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They had been worried all day that Harvey and Heather might come to question them. But by evening, no one from Hartstone Estate had arrived, which offered them a slight sense of relief. Just as they were about to settle in for the night, Helen arrived unexpectedly.
Knowing Helen’s reputation, Abigail understood that while Helen could be managed, she could also be quite formidable, depending on the situation.
Helen had barely settled down when she said, “Everyone, please don’t disperse yet. I’ll go see Leona first, and then return to speak with all of you.”
Though Helen spoke with a smile, her words cast a chill over the Earl of Gracehold’s residence.
After Helen left, the Earl of Gracehold, Noah, fumed, “That ungrateful brat! He’s disgraceful! He’s brought shame upon the Earl of Gracehold’s name!”
Abigail sighed. “Your mother indulges him and permits his behavior, which is why he’s so brazen. Today’s disaster only resulted in a few scoldings from her. Ruby was supposed to be expelled from the residence, but he refused to allow it. He even threatened to kill himself if she was sent away. Mother initially imposed house arrest on her, but relented when he pleaded, leading to this chaos. He’s truly a troublemaker.”
Noah’s face darkened. Ever since Ruby entered the household, their reputation had suffered. The indulgence of his mother, Dorothy made Samuel unruly and arrogant. After marrying Leona, Samue considered himself superior and disregarded everyone.
Now, Samuel had been dismissed from office and was under investigation. He blamed others for his downfall and scorned the officialdom, spending his davne drinking and composing poetry, lost in this indulgences.
Helen and Violet arrived in the back courtyard, where Alana guided them in. The dim light cast a faint glow on the pale yellow curtains, adding to the atmosphere of sadness. Leona’s eyes were swollen from crying. Seeing Helen and Violet, she thought it was her mother and called out, “Mom!”
Her tears flowed freely with the cry.
As the curtain was lifted, Helen and Violet stood at the bedside. Seeing Leona’s tear-streaked, swollen face, Helen’s heart ached.
“Don’t cry, dear. You’re pregnant. You mustn’t cry like this.”
Realizing the visitors were not her mother, disappointment flashed in Leona’s eyes. But hearing Helen’s comforting words, her tears continued to fall.
“Aunt Helen, did my cousin send you? Tell her not to worry about me. I’m fine.”
Her voice was so muffled with tears that her words were barely understandable.
“Tell me how he has treated you. I will speak on your behalf,” Helen said.
She gently patted Leona’s shoulder. Leona had frequently visited the palace to pay respects to the queen dowager. Every time Helen had seen Leona, she was refined and graceful. Now, what had become of her?
Pregnant, frail, and pitifully thin, her once-round face had sharpened, her chin pointed. Her eyes, swollen and red, made her hollowed cheeks even more pronounced.
The once lively and radiant girl had transformed into this pitiful state.
It had only been a short time since her marriage!
Hearing Helen’s tender tone, Leona could no longer hold back her tears.
Although Alana had already explained the situation, Leona’s maid still cried as she recounted it once more.
“Ever since Mr. Samuel was stripped of his title, Lady Leona has been confined to the estate, but our poor mistress hasn’t had a moment of peace. Mr. Samuel blames her for everything. Twice, when they crossed paths while she was paying her respects to Madam Langley, Mr. Samuel pointed right at Lady Leona and accused her of spreading gossip. He said it was her fault the Oversight Department reported him to the king.
“Although Madam Abigail has protected our mistress, Madam Langley has shielded Mr. Samuel. She says that although our mistress is a duchess, she has married into the Earl of Gracehold’s family and should treat her husband as her world. She mustn’t speak a word of complaint or mention any fault of her husband to outsiders. Otherwise, she’d lose her standing as the proper wife.
“Just like today, it was clearly Madam Ruby who provoked Lady Leona first. Our mistress only saw her once, and didn’t even speak. Madam Ruby threw herself on the steps, and Mr. Samuel came in a rage to seek justice, even pushing our mistress onto the table.”
The maid wiped her tears and pointed to the corner of the square table. “Right here.”
Helen and Violet followed her finger. Though the corners of the mahogany wood table were rounded rather than sharp, the impact was still severe. Fortunately, it had only caused a disturbance in the pregnancy rather than a direct miscarriage, showing the child’s good fortune.
“Violet!” Helen’s anger flared. “Bring that wretched woman to the sitting hall! I need to question the people of the Earl of Gracehold’s residence thoroughly. Is there still any need for such a vile concubine to remain in the house?”
Since Alana and Leah still needed to remain in Gracehold Estate, it was most suitable for Violet to handle such matters.
“What about Samuel?” Violet asked.
Helen gave her a look. “If I’m dealing with Ruby, do you think he won’t come?”
Violet nodded in understanding. It seemed like Helen was sharp in this situation.
Under the maid’s guidance, Violet headed straight for Ruby’s residence.
Samuel had lost two teeth earlier that day from Alana’s blow, and his anger was boiling over. Egged on by Ruby’s provocations, he was scheming on how to get both Alana and Leah out of the house. During Ruby’s confinement, he had missed her dearly. Now that she was free, there was no doubt he was eager to spend some intimate time together.
Just as Samuel had removed his outer garment and was embracing Ruby, the door was suddenly kicked open.
Furious, he roared, “How dare you!”
Just as he finished speaking, Violet stormed in. With a resounding slap, she struck Samuel’s face. Before Samuel could react, Violet had already seized Ruby by her hair and dragged her outside. “You enjoy falling down the steps, right? Here, let me oblige you.”
Screams erupted through the air.
Violet dragged Ruby by her hair down the stone steps and then pulled her back up, repeating the process several times. By the time Samuel rushed out in a panic, he saw his beloved being tortured and screaming in agony, her hair disheveled and her once-beautiful face smeared with blood.
“Let her go!” Samuel cried out in distress, his heart breaking. He shouted furiously at Violet, “Who are you to come into my residence and beat people up?”
Violet grabbed Ruby by the throat, her gaze dark and menacing as she stared down at Samuel.
“My name is Violet Spencer. You best remember that. I despise scoundrels and vile women above all else. One of the top scholars, and all that virtue and righteousness you claim to know? It’s wasted on you. You have no honor and no decency, and you call yourself a man of learning? You’re nothing but a pathetic mutt.”
Ruby’s eyes rolled back as Violet tightened her grip. Samuel, seething with rage, was left speechless, his throat tightening with indignation.
Without another word, Violet released Ruby, grabbing her by the collar instead. In one swift motion she used her Lightfoot Skill to leap toward the garden hall. Samuel snapping out of his shock, furiously dashed after them.
Helen sat in the sitting room, her expression cold and severe. Her piercing gaze looked nowhere in particular, but the icy silence that surrounded her sent a chill through everyone present, leaving them uneasy.
In the carriage, Violet had relayed Sophie’s instructions to Helen.
Upon arriving at Gracehold Estate, Helen was to use both grace and force. After witnessing Leona’s pitiful condition, she was to unleash her full authority and intimidate everyone present, including the matriarch of the Earl of Gracehold’s family.
Violet dragged Ruby into the room and, with a firm kick, sent the latter sprawling on the ground.
“Is that all you have? And you dare play tricks in front of the duchess? No one in this household stood up for the duchess. They all sided with this wretch. Lady Helen, please make your decision!” Abigail, who loathed the woman as well, knew that Ruby was her son’s beloved. And since Samuel was Dorothy’s favorite, Abigail tolerated Ruby in the household. Seeing Ruby now kicked and humiliated by Violet, Abigail couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction.
Without lifting her head, Helen said coldly, “I’m not sure what the rules are in this household, but in the palace, if a concubine dared to offend or frame the queen, the choice was either a length of white silk or poisoned wine.
“Does this household not have these options? No white silk or poison? Surely there’s still a punishment rod here, right?”
Noah knew that Helen was here to stand up for Leona. Generally, Helen would not involve herself in others’ family affairs. Meanwhile, Sophie’s absence suggested she didn’t want to interfere with the internal matters of the Earl of Gracehold’s family.