"you can not be so hatch with your judgment. Love is a powerful feeling. I am sure the two of them could not help it, " Miss Maria had a faint smile on her lips as she spoke.
The young lady listening to such an answer frowned her brows, feeling that Miss Maria was turning white to black. "A lady should compose herself at all times, " she stated, not wanting to give up on this opportunity to question Anastasia's character.
"My dear, you are young there are many things you do not understand. Feeling can not be easily controlled. Take yourself, for instance. It is very rude to speak into a conversation that you have not been invited to, but your principles as a lady was thrown to wind when you heard my words. I can understand that you can not stand such poor moral conduct, you should also understand hiw this people could not control their feelings. Lady Agatha, what do you think? " Miss Maria smiled. Of course there was no way she would allow Agatha to be comfortable.
When Agatha heard this she had a strange smile on her face. Year's ago, she had said that she could not help but fall in love with her friend's husband to be and climbing into his bed. It has been over two decades and Maria was finally biting her back.
She did not know what to say or how to react, although Maria seems to be supporting her, Miss maria had placed a lot of emphasis on the statement 'poor moral conduct. '
"Miss, you are a teacher, do you teach your student with such low standards? How can they with a teacher like you become noble women in the future. Are you saying if an unmarried lady loves a man, she should climb onto his bed without been married, " the young lady asked. She felt embarrassed when Miss Maria pointed out her rude behavior. So desperate to redeem her image, she questioned Miss maria's moral standard, while Agatha was still thinking of how to answer the question directed at her.
"You misunderstand me. I am a teacher, and so I have to teach my students good moral standards, but as you can see, I share this table with another. I am just a teacher; how can I go against the standard of Lady Agatha? " Miss Maria had a helpless look on her face. Her statement left the young girl stunned. Since she knew little about Agatha's past, she felt Miss Maria was a shameless person.
All her life, she had never seen anyone who would blame others for their actions so blantly. So she turned to look at Agatha waiting for her to refuse Miss Maria words but when she saw her dazed look, she was stunned again.
"My teacher has such high moral standards, back then I heard she would rather become a nun and suffer than marry a man with poor moral standards. How can she expect less from a woman? " Anastasia said seeing that the lady wanted to continue to question Miss Maria's moral standard. She knew in her heart that if Miss Maria's reputation is ruined then she would be dragged into it. In fact, the young lady's target was not Miss Maria but her.
When the young lady heard Anastasia trying to save her teacher reputation she become excited. "lady Anastasia, as the crown prince's fiancee, who might become the mother of the nation in the future, you cannot be unfair in your judgment. We have all heard what your teacher had to say. How could she say, that lady is qualified to share a table with noble woman because she climbed unto the bed of her master? Such a woman should stay with the servants or thrown into the inn, " the lady argued. She was very pleased with herself when she said it.
"Lady Agatha, you must forgive my teacher, she understand that you could not control your feelings back then. This lady is young and lacks experience, you should over look her words, " Anastasia said. When Miss Maria became a teacher, her mother had told her about Miss Maria's life experiences. Although it was just a summary, she picked up the hint from here and there and could guess what Miss Maria was up to.
There were things that Miss Maria could not do or say. If she pointed at Agatha so directly, people would say she had become old and bitter but it was different when she said those words.
The young lady had not picked up Miss Maria's hints because she was carried away, wanting to fault Anastasia's morals.
The lady turned and looked at Agatga, then wispers began to go around. They were all from the same circle so even if it seems like they have forgotten the incident of twenty years ago it did not take a lot of hint to remember.
Lady Agatha broke out in cold swelt, she wish she could go back in time and pretend not to know miss Maria. She wanted to slap herself for inisiting on sharing a table with her. When she had made the decision earlier she thought she could show off her good and comfortable life.
She wanted Miss Maria to be smitten by anger and jealousy when she mentioned her children and family. As children, she had always enived Maria. She thought that after so many years, she had become a proper lady while Maria who was born into a good family has been reduced to a teacher. She thought she could step all over her with this identity but she did not expect her past to be dug up so quickly.
The words of the young lady from the next table dragged her face to the mold. After so much has been said, she did not have the face to repeat the same shamless words she said to maria years ago. She was a mother with two daughters. If the reputation she had built for over two decades was lost, how would her daughters marry into a good family?
Many of the young ladies turned to look at her strangely. Although no body said anything, it felt like twenty years ago when she was trying to fix into the circle of the noble women.
Just when she could no longer bear the judging gaze from everyone around her table, the celebrates voice saved the day.
"I am so honored to have all of you honor my invitation to celebrate my birthday with me today, " she started with a warm smile. She heard the conversation from Maria's table.
Actually, she and Agatha could be considered as acquaintance at best. She and Maria had become friends after she become a teacher. Although she knew the history between the two, she did not know the details. At the time when maria called off her engagement she did not stay in the capital, so she knew very little. Miss Augusta was never one to gossip about the private matter of others so she remain ignorant about the details.
After giving her welcome speech, she introduced some of the rear Flowers in her garden. Many of the young ladies took turns guess about the flowers and showing of their knowledge.
Elisabeth also participated, she felt that she had lost a lot of face because of her nanny's past, so she tried her best to contribute to the topic as each flower was introduced. Moreover, Anastasia had smartly helped their teacher from a difficult position, while she was distracted. So she wanted to say something to make Miss Maria proud and also make Miss Magdalene notice her.
On the other hand, Anastasia remain quite, she listening to the discussion around her with a smile.
"I am sure many of you would know that I have been trying to glow a flower for years and I have only succeeded after many failed attempts, " Miss Augusta had a warm smile as she spoke.
Everyone nodded their head, Miss Augusta had mention this flower in her invite how could they forget so soon.
Seeing their reaction Miss Augusta smiled. "you all have to come with me, coincidentally, the flower should boom in a few minutes, " Miss Augusta said as she gestured towards the location of the flower.
Everyone got up from their sit and followed Miss Augusta. The flower was planted at the other end of the garden which was only a few steps away. Standing in front of them was a single flower stem. It was the first time everyone present was seeing the flower.
"Do you know what flower is this, " one young lady asked her friend. Her friends shook her head. They all began to discuss about the flower. Miss Augusta was not in a hurry to stop the conversation.
"After a few round of guessing the young ladies stopped guessing and waited for answer.
"Sister, I remember your mother used to tend to many rear flowers, do you also have no idea what this flower is called? " Elisabeth asked. Many women grew flowers, so she used the team rare to push Anastasia to the front.
Even if it was nothing to be ashamed of if Anastasia did not know the answer, Elisabeth words made it seemed otherwise. Most of the young ladies also wanted to watch Anastasia make a fool of herself. So they echoed Elisabeth"s words making it appear that she was ignorant if she did not know the answer.