Chapter 56 Frankly Tell, Is It a Contraceptive?
Clio looked at her, the crazed expression gradually fading from her face, replaced by a cold, mocking smile at the corners of her mouth. She raised her hand to wipe away the tear stains on her face, supporting herself on the bed as she slowly got up, her skirt sweeping across the floor with a rustling sound.
"Cressida, you truly are ruthless and cruel." She steadied herself, her eyes full of calculation. "You're forcing me like this today, but you'd better think it through—you're still a girl who needs to get married, and your marriage is still in my hands."
Cressida looked at her quietly, her tone flat: "So what, Mother plans to threaten me with my marriage?"
"I'm just reminding you that daughters who are too rebellious never end well." Clio straightened her disheveled collar, putting on the airs of the lady of the house. "Everything I do is for your own good."
"If Mother isn't tired of saying such fake words, I'm certainly tired of hearing them." Cressida stepped forward, looking directly at her. "The housekeeper's keys—Mother should hand them over."
Seeing that Cressida was unmoved, Clio's eyes completely darkened, looking at her like a stranger, filled with hatred. But Clio ultimately didn't dare make more trouble. She knew clearly that if she angered Patrick now, Rose, who had been sent away, would never be able to come back.
Emma had been waiting outside in the courtyard. Seeing Cressida come out, she immediately went up to her: "Ms. Cressida Hamilton, did Mrs. Clio Hamilton give in?"
Cressida took out a string of carved silver keys from her sleeve and handed them to Emma: "Keep these for now. After Mabel opens up the connecting passage between the two courtyards, pass them to him."
Emma's eyes widened in surprise: "Mrs. Clio Hamilton gave in so easily? I thought she would make a huge scene."
"She doesn't dare right now." Cressida looked at the moonlight in the distance, her tone cold. "She knows she's in the wrong and is afraid that if she really angers Father, there won't even be hope for Rose to come back."
She paused, then gave another instruction: "Tell Della in the kitchen that from now on, meals should be delivered directly to Mother's room every day, and without my permission, she's not allowed to leave her courtyard freely."
"Yes." Emma nodded in agreement, couldn't help but sigh. "Speaking of which, it's quite a pity."
"A pity about what?"
"Ms. Rose Hamilton was only sent to the country estate—she can come back sooner or later. Just now I heard from Noah that Mr. Michael Hamilton ran after the carriage like a madman."
A mocking smile appeared on Cressida's lips: "Of course he can't bear to part with her. Rose is the good sister in his eyes, indulging his reckless behavior. How could he want her to leave?"
"Mr. Michael Hamilton really can't tell right from wrong."
"It's better that he can't." A hint of deeper meaning flashed in Cressida's eyes. Today's events would definitely make Rose understand that in front of the Hamilton family's glory, Rose was just a chess piece that could be sacrificed at any time. With Rose's vengeful nature, she might not obey Clio as before. Cressida actually hoped Rose would cause trouble and give Clio some problems—that way she would have more opportunities to make them trouble each other.
Cressida's only regret was that she couldn't get rid of Rose on the spot. If Tatum hadn't interfered, today would have been Rose's death day. Cressida's eyes darkened—whoever blocked her path, she would eliminate them. Tatum's life shouldn't have been spared until now.
At this moment, the agile maid Verity walked over. Cressida leaned close to her ear and whispered a few instructions. A fierce look flashed in Verity's eyes as she nodded and left.
"By the way, Ms. Hamilton," Emma suddenly remembered something, "I heard that Sable was also placed at that country estate."
Cressida withdrew her gaze and said lightly: "Send someone to the estate and give Sable a message—that she and several other ladies at the estate haven't been able to have children for years because Rose got infertility drugs from Octavia."
"Rose used such vicious methods to please Mother, but ruined their entire lives. As for whether Sable believes it and what she'll do, that's up to her."
Emma understood: "I know what to do."
When they reached the hanging flower gate, Noah was already waiting there. Seeing Cressida, he immediately came up with a face full of smiles: "Ms. Hamilton, that Tatum wouldn't cooperate, so this servant slapped her twice just now. She's much more obedient now."
Cressida nodded slightly, her tone cold: "I've always trusted Noah to get things done."
Seeing this, Emma quickly took out some money to hand over. But Noah kept backing away, refusing to accept it, just rubbing his hands and smiling: "Being able to serve Ms. Hamilton is this servant's blessing. Naturally I must handle everything properly. It's just that in the future..."
Cressida understood his concern and said directly: "Mother's health isn't good and she needs rest. From now on, Mabel will take over managing the household. Don't worry, I'll make it clear to her that you're still the steward of the main courtyard, and the people she brings won't overstep you."
Hearing this, Noah immediately knelt on the ground, saying excitedly: "Thanks to Ms. Hamilton's trust, this servant will follow only your lead from now on, through fire and water!"
Cressida had Emma help him up and added: "Rose was sent away, and Michael is definitely the one who misses her most. If he wants to send a carriage to the estate with things in the future, you don't need to stop him, just let me know in advance."
"This servant has noted it!"
After leaving the hanging flower gate, the servants they encountered along the way all stopped and bowed respectfully to Cressida, their eyes full of awe. Before, they only knew that this Cressida had a brother Cameron who died in battle, but because she wasn't favored by the lady of the house, she was neglected, so they looked down on her too. Now that they'd seen with their own eyes how she seized the housekeeper's authority from the lady Clio, and even Marshall treated Cressida differently, who would dare show the slightest disrespect? Being able to serve this promising Cressida was already a great opportunity in their eyes.
Noah watched Cressida's retreating figure and couldn't help shaking his head in wonder: "In the Hamilton Mansion, I'm afraid the power is about to change hands."
On the other side, after leaving the Hamilton Mansion, Marshall didn't return directly to his own territory, but had the carriage take a detour to Sophie's palace.
At this time, Sophie was watering flowers in the courtyard. She had always loved tending to flowers and plants herself, and the garden full of peonies bloomed in gorgeous colors under her care. The weather at the end of the first month was still cold, and getting peonies to bloom was quite difficult, all thanks to the skilled gardeners she hired to carefully nurture them.
"Greetings to Aunt." Marshall stood at the garden gate with an upright posture, his refined and elegant temperament complementing the garden full of spring colors.
"Marshall is here." Sophie called out joyfully, immediately handed the golden scissors to the servant beside her, and quickly walked forward, affectionately holding Marshall's hand. "You went to the Hamilton Mansion?"
"Just came from there."
Sophie led him to the rest area. A maid served freshly brewed peony tea, and she personally poured a cup for Marshall: "With Dr. Hayes taking action, Patrick's leg problem should be cured, right?"
Marshall's hand holding the teacup paused, and he said calmly: "Clifford did go, but Patrick doesn't have any leg problem at all. He was faking it."
Sophie's movements also stopped, and she raised an eyebrow: "What? Such a thing?"
Marshall told her everything that happened at the Hamilton Mansion in detail. After listening, Sophie frowned slightly: "A newly risen noble family with such intense internal strife shows an unstable foundation. What a tricky character."
Marshall's tone was slightly cold: "This kind of family can't make much of a splash."
But Sophie smiled: "All families in the world are more or less the same. Strip away the glamorous exterior, and inside they're all equally dirty." She changed the subject. "Did you see Cressida?"
"I did." When mentioning Cressida, Marshall's eyes showed more interest. "Just as you said, she's smart, independent, and remarkably bold. It's just strange that she's ostracized by her family, with everyone working together to suppress her."
"What's strange about that?" Sophie slowly poured tea, her voice gentle but every word clear. "She's a woman who would rather travel thousands of miles to the border to follow General Hamilton than stay and enjoy life in Emerald City. She must have been looked down upon since childhood. The fact that she's not accepted by the Hamilton family is actually good for us."
Sophie put down the teapot, her gaze becoming profound: "That army only recognizes her brother Cameron's reputation, so naturally they'll take special care of her. No matter how high the Hamilton family's title, it can't compare to the weight of 'Cameron.' Marshall, if you can take her as a concubine, you can use General Hamilton's power to consolidate your position. This would be like adding wings to a tiger."
Marshall didn't speak, just lowered his head to taste the tea, his fingertips gently rubbing the rim of the cup.
Sophie knew he had his own considerations, so she didn't say more, just smiled gracefully: "Stay for dinner tonight. I'll have someone call Miguel too. You brothers haven't seen each other in a long time."
On the night before the housekeeper's authority was to be transferred to Mabel, trouble broke out again at the Hamilton Mansion.
Since Marshall's visit, Patrick had been having nightmares, always dreaming that he was publicly caned for deceiving Doyle. That night, Patrick had just fallen asleep when he was awakened by Clio's scream beside him.
"In the middle of the night, what are you freaking out about!" Patrick sat up abruptly, his tone full of impatience.
Clio covered her neck, gasping for air, her face looking terrible: "Mr. Hamilton, I had another nightmare! I dreamed that your deceased grandfather warned me, saying there's something dirty hidden in our estate that's harming the whole family, and if we don't find it, the family will face great disaster!"
"Nonsense!" Patrick scolded, but thinking of his recent headaches, he became somewhat skeptical.
"It's true! Grandfather said it clearly in the dream—the recent troubles at the estate are all caused by that dirty thing!" Clio pleaded tearfully. "Mr. Hamilton, for the safety of the whole family, we must search the entire estate immediately!"
Looking at Clio's panicked appearance, and thinking of his own inexplicable headaches, Patrick finally nodded.
Late at night, Cressida was gently awakened by Emma: "Ms. Hamilton, Mr. Patrick Hamilton and Mrs. Clio Hamilton said they dreamed of an ancestor's warning and want to search the entire estate. They want you to go to the main courtyard immediately."
Cressida opened her eyes, with no trace of sleepiness: "To keep the housekeeper's authority, Mother really will stop at nothing. Since she wants to make a scene, let's go play along with her."
Emma draped a heavy cloak over her. Cressida looked back at Verity guarding the door, and Verity nodded imperceptibly.
When they arrived at the main courtyard, everyone in the family had already gathered. Michael was rubbing his sleepy eyes, and Brynn and Reid were also there, with Brynn leaning on her husband Reid, looking somewhat dazed. Patrick and Clio sat on stools, the candlelight making their faces look particularly serious.
"We've gathered everyone tonight because both Mr. Hamilton and I dreamed of an ancestor's warning." Clio spoke first, her tone grave. "There's something ominous hidden in the estate. It concerns the family's fortune, and we must search thoroughly. We absolutely cannot be lenient!"
Noah immediately took the order and led the servants to begin searching. They first went to Michael's courtyard and Brynn and Reid's residence, naturally finding nothing. Soon, the search party surged toward Cressida's courtyard.
Clio kept watching Cressida's expression from the corner of her eye, but saw that Cressida sat calmly in her chair, her back straight as a rod, like an unyielding pine tree, without the slightest panic. This made Clio even more annoyed. Cressida always had this unfeminine appearance—she didn't have Rose's delicate charm that made people feel protective, yet she was like a hard bone that couldn't be caught with any weakness.
Clio secretly glanced at the maid Zola cowering in the corner, a hint of suggestion flashing in her eyes. Clio had already instructed Zola to hide "evidence" in Cressida's courtyard. Tonight she was determined to ruin Cressida's reputation and send her to the estate first.
Before long, Noah came in hurriedly carrying a bundle, his expression complex: "Mr. Patrick Hamilton, we found this in the reverse sitting room of the east house in Ms. Cressida Hamilton's courtyard."