Chapter 465

After Margaret took her leave, Helen hurried into the sitting hall. However, she only found Carissa sitting alone, leisurely sipping coffee, her expression contemplative.

Helen frowned and asked, “Wasn’t Madam Winchester supposed to be here? I rushed over, thinking I’d get to have a chat with her.”

Carissa rose and curtsied gracefully. “Mother, Madam Winchester left a short while ago.”

“She’s gone?” Helen said, out of breath, sinking into a chair. “Wasn’t she here to talk to me?”

Her disappointment was evident. She thought Margaret had been there to see her. Helen often envied Eleanor, who was always surrounded by visitors from high society.

“She was here for you as well,” Carissa explained gently. “But when she heard you were still recovering from last night’s festivities, she didn’t want to disturb you and left early.”

With just one glance at Helen’s expression, Carissa could tell what was on her mind. Her mother-in-law’s thoughts were never hard to guess.

“Overindulging in wine has its consequences,” Helen muttered, her thoughts turning to her son’s outburst the previous night. She glanced at Carissa carefully and asked, “Did Rafael give you a hard time last night?”

Carissa cleared her throat lightly and answered, “No, he just said a few words to me, and that was it.”

“Just a few words?” Helen could tell Carissa was fibbing. Who knew her son better than she? When everything was fine, he could be pleasant enough, but when something truly angered him, a few words wouldn’t smooth things over. She suspected Carissa had endured much more of his temper than she was letting on.

The poor girl was trying to cover for him.

Helen’s heart softened at the thought. “I know you’re in charge of the inner courtyard, and matters like taking concubines should be your decision. But if he doesn’t like it, don’t bring it up again. It’ll only provoke his scolding or wrath. Men, when they lose their temper, can be ruthless—even to their own mothers.”

Carissa’s face flushed as she recalled what Rafael had whispered to her earlier that morning before leaving for court: “If I didn’t have to attend court today, you wouldn’t have been able to get out of bed.”

Embarrassed, Carissa quickly turned her head away and murmured, “Yes, I understand.”

Seeing Carissa avoiding her gaze, Helen sighed and called out, “Gillian, instruct the kitchen to prepare some royal jelly for the princess consort. She needs to recuperate.”

“Understood, my lady,” Gillian replied before excusing herself.

Helen then asked about Serena, and Carissa relayed the events truthfully. After hearing the story, Helen was momentarily stunned. “Madam Winchester really agreed to let her into the family? It’s clearly a setup, and not even aimed at her own son!”

Although Helen had been in high spirits the night before and hadn’t noticed all the details, she had pieced things together through the morning chatter while getting ready for the day.

“The Marquis of Ironridge’s family has upheld its reputation for over a century. They wouldn’t want even a whisper of scandal,” Carissa explained.

“For the sake of that reputation, they’ll just submit? If it were up to me, I’d let people say whatever they want. There’s no way I’d allow her through the door! A little thing like her, with a hundred schemes in her head? People like that have no place in the household,” Helen said firmly.

Helen had always been wary of overly scheming people. She knew she couldn’t outmaneuver them, so she preferred to keep them far away.

Carissa chuckled softly. “Even if she’s full of schemes, once she’s in their household, they’ll be crushed one by one. She won’t survive long if she doesn’t fall in line.”

Helen thought about it. The Marquis of Ironridge’s family was indeed a strict household with countless rules. It wasn’t easy even for a legitimate wife to navigate, let alone a concubine. Life would be tough for Serena there.

Losing interest in the topic, Helen shifted the conversation to the preparations for Kiera’s engagement gifts and dowry.

Carissa reassured, “You don’t need to worry, Mother. The dowry is already being prepared, and Queen Kylie won’t slight Kiera. Their residence is currently being renovated. When Kiera marries Logan, she’ll only go to the Quinton family’s residence for the wedding ceremony. After that, she and Logan will reside in their own estate.”

Helen nodded. “I’ve set aside some dowry money for her. As her sister-in-law, you should contribute as well. After all, Rafael has saved quite a bit over the years.”

Carissa smiled. “Don’t worry, Mother. I’ll make sure it’s more than enough.”

Helen propped her elbow on the table, looking at Carissa thoughtfully. “You know, you handle things so efficiently. You really put my mind at ease. I think… I really like you.”

Carissa was momentarily stunned. How did one even respond when their mother-in-law suddenly declared her affection?