Beatrice blanked. “What?”
He told his mother, at that moment, of his house out of town. He told her about the coziness of the cottage and the peace he would get if he moved there, ignoring the shock that only continued to increase on his mother's face as he spoke.
“You wouldn't dare.” Beatrice retorted, her voice low with anger. “You wouldn't dare leave your position and try to abandon the season.”
Weston tightened his grip on the chair and leaned closer to an irate Beatrice. “Try me.”
Beatrice recoiled in surprise. Her son had never been this adamant. He had never spoken back to her before. He had always received her words with calmness. She could only come to one conclusion as to why he was being this way.
“She has poisoned you against me.” Her words grated Weston's ears. “She has found a way to make you into this—this unrecognisable man standing before me. Why does it not surprise me that not only is she an incompetent Marchioness, she is also a witch?!”
Weston blanched. “What did you just say?”
“Of course, it all makes sense. Everything started to go the wrong way when she got here. Under that supposed good nature of hers, I knew she was a deadly snake. Tending to gardens was only her cover.”
“Are you listening to yourself, mother?” Weston asked, pressing his fingers against his forehead in sheer disbelief.
“Her and that maid of hers. I knew they were up to no good.”
“Really? You're going to include the maid as well.”
“Did she plant this idea of leaving in your head? What next? She tries to turn Anne against me, too? Is that her grand plan?”
“Enough!” Weston said.
“No. You listen to me. You are not going anywhere. Do you hear me? That girl is destroying you, and I will do somethingabout that. You are a Marquess. You are bound to lead this manor.”
Weston sighed. This was going to take longer than he thought.
***
Ecstatic couldn't begin to describe the feeling running through Juliet’s veins. While she did not exactly know what Weston was going to tell her, she had an idea, and if it was what she was thinking, not only would she become the happiest woman on earth, but she would also begin to work towards becoming a mother. As soon as she finished working on the garden, she walked back into the manor, almost skipping in happiness. The bright smile on her face was noticed by maids and servants alike. It was so broad that she did not think anything could make it disappear so quickly.
Until she overheard them.
At first, it had started as low murmurs. One she was curious to understand. She knew the commotion was coming from the drawing room, so she moved closer, holding her dress to avoid being seen. Her eyes searched her surroundings, hoping no one could see her as she placed her ears to the door.
The first sentence she heard caused her heart to skip a beat.
“For the last time, mother. I am telling you. Juliet is not a witch.” She heard Weston say.
“I do not know why you continue to defend her. It is evident she had ensnared you from the beginning. Oh! how have I been so blind?” Beatrice's unmistakable voice retorted. Juliet frowned in confusion. What could possibly be the reason for their argument this time around.
“Stop calling my wife a witch, for heaven's sake!”
“Right there from the beginning, at the spring masquerade ball. She had lured you to her. This was all a well-orchestrated plan for her to finally have the home she had been yearning for, and you fell right into her trap like an oblivious mouse!”
Her words stung Juliet's ears. She was used to her mother-in-law's antics by now, but this one, for some reason, affected her way more than she thought it would. Perhaps it was because Beatrice didn't know she would hear.
“She knew having you around her would set things in motion. All she had to do was stay in a corner and cry like a helpless maid when she had been the mastermind behind this immense catastrophe all along.”
Juliet blinked back tears. She wasn't sure how much of this she could listen to anymore. Each word Beatrice uttered felt like a dagger slashing across her heart.
“Mother—”
“And you dare come in here and tell me she is excited about roses? Did she show you this house you plan to escape to? I bet it looks as lowlife as her!”
“Listen to me!” Weston said.
