The footsteps of the maids shouted at each other, running around with an abysmal heart. Moments ago, three strangers from London had arrived in search of their master, searching every room and object they could possibly find for other evidence for some unknown reason.

All the maids stopped in the living room and gathered in front of Katherine. Approximately six servants were there; the remaining three maids and two male servants accompanied the mistress of the house, and one other went to see Mrs. Margaret, the gossip writer in the newspaper, to silence her for the special case that was going to come to Eleana and Thomas Russell.

"I asked you to hide their arrival just now. Eleana is pregnant, and I don't want any other problems to burden her mind," Kath said firmly. All the maids shouted in unison for their obedience to Kath's orders.

"Everyone can go back to their jobs, do everything like nothing happened, and avoid any mistakes. Eleana will probably be in a really bad mood when she gets home, so I'm asking for your cooperation—I hate to see her scold you too harshly." Without realizing it, Kath's words really touched the hearts of the servants, blessing Kath with all her kindness towards the maids and her own stepbrother without exception.

It was getting late; the carriage brought by Eleana began to be heard entering the mansion area. Kath was still there, waiting for her sister's return at the main entrance. And just right, Eleana went into a big tantrum. Her appearance was abysmal; some of the maids were holding their cheeks—especially if it wasn't an outlet for the madam's annoyance.

Her slender fingers deliberately dropped a row of expensive jars from the collection of the late mother of Thomas Russell. Then she was greeted with screams and repeated hard blows to her growing belly. "Take her to the room, and bring some warm water," Kath ordered matter-of-factly.

Eleana struggled when two maids held her and tried to carry her into the room. Kath sighed, watching her sister's back away towards her private room. "I don't believe in other people's burdens that will burden my mind," Kath said very slowly, more to herself.

"My Lady." Someone's call made Kath turn her head; she could see Peter walking fast towards her. "Mrs. Margaret agrees to your request, as long as..."

"Provided?" Kath asked, in disbelief.

"You gave more than what you gave just now."

"Oh Lord?" Kath really couldn't believe it; the necklace she gave was even enough to buy a modern firearm.

"But take it easy, My Lady. I unhooked my horse for her."

"Pete, that's not necessary!"

"I'm fine, My Lady. Besides, I rarely travel and only guard the main door of the mansion every day," said Pater sincerely.

"I'll find a new one, and no resistance." Kath pointed her index finger at Pater, with her feet walking towards her sister's room at this time.

***

Kath set foot in Eleana's room; her room was so messy with overflowing anger. She even knocked over a glass of water and a snack that Anne had brought for her. The maid felt that Eleana needed more food intake, and since this morning Eleana had let her baby go hungry. Kath saw Anne rub Eleana's shoulder and lead her to sit on the edge of the bed slowly.

"Go outside, Anne. Tell all the bad things about Lady Darrellyn Orva—even if you have to lie," Eleana ordered, and Anne had no choice but to comply. She passed and met Kath. Kath gave her a sharp look as if threatening so that Anne would not spread false news about other people.

Anne shook her head, then bowed her head respectfully because she could not comply with Kath's request and would still carry out Eleana's orders. If Kath held her back now, then Eleana would go on a rampage because she was trying to thwart her plan.

Kath let Anne through while Kath took a deep breath and tried to look like nothing had happened before. "What happened?" without turning around, Eleana already understood who the owner of the voice behind her was.

"That bitch, Kath, she's so disgusting!" Her tone didn't lie at all; Eleana was angry and really hated Darrellyn right now.

"Calm yourself, Eleana. You don't have to go there; Thomas isn't necessarily going there."

"I didn't find him. But I'm sick of them; Thomas hasn't been home for three months, and I'm sure he went to meet Darrellyn secretly."

"But that's not necessarily—"

"Damn it, don't defend it, Kath!!" Eleana rose from her seat and turned to face Kath with her hazel eyes filled with fire.

"Thomas almost married Darrellyn before finally choosing to marry me; I've even heard Thomas praise Darrellyn as the kindest woman in the universe to her friend; what more evidence is lacking?"

"Thomas said it before he actually chose you. Even if what he said is true, you have defeated the best woman in the universe; what else??" Kath is not to be outdone; no one can help Eleana to be better than her. Rowena and the princess are no different; Thomas himself has never educated his wife well other than just facilitating her to the maximum.

"How can someone who doesn't know love say it's easy?" quipped Eleana,  Yes, sometimes Kath's words often become a separate boomerang for her.

"I really don't understand what love is. But I think those who fall in love need input from someone like me; love is blinding, and you need an understanding of logic without involving your crazy feelings."

Eleana stopped for a moment. Every time she snapped back at Kath, every time Kath always uttered words that could silence her, "I want to be alone," Eleana turned her back on Kath.

"I hope you can be much calmer; think about whatever actions you want to take and the consequences. I'm going home."

"Come home tomorrow morning," said Eleana, stopping her steps. Women are actually good, but not to everyone. "I have to go home and clean the house before the house is full of the smell of mother's love with her men."

***

Kath rode her horse slowly in the middle of the night, through the forest to the streets that were still busy. "You are not allowed to return to Eleana's mansion after dropping me off," Kath said to Peter; she didn't expect Eleana to ask Peter, the guard at the entrance to the mansion, to take Kath home.

"But I--"

"I already asked Eleana's permission," Kath said, interrupting Peter.

"O-alright," Peter could only comply, and carefully steered the other horse that was in the stables of Viscount Thomas, for his horse had been given to Mrs. Margareth this afternoon.

"Ah, it's nearly here. I can't believe you traveled all this way alone in the pouring rain this afternoon. You are truly extraordinary, My Lady." Peter voiced his admiration for Kath, while Kath could only smile in front of him.

"Could you not call me My Lady? I've lost my peerage after my father left; it doesn't feel right." Kath smiled a little.

"How could it be lost? Your sister was the wife of a Viscount; your mother managed to run several businesses in Glasgow. Your rank is much higher than mine; how can I not call you that, My Lady?"

"Still they are other people. I am alone here; all I have is this body, no rank."

"You are too modest, My Lady." Kath also replied with a smile; now she is resigned to being called anything.

Without realizing it, they had now entered the area of the house where Rowena and Kath lived. The house looks simple, but you can only see it from the front. When anyone enters it, everyone will be amazed by the house, like a mansion that has lots of luxurious equipment.

"Come on, follow me." Kath asked Peter to follow her into the house after giving their horse to be kept in the stable by Edward's uncle, the caretaker.

When Kath opened the door of the house, she was immediately presented with a very disgusting sight. Rowena was making love on the living room couch with a young man. Peter saw that and immediately choked in shock, while Kath was quite embarrassed at Peter.

Rowena and the man didn't stop what they were doing; the whole room was filled with their moaning. Abysmal, Kath kept her face as straight as possible. This was a frequent occurrence; Kath had even caught Rowena having sex at the dinner table with a different man or finding her mother and another man having sex in Kath's own room.

Kath passed them both with Peter, who faithfully followed her. "Eleana came to the Orva mansion and scolded Lady Darrellyn. She is in a very bad state now and needs your presence. Go calm her down instead of spoiling your men here," said Kath as she passed them to escort Peter to his resting room.

"Ohh.. I'll be there tomorrow, honey. Don't worry," Rowena answered in between her activities.

After hearing the answer from her mother, Kath went to her room upstairs. Her face was still as cold as just now, when she witnessed the disgusting activity for the umpteenth time. Kath opened her bedroom door, hung her coat on the side of the door, and walked towards her favorite piano without turning on the light.

The slow rhythm starts to rise, and she concentrates all her emotions with her fingers dancing on the piano keys. The last clank sounded so loud, Kath buried her face between the keys and cried there.