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care about me? Or is it all just for show, to polish your reputation?”
Hannah shook her head, exchanging a look with Sophie. She could sense there was more to this than Jessica was letting on. Sophie nodded in agreement.
Margaret was currently managing the Marquis of Ironridge’s family’s household. Hannah knew Margaret well-she was not the type to cast out a woman just because she couldn’t bear children.
For ordinary families, a woman might be divorced and cast out for not producing an heir, especially if the husband couldn’t take a concubine. A woman who couldn’t carry on the family line was seen as no better than a barren hen.
But the Marquis of Ironridge had a secondary wife, Emma, as well as Serena for a concubine. Emma was also Margaret’s niece, and she had borne children. Jessica was Leopold’s primary wife. Even if she couldn’t have children of her own, Emma’s children would still be regarded as Jessica’s.
The contrast between the high nobility and common folk was stark. Marriages among the wealthy were often political alliances, combining powerful families rather than simply producing heirs.
Though Jessica had been stripped of her title as a duchess and her estates had been reclaimed, the Marquis of Ironridge’s family wasn’t the type to cast out a wife over something like infertility. They weren’t so cold and calculating.
Sophie had also dealt with Margaret a few times. Before her marriage to Rafael, she had received a golden bracelet adorned with interlocking pearl patterns from Margaret as a gift, proving the older woman was in fact warm and kind-hearted.
Seeing Sophie and Violet exchanging looks, Jessica’s temper flared. She didn’t care whether Sophie was someone she could afford to anger anymore.
“So, you’re all just hypocrites! You don’t actually want to shelter women who have been mistreated and cast out. Pretending to be kind-hearted-what a joke! I’ll expose you for what you really are!” she shouted. Despite that, she made no move to stand up. Instead, she sat there, still glaring at Hannah with bitter resentment.
Sophie watched her, confused. When Hannah’s maid had come to report in person, Sophie had thought Jessica was simply here to stir up trouble. Now that she had seen Jessica in person, she wasn’t so sure. Jessica seemed angry, but there was something about her demeanor that didn’t add up. She was shouting, but hadn’t even shifted in her seat. Was she so destitute now after being cast out?
“I heard you even want to change the name of our workshop?” Violet asked.
Her tone had softened a little, but she couldn’t help the slight amusement creeping into her voice as she observed Jessica’s pitiful attempt to be domineering.
“I just think naming it after a dead person is bad luck,” Jessica sneered.
“Then, don’t come here,” Violet shot back, raising her voice.
No matter how miserable some people seemed, they still couldn’t shake that annoying attitude.
“Do you think I care?” Jessica huffed, clearly wanting to retort with something sharp.
However, she paused when she saw Sophie’s composed yet serious expression. The words she had been ready to throw out died on her lips.
“Fine, leave then.” Violet smirked, her patience wearing thin. “You’re really something, coming here and still complaining. Do you think you’re here to live comfortably? You’ll have to work for everything here.” “I’m not leaving! I’m staying to see if you really are as hypocritical as you seem.”
Sophie noticed Hannah’s pale face, strained from trying to keep her composure. She immediately stepped in to avoid making the situation worse.
“Mrs. Lloyd, perhaps you should return for now.”
Hannah didn’t want to stay in the same place as Jessica any longer. “Then, I’ll leave it to you, Your Grace.”
Hannah was still uncertain about Jessica’s intentions-part of her felt like this was all just a disturbance, but another part of her wasn’t sure. Before Sophie and Violet arrived, Jessica’s arrogance made Hannah wish she could slap her a couple of times.
It was lucky they were at Skye Embroidery. If this had been Hannah’s estate, Jessica would have already been dragged out and yelled at.
Once Hannah left, Sophie turned to
Jessica. “You can go back for now. We’ll look into your situation. If it turns out you were indeed cast out because you couldn’t bear children and you truly have nowhere else to go, Skye Embroidery could take you in but only if you genuinely need help.”
“What’s there to investigate? I’ve already told you everything!” Jessica’s impatience was rising. “If I’d committed some unforgivable crime, I wouldn’t just be cast out. The Marquis of Ironridge’s family would have handed me to the authorities by now.” “Jessica, from what I know, you have several properties and businesses. You’ve made quite a bit of money over the years. I’m sure the Marquis of Ironridge’s family wouldn’t have thrown you out penniless.”
Jessica stood with her feet together, her fingers holding onto her sleeves. Her well-maintained nails didn’t match her withered face at all.
“That’s right! I own houses and shops. I just wanted to come here and see for myself if this workshop is really like the rumors say. Don’t think you can push me around!”
“If you own houses and shops, then you don’t meet the criteria.” Violet’s gaze swept over Jessica, trying to gauge her situation. It was still hard to make sense of it. “Unless you have ho property, no means of support, and are truly destitute, then we’ll take you in. Are you really that poor and desperate?”
“Of course not!” Jessica immediately denied, a faint flush rising on her dull, dry skin. “I’m not poor and destitute.” Sophie nodded. “Then, you should leave.”
Jessica turned her face away, glaring at the cracked floor. She furrowed her brow for a long moment before standing up. “Fine, I’ll leave! But don’t regret this.”
She was just about to walk out the door when Sophie suddenly called out, “Wait, are these coins on the floor yours?”
Jessica whirled around; sure enough, she spotted a few copper coins under the chair she had just been sitting on. She pretended to fumble through her purse. “They’re mine. Though it’s just a few coins, I won’t let you take any advantage of me.”
She returned in a few quick strides, scooped up the copper coins, and left hastily.
Violet turned to Sophie. “What’s going on? Is she really that broke?” Sophie herself had placed those coins there. They weren’t Jessica’s at all.
There was no need for Sophie or Violet to dig into Jessica’s situation.
For many years, Luke had been old friends with Giles, the head steward of Ironridge Estate. He met Giles for a meal the following day, and the whole situation became clear.
It turned out that the previous year, the Marquis of Ironridge had taken a new concubine. Her name was Flora Crawford. Her father was a scholar, and she herself was well-read. She was initially engaged, but her fianc? tragically died two years ago in an accident, earning her the reputation of being a “widow-maker.” She had been ridiculed ever since.
Somehow, she crossed paths with Leopold, who took a liking to her and made her his concubine.
According to Giles, the reason Leopold had taken Flora in was partly to support the management of the household. Emma had been ill for a long time and had almost died last winter. It wasn’t until the weather warmed that she started recovering.
Flora was skilled in managing the household. Since her arrival, she had been assisting Margaret in overseeing the internal affairs of the estate, which the old lady greatly appreciated.
It was clear that Jessica didn’t like Flora. She had been subtly tormenting her in both overt and covert ways. Margaret had berated her several times, and with the treason case involving Eleanor, Jessica had cooled down somewhat.
Three months ago, Flora had become pregnant. Due to severe morning sickness, she could hardly eat. The only thing she could stomach were the light dishes her mom used to make. Margaret had once been pregnant herself, and she knew how much a woman could miss her family during such a time. She invited Flora’s mom, Barbara, to stay with them.
Knowing that Jessica had been cruel to Flora, Barbara reprimanded her a few times. With no outlet for her anger, Jessica had taken to tormenting Serena instead.
At this point, Luke couldn’t help but sigh. “Since Lady Serena entered the Marquis of Ironridge’s family, she has been subjected to much of Lady Jessica’s torment.”
“Enough about the Jaffe family. I’m not interested in hearing about them. Get to the point-how did Jessica end up being cast out? She didn’t do something to harm Flora’s baby, did she?” Violet urged.
Luke shook his head. “No, it wasn’t the baby she was after. It was Madam Barbara. Lady Flora had been taking pregnancy tonics, and Madam Barbara had developed a cough during her stay there. Madam Margaret had a physician prescribe medicine for Madam Barbara, but somehow, the two medicines got switched on one particular day.
“Lady Flora ended up taking the wrong medicine the one meant to treat a cough, which Lady Jessica had added a laxative to. She already had a weak constitution, and the medicine caused her to miscarry after just a couple of days.
“When Lady Flora lost the child, Madam Margaret ordered an investigation. It didn’t take long before it pointed to Lady Jessica. She admitted to it, claiming she didn’t intend to harm Lady Flora’s child but only wanted to get back at Madam Barbara since she had shown her disrespect.”
Violet and Sophie exchanged glances.
“Just some laxatives and the child was gone? Was it really that strong?”