Chapter 613 - The Secrets Of The Blaise Household
"I heard that he has a mistress at home."
Yvonne had been busy watching the Blaise family's interaction with the Brodie couple when she heard someone muttering this statement.
Looking sideways, she found Marchioness Kiron covering her lips with a paper fan and it was obvious that she was the one who had revealed this matter.
While Raylene gasped at this statement as she was oblivious about such a thing taking place, Duchess Tanner's expressions did not shift.
'So the Duchess already knew about it?' The little girl deciphered the meaning behind this calm state of the other lady.
Being at the pinnacle of noblewomen of the social circle in the Capital, Duchess Beatrice Tanner was the first to hear the gossip of all kinds circulating in their society.
One of her biggest informants was none other than her gossipy younger brother who kept tabs on everyone in and outside the Capital.
She would never have to check the authenticity of any rumor she heard from others as her brother, Marquess Sullivan Samed would have revealed it to her beforehand already.
Therefore, she wasn't surprised when she heard about the secrets from the Blaise household being spilled right now.
However, the same could not be said for the others.
Raylene stared with widened eyes at the Earl in question, Rutherford furrowed his brows, Duke Tanner scoffed, and Marquess Kiron glanced at his wife in shock.
He too had never heard about this matter but it appeared that his wife had deeper connections and was aware of such secretive deeds of the Earl.
Rutherford then glanced at the children, wondering if they had heard what the Lady had just spilled without giving it much thought that the children's young minds could be affected by it.
Aleena was oblivious about her mother's words as she was busy glaring at Elna who had just rolled her eyes at her while Yvonne displayed no reaction, making the father sigh and assume that she had heard nothing.
On the other hand, the young boys pretended to not have heard anything while making the men nod at their taciturn behavior.
Lady Kiron, unaware of the troubled thoughts in Earl St. Claire's mind, continued to disclose the information she had heard from some sources.
"I heard that this has been going on for a few years now." She added while shaking her head in dismay.
"He had kept her existence a secret at the beginning but now, I've heard that he has brought her into his household." She whispered and there was a trace of disgust that appeared on her face.
Raylene was surprisingly curious to know more while even the Duchess displayed intrigue as she was unaware of this part.
'That scum!' Yvonne cursed the Earl whose wife looked too good for him.
Countess Blaise appeared to be in her late twenties and had delicate features which made her look attractive but just a look at her and Yvonne could determine that she was submissive to her husband.
The woman standing with Earl Blaise held his hand when he asked her to and nodded or spoke when he looked her way.
At other times, she stood in silence while watching her husband with a gentle smile on her face.
'Obedient' would be the word best used to describe that woman who did nothing without her husband's approval.
While Yvonne was discerning the type of lady, Countess Blaise was, Marchioness Kiron continued with her revelation about the secrets hidden in the Blaise household.
According to her trusted sources whom she did not wish to be named here, Lady Patrina had heard much about the inner workings of the Blaise household.
It was said that on a business trip to a different fief, Earl Tobit Blaise had come in contact with a commoner woman by accident.
That accident led to the budding romance between the commoner and the nobleman throughout the entire duration of the business trip.
Indignant that their short tryst was coming to an end, he was unwilling to let her go.
Therefore, he purchased a house for her at the border of his fief and began to visit her frequently under the guise of checking the borders of his fief.
He lavished her with riches in that separate mansion and even spent countless nights with her.
The Countess was none the wiser about his infidelity until the day he brought her home.
Never one to object to her husband's wishes, the Countess buried her grievances and reminded herself that it was normal for husbands to have a few mistresses outside their family.
However, this mistress who had entered their household now was beginning to display her status as the Lord's beloved and even exhibited her power over the servants.
While the servants were mostly loyal to their Madam, they could not disobey this lowly commoner whom their Master had brought.
Thus, right now, the Blaise household's servants were divided into two factions, one which supported the Countess and the other who stood with this mistress.
Hearing this infuriating information from Lady Patrina, Beatrice decided to ask her brother for confirmation about this while Raylene gripped her dress tight in anger.
Rutherford was just about to comfort her when he heard a soft mutter coming from her which chilled him to his very bones.
"If I were in Countess Blaise's position… I would leave such a terrible person and take my children with me." Raylene muttered with determination as her eyes flashed with fury.
As if that was not enough, she continued without noticing the widened eyes of her husband.
"I have my maiden family who can take care of me till I'm old and even if they don't, I can look after myself and my children!" She declared while leering at Earl Blaise, for what he had done to his wife.
Yvonne was thoroughly surprised to see that her mother was so decisive and even chose to cut ties with her father if he ever did something to betray her trust.
However, what the little girl did not know was that her mother was imagining an alternative outcome to what might have happened if her previous maid, Paula had succeeded in seducing her husband.
At that time, Rutherford had stayed true to her which gave her the confidence to dismiss the maid who had broken her trust.
Though, if her husband were to have been unfaithful, then she would have done just as she had declared earlier.
She loved her husband immensely and it would only have broken her heart and spirit to see him coddling someone else in his arms, the place that rightfully belonged to her.
Therefore, she would rather break all ties and leave that place where she would be constantly reminded of his infidelity and betrayal than stay there even if it was alright for a husband to have a mistress in their Kingdom.
Yvonne smiled widely at her mother's brave words and nodded in eager acceptance, displaying that she supported her mother's decision if such a thing were to ever happen to them.
Howard shot a disgusted look at his father then turned towards his mother with a sympathetic gaze which proved that he was with Yvonne in this matter.
Rutherford felt his head spin after seeing his children denouncing him and his beloved wife speaking of things that would never happen.
"Ray…" He whispered in an attempt to shake her out of her thoughts of something that could not happen in a thousand years.
However, before he could utter another word, he was interrupted.
"I love my husband unconditionally… But I will do as the Countess has said if he were to treat me in the way Earl Blaise has done to his wife!" Marchioness Kiron huffed as she declared her stance in this matter.
Earlier, it was only Rutherford who was panicking at his wife's terrifying statement but now, Marquess Kiron had joined him as his eyes trembled at this declaration.
Duchess Beatrice saw her two friends showing courage to make their thoughts known and she too did not back down.
"I can just move back to the Samed house if my Lord does something to betray my trust." She exclaimed while glaring at her husband who was standing next to her.
Duke Tanner choked at her words and knew that she would do so without hesitation as even now, whenever she got mad at him, she would run off to the Samed estate, making him follow her and beg her to return.
With Raylene as their leader in this vow they made to themselves, the three ladies glowered and glared at their respective husbands before looking away with a scoff.
Topher snickered at his father's pitiful state while Taylor cheered for his mom whom he preferred over his father at any given moment.
Jacob sighed while rubbing his forehead at the mess they had created and Aleena tilted her head as her attention had been elsewhere until now.
On the other hand, Howard and Yvonne both had the same thought in mind.
'He needs to work hard…' They pitied their father now that they were looking at the gloomy expression that had formed on his face.
Duke Tanner was startled that out of nowhere he was being punished for something that he hadn't done nor had he ever thought of doing.
It was Lady Patrina who brought up a sensitive topic and Lady Raylene who had made that declaration.
His wife had followed these two ladies and now he was in trouble with no fault of his own.
Therefore, as he could not avenge his grievances with these two women, he glared viciously at both Marquess Kiron and Earl St. Claire for what their wives had done.
However, the two other men were already panicking about how they could convince their wives that they would never do such a thing to them, and hence the Duke's glares had been in vain.
The little girl who had been observing them all along snickered as not only her father but the other two men would also have to struggle to persuade their wives.