Chapter 130
Eloise scolded the butler, leaving him feeling wronged.
“Lady Eloise, I’ve done my utmost,” the butler mustered his courage and stammered. “I tried to send them away, but they’ve surrounded the estate gates and refused to leave. They’re making threats, swearing they won’t budge unless they get their money today. I truly had no choice but to seek your counsel.”
Eloise gasped in shock, her voice laced with aristocratic disdain as she demanded, “What gives them the audacity to threaten this lady?!”
The butler stood off to the side in a cowering posture, not daring to utter a word.
Eloise pressed her temples wearily and said in an exhausted tone, “Withdraw some money from the estate’s vault–just enough to send them away for now. We’ll settle the remaining balance gradually; there’s no need to pay it all at once.”
Eloise thought to herself, “If I’m this straightforward, these people will surely try to push their luck!”
The butler acknowledged her with a respectful nod and quickly turned to leave the room.
“Lady Athena shows so little consideration for you, Lady Eloise,” Dorothea said indignantly. “With the estate in such dire straits, how could she bear to let you shoulder all this! You’ve exhausted yourself for this household, yet Lady Athena…”
Eloise let out a soft sigh and leaned back in her chair, her eyes filled with exhaustion and resignation. “Enough,” she said, “What’s done is done. There’s no use dwelling on it now. Let’s first resolve this immediate trouble before us.”
An hour later, the butler returned to report. With the creditors finally gone, Eloise allowed herself a sigh of relief.
Just then, Nicolas burst in, looking utterly disheveled, his clothes mud-splattered and hair in wild disarray. He rushed in, his face alight with joy, “Mother, I’ve found it!”
Cradled in his hand was a bell. It was none other than the very bell Willow had dropped into the lake.
At the sight of the object, Eloise felt energy surge through her. She clasped her hands in prayer. “God has shown us mercy. The duke’s estate is finally saved!”
With this bell, their three-hundred-thousand-dollar debt could finally be settled. Not only would this gain them Fermin’s favor, but it might even sway Xander to Fermin’s side.
Eloise was so overjoyed she could hardly contain herself. She exclaimed to Nicolas, “All the money and effort we poured into draining that lake wasn’t in vain after all. Our hard work finally paid off!”
“Absolutely. We spent several thousand dollars just to recover this bell,” Nicolas echoed her sentiment, recalling all the money they had spent.
Had he known the immense value of this tiny bell, Nicolas would have guarded it with his life.
“Quick, take it to the Fermin Manor at once,” Eloise exclaimed joyfully.
Nicolas stood up eagerly. “I’ll go right away, Mother.”
Nicolas was already striding toward the door when Eloise quickly called after him, “Nicolas, do change your attire. You can’t possibly visit looking like that!”
Nicolas’s hair was disheveled, his clothes splattered with mud, and even the soles of his boots were caked in grime.
Only when Eloise reminded him did Nicolas suddenly realize how disheveled he was.
“Yes. I was so overjoyed. I completely forgot about that. Thanks for the reminder, Mother!” Nicolas thanked Eloise before bounding out, his face beaming with excitement.
Eloise’s spirits lifted considerably with this stroke of good fortune. The crushing burden weighing upon the duke’s estate had finally been lifted.
In celebration of this happy event, Henry ordered the estate to prepare sumptuous food and fine wine for a grand feast that evening.
Margaret was present, and naturally, Athena attended too.
During the feast, Henry’s face glowed with excitement as he raised his wine cup, eyes sparkling. “How wonderful. Our bad times are finally over. Today we must celebrate properly!”
Henry’s gaze swept across the room, but Matthew and Joseph were nowhere to be seen. Joseph had already been sent to the military camp for rehabilitation, so why wasn’t Matthew here either? Henry wondered.
“Where is he?” Henry asked Eloise.
Eloise dared not let Henry know about the siblings’ conflict. She managed a composed smile and said, “He must be occupied with official matters. We’ve already received his message. There’s no need to worry!”
Upon hearing this, a faint, knowing smile flickered in Athena’s eyes.
“Yeah, Matthew is down in the well getting his hands dirty,” she thought with amusement. “Actually, I was planning to bring him some food today, but I wasn’t feeling well and it slipped my mind. Missing one meal won’t kill him. Besides, there were those two rats down in the well with him.”
Willow caught the knowing glint of amusement in Athena’s eyes.
Willow had endured a grueling session with the governess today, forced to practice calligraphy for hours and repeatedly perform the curtsy. Her wrists and knees still ached.
Matthew had taken Athena away, yet here she was, returning alone. Willow was sure Athena knew Matthew’s whereabouts; Eloise covered for Matthew, taking Athena off the hook.
“Willow, why are you staring at me instead of eating?” Athena’s piercing gaze locked onto Willow, making Willow flinch and shrink back in her seat.
Willow quickly lowered her head, her voice trembling with nerves. “Athena, you must be mistaken. I wasn’t looking at you.”
Trying to hide her nervousness, Willow hastily picked up some food, her face straining into an ingratiating smile as she turned to Athena and said, “Athena, remember you love this the most. Please, have some.”
However, before Willow could reach Athena with the fork, Athena blocked her with her own and sneered, “Aren’t you and Matthew as thick as thieves? Funny how he’s not here tonight, and yet you haven’t even asked after him.”
With a light flick of her fork, Athena deftly intercepted Willow’s fork and pushed them back.
Willow flushed with embarrassment and shot Eloise a pleading look. Eloise gave her a reassuring smile and smoothly intervened, “Willow has been deeply concerned about Matthew’s well-being. Why else would she risk reprimand to go searching for him today?”
Henry frowned, utterly baffled. “Wait? Didn’t you just say he was tied up with official business?”
Eloise belatedly realized she’d let slip. She quickly recovered and explained, “Willow wanted to bring Matthew some food, and that’s why she went looking for him.”
Although Henry sensed something was amiss, since today was a day of celebration, he chose not to pursue the matter further.
Athena let out a knowing chuckle and gracefully served Margaret some choice morsels.
Athena’s triumphant smirk earned her a sharp, disapproving glare from Eloise.
Athena knows perfectly well that I’m covering for Matthew, yet she insists on bringing it all out into the open. She’s truly a handful, Eloise thought.
Willow lowered her head timidly, her eyes rimmed with red as she glanced at Eloise, looking so pitiful and close to tears that Eloise’s heart ached for her.
“I know you’re not that kind of person,” Eloise said gently to Willow.
Margaret set her fork down with a deliberate clink. Nothing ever escaped her keen eyes.
Margaret narrowed her eyes, her gaze radiating authority and wisdom. “In this family, our children have always been resilient. Even with a knife at their side, they wouldn’t so much as frown. Crying day after day is unworthy of a Monson. If this keeps up, you’ll cry away all our good fortune.”
Margaret’s gaze lingered on Willow. Under that piercing stare, Willow’s heart clenched with anxiety, and the tears welling in her already red-rimmed eyes finally spilled over. She just couldn’t hold back anymore.
Eloise stiffened slightly, embarrassment flashing across her face.
Knowing that Margaret had never favored Willow, Eloise quickly interjected with a conciliatory smile, “Lady Margaret, Willow has always been frail and tender-hearted since she was little. I’m afraid I’ve spoiled her terribly; if she’s done anything improper, please overlook it for my sake.”
Under the table, Eloise gently took Willow’s trembling hand in hers. Only then did Eloise realize that Willow’s hand was trembling slightly in hers. Eloise was even more worried about Willow.
Athena had always been under Margaret’s wing, while Willow had never gained Margaret’s favor.