[Bonus chapter]The Tea Party (2)

''Countess chanel.''

''My, it is a pleasure to see you here, baroness.''

''Viscountess Domaine, I did not think you would be here.''

''I absolutely cannot miss a great tea party, marchioness kingston.''

Many noblewomen, married and unmarried, in gorgeous and extravagant gowns, across the capital attended the tea party in the hayes duchy for different reasons. Some still hope to catch a glimpse of the duke and seduce him just like the mistress. If she could do it, then who says they can't?

Others came to build connections with the mistress. The future is still unpredictable. The mistress could be the only duchess in the hayes duchy one day. And the duchess could be a divorced duchess one day.

But their main reason for coming to the tea party is to see if truly the duchess and mistress are fighting as they imagined. For the mistress to hold a tea party, it meant the duke agreed. Surely, as a noble, the duchess would understand the true meaning behind his words and be miserable.

It was not their fault for being too nosy, as the latter had been quiet for almost seven months now.

She did not attend any banquets. She did not accept their invitation and did not host any tea parties. To them, the duchess seemed like she wanted to be invisible, unlike before, when one could find her at any gathering.

As for the reason, well, the mistress is the only thing they could think of. No woman would be happy with the duke's decision if they were in her place.

''Marchioness chauvez, I did not expect you to come,'' A noblewoman greeted the familiar wrinkled smiling woman sitting opposite her.

''It's lovely to see you, viscountess mars.'' Marchioness Chauvez smiled as she continued to accept greetings from other noblewomen.

Everyone present knew that the marchioness disliked duchess hayes, and in the empress' last tea party, she befriended the mistress even before the duke married her into the duchy.

Her presence at the tea party is like announcing that she is on the mistress' side. Even without saying, they knew.

''Hello everyone.''

All chatter ceased, and heads turned to the entrance. They stared at the golden-haired woman in a peach elegant gown that did not hide her round stomach. Her long hair was embellished in pins and a sparkling butterfly hair comb, and her countenance showed no negativity or whatever that could point out her sufferings.

She looked more like a duchess than a second wife, which showed how the duke favored her more than the duchess.

Marchioness chauvez smirked slightly upon seeing that. Her nemesis is as miserable as she thought, making her heart lighter than ever.

'So, she's really pregnant,' Some thought as they were not present at the wedding but still heard rumors about the color of her wedding gown and her lack of a veil.

Annalise walked to the middle of the large room and did a little curtsy because of her round stomach.

''Thank you all for coming to my tea party.'' Her smile was so bright and shining that many who had ill feelings against her could not help but curve their lips too.

''Madam should please have a seat. You are pregnant. You should not stand too long, and you must walk less.'' Marchioness chauvez was the first to talk.

''Yes, thank you, marchioness chauvez. I appreciate your concern,'' Annalise grinned at her. She remembered this woman who consoled her after what happened with the duchess at the tea party.

Once Annalise sat on a single couch that was different from all the luxurious seater sofas, the marchioness chauvez decided to lead the conversation.

As noblewomen, once the hostess is not seated, no activities can take place because it would be deemed rude and unethical.

''First, I did not expect the tea party to be indoors. Though this room is too beautiful to ignore,'' the marchioness chauvez surveyed the room with awe. The well-aligned interiors colored with mint green and gold, the artistic mural installations on the wall, the arrangement of the seaters sofa and tables on each side... even the desserts looked amazing.

To be honest, they did not expect the mistress to decorate a tea party like this. They thought it would be more extravagant, as she was a commoner who had never seen luxury. Though it was rumored that she met the duke one year after his marriage.

He might have groomed her in their noble lifestyle, and seeing her dressed up self, he must have been involved in the planning of the tea party…or the duchess, but that seems very unlikely.

''Thank you.'' For something that Dante did, she would not mind sharing a bit. ''The duke was actually the one who suggested it.''

''Really?''

Though they guessed as much, they did not think it was actually true. Then what of the duchess?

Some could not hold their curiosity back, and one of them bravely asked, ''Then what of the garden, Madam? Pardon me, but I was around on your wedding day, and the garden was magnificent.''

''A garden?''

''That's right. You weren't around for the wedding, viscountess winsely. That garden was so beautiful to ignore. It showed just how well the gardeners groomed it.''

''What a shame. I would love to see it.''

Another asked, seeing that annalise did not answer right away, ''Madam, why isn't the tea party taking place in the garden?''

''U-Um.'' Annalise did not expect the garden to come up at the tea party. She just wanted to enjoy herself, but these women were making it hard for her. Now she understood why the madam who taught her said the noble world was akin to a wolf's den.

She knows not all these women were in favor of her as a wife of Dante and the reason why they came to her tea party for the gossip about her, the duke and duchess.

Glancing at Olivia, who stood by the door, she took a small deep breath when she saw the latter encourage her with a nod.

Olivia was someone once in the noble world. She understood them better than her. She advised that if they ask her questions like this, she should just tell the truth.

''The duchess was actually the one who took care of the garden, and she was not in favor of me being there.''

''Oh My..''

''I did not expect that..''

''The duchess said that..''

Olivia looked at her lady doing what she said and nodded slightly. Though she was sorry for using her kind lady like this, it was also for her own good. Once the maid had done her job, and the scheme was in action, the duchess would not have any excuse for anyone...not even the duke.

Marchioness chauvez glanced in her direction, and they met eyes before they looked away.

—--

Meanwhile, a maid was walking to the black gates of hayes duchy with a big present and a smaller present in hand. The knights' eyes sharpened at the sight of her, making the maid slightly tremble.

''State your purpose for coming to hayes duchy.''

The maid stuttered out, ''I-I'm h-here to deliver a present to the second wife of the duke.''

''Invitation,'' asked one of the knights. He did not put the trembling shoulders in his eyes.

''H-Here..'' The envelope was underneath the blue ribbon of the wrapped smaller gift. He took it and saw that it was an invitation. He then put the card back in the envelope and nodded to his fellow knight.

''You may enter,'' He nodded as the other knight opened the gate and after making sure the envelope was at its previous location, the maid walked into the compound.

Once the maid got inside, she let out a sigh of relief and proceeded to the tea party, where she could give the maid serving the second wife of the duke, the presents and leave immediately..

Without her noticing, a pair of eyes had been watching her since she stepped into the duchy.

Instantly, the person turned around and rushed to alert his employer in the servant quarters.

''Miss Amelia, she is in the duchy.'' He uttered after entering a room.

''Alright, thank you, Sam.'' Amelia nodded with a smile, then dipped her hand into the bag hanging around her waist and brought out two pieces of gold coins.

''Here you go,'' she put in his hands.

''That one extra is for doing the little spy job well.'' She winked, and the little teenager's eyes twinkled with happiness.

''Thank you!''

''Bye- Bye, Miss Amelia,'' He then waved and turned around to leave.

She also waved with a smile.''Bye-bye and don't forget, it was our little secret. Greet your mum for me.''

''I will,'' He waved one last time and left with the door closed.

Once he was gone, the smile disappeared from Amelia and she sat down on the single-laid bed.

''My lady was right,'' she murmured. ''That maid was up to no good.''

>>Here's two new chapters for my first 100 summoning pens. I couldn't ignore you earnest request dear readers. As always, Vote Vote Vote<<