Chapter 3 Honey

Bessie's eyes flickered. Ophelia, she noted, was incredibly naive regarding Winford, unlike herself, who possessed considerable knowledge gleaned from Cullen. Her gaze shifted from Ophelia's bathrobe to the servants' faces; comprehension dawned.

"Ophelia," she inquired pointedly, "whose robe are you wearing?"

Ophelia, momentarily stunned, understood the implication from the others' reactions. In her past life, Winford's indulgence allowed her free reign throughout Sunset Vista, including his room. Thus, Madeline's direction upstairs hadn't prompted second thought; she'd simply entered. This life, however, was different. She was a newcomer, practically a stranger to a man who fiercely guarded his privacy. Only Bertha was permitted access to clean his room.

Nervousness prickled her. Maintaining composure, she descended the stairs toward Winford.

"Honey," she said, "I forgot my clothes in the bathroom. I borrowed your robe. Is that alright?"

Graham's jaw dropped. Her address to Winford left him questioning his hearing.

A deathly silence descended.

Ophelia's soft, coquettish voice reached Winford; he ceased tapping the armrest. He regarded her silently, his eyes intense. Bessie, meanwhile, inwardly sneered. Ophelia's naiveté was, in her opinion, breathtaking; Winford had witnessed everything, and her gambit was doomed to fail.

"Okay."

Winford's deep, resonant voice broke the silence, surprising everyone.

Ophelia felt immense relief. "Thanks, Honey," she smiled brightly. A mixture of happiness and guilt washed over her. His generosity on their first day hinted at something more. Did she mean something different to him? In her past life, he had been unfailingly kind, yet she'd fallen prey to rumors, ultimately fearing and hurting him.

Suddenly, she sensed Bessie's venomous, jealous gaze. Her own gaze hardened as she turned. "Bessie? Why are you here?"

Bessie hastily concealed her animosity, forcing a smile. "I was worried, so I came to check on you…"

"Oh, really?" Ophelia tilted her head. "But I heard you say you'd replace me."

Bessie froze. Glancing at Winford, she pulled Ophelia aside, lowering her voice. With a show of genuine concern, she whispered anxiously, "Ophelia, what's wrong with you? Didn't I tell you I'd handle things? Why did you return? Mr. Cullen awaits. Are you going to break his heart? Let's beg Mr. Winford's mercy and have him release you. Don't worry, I'll stay. We're sisters; I won't let your life be ruined."

Ophelia almost sneered. She had believed Bessie's words, deeply touched. Yet, after eloping with Cullen, her family had swiftly retrieved her, bound her, and sent her to Winford. Bessie, meanwhile, had offered herself to Winford. Though she hadn't married him, she'd secured Glenda's favor and reaped significant rewards.

"Ophelia? Why aren't you saying anything?" Bessie's anxiety grew at Ophelia's silence.

Ophelia lowered her head, concealing the flicker in her eyes. "No need," she said flatly. "You can go back."

"What?" Bessie was stunned. "Are you really going to break Mr. Cullen's heart?"

Ophelia interrupted. "I'm not with him. How is that breaking his heart? Winford and I have had a betrothal since childhood. Isn't it right I marry him?"

In her past life, under her stepmother's care, she had been utterly naive. Cullen's advances had been entirely self-serving, a fact she'd failed to recognize, believing his motivations were pure.

Bessie was dumbfounded. Ophelia loved Cullen deeply, or so she thought. What was happening?

Before she could continue, Ophelia looked at her skeptically. "Bessie, you said my happiness matters most, right? Marrying Winford is what I want now. Why keep suggesting I elope with Cullen?"

Bessie stammered, "I thought you loved Mr. Cullen…"

"Who told you that? He's nothing compared to Winford. He pursued me relentlessly, and I felt it rude to refuse. That's all." Ophelia curled her lip in disgust.

After a pause, Bessie asked, "Are you saying Mr. Cullen isn't good enough?"

Ophelia sneered. Cullen's family connections were lauded because he was Winford's nephew, but he was, in fact, an unacknowledged illegitimate son. His status was unacceptable; only in Minston, far from Kingchester, was he considered desirable.

"Is he good enough?" she repeated. Despite her family's decline, she wouldn't stoop to marrying the son of an illegitimate child.

Bessie was speechless. Leaving Sunset Vista, she remained stunned. Ophelia had always been easily manipulated. What had changed?

Free of Bessie, Ophelia faced Winford. She feared he might believe Bessie's words and grow distant. As she prepared an explanation, Bertha intervened.

"Mrs. Pruitt, you were in Mr. Pruitt's room?"

Ophelia paused. He hadn't reprimanded her about the robe, but entering his room was undeniably a foolish mistake that likely upset him.

She looked at him sweetly. "I was showering…"

"You had to shower in Mr. Pruitt's room?" Bertha frowned sharply.

Ophelia glanced at her. "My bathroom only had cold water. I don't know what happened."

"Bertha?" Winford's authoritative gaze turned to Bertha, demanding an explanation. This was unlike him; his previous wives had been similarly provoked, but he hadn't interfered. What made Ophelia different?

Bertha's expression shifted. "I'll have someone check. Perhaps I overlooked," she apologized hastily, yet she remained unwilling to let Ophelia off. "Even so, there are other rooms. Mrs. Pruitt, why did you go to Mr. Pruitt's room?"

"I was led there," Ophelia stated, glancing at Madeline.

Madeline, a long-time maid, certainly knew Winford's rules. Ophelia had requested clothes; none arrived, forcing her to open Winford's wardrobe. She suspected Madeline's deliberate action.

Madeline's face paled; tears welled. "Mr. Pruitt, I did nothing wrong! I indicated the second bedroom. I had no idea Mrs. Pruitt would go to your room!"

Bertha echoed, "Mr. Pruitt, Madeline never lies."

Ophelia knew it was futile to reprimand Madeline; Bertha held considerable sway with Winford. She gave up arguing. Looking at Winford, she said, a touch aggrieved, "I'm your wife, and I can't even enter your room?"