The next day arrived with a bitter chill in the air. The servants tried to stay indoors and the sentries bundled up underneath their armor. Summer was quickly coming to an end and winter would rear its head in a weeks time.
Duchess Tyren woke up before her daughter with a determined mind. Now that she had a plan in place to hurt Felicia, she no longer felt the usual frustration that greeted her in the morning.
Rising before her daughter, she went to her room and took a bath. After spending over an hour being toweled off, dressed up, having her hair styled and adorned with jewelry and makeup, she headed downstairs for breakfast. It was necessary for Tyren to always look as beautiful as possible. She grew up being scorned for her illegitimate birth status and as such banked on her beauty to get attention. She may be lacking in other ways, but Tyren always knew that she was a beauty to behold and never hesitated to show it off. It was her main asset for acquisition and how she was able to convince the heartbroken Duke to marry her only a few months after the death of his first wife.
Helena, who was already seated smiled at her mother and the two embraced.
"Did you sleep well, my love?" Tyren asked, taking her seat which a maid pulled out for her. The servants had already laden the table with dishes and were now standing in position nearby to await the family.
"Yes, mother. I feel much better. Thank you for staying with me. I know that I am already too old to be making such requests, but I still appreciated it." Helena said meekly.
"Don't be silly. You're never too old to want your mother with you when you're feeling sad," Tyren replied.
Suddenly the Duke entered the room with Alex and Felicia in tow. As usual the siblings were dressed to match, had their arms linked and were talking happily. Helena felt less jealous when she saw Alex pull Felicia's chair back for her. She trusted in her mother's words. Alex would not be able to fawn over that woman for long.
Breakfast was a quiet occasion. Nobody really seemed to have anything to say to one another and the hostility that Tyren and Helena had towards Felicia was not felt. Nobody looked at each other. Everyone was focused on their meals.
After their meal, the Duke headed back to his office, Alex went to meet up with his tutor and was delving deeper into his heirship training, Felicia left to meet with her dressmaker and Helena went to her room to complete the assignments her governess had given her.
Tyren asked her maids prepare tea and immediately called Hildegarde to her room. Once the aged woman was seated before the Duchess, her ladies in waiting left and made sure to close the door behind her. Hildegarde felt a bit nervous, but hid it well enough to smile. Tyren offered up a sneer in response.
"So, how have you been? Have you enjoyed your stay here? Must feel like coming back home, right?" Tyren's tone was both mocking and sweet.
She poured two cups of tea and lifted hers to take a sip, indicating Hildegarde do the same. Hildegarde lifted her cup and blew on the liquid, causing steam to flare out. She blew a few more times before setting her cup back down. She wasn't taking any chances. She did not trust this evil woman in front of her.
"Drink your tea, Hildegarde."
"It's too hot, Duchess. I'd rather not burn my tongue and throat. I'm an old lady now and have to watch my health."
"Indeed. But you didn't answer my question. How has your stay been?" Tyren set her cup down.
"It has been well, my lady. Better than well. I was more of a sister to Duchess Moniqua than a maid, so to come here and serve her children in my golden days is a true blessing. After her passing and my resignation, I thought I would never get to see the beautiful Lady Felicia ever again." Hildegarde spoke with great affection and warmth.
"Indeed." Tyren lips were pressed together in a hard smile. "Drink your tea, I'm sure it's cooled now."
Hildegarde nearly rolled her eyes. Did this woman think she was dumb? Really, how obvious could she make it that she was trying to poison her?
"I just drank my medication and the physician recommended that I not eat or drink for an hour after as it would diminish the effects. It has to be taken on an empty stomach." Hildegarde lied smoothly.
Tyren's eye twitched and she resisted the urge to pick up the teapot and dump it all over the Hildegarde's head. She was greatly irked that this sagging hag before her had the guts to defy her. Unfortunately, there was nothing more she could do. If she used force, that would only land her in trouble with Alex and Felicia. And given how much the Duke had thawed towards Felicia, he may even get angry with her if he were to hear that she was being unkind to Felicia's former nanny.
"Well, then we'll just have to have tea another time." Tyren leaned forward and propped her elbows on the table. "I am very surprised to see you return here. After our last conversation, I thought I'd made myself clear so what's happened now? Do you no longer care about your husband and sons? I can still access them and kill them if I wanted to. You know that, right?"
Tyren shed all pretense and showed Hildegarde the same face she had showed her five years ago.
Hildegarde smiled softly. She wasn't scared by the threat. She was no longer in the same position she was back then and had already made her pact with death after being abandoned by her heartless family.
"Duchess, you can send whomever you want to kill my husband and sons. My husband is currently in bed with another woman and my sons are both in jail serving life sentences for fraud, theft, kidnapping and attempted murder. They are not my concern anymore." Hildegarde dropped the hammer with a bright smile on her face.
Tyren eyes widened and her jaw dropped in shock.
Hildegarde chuckled softly before raising her poisoned cup of tea in a toast. Checkmate, bitch.