Chapter 4I Gave Her The Real Medicine And Left You Forever

Maya was glumly helping me pack for the South, listing the expensive gowns and fine jewelry I would need for my new life with Victor Albright.

I knew her fear.

The North was volatile, and our family’s enemies in the South were restive. Grant’s position as Senator was tenuous. The Cross family was one of the few assets he could rely on.

Victor Albright’s insistence on marrying me was purely to humiliate the Suttons and weaken Grant.

“If this buys Grant a moment to breathe, it’s worth it,” I told her.

Maya sniffled.

“But Your Grace, I hear the South is rife with tropical diseases and humidity, not to mention insects and giant rodents! How can a delicate lady like you endure that…”

I gently pinched her cheek. “Stop listening to those ridiculous rumors, Maya. We’ll see it with our own eyes soon enough.”

“Come on. It’s the annual Spring Fair tonight. Let’s buy some trinkets. If we ever feel homesick, we’ll have something to remind us.”

The main street was a roaring river of noise, the string lights overhead casting the avenue in a warm, festive glow.

I pointed to a delicate, antique porcelain figurine—a lotus—at a nearby stall. Maya’s face finally brightened. “I’ll get it for you, Your Grace!”

She was just reaching for her purse when the vendor snatched the lotus figurine back and handed it instead to a woman standing next to her.

It was Stella Wren.

Maya was incensed. “You told me you’d sell it to me! How can you go back on your word!”

The vendor scratched his head. “Ma’am, just let it go. Ms. Wren is under the protection of General Cross’s estate!”

That only fueled Maya’s fury.

“What if she is? My mistress wants it, and we don’t surrender anything to others!”

She reached out to grab it, and Stella instantly went pale, stumbling and falling theatrically onto the cobblestones.

The fragile lotus figurine shattered on the ground.

I stepped forward and stopped Maya. Just then, Declan rushed up, having seen the final moment of the scene.

Stella saw him and immediately became the picture of distress, tears gushing like a broken dam.

“I am but a humble woman, General. I’ve never seen anything so lovely, and I apologize for offending the Princess. Please forgive me,” she whimpered.

Declan gently helped her up, his expression one of protective tenderness.

“Eliza, it was just a silly figurine! Does it really give you the right to treat people so cruelly?”

The gentleness he showed Stella was immediately replaced by unbridled accusation when he looked at me.

I felt a faint prick in my chest.

Two lifetimes separated us, and yet what weighed between us was so much more than a simple reproach. I had seen him favor Stella too many times to feel any deep pain now.

Declan pulled Stella away. “Don’t cry. I’ll make you a much better one when we get back.”

I called out, stopping them both.

“Today’s incident was my fault for poor management of my staff. I will purchase every single item in this shop as an apology to Ms. Wren.”

“My lady,” I said, looking at Stella. “I won’t fight you for anything you desire.”

Declan whipped around, staring at me with a look of utter shock. A flicker of panic crossed his eyes before he could hide it.