Chapter 86 Rose Returns to the Manor
After returning from Mabel's place, Cressida had a word with her father Patrick.
"Mabel was injured by a falling roof tile and won't be able to handle household affairs for a while."
"What terrible timing!" Patrick complained. "Go ask your mother later. She should be recovered by now. If she's fine, let her take back control of the estate."
Cressida pressed her lips together. "Father, I don't think we should rush to return the household management to Mother."
"Why not?"
"Mabel is so healthy, yet she can't even get out of bed after being hit by a tile. Echo is pregnant and not even three months along—it's such a fragile time. What if something falls on her?"
Patrick frowned. "That's the servants' fault for being so careless."
Cressida said, "Exactly. Mother has been managing the household for so many years with so many responsibilities. Naturally, she can't pay attention to every little detail. If something happened to Echo today while Mother was still in charge, wouldn't that create misunderstandings between you and Mother?"
Her words made Patrick see the light.
He looked startled. "You have a point."
Patrick thought to himself that since marrying him, Clio had always been strong-willed and opinionated.
She couldn't even tolerate the other women who served him in the manor, let alone Echo who was already pregnant.
"But who will manage the household?"
"Father, you have me," Cressida handed him a cup of tea. "As your daughter, I'm here to help you, aren't I?"
Patrick sipped his hot tea, thought it over, and slowly nodded.
"Good thing I have you, Cressida. You must be very careful. Nothing can go wrong in this household."
"Of course. With strict rules, there won't be any mistakes."
"But do you know how to manage the accounts?" Patrick looked at her doubtfully.
Cressida smiled. "A little, and besides, I have Ingrid to help me. It won't be difficult."
Patrick felt reassured.
Clio had been waiting in her courtyard for news.
Having Mabel injured was Clio's first step in reclaiming her household authority.
Brynn was useless, and given Patrick's aversion to trouble, he would surely ask her, Clio, to manage things.
Once she regained control of the household, she could legitimately attend the royal Regatta Festival and give that damned Cressida what she deserved.
But Nanny stood in the courtyard, waiting and watching.
The household keys that symbolized management authority never came from Patrick.
By evening, Clio couldn't sit still anymore and sent Nanny to find out what was happening.
When Nanny returned, she said awkwardly, "The entire estate is now under Ms. Cressida Hamilton's management."
"What?" Clio didn't believe it. "She doesn't know anything. Mr. Hamilton would trust her with this?"
Nanny said, "It was indeed approved by Mr. Patrick Hamilton himself. I heard that this afternoon, all the household managers went to Ms. Cressida Hamilton's courtyard to report to her."
Clio slammed the table, anger filling her eyes.
"How dare she not inform me? I'm her mother!"
"Mrs. Clio Hamilton, please calm down," Nanny urged. "Right now, all the household managers respect Ms. Cressida Hamilton very much. Don't fight her for power right now. Just think of it as resting."
After what happened with Tatum, Nanny didn't dare stir up trouble.
Nanny hoped so much that Clio would calm down and not make a scene.
Otherwise, when the masters fought, it was the servants who suffered.
Besides, Clio's emotions had become increasingly unstable lately.
Clio gritted her teeth, unable to swallow this insult.
"Without managing this estate, how can I legitimately take the girls to the royal Regatta Festival? This Cressida is truly a curse sent to torment me. Everything she does goes against my wishes!"
Nanny said nothing.
After thinking for a while, Clio said, "Go send a message to Rose for me. Tell her not to wait until after the Regatta Festival to come back. She should return in the next few days and take Cressida down a peg!"
Nanny opened her mouth to object, but Clio kept urging her, so Nanny had to go.
Before bed that night, a figure entered the courtyard and whispered a few words to Emma.
Emma immediately lifted the curtain and came in.
"Ms. Hamilton, Nanny sent a message to The Howard Mansion."
Last time Cressida heard that during the chaos at the Flower Festival, Rose had shielded a young boy from a knife and was injured.
That boy happened to be Bruce's grandson, beloved by everyone in the Howard family.
Rose had managed to attach herself to the Howard family and was recovering at their estate.
Hearing that Nanny had sent a message to The Howard Mansion, Cressida simply acknowledged it.
"Then let's wait for her to come back." Otherwise, how could she catch them all in one net?
Cressida lay down to sleep. It rained in the middle of the night.
By morning, Noah came to report: "Ms. Cressida Hamilton, distinguished guests have arrived at the estate. Mr. Patrick Hamilton wants you to come to the front courtyard to greet them."
Cressida casually asked, "The Howards?"
Noah looked somewhat surprised. "Ms. Hamilton is truly clever."
Cressida got up and went with Emma to the reception hall in the front courtyard.
Last night's rain had stopped by morning, but the weather remained overcast with no wind, making the May temperature feel sticky.
Moisture clung to Cressida's hair.
Her blue-green dress swept through the corridor. At the entrance to the hall, she heard cheerful laughter inside.
"Mr. Patrick Hamilton, you're too kind. Although Ms. Rose Hamilton is a goddaughter, she was exceptionally brave—almost like she was your daughter in a past life. The children of The Hamilton Mansion are so accomplished, it's truly enviable."
"Not at all, not at all..." Patrick felt somewhat embarrassed and guilty.
Just then, Cressida stepped into the hall.
She was tall and slender, graceful as jade.
"Father." She curtsied.
Seeing Cressida, Patrick looked relieved and immediately beckoned. "Cressida! Perfect timing. Rose saved Mr. Bruce Howard's grandson. Mr. Ernest Howard has come to thank us in person."
Patrick smiled at the man sitting across from him. "This is my daughter, Cameron's younger sister."
The man, in his forties with a round face, quickly stood up when he saw Cressida.
"So this is Ms. Cressida Hamilton. I've heard so much about you. I'm Ernest Howard. The child Ms. Rose Hamilton saved is my son."
Cressida curtsied to him. "Nice to meet you, Mr. Howard."
Today Bruce hadn't come in person but had sent his son Ernest to represent The Howard Mansion and bring Rose back.
"Cressida, long time no see." The figure in pink standing beside Ernest spoke softly to Cressida.
Compared to when she left The Hamilton Mansion, Rose looked somewhat dimmer.
Cressida could keenly sense the ambition in Rose's eyes when she looked at her.
"Rose, it has been a while," Cressida replied calmly. "Are you back to stay, or just visiting?"
Rose froze, anger flashing in her eyes.
She hadn't expected Cressida to embarrass her like this in front of Ernest.
Patrick quickly smoothed things over. "Cressida, I already explained to Mr. Howard. There were some misunderstandings at the estate before, so we sent Rose to the country house to recover. Now that she's better, she should come back home."
Ernest nodded in agreement.
But Cressida said, "It's good you're back, Rose. Just don't lie to people next time."
Rose's face turned pale.
She nearly tore the handkerchief in her sleeve.
This Cressida! Never-ending!
Patrick coughed lightly. "Cressida! Why bring up the past?"
Ernest said, "Ms. Rose Hamilton knows she was wrong. She mentioned it to us and feels very regretful. Ms. Cressida Hamilton's brother is General Hamilton, a man of great tolerance. Surely Ms. Cressida Hamilton is the same?"
"Of course," Cressida said with a half-smile. "I'm very happy to have Rose back home."
Rose pressed her lips together. "This time, thanks to Mr. Bruce Howard's connections, I've also invited Master Conrad from Saint Elias Monastery."
That was the monk, Rex Conrad, who said Cressida would bring misfortune and nearly made her walk on blades for Patrick's sake.
Yet this Rex who said such things was famous throughout the land and highly respected.
Rose stared into Cressida's eyes.
"So many things have happened at the estate recently. I heard Michael was harmed by villains and became simple-minded, so I invited him to help cleanse the estate of misfortune. Cressida, may I ask him to come in now?"
A barely noticeable, malicious smile appeared at the corner of Rose's pink lips.