Chapter 22 Got on Miguel's Carriage, Can't Escape
On the day of Odette's banquet, Cressida got up early.
It was overcast today, with a cold north wind blowing.
Emma: "Ms. Cressida Hamilton, which dress will you wear to the palace today?"
Cressida said meaningfully: "Just pick any one. I might have to change later anyway. Prepare another one in a bright color for me."
When she left, she was still wearing a blue-green dress. The color was dull - not something girls her age liked to wear.
She draped a silver cloak over it. As Cressida walked out the door, she saw the rabbit fur hand warmers Emma had made for her a few days ago and took them along too.
Walking down the corridor, wind blew from all directions, making people shiver from the cold.
Tatum was already waiting at a sheltered corner: "Ms. Cressida Hamilton is here. Mrs. Clio Hamilton and Ms. Rose Hamilton are waiting for you in the carriage at the gate."
As she spoke, she couldn't help glancing at Emma behind Cressida, and sure enough saw Emma carrying a musical instrument.
"Thank you." Cressida's tone was cold.
Originally Tatum was leading the way for her, but when they walked out of the winding corridor, Tatum fell two steps behind her.
Just then, a young servant carrying a porcelain bowl passed through the ornamental gate and - bang - crashed into Cressida.
Warm meat porridge spilled on her blue-green dress, immediately soaking through in dark circles.
"I deserve to die! I deserve to die!" The young servant knelt on the ground in fright, kowtowing with a pale face.
"You blind worthless thing, why don't you watch where you're going!" Tatum slapped her viciously, immediately making half the servant's face swell up.
Tatum said to Cressida: "Ms. Cressida Hamilton, this is Mrs. Sable Hamilton's maid from the west courtyard. How do you want to punish her?"
"Forget it," Cressida wasn't angry, "I'll go back and change. You go tell mother first."
Tatum quickly stopped her: "Ms. Cressida Hamilton, there's snow on the road and the carriage can't go fast. If you go back to change now, you'll miss the time to enter the palace. It wouldn't be good to keep the Queen waiting."
"Ms. Rose Hamilton brought a change of clothes today. If you don't mind, you could change in the carriage. That way there won't be any delay. How about it?"
Cressida stared at her, making Tatum feel inexplicably guilty and lower her head.
"That's not appropriate," Cressida said. "Let mother and Rose enter the palace first. I'll take another carriage. I can make it in time."
Tatum didn't insist: "Ms. Hamilton, then please hurry."
Back in her room, Emma helped Cressida change.
"Ms. Hamilton, all your remaining dresses are in bright colors."
"Wear that one." She pointed to the sapphire blue dress. "I'll put the silver cloak over it. It'll be fine."
"Mrs. Hamilton's maid actually came this way today - it's quite far from the west courtyard. How strange." Emma muttered.
"Not strange at all. Mother doesn't want me going to the palace with them."
If Cressida guessed correctly, the dress Tatum said Rose had brought in the carriage was also made of brightly colored fabric.
If Cressida wore it, she would face Doyle's harsh criticism.
After all, they were still in Cameron's mourning period, and as his twin sister, it was improper for her to wear bright colors.
But Cressida guessed there was more - Clio must have another trick up her sleeve and definitely wouldn't let her make it to the palace banquet in time.
Facts proved she was right. Halfway there, the wheel of her carriage fell off!
The carriage tilted, and Emma almost fell out. Fortunately, Cressida grabbed her.
The coachman kept apologizing: "Ms. Hamilton, please forgive me. I'll go back right away to find someone to help repair it."
He rode the horse and quickly disappeared into the wind and snow.
Emma shouted: "Come back! I can help you lift it and we can fix it!"
But the coachman didn't look back.
"Ms. Hamilton, I'll go to a nearby post station to borrow a carriage to take you."
Cressida held Emma back: "No need. There's not enough time."
The carriage broke down at a very strategic location - on the main road with no shops ahead or behind.
She got down from the carriage with Emma and pulled her cloak tight: "We'll go to Chris's residence. His house is nearby."
As long as she could get a horse, she could get herself out of this situation.
The wind howled, mixed with snow, hitting people's faces like pebbles.
As they walked, Cressida heard someone shouting—
"Teacher, teacher!"
Emma: "Ms. Hamilton, that little boy on the carriage behind us seems to be the young student you took on at the martial arts hall."
Cressida looked back and indeed saw Anthony with half his body leaning out the window. He was on a carriage pulled by two horses, waving at her continuously.
The carriage stopped beside her. The coachman was dressed unusually - in a guard's outfit. Cressida took note of this.
"Teacher, in such strong wind and snow, are you going to the palace? Get in the carriage - we're going the same way, and my father agreed!"
Anthony's childish little face was rosy red, his eyes bright and shining.
Cressida hesitated a bit.
The carriage had no insignia. She wasn't sure whose child Anthony was.
But with two chestnut horses, a guard as coachman, and Anthony able to attend the palace banquet, he must be from an extraordinary family.
Most importantly, the other person was a man. It seemed inconvenient for her to share a carriage alone with him.
But Cressida wasn't a prudish person. She knew her main goal now was to get to the palace, and no matter who was in the carriage, she could handle it.
"Then thank you very much." After Cressida spoke, she and Emma got into the carriage together.
What she never expected was that as soon as she entered the carriage, she first saw magnificent clothing with the royal emblem on the chest.
Cressida's gaze swept upward and met a pair of sharp eyes.
Miguel sat there like a coiled wolf, quietly watching her intrude into his territory.
Cressida's heart suddenly plummeted for a moment, but she quickly steadied herself.
She curtsied: "Greetings, Prince Russell. I didn't know this was Prince Russell's carriage. I've troubled you."
"No trouble. I'm going the same way. Please sit." Miguel's tone was steady, low and cold, without extra emotion.
Cressida sat across from him.
She wanted to deliberately appear gentle and reserved, like a proper noble lady should.
But Anthony sidled up to her, chattering away like a little bird.
"Teacher, I told father you're really good at hidden weapons. Can you show father later?"
"Little Duke, I..."
"Teacher! Why aren't you calling me Anthony anymore? If you keep being so formal with me, I'll get angry!"
He tugged at Cressida's sleeve with his little hand, throwing a small tantrum.
"Anthony," Miguel called out, "sit down."
Anthony, who had just been playful and stubborn, instantly sat obediently back beside his father Miguel.
He made faces at Cressida.
Cressida could only pretend not to see.
Cressida had once heard that Miguel had a commoner woman he deeply loved, but because of their different social status, Doyle didn't approve. After that woman gave birth to Anthony, she passed away.
Cressida never imagined that the student she casually took on would be Miguel's son.
"Anthony is naughty. Ms. Hamilton, please don't mind."
"Not at all. The Little Duke is sincere, pure, very clever and well-behaved."
Being praised, Anthony immediately raised his little head, somewhat proud.
Miguel's hand with a jade thumb ring had distinct knuckles and slender fingers. He lightly tapped his knee, then changed the subject.
"Last time I heard Ms. Hamilton say she wasn't skilled in martial arts. It seems you were being modest. Anthony praises you so much - I'm very much looking forward to seeing your performance."
Miguel said this with a half-smile, but his eyes swept over clearly.
Cressida's fingertips under her sleeves tightened slightly.
It seemed Miguel had set his sights on her.