The day after returning from South Downs, Grace immediately went to Lady Blackwood’s residence to air her grievances.
“Grandmother, Kimberly seems to dislike me greatly, and I don’t understand why. That incident at the riding grounds was merely a misunderstanding—I was mistaken about her, but I’ve already apologized. She still doesn’t seem to have forgiven me.”
Sitting beside Lady Blackwood in the drawing-room, Grace’s eyes were red-rimmed, her voice trembling. “She has this inexplicable hostility toward me. I don’t know why she’s always targeting me.”
Seeing her granddaughter’s tearful state, Lady Blackwood was deeply concerned. She took Grace’s hand. “My dear child, tell me how the Jordan girl has been mistreating you.”
Grace sniffled, her voice breaking. “Perhaps she feels I’m taking away some of brother’s affection, so she constantly excludes me. At the base camp, when we were resting, I made some beef stew for brother, but Kimberly wouldn’t let him eat what I’d prepared. She took the bowl and ate it herself, then claimed my cooking was dreadful.”
Lady Blackwood frowned. “Did she really?”
“That’s not all,” Grace continued pitifully. “When I became tired from walking and asked brother to carry my backpack for a while, she refused to allow it. She declared that, as brother’s girlfriend, he could only carry her things. Grandmother, please tell me if this is fair—I’ve grown up with brother since childhood, I’m his sister. Is it unreasonable to ask him to help with my backpack?”
Lady Blackwood’s frown deepened, her face clouding with displeasure. “This Jordan girl is completely out of line. She’s not even properly married into the family yet, and she’s already acting like the lady of the manor, trying to establish dominance over you.”
“Exactly! I was utterly mortified. Not only that, but when we were crossing the stream, she wouldn’t let brother help me across. I nearly fell into the water!”
Lady Blackwood gasped, tightening her grip on Grace’s hand. “How dreadful! This Kimberly Jordan is absolutely appalling! Grace, dear, were you hurt anywhere?”
Grace continued sniffling. “I was injured.” She lifted her skirt slightly to reveal the wound on her ankle. What had been a minor scrape the previous night had almost healed overnight, with a scab forming. To elicit Lady Blackwood’s sympathy, Grace had deliberately rubbed the area against the ground that morning to create a fresh wound, enduring the pain to achieve her goal. Now her ankle displayed a large patch of broken skin. To maximize impact, Grace had neither cleaned nor bandaged the wound, deliberately exposing the bleeding area to Lady Blackwood to gain her sympathy. The tactic proved immediately effective. Lady Blackwood was distraught and quickly summoned the servants to clean and dress Grace’s wound.
“Last night, when I injured my ankle and couldn’t walk, I asked brother to carry me to the viewing platform to see the meteor shower. Kimberly refused to allow it. She even said… she even said…” Grace broke off mid-sentence, dissolving into sobs.
Lady Blackwood’s eyes flashed with anger, her tone hardening. “What did she say?”
“She said that, as an adult, I should maintain distance from brother—that we needed boundaries. She boasted to her friends that she would soon marry into the Blackwood family and become its mistress. She declared that she was brother’s future wife, and he could only carry her.”
Grace cried bitterly. “Grandmother, should I really keep my distance from brother? Am I not even allowed to ask for his help when I’m injured?”
“Preposterous!” Lady Blackwood was furious. “She hasn’t even officially joined the family, and already she’s throwing her weight about!”
“Grandmother,” Grace sobbed, “you must help me!”
“Don’t worry, my dear. Grandmother is absolutely on your side. At the next family dinner, I shall certainly put this Jordan girl in her place!”
Soon the day of the Blackwood family dinner arrived. Asher picked up Kimberly to bring her to the family home. The moment they arrived, Lady Blackwood found an excuse to send Asher away. Kimberly sat in the drawing-room with Lady Blackwood and Lady Catherine Blackwood, Asher’s mother. Grace sat beside Lady Blackwood. She had dressed meticulously for the occasion, wearing subtle makeup and an elegant high-necked tea dress in pale ivory—the traditional style that Lady Blackwood preferred. Kimberly wore a cream Chanel suit with her hair pulled back into a neat chignon, adorned with pearl earrings. She looked graceful and refined, every gesture reflecting her upbringing as the daughter of a prestigious family.
But Lady Blackwood was displeased. She looked Kimberly up and down, her brow furrowing slightly. “These modern designer outfits simply don’t have the elegance of traditional British attire. In my opinion, a proper English lady looks her best in a classic tea dress with appropriate hemlines. Look how lovely Grace looks in hers.”
Kimberly lowered her eyes respectfully, responding softly: “You’re absolutely right, Lady Blackwood.”
Lady Blackwood raised an eyebrow. “You’re not yet married into the family. No need for such formality. Please address me as you would any family acquaintance.”
Lady Catherine was startled by this remark. What did that mean? Lady Blackwood’s attitude toward Kimberly seemed decidedly off. Wasn’t Kimberly and Asher’s marriage a settled matter? There was nothing wrong with her addressing Lady Blackwood formally. Why would she insist that Kimberly address her as a mere acquaintance? Lady Catherine felt displeased. Kimberly was her future daughter-in-law—how could she be treated like an outsider? Kimberly also faltered momentarily. It seemed Lady Blackwood had taken issue with her. Catching sight of Grace’s smug expression beside Lady Blackwood, Kimberly understood everything. Grace had clearly poisoned Lady Blackwood against her. Kimberly maintained her composure, responding demurely: “Of course, ma’am.”
Lady Catherine couldn’t bear to watch this. She intervened with a smile: “Mother, Kimberly is Asher’s fiancée and will be a Blackwood. Proper address is perfectly appropriate. ‘Ma’am’ seems far too distant.”
Lady Blackwood took a leisurely sip from her fine bone china teacup before turning a cool gaze toward Lady Catherine. Her tone was unyielding: “The engagement ceremony was cancelled. She and Asher are merely dating now. It’s too premature for her to presume such familiarity.”
Lady Catherine’s brow furrowed. What game was the old woman playing now? After this declaration, Lady Blackwood turned her attention to Grace, engaging her in animated conversation while completely ignoring Kimberly. Kimberly sensed Lady Blackwood’s deliberate slight but remained unperturbed. It made perfect sense—Lady Blackwood favored Grace, and since Grace disliked Kimberly, it was only natural that Lady Blackwood would share that sentiment. Kimberly took it in stride. After all, she was marrying Asher, not Lady Blackwood. It didn’t matter whether the elder woman liked her or not. Besides, her future mother-in-law, Lady Catherine, clearly adored her. While Lady Blackwood pointedly ignored her, Lady Catherine chatted warmly with her, treating her with genuine affection.
Lady Blackwood, noticing how pleasantly Lady Catherine and Kimberly were conversing, visibly darkened. She glanced at the wall clock and spoke with cool detachment: “It’s nearly dinner time. Kimberly, perhaps you could help arrange the place settings for everyone?”
Kimberly’s brow furrowed slightly, but before she could respond, Lady Catherine intervened: “Mother, arranging the table is the staff’s responsibility. Kimberly is our guest. It would be most improper to ask her to do so.”
Lady Blackwood’s gaze suddenly turned sharp, her tone carrying distinct anger: “Didn’t you just say she’s to be a Blackwood? As her elder, what’s improper about asking her to help with family matters?”
Kimberly thought: ??? How interesting. Moments ago, Lady Blackwood had claimed it was too early for Kimberly to address her formally and insisted she be treated as a mere acquaintance. Now suddenly she was a family member when it came to performing household tasks? And pulling rank as an elder, no less. What a transparent attempt to put her in her place. At their previous meeting, although Lady Blackwood hadn’t been particularly warm, she had at least been civil. What had changed to provoke such hostility? Heaven only knew what tales Grace had been spinning.
Just as Kimberly was about to speak, a cold, commanding voice came from the doorway: “Grandmother, my Kimberly is far too refined for domestic chores.”