The Other Women (Livia)

Livia really likes to think that she is a confident woman who knows her worth too clearly to feel jealous of other women. 

She is not. 

She stares at the reporter with a confused mix of resentment and envy. 

After all, the reporter is "the other woman." Perhaps she has not destroyed Livia's marriage by conventional means, but destroyed it she has all the same. 

It is a ridiculous sentiment, but Livia is certain she would resent the reporter less if the latter had wrecked her relationship by seducing her husband. 

What sort of marriage crumbles with the mere and accidental appearance of a single woman? What hold does she have over Raylen that Livia cannot match even after four years?

Livia takes a good, hard look at this other woman. She cannot help it. 

The reporter is young, slim, and pale. She is thin enough she may actually be underweight. Her hair, tied in a low ponytail, is whitish-blond. For some reason, Livia is confident that this is her natural hair colour. She does not seem like someone who takes a lot of care in her appearance.

The reporter's eyes are easily her most striking feature—her irises are pale grey, rimmed with a darker blue. But even that beauty is mostly hidden under her fringe.

Or rather, that beauty—because Livia is feeling bitter—is one that cannot shine in a face so plain. 

Raylen did not lie. There's nothing similar between Livia with her flaming red hair and pouty lips and long legs and this… this commoner.

The contrast only increases Livia's resentment. Had it been another model or celebrity or jaw-dropping beauty who had thrown herself at Raylen, Livia would've felt better. At least she can concede the difficulty in rejecting such a temptress. 

But the reporter? She is plain. And, as far as Livia is concerned, has not tried to seduce Raylen. But just her accidental appearance at the football match was enough to shake him out of his steely calmness. 

Unless… 

"Mr Leed, what is she doing here?"

Mr Leed looks surprised by the aggression in her voice. Perhaps he assumed that she was aware of this meeting. "Madam, the Young Master has something to discuss with Ms Janus Allister."

"What exactly?"

"Madam," replies Mr Leed uncomfortably, "that is between the Young Master and Ms Allister." 

"Is that so?" asks Livia cooly, not failing to notice how quiet and demure Janus has been. Heck, her eyes have been mostly fixed on the floor the whole time. 

Livia has two choices—continue interrogating Mr Leed before a stranger or retreat as gracefully as the young mistress of a large household can. She opts for the former. "Alright, I shall not hold the two of you back any longer." 

With forced cheerfulness she continues, "Good evening, Mr Leed. And to you as well, Ms Allister. I shall take my leave."

Mr Leed and the reporter simultaneously bow their heads. "Good evening, Madam," says the butler. The girl says nothing but a barely audible murmur that Livia cannot make out. 

Not that she bothers to. She is too busy walking away with whatever little dignity she has left. 

She meets Gertrude, the head maid, along one of the countless corridors of this sprawling mansion.

Gertrude is an older woman in her fifties. Plump and smiley, she exudes warmth and kindness. Livia likes Gertrude. The head maid has always been motherly to her. 

Gertrude also, as Livia suddenly remembers, has been with the Vale family for a long time. 

Maybe she knows something about the enigmatic Delaney Sackville-West. 

"Gertrude," she says as she gently holds the older woman's hands in her, "I have something to ask you. It has been bothering me for some time."

"What is it, ma'am? I'll do my best to help."

"Thank you, Gertrude. I know you won't let me down. Can I know how long you've been working here?" 

Gertrude looks a bit puzzled. Surely this cannot be the problem plaguing the Young Mistress's mind. 

"Twenty-two years, ma'am. My mother worked for the Master in the past and I naturally followed her footsteps." 

"Good!" Livia is relieved. At least she is getting somewhere. "What do you know about this lady called Delaney?" 

Gertrude pales instantly and takes a step back instinctively. She pulls her hands out of Livia's grasp and tucks them behind her back. "Ma'am, please." 

"Please what? This is just a simple question." 

"Ma'am, please do not make things difficult for me. I would love to help you, but I simply cannot. The Young Master forbids any mention of her. Any servant that violates this rule gets fired with immediate effect." 

This is new information to Livia. "Gertrude, you know that I am not trying to get you fired," she reassures. "There is also no one here except the two of us. Surely you can speak freely?"

The head maid shakes her head. "Ma,am, pardon me for saying this, but you do not understand the severity of the situation. The Young Master hates her to the point he cannot stand any reminder of her." 

"Hate? I thought he loved her." 

Gertrude looks torn between the wishes of her two employers. 

"Please, Gertrude," Livia implores. "My marriage is ending. I just want to know what is going on."

"Oh, ma'am!" exclaims Gertrude with a pained expression that Livia trusts is genuine. "I am so sorry to hear that." 

That is an opening Livia won't surrender. She looks at Gertrude, doing her best to appear dejected and crestfallen. "Don't I deserve to know why my marriage is coming to an end?" 

Gertrude sighs before leaning forward to Livia's ear. "Ma'am, pardon me once more for saying this, but she cannot be the reason. You see, the Young Master absolutely despises her."