"The heir isn't in the Capital. You think you can act this brazen without consequence? You don't think he'll come back and settle the score?"
Settle the score with me? If he didn't come looking for me first, I'd be looking for him. Keeping a secret mistress, dragging the Gilbert name through the mud. The heir to the Gilbert Estate, stooping to something so disgraceful.
Rosalind charged forward and slapped Nana Burke clean across the face. The crack rang out sharp and loud. "Insolent old hag! How dare you speak to my lady that way. How dare you slander her."
Nana Burke shrieked. "You dare strike me? Mistress, you must stand up for this old servant! Have the heir cast out this vicious woman at once!"
"Otherwise, once you enter the household, who knows what torments she'll put you through."
I let out a cold laugh. "Have the heir cast me out? My status is not something the heir has the authority to revoke."
Celeste bit her lip and stared at me. "If my lady wishes to beat or kill someone, direct it at me. Why strike my nursemaid? Are you truly not afraid the heir will punish you when he returns?"
"Cruel as you are, the marriage may have been decreed by the King, but if you harm the heir's child, he can still divorce you all the same."
I smiled. "Miss Celeste puts on quite the performance. Perhaps she should join the Southside Theater Troupe."
"If the heir wants to champion your cause, by all means, send him to me. I won't run from it."
The crowd of onlookers grew indignant. "You've gone too far! Just because her station is lower than yours, she deserves to be humiliated?"
"Exactly! She's seven or eight months along, about to give birth. A kick like that could kill her!"
"She knows the King's decree protects her from being cast aside, so she acts without fear."
Celeste straightened up, trembling, and looked at me through her tears. "I know my station is lowly. I came specifically to beg my lady's mercy. I never imagined she would try to end my life."
"The heir told me that while he was away from the Capital, no matter what I had to do, I was to protect myself at all costs. Even if it meant overstepping."
"Since that's how it is, my lady, don't blame me."
Celeste rose to her feet with Nana Burke's help and shouted, "Guards!"
Several armed guards emerged from behind her. Celeste pointed at me. "Bind her. I want to see whether the heir, once he learns his own wife tried to murder his child, will divorce her or not."
I jabbed a finger at my own nose. "Divorce me? Does the heir have the nerve? Tell him to try."
The lead guard approached with a stony face. "My lady, why must you bully a helpless woman?"
"The heir gave orders. No one, not even his wife, is to mistreat his concubine. Forgive the offense."
He moved to seize me.
Rosalind threw herself in front of me. "You wouldn't dare! Do you have any idea who my lady is?"
The guard shoved Rosalind aside. "Doesn't matter who she is. She's wronged the concubine, and she'll kneel and apologize for it."
Nana Burke clutched her swollen, reddened cheek and screeched, "Guard! This vicious woman can't bear children yet still clings to the position of principal wife, tormenting our mistress!"
"Once the mistress delivers the heir's firstborn son, she'll surely be elevated to honored concubine or equal wife. Then it's the mistress who'll be the true lady of the house!"
"A barren hen like her should be thrown out of the estate. Go on, hit her! The mistress will answer for it."
Celeste spoke in that soft, fragile voice of hers. "My lady, even someone as high and mighty as you must own up to her wrongs. Just apologize to Nana, and we can put this behind us."
I let out a cold laugh. "Apologize to her? You think either of you are worthy of that?"
Celeste sighed. "If that's how you want it, I can't help you." She shot Nana Burke a look. The old woman lunged forward and struck me hard across the face.
"Forgive me, my lady. This old servant is petty by nature. You don't beat the dog without checking who its master is. Since you hit me first, it's only fair I return the favor."
