Chapter 21
As I made my way to the study room of Baron Fondy's residence today, I caught the sound of the baroness's voice drifting from a nearby room. My steps faltered when I distinctly heard her mention my surname. The door to the room was slightly ajar.
"It is true," the baroness said. "All of a sudden, the Duchess of Ivoryspire stepped in and cleared Kyle Woodstone's name."
"Are you certain the duchess only cleared his name?" replied a guest, another woman, her voice dripping with skepticism. "From what I have heard, there were multiple individuals being charged with trespassing."
"Oh, I am quite certain," the baroness insisted. "My husband was present that evening and witnessed the entire ordeal. He said the duchess stormed into the viscount's residence and demanded that he drop the charges against the Woodstone family. She didn't even provide a reason. My husband said the viscount was terrified out of his wits and immediately complied."
My heart skipped a beat.
"Imagine my husband's astonishment when he discovered that the young lady who modeled for the necklace he bought me was none other than Ann Woodstone. He conducted an investigation after purchasing both the necklace and the portrait. It was quite the revelation."
"Is that why you have a poor peasant girl as one of the Young Lord's tutors?" the guest asked, her voice tinged with mild disdain.
"Precisely," the baroness replied. "After what happened, my husband thought it prudent to establish a connection with the Duchess of Ivoryspire. Should the need arise in the future, it might prove useful. I mean, the duchess intervened for the Woodstone family alone and no others, so there must be some manner of association there."
"And what of him buying her portrait?"
"Oh, that?" The baroness laughed lightly. "He knows my penchant for beautiful art, and he purchased it for me. It is quite a striking piece, is it not?"
I continued toward the study, my thoughts swirling in every direction like a tempest. So, Millicent had nothing to do with Kyle's trespassing? It seemed my accusations had been unjust. But wait, wasn't it her intervention that earned me this job here? Or was it my own actions that prompted her to act, which ultimately led to my current employment? By that logic, I had secured this position myself. A triumph of my own making!
Yet, despite this impeccable reasoning, my heart had the audacity to flutter, mocking my conclusions and stubbornly undermining my logic. Traitorous organ. I cast a reproachful glance down at my chest, letting out a low murmur, lecturing it. "Sometimes, you simply must take advantage of circumstances, you foolish thing."
My self-reflection was cut short by the cheerful sound of Benjamin's voice ringing down the corridor. "Mrs. Woodstone!" he called, his head poking out of the study door, a grin as wide as the horizon lighting up his face. "Hurry!"
He vanished back into the room before I could so much as reply.
Right. It was working hours, not the time for thoughts that tangled themselves into knots. I forced my mind to focus, silencing the absurd war between heart and logic, and made my way into the study.
The moment I entered, Benjamin and Jim were seated at the desk, their faces alight with bright, mischievous smiles. I narrowed my eyes as I took my usual seat across from them.
"We have an idea!" Benjamin declared, his excitement palpable.
"And that is?" I asked, leaning back in my chair.
"We all have to write a story using what you've taught us!" he announced, beaming with pride.
I tilted my head, "not a bad idea. Alright." I prepared to guide them through the activity. That was until Benjamin added, "But your story has to be about your very first kiss!"
I blinked. My first kiss? These tiny devils wanted to hear the story of my first kiss? Where on earth had their minds wandered? Was this some alarming trend among the youth, degenerating into Helena's scandalous ways at such tender ages? "Excuse me?" I finally managed. "Are the both of you not only seven years old? What business have you with the tale of my first kiss?"
Yet, they stared back at me with such audacity, their eyes glimmering with unrelenting curiosity. My first kiss? I wanted to laugh and seethe in equal measure. Outrageous.