Chapter 44 Fire, Did Patrick Burn to Death?
Cressida paused: "From now on, you can come and go freely here. I just need you to help me when I ask, that's all. Other than that, I won't restrict you."
But Verity clasped her hands: "Please feel free to give me any orders, Ms. Hamilton. Since the Prince sent me here, I will serve you wholeheartedly."
"Good," Cressida's eyes showed approval. "Emma, take Verity to her room and fill her in on the estate matters."
"Yes, Ms. Hamilton." Emma and Verity both left.
Cressida thought quietly for a moment.
A loyal warrior like Verity—Miguel sending her here meant she was both a helper and a spy.
Around Verity, Cressida still needed to be careful.
At dusk, the setting sun cast blood-red shadows.
In the Patrick estate's kitchen, pots and stoves were blazing and rumbling.
The cooks were all busy, preparing meals for the various courtyards.
Steward Della had claimed a large stove, but before she could light the fire, someone kicked her aside.
Della rolled on the ground, grimacing in pain.
She scrambled up and immediately cursed: "Who is it!"
Looking carefully, she saw it was Tatum with several people, hands on hips, glaring angrily at Della.
Della's face changed instantly, and she quickly knelt on the ground: "Tatum, I didn't know it was you. Does Mrs. Clio Hamilton have any orders?"
Tatum's eyes were contemptuous and sharp.
"This tonic soup in your pot—who are you making it for?"
"It's for Mrs. Sable Hamilton's courtyard," Della explained carefully. "Mrs. Sable Hamilton has a cold constitution, and Mr. Patrick Hamilton feels for her, so he had the maids bring the ingredients."
"Let me ask you, what time is it now? Is the kitchen cooking or not?"
"Tatum, I only used this one stove..."
Tatum sneered, cutting off Della's words: "It's just tonic soup—when can't you drink it? Why must you occupy the stove now? Don't you know Mrs. Clio Hamilton hasn't been well these past few days and needs to boil medicine!"
Della was stunned, pointing to the six large stoves and four small stoves nearby.
"Tatum, there are still several stoves over there you can use..."
Before Della could finish, Tatum's foot kicked her hard again, sending her tumbling.
Della crashed heavily into the vegetable rack, getting covered in cabbages.
It hurt, but she didn't dare make a sound. Tatum was Clio's head maid—no one dared offend her.
The surrounding cooks and kitchen maids didn't dare speak, keeping their heads down, trembling.
Tatum commanded arrogantly: "Listen up, all of you. Mrs. Clio Hamilton's matters are the most important matters. If Mrs. Sable Hamilton wants tonic soup, she'll have to wait until Mrs. Clio Hamilton isn't using the stove!"
"If anyone makes Mrs. Clio Hamilton wait, don't blame me for being rude to them. Understand?"
Tatum's display of borrowed power was enough to scare everyone into nodding and expressing their loyalty.
Tatum rolled her eyes at Della: "You tactless thing. Starting today, you're no longer the kitchen steward. You'll be like these little maids, doing kitchen chores!"
With that, Tatum turned and left with her people.
Only after Tatum left did others dare to help Della up.
"That Tatum is too much. Just because Mrs. Clio Hamilton has the final say in this house, she acts like she's half an owner herself."
"Lately Mr. Patrick Hamilton keeps going to Mrs. Sable Hamilton's place. Mrs. Clio Hamilton wants to put Mrs. Sable Hamilton in her place. The masters fight, but we servants are the ones who suffer."
Listening to everyone's discussion, a dark look flashed in Della's eyes.
She spat softly, "What's so great about that."
Night fell.
After Patrick finished dinner with Clio, he came to Sable's place.
Sable was thirty this year. A few years ago, when Patrick received his title, an official from the royal palace had deliberately sent her to him as a gift to curry favor.
Unfortunately, Sable had been on this estate for four or five years and still couldn't get pregnant. Patrick assumed she was infertile and treated her as a plaything for his entertainment.
At least Sable was honest and docile, never making a fuss.
"Mr. Hamilton, the wine is warmed." Sable's delicate hand lifted the beaded curtain, wearing two small pearls in her hair as she entered the inner room to pour wine for Patrick.
Patrick had already drunk two cups of light wine at Clio's place.
Now Patrick's face showed some signs of drunkenness as he grabbed Sable's delicate hand and held it in his large palm.
Seeing her so gentle and compliant, obedient in everything, Patrick couldn't help feeling some affection.
"Why are you so plain? Not even wearing any hair ornaments?"
"I don't like extravagance," Sable was from Suncrest City and spoke with a soft manner. "Besides, if I wear too much, the lady won't be happy."
"What do you mean by that?" Patrick put down his wine cup.
Sable: "A few days ago, Mr. Patrick Hamilton, concerned about my poor health, gave me some herbs for tonic soup. Tonight Tatum had someone smash the soup, saying I was occupying the stove and affecting Mrs. Clio Hamilton's medicine."
Patrick's brow furrowed sharply.
His displeasure flashed only briefly before he said lightly: "Try to understand and be patient with her. Clio hasn't been well these past few days."
Patrick hated when things went wrong in this household. When something happened, he either ignored it completely or just tried to smooth things over.
As long as it didn't involve him personally or become public gossip, he didn't care if the household turned upside down.
Sable smiled without changing expression: "I know, Mrs. Hamilton has it hard too."
"It's good you understand. Next time, avoid her medicine time and then have someone make the tonic soup. Come, drink a few more cups with me."
After a pot of wine, both were somewhat drunk.
Sable had a maid go heat another pot of wine.
It was already late at night, and Cressida was still practicing calligraphy.
Emma came in to change the candle wick: "Ms. Hamilton, it's eleven o'clock." Just then, heart-wrenching cries for help came from somewhere, piercing the dark night.
Though far away, the person's cries were bone-chilling and terrifying.
Emma patted her chest and walked outside: "Who's shouting in the middle of the night? So scary."
Cressida put on a light shawl and went to the courtyard.
She looked toward Sable's courtyard, where raging flames lit up the dark night.
Echo rushed over: "Ms. Hamilton, something terrible! Mrs. Sable Hamilton's courtyard is on fire, and Mr. Patrick Hamilton is still inside!"
When Cressida arrived with people, Clio had just hurried over, supported by Tatum's hand.
In the slightly cold spring night, the maid behind Tatum held a lantern, illuminating Clio's very ugly expression.
As soon as she entered Sable's courtyard, she grabbed a servant and asked: "How is Mr. Hamilton? Has Mr. Hamilton been rescued?"
The servant trembled, not daring to speak.
Clio had a bad feeling.
She turned and saw Cressida standing there holding a lantern, then rushed over like a madwoman and viciously grabbed her collar.
"Since you're here, why didn't you rush into the fire to save him! That's your father! Your father! How dare you stand by and watch him die, you ungrateful person!"
Michael and Rose also rushed over. Hearing Clio's words, Michael wanted to fight Cressida.
"You disaster! Ever since you came back to the estate, nothing good has happened. Father is trapped in the fire, and you can just stand here without a care?"