The Duke's Masked Wife

270 Tea (2)

“Funny how you try to shame me when your father exploits girls’ bodies for money, Eleanor. How do you sleep at night?” Sophia asked, turning the tables back in her favor.

“Like a baby. My father’s occupation has nothing to do with me. I can’t help that sometimes I end up hearing a lot of gossip or let’s say tea,” Eleanor held up her cup of tea. “I like the sound of that better. I don’t like what he does just like I do not like women like you who try to poke at other women. I thought it was only the women in the red light district who brag about the men they have slept with but I was wrong,” she sipped her tea. “This is lovely Queen Hazel.”

“Thank you, Eleanor,” Hazel accepted the compliment even though she was not the person to pick out the tea. “Sophia,” she offered a sweet smile to the woman who had the nerve to try making Alessandra feel sad about Edgar’s past affairs. “Get up.”

“What?” Sophia’s mouth fell open. With her husband’s status in the palace, she was not just anyone who could be removed from this table.

“I said to get up. You and anyone else who is ridiculous enough to try picking at Alessandra. Alessandra can certainly stand up for herself but granted I am in a terrible mood today I have no time for your stupidity. Anyone who does not enjoy Alessandra being seated here or feels bad about Sophia being removed please get up,” Hazel said, already knowing no one was going to stand with Sophia.

This was how cutthroat the social world for women was. They’d try to humiliate each other to make themselves feel better and enjoy gossip but one thing they would not do is lose favor with someone like the queen. The status of Sophia’s husband did not matter here.

Sophia reluctantly stood up from her seat, looking around at the other women present to join her. “What are all of you doing?” She asked her peers.

“It is not ladylike to cause a scene,” Emma spoke up feeling secondhand embarrassment from Sophia’s behavior. As sheltered as Emma was she had heard of how Sophia used her body to elevate her status and ended up trapping her now husband.

“Says the drunkard,” Sophia snapped at Emma. “It’s been going around how you made a fool of yourself yesterday and your fiance blew up at you. You should count yourself lucky to still be engaged. I can see why Oliver holds no interest in you. Such a bland little thing.

.....

”

Emma gripped her dress under the table.

Eleanor bit into a piece of cake entertained by the mess unfolding. She couldn’t save everyone from Sophia and she had been desperately waiting for Emma to have a backbone.

“At least I am not a whore who sold my body for the latest dress,” Emma fought back. Sophia had no reason to judge her relationship with Oliver when the only reason was married was due to her faking a pregnancy.

Alessandra looked at Hazel who was just sighing from the bickering.

“Drama at the start of a gathering for women is always normal. Wait until the gossip starts,” said Hazel. One would think that with a room of women from well-known families there would be class but the truth was high society was full of women pointing knives at each other. There were just a few who formed long-lasting genuine friendships. “Would you like some tea to warm up after coming from the cold outdoors?”

“No thank you,” Alessandra replied. Alessandra wouldn’t be able to enjoy warming up with a cup of tea while there could possibly be a fight at the table. How had it gotten to this point?

Sophia scoffed, offended by Emma calling her a whore. “What the hell do you know about anyone when you have been running around trying to get your fiance to remember that you are to be a part of his life? Do not speak what you do not know little girl. This table does not suit a woman like myself.”

Hazel could jump for joy now that Sophia finally left. “Now we can enjoy our time together. Would you care for that tea now, Alessandra? I can pour it for you.”‘

“I can pour-”

“Alessandra,” Hazel held up her hand. “I really enjoy these moments when I can lift a finger and do something for the people I care about. It makes me feel normal. After some annoying news last night, I really want to have fun with you. Let me pour you a cup of tea.”

“Thank you,” said Alessandra.

While Hazel occupied herself with pouring the tea, Alessandra wanted to speak with the other young ladies. Specifically, Eleanor who seemed to be quite the character. She found the group to be whispering about something and looking around at the other tables, Alessandra picked up on the other women also whispering and looking in the same direction.

Alessandra looked at the door to see what was the reason for all the chatter and was stunned to see it was Heather they were speaking about. Last she remembered, Heather was close to Priscilla so she should be acquainted with most of the young women here. Judging from the snickering and disgusted expression shown as some women looked at Heather, something had happened.

Alessandra looked back at Heather noticing how uncomfortable she appeared to be. She watched Heather follow a maid to the seat assigned to her but was unable to sit because a young woman placed her bag on the seat.

“Why are they treating Heather like this?” Alessandra asked for anyone at her table to answer.

“Haven’t you heard?” Emma asked, finding it odd Alessandra wouldn’t know about it since Priscilla is her mother-in-law. “It’s been a hot topic that Priscilla Collins has ousted Heather from her circle. No one wants to get on Priscilla’s bad side so they don’t want to be seen with Heather. I can’t believe she showed up today,” Emma chuckled.

Alessandra didn’t find it to be funny like Emma did. It was not fun to be made an outcast and know you were the bud of a joke. Alessandra didn’t like her first run-in with Heather but it did not mean she hated her to let her be treated this way.

“Heather!” Alessandra called out her name. She noticed how confused Heather was to see it was her reaching out. “We have a free seat here now. Please join us.”

“What are you doing, Duchess?” Emma asked, looking at Alessandra like she had grown another head.

“Being nice,” Alessandra replied. “Just like how I was when you were drunk.”

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