicts behind. Need I remind you? With Alexander gone, you stand alone–no kin to shield you, no child to secure your position.
“A wife who defies our traditions with such willful defiance and sows discord, the Duke’s estate really cannot shelter someone like you.”
Arabella looked at Seraphina with a cold sneer,
Three years of service hadn’t warmed Seraphina’s heart, but Arabella knew her weaknesses. She didn’t need to exert much effort to manipulate her.
“Either divorce, or Helena becomes… a Bedchamber maid.” Arabella made her decision final. She wasn’t even willing to grant Helena the title of concubine. “I’m tired. I’ll go rest now. You can think it over.”
With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Seraphina glaring at her. Just as Arabella reached the door, the loud sound of cups shattering echoed from behind her.
Arabella pulled at the stiff corner of her mouth, revealing a mocking smile. She loved watching them struggle–trying to push her out, yet unwilling
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to let her go.
As the only daughter of Alexander, she not only inherited her family’s centuries–old wealth, but also the powerful military connections Alexander had built. These were exactly what Charles needed now.
Even if she exposed the Farrow family’s flaws, they didn’t have the backbone to divorce her. A man who lived off others could never be expected to stand on his own.
After Arabella left, Helena climbed to her feet and immediately threw herself into Charles’s arms. “Mr. Farrow, I don’t want to be a Bedchamber maid… I can’t.”
She was his woman, after all. Even without affection, there was still a certain attachment.
Charles patted her back in a soothing manner, though his voice was calm and detached. “Don’t worry. For Maxwell’s sake, I won’t let you become a concubine. Arabella is just upset right now. Once she calms down, I’ll talk to her.”
He gently pushed her away and took the child from Seraphina, placing the baby in Helena’s arms. “Take the child and settle him down. Don’t worry
too much.”
Helena gazed up at him with tear–filled eyes, but when she saw the impatience in his expression, she swallowed her words, holding back her
emotions.
She knew that to secure her place in this household, she had to become its mistress. The only obstacle was Arabella. Once Arabella was out of the way, Helena and Maxwell would finally have a chance.
She thought, ‘Bedchamber maid? Illegitimate son? What I truly want is the title of Mrs. Farrow, and the next heir to the Farrow family would be my son Maxwell.‘
“Very well, I’ll take my leave,” she said.
After the housekeeper escorted Helena out of Chamber of Roses, Charles turned to Seraphina, his brow furrowed. “Mother, do you really disagree with my decision to divorce?”
Seraphina rubbed her aching forehead and glared at him. “Divorce? How could you divorce her? She’s the Marquis’s estate’s blood, and your marriage was arranged by the late king.
“Plus, right now, your position is shaky, and she holds the military power of the Everhart family. Are you really going to give all that up?”
Charles paused. He was a smart man, and Seraphina’s words made everything clear in an instant.
Three years ago, he had passed up the chance to become a consort to Beatrice and instead sought the Everhart family’s connections, hoping to build his career. He had done so to gain power through their influence.
To establish himself in the military, those connections were crucial. Although he was embarrassed to rely on Arabella for advancement–especially with colleagues mocking him for “living off his wife“-he knew it was the only shortcut.
“What about Helena? She gave birth to my first son. If I make her a Bedchamber maid, both she and the child will lose face.”
Seraphina scoffed. “Leave the household matters to me. If Arabella tries to dishonor my grandson, she won’t get away with it.”
After a moment’s thought, she added, “For your own good, you should consummate the marriage with her soon. A woman only truly becomes attached to her husband after bearing his child. If you delay too long, she’ll have the excuse to demand a divorce.”
Charles, already somewhat drawn to Arabella’s delicate beauty, now had Seraphina’s words further influencing him. He immediately agreed.
“Understood, Mother.”
Back at Silver Suite, Arabella took a hot bath in the washing room and changed into a light blue dress.
When Clarissa saw her come out, she hurried over to take the handkerchief from her and help style her hair. “I had the kitchen prepare some soup for you. Drink a bowl to warm up. Don’t catch a cold.”
Arabella sat down on the cushion, allowing Clarissa to finish fixing her hair.
Noticing Clarissa seemed to want to say something but held back, Arabella smiled and gently patted the back of her hand, which was tightly clutching the handkerchief.
“Only those who care deeply suffer, but I have no feelings for Charles, so he can’t hurt me,” she said.
As for her dignity and reputation, they didn’t matter much. Once she had settled the score with the Farrow family, if things went badly, she could always go to the south. She thought, ‘What would the noblewomen of Althoria say behind my back? Let them gossip.
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Clarissa wiped away a tear that had slipped down her cheek, lowering her voice. “What are your plans now?”
