Melody of Strength novel

Viola was completely floored. She couldn’t believe Serena would repeatedly engage in such shameless behavior. This time, Serena had even offended Leopold!

Most troubling of all, Leopold hadn’t merely grabbed her. He had caught her around the waist, likely an instinctive reaction.

As a male guest, Leopold was unaware of the earlier commotion in the garden. All he saw was a woman who appeared to be fainting with an injured eye, and he instinctively reached out to catch her.Property © of NôvelDrama.Org.

The instinctive action had been so swift that Leopold’s mind lagged. behind just a moment. By the time he realized what he had done, he was already holding Serena.

And it had been in full view of everyone!

Carissa’s expression hardened. “Guards, escort Ms. Warren back to her residence. She’s unwell.”

Margaret cast a grateful glance at Carissa. If Serena wasn’t sent away. promptly, the situation would be difficult to resolve.

Lily and two maids quickly entered. One supported Serena’s arm, while the other helped her out of the room.

Serena, initially dazed, suddenly struggled and looked toward Jessical with desperation as she was dragged away, tears streaming down her face. “Lady Jessica, you promised you would help me! Please help me!”

Her plea sparked a flurry of discussions among the guests.

“Was she aiming for Prince Rafael or Lord Winchester?”

“Since she said Lady Jessica would help her, it’s possible she was aiming for Lord Winchester. I’ve heard that Lord

Winchester’s

secondary wife is Madam Winch ter’s niece, who has already given birth to a son and daughter and is currently pregnant. Perhaps Lady Jessica wants Lord Winchester to take another secondary wife?”

“But why resort to such underhanded tactics? She’s a duchess. Why doesn’t she just handle it directly?”

“You probably don’t know the trouble Lady Jessica caused at Lord Winchester’s household. She has been hiding at her natal home for some time. Since she can’t just go back, she’s making a scene to cover it up!”

The whispers and speculations reached Leopold’s ears, adding to the already tense atmosphere.

Jessica was furious, her eyes flashing with a murderous intensity as she met Leopold’s gaze. She knew her husband had misunderstood, but how could she explain the situation here? Was she supposed to admit. that she intended to push Serena onto Rafael?

“Lady Jessica, help me! You said you would help me!” Serena, who had already been dragged out, shouted desperately. “Lady Jessica, you can’t just abandon me!”

Jessica’s rage was about to explode, but Eleanor intervened with a sharp command, “Hold on.”

Jessica’s anger was instantly quelled as she looked at her mother with a plea for help.

Eleanor’s eyes were dark with fury. She was upset not only with Jessica for failing to manage the situation, but also with Serena’s audacity to feign fainting and create a scene. But with the situation already escalated, if Jessica didn’t intervene, the matter would likely become even harder to resolve. Eleanor’s long–maintained reputation was also at risk of being ruined.

She turned to Margaret and said, “Madam Winchester, this girl is

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someone I have taken a liking to and has nothing to do with Jessica. She has been unwell today, which is why she has been fainting repeatedly. Once we resolve this issue, I believe neither my household nor the Marquis of Ironridge’s household would seek to tarnish her reputation.”

Margaret sneered, “Grand Princess Eleanor, you really go above and beyond, even concerning yourself with our household’s matters. But you are right. We, the Marquis of Ironridge’s family, do not ruin reputations without cause. Take her away for now. We’ll consider it further later.”

Eleanor, though deeply embarrassed and furious, maintained a polite smile. “Today is Lady Helen’s birthday banquet. I apologize for the disturbance. Lady Helen, please accept this glass of wine from me, and I hope you won’t hold it against us.”

Helen had been drinking, and she looked confused by the unfolding events. She glanced at Carissa and noticed her calm demeanor but cold eyes, and realized that something significant was amiss.

Leopold, along with the two earls, also turned and left. It was obvious Leopold was furious.

Was the young woman enamored with Leopold, or was Jessica deliberately arranging a concubine for her husband to strip the current favored secondary wife of his attention?