Moments went by without Angelica’s reply, Mary impatiently raised her head and saw the dazed look on Angelica’s face. She couldn’t help but laugh, “Do you think that I’m opposing her Ladyship?”
Angelica nervously nodded her head. Then she quickly realized that her master is now Mary. When she first came, Lord Regent and Granny Gordy repeatedly instructed her to be extra loyal to Mary. Just now her reaction was totally unacceptable, she quickly knelt down, “Please forgive me, my Lady.”
“Stand up.”
Mary didn’t want to be a scheming person in front of the servants. After all, she was a time traveler. The concept of equality was deeply ingrained in her. Furthermore, she is now living in the Debeur family and she can’t be on her own. She needs to cultivate her strength and influence.
“Angelica, have you ever thought, if I didn’t oppose the Ladyship, what would I be like now?”
Angelica was deep in her thoughts. If Mary had obediently followed side consort’s orders, without any gripes, then she could have still be living in that courtyard and Lord Regent wouldn’t have remembered that he has a silly daughter like Mary. At the most he’ll ask about her but wouldn’t be too concerned.
“Everyone’s the same. Until you are being forced to the edge you will fight back. I only wanted to live better and take back what is mine. Is that wrong?”
Angelica took a deep breath, “My Lady, I understand now.” She is now Mary’s servant. If she doesn’t side with Mary, she wouldn’t live any better. Her fate is a servant for life.
“Angelica, you are the person who will manage Planifolia Garden for me. I’m putting the entire garden in your care. You are smart, I’m sure that you won’t disappoint me.”
Angelica nodded confidently, she definitely will not let her down.
The next morning, Angelica woke Mary up. The servant in charge of Mary’s dress and accessories had already prepared them. The tailor was unable to rush out her customized dress and Seneschal Travis went to the market to buy a few dresses for Mary. Her jewelries were also prepared.
When the tailored gown arrived at that night, two servants, Sidney and Belle, helped to do minor alterations to ensure that it is in a good fit.
Mary changed into the gown and Odessa, who takes care of her food, had already brought Mary’s breakfast over. Daisy helped Odessa and others set the table for Mary’s breakfast.
There was fresh goat’s milk, some salad, fresh baked bread and a bowl of porridge. The spread was much better than what Mary used to have. Even the servants’ meal was pretty good.
These were brought over by the outer courtyard’s large kitchen. Just yesterday, Lord Regent instructed that the meals to Planifolia Garden are to be taken from the outer courtyard’s kitchen and not from the inner courtyard. The staff from the outer courtyard kitchen also received Seneschal Travis’ orders, that Lady Mary is now the favorite of Lord Regent and must be well taken care of. The kitchen staff knew exactly what they should do.
After breakfast, Linda, who is good at making snacks, prepared some tarts and gave them to Stacey and Jennifer who are accompanying Mary to the Autumn Hall for her lessons. Stacey and Jennifer also prepared the things required by Ralph Debeur Debeur for her lessons.
Mary was touched to have servants taking care of her. But she wondered will Norman be able to find her.
Looking out the windows at the magnolias in full bloom, Mary laughed to herself, so what about Norman, what’s he got to do with her?
Ralph Debeur completed the morning session and without changing his attire, he went directly to Prosperity Hall where side consort was staying. Last night Ralph Debeur already wanted to come over but he was too busy. The crown prince and fourth prince had a conflict and everyone was still deciding whose side they should be on.
The Emperor related the incident to him and wanted his opinion. Ralph Debeur naturally was not so foolish as to reveal his actual thoughts. This was a rare opportunity to consider the larger picture. It may not be wise to choose a side this early. Ralph Debeur already decided to be neutral. When the Emperor asked for his opinion, he pretended not to know what was going on.
It was already very tiring to be at the court. There was still no peace when he returned home.
Within Prosperity Hall, side consort listened intently as Madam Barbosa said, “We decided to prepare Planifolia Garden, it was equipped with items selected from Lord Regent’s personal store room. Most of them were given by the Emperor and others were gifts to the Lord Regent. They are all priceless. Corals and precious stones, Granny Gordy and Amber had already chosen quite a few of them.”
“Heh, these are only in Planifolia Garden for the time being. When she is driven away from Planifolia Garden, she won’t even be able to take away a piece of cloth.”
Madam Barbosa looked at side consort’s expression and said carefully, “Lord Regent instructed, all those items that were chosen are to be transferred to Fifth Lady Mary’s name.”
“What!”
side consort was shocked and upset. All those things are very valuable! Some came from the internal staff and others were from craftsmen outside. Most of them are priceless, and Lord Regent was so generous to give them to that idiot without discussing with her?
Madam Barbosa seems to be adding fuel to the fire and continued to say, “On top of all these, Lord Regent instructed for a thousand silver taels to be transferred to Mary’s name.”
side consort was already getting very upset. She painstakingly maintained this family for Ralph Debeur and she didn’t even receive such gifts. How can her daughter be surpassed by a fool!
“Lord Regent even let Granny Gordy pick thirteen maids, two married women on night duty, two sweeping ladies… to serve at Planifolia Garden. All of them were transferred to Fifth Lady’s household…”
“Enough!”
side consort smacked the table. Startled, Madam Barbosa immediately kept quiet. Who doesn’t know that side consort is ruthless? If Madam Barbosa upsets her, she may not be able to save herself.
“Those few servants and maids, I want you to do a thorough investigation, see if there are any loopholes.”
Madam Barbosa paused for a while and said, “Those servants are nothing, they were brought in from outside. Apart from a pair of sisters, Abigail and Sophia, the rest are single. Abigail and Sophia’s mother is from the Winchester family, and their mother is also serving at Planifolia Garden. Winchester is a butler of Lord Regent who is in charge of Lord Regent’s private estates and Wales Tea Shop… Then, there is this maid from the Redfield family who is stubborn and loyal to Lord Regent. In case things get out of hand, Lord Regent is bound to hear about it. When that happens, it will be difficult to resolve matters.”
side consort said coldly, “You mean that we don’t have a means of dealing with that woman?”
Madam Barbosa was startled by the cold piecing glare of side consort and quickly answered, “My Lady, there is. At Planifolia Garden, there are these sweeping ladies. One of them, Bethany Lewis, gave birth to a girl who is rather pretty. She always wanted her to serve here. Her son is a useless fool, eating and gambling all day long and owed a huge debt…”
“So, it’s decided.” side consort said, “Go and look for that old maid, just say that it came from me. As long as she is willing to do anything for me, her daughter can immediately come and serve me and with regards to her son’s gambling debts, I’ll clear it. I’ll even find a proper job for him.”
Madam Barbosa agreed and left. As soon as she left, servant Tourmaline rushed in and reported that Lord Regent is approaching in anger.
side consort was unsettled, but she seemed eager for the visit. She thought that Lord Regent must be upset because of what happened to Amy yesterday.
As Lord Regent stormed into the room, side consort nervously smiled and welcomed him, “My Lord, why are you so late today? I’ve already instructed the kitchen to prepare soup for your Lordship.”
Lord Regent brushed her aside and almost pushed side consort onto the floor, “Don’t have to, I’m afraid I am unworthy of it.”
side consort’s heart sank immediately. Her smile turned into a face of pity, “My Lord, please don’t joke. I don’t understand what you mean.”
Lord Regent glared at side consort, saw that side consort was wearing a very fine and intricate gown and was all covered in precious jewelry. He then thought of yesterday Mary wearing some old and oversized robe. He became even more furious, “You really know how to dress yourself!”
side consort pondered and guessed that Lord Regent was upset because of Mary wearing those old robes. She cursed at Mary but tried to explain for herself, “My Lord, are you upset because of Mary’s dressing? Indeed, that was my misgivings. When you scolded Amy, I immediately summoned the tailor and punished him. It’s all due to my inability to manage this household well and they bullied Mary. I’ve personally punished all of them.”
“If you can’t handle this household properly, then you can stop managing it.”
side consort was shocked. She painstakingly endured for so many years to rise to her current position. If she loses the authority to run the household, then all her efforts over the years would have been wasted!
“My Lord, you are driving me to my grave! What wrong did I do to let your Lordship despise me to this extent?”
“What wrong did you do? You are fully aware of it!” Lord Regent became even more agitated. Though side consort was a woman of authority, she started from a humble small family.
side consort’s eyes welled up in tears and started to plead, “My Lord, are you upset due to the incident with Amy? Amy is young, she’s my girl, I had been spoiling her, furthermore she is smart and cute, she is the one praised by everyone. Aren’t you also rather fond of her? That’s why she was a little spoilt. Yesterday she was in the wrong and bullied Mary. It was my fault as well. Please forgive me, My Lord.”
It was better if side consort didn’t say these but because she did, Lord Regent’s anger was multiplied, “What do you mean by all these? You are blaming me for spoiling her? Mary didn’t have her mother to care for her, she was all alone and sick for so many years. You are like a mother to her and didn’t take good care of her and allowed her to be treated worse than servants!”
When he recalled going to that courtyard and seeing Mary dressing in those old robes, Lord Regent’s heart ached. It was his fault. He didn’t like Mary’s mother but he didn’t despise Mary. After all, Mary is his daughter.