Chapter 92
At Emerald House.
Eloise was carefully reviewing the newly cataloged wedding gifts. While all the items listed were valuable, she crossed out those that had gone out of fashion and were no longer suitable for the wedding.
Eloise instructed Dorothea, who was at her side, in a firm tone, “Make sure everything is of the finest quality. Replace any items I cross out with equally good alternatives.”
Eloise thought to herself, absolutely mustn’t let the Osborne family look down on Willow. "Willow is going there to live in comfort, not to suffer indignities. These dowries are what will give Willow the confidence she needs in the Osborne family."
Dorothea furrowed her brow and couldn’t help but ask, “Madam, the items in the storeroom are limited, and we’ll need them for gifts soon. If we use everything to supplement Lady Willow’s wedding gifts, what will we do in the future?”
Dorothea thought to herself, I truly disapprove of Lady Eloise’s approach. Who in their right mind would favor an adopted daughter so much? After all, Athena is her own flesh and blood! Eloise’s favoritism really knows no bounds!
Every time Athena crossed her mind, Eloise felt a sharp pang in her heart. When Athena first returned to the estate, Eloise truly intended to be a fair mother, treating both daughters equally and without favoritism. But it proved just too difficult. More importantly, what she was doing wasn’t for herself, but for the sake of the entire duke’s estate and the family’s interests.
Eloise composed herself, pushing aside all distracting thoughts. “For now, I can only focus on one thing at a time. The marriage alliance between the Monson and Osborne families must go perfectly.”
Eloise thought, Even if Athena marries into the McGee family, it won’t bring any real advantage to the Monson family. On the contrary, she might even need the family’s support after marriage. The size of Athena’s wedding gift doesn’t really matter now. Besides, Nicolas’s affairs also require the Osborne family’s assistance.
Eloise’s brow furrowed deeply. With the duke’s estate in turmoil, she felt as if she had aged ten years overnight.
An elderly maidservant rushed in breathlessly. “Lady Eloise, Lady Margaret summons you at once.”
Eloise’s eyelid twitched with sudden unease. “What happened?” she asked anxiously.
The elderly maidservant stammered nervously, “Lady Margaret caught the servants moving the wedding gift chests.”
“What?” Eloise drew a sharp breath. “Why did she have to see it now, of all times?”
Margaret had been bedridden for days, rarely venturing beyond her chambers. That was precisely why Eloise had ordered the servants to tamper with the wedding gift items in the storeroom.
The elderly maidservant replied fearfully. “It’s strange, normally Lady Margaret stays in her courtyard, but today Lady Athena accompanied her outside…”
The maid didn’t need to finish her sentence; Eloise had already jumped to conclusions. She felt that Athena must have gotten wind of something and deliberately chose this moment to escort Margaret out. She thought bitterly, What a perfect coincidence. Athena must have planned this timing deliberately. She really knows how to make trouble for me!
Eloise pressed her fingers to her temples in frustration. When she looked up again, her eyes were calm and composed. In a steady voice, she said, “Come with me to see Margaret. Dorothea, go summon Nicolas as well.”
Eloise realized that Margaret had caught her red-handed. Eloise thought anxiously, She must be furious right now. Even if Margaret is angry with me, she’ll surely spare me some dignity for my son Nicolas’s sake. At least she won’t humiliate me completely.
Eloise made her way to Starling House with her attendants in tow. On her way, Eloise ran into Nicolas, who was hurrying over. Fiona walked alongside her husband, cradling their soundly sleeping son Cedric in her arms.
Fiona looked up at Eloise helplessly, her eyes red-rimmed, as she sank into a respectful curtsy. “Mother,” she murmured.
Eloise looked startled and said with concern, “Why did you bring Cedric out? He caught a cold recently and hasn’t fully recovered yet. What was the need to take him outside?”
Nicolas sighed helplessly, “Grandmother threw quite a fit. It won’t be easy for her to calm down. I just hope she’ll cool off for Cedric’s sake,” he voiced his concerns.
Fiona stole a nervous glance at Nicolas, gently biting her lip. Then, summoning her courage, she said to Eloise, “Cedric just fell asleep after taking his medicine. He’s still perspiring a little.”
Hearing this, Nicolas shot her a stern look and snapped, “It’s just a common cold, why are you being so idiotic? Did you really have to tattle to Mother about it?”
Fiona recoiled at his sharp tone and fell silent.
Eloise shot Nicolas a stern look. “Children are delicate at this age. You’ve never raised one, so you wouldn’t understand the risks. Your wife’s concern is completely justified.” With a gentle pat on Fiona’s hand, Eloise said kindly, “Take Cedric home first, dear. Pay no mind to Nicolas.”
Fiona stole a glance at Nicolas’s dark expression but couldn’t bring herself to leave. Fiona instinctively tightened her hold on the sleeping child, drawing him closer in a protective embrace.
“Alright, Mother, you go in first. If we go together, Grandmother will only get angrier,” Nicolas urged.
Eloise considered this reasonable and took the lead in departing. Nicolas and Fiona stood still. As a gust of wind swept by, Cedric whimpered twice; Fiona quickly wrapped her cloak tighter around him.
At Starling House, it was so quiet one could hear a pin drop. The maids and servants in the courtyard stood frozen, holding their breath without daring to make a sound, their eyes filled with fear and apprehension.
Margaret sat rigidly upright in her carved sandalwood chair, her posture erect, her entire being radiating icy displeasure.
Eloise gathered her skirts as she entered, then stepped forward and bowed to Margaret. “Greetings, Mother,” she said respectfully.
“Get on your knees!” Margaret commanded, her voice laced with fury as she fixed Eloise with an icy glare.
Eloise’s body stiffened abruptly, her smile freezing instantly on her face. Margaret had always been gentle and kind; in all the years since Eloise married into the family, she could count on one hand the times she’d been made to kneel. Margaret was absolutely livid over today’s events.
Eloise’s face paled visibly. Reluctantly, she gathered her skirts and slowly sank to her knees on the freezing stone floor. Eloise forced an awkward smile. “Mother, what could have upset you so much?”
Margaret’s face darkened with fury, her chest heaving violently. “Who gave you permission to touch Athena’s wedding gift? Those were treasures painstakingly gathered for my granddaughter!” At this, Margaret abruptly pulled Athena to her side, her voice trembling with outrage, “I could tolerate you favoring that outsider, but how dare you scheme against your own daughter?”
Eloise felt wronged by Margaret’s accusations. She thought, Everything I’ve done has been for the good of the Monson family! Athena is your own flesh and blood!
Eloise looked up at Margaret, her eyes rimmed with red and her face full of grievance. “Mother, they’re both my daughters. I care for Athena just as much. I never wanted her to suffer, but with the estate in such financial difficulties, what else could I do?”
At this, Eloise covered her mouth and began to sob dramatically.
“So now that you’re desperate, you’d stoop to stealing Athena’s wedding gift?” Margaret’s voice cut sharply through the air, full of scorn. “You say you’re the one who’s being wronged, what about her? First, her marriage was snatched away, and now even her wedding gift is being taken!”
Margaret slammed the table, her voice trembling with fury. “How can I tolerate this? You’ve gone too far!”
Seeing Margaret’s face go pale and her lips turn blue, Athena rushed forward and quickly slipped a pill into her mouth. “Grandmother!”
Gwen quickly handed Margaret some drink and helped her take a few sips. She gently patted Margaret’s back and soothed her breathing until her complexion improved. Athena’s eyes brimmed with anxious tears as she pleaded, “Please don’t upset yourself, Grandmother. Take care of my own affairs.” She thought, If Grandmother’s condition worsens because of me, I’d never forgive myself.
Margaret shook her head slowly, her breath uneven and fingers trembling as she pointed at Eloise. In a voice that brooked no argument, she declared, “As long as I draw breath, not a single item of Athena’s wedding gift shall be touched!”
Still seething with rage, Margaret raised her voice and shouted, “We’ve raised that girl in this estate for so many years, not to steal my granddaughter’s rightful place! She wants everything without knowing her proper station. If that’s how she is, we might as well…”
Chapter 93