Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 350: The Dowager’s Plan Or Just A Rumour

Chapter 350: The Dowager’s Plan Or Just A Rumour

The next day Talia had an engagement with a charity that focuses on getting school supplies for children in need. Amy went with her along with a couple of new officers. Talia felt a pang of sorrow in her heart as she missed Mr. Ed.

Mr. Ed was recovering nicely and Talia insisted that he should stay in the hospital for little longer until the rehabilitation is finished.

Everyone she met out there praised her for being so brave to rise above the situations that would have bound some with crippling trauma. Talia didn’t want to talk about it and steered the conversations towards the charity.

She met with some kids and some who were benefitted from the charity who are now in universities and some who are already employed with good prospects. After discussing some time with the director of the charity, Talia went back to her home.

After lunch, Henry was already bored staying with her and Talia brought him back to Cordelia. Talia knew that kid still is not ready to stay away from his mother yet. To think the Royal family used to ship children who were barely six to boarding schools away from their parents, made her skin crawl. Good thing Louis’ mother broke that long standing tradition and now Henry and his brother can grow up where they want to.

"Apparently some courtiers were not pleased with you bringing Henry out to play." Cordelia said passing her a custard cream she baked.

"Oh? What trouble befell the nation because a little boy skipped his studies for a day?" Talia curled her lips and dipped the biscuit in tea.

She is not against traditions and customs. It is when they don’t make sense; she felt the need to break those rules.

"Mmm...This is good. It’s been a while since I’ve had your biscuits," Talia praised as she loved the biscuits. And the buttercream filling was divine. "Wait! They didn’t take him out to lecture him, did they?" she asked worried.

After Henry met with his mother, he was brought out by his tutor and he didn’t look pleased. She wished the little boy is not in trouble. If he was, she decided to barge in and take the boy with her, away from those stuck-up people who knows no fun.

"No, they are taking him to meet his father. So it is fine." Cordelia waved her hand. She was happy seeing Talia savouring the biscuits. She decided to send some for her. "Louis shot down those courtiers who were displeased with you. Sir Leonard said that Louis was livid and yet he held his composure. Sir Leonard told me that with deep voice hiding his displeasure Louis grumbled, ’Talia is Henry’s aunt and I am his father who still is the King. Does anyone else want to add anything?’ And apparently his expression scattered those hyenas away," Cordelia laughed.

"Why are they still picking on me?" Talia rolled her eyes. She had made sure she does not have an eye for the throne and she tries to act appropriately according to the occasion so not to break traditions. Still there are some who don’t like her.

"There are rumours that The Dowager is planning to send you to the Duchy of Trenton for a visit. Word on the wire is that she wants to leave that Duchy that was once her father’s, to you." Cordelia whispered in Talia’s ears.

"What?" Talia’s eyes widened. "Isn’t there already a Duke of Trenton?"

Cordelia shrugged as she topped her tea. She didn’t understand it either.

Talia knew of the history of the Duchy of Trenton. That dukedom is as old as the Kingdom and it has produced great warriors, philosophers, politicians and queens. Her great grandmother had the chance to become the Queen because she was from that family. After her great grandmother’s father, the Duchy was inherited by her brother. But that Duke died early due to some illness and since there were no other heirs, the Duchy was inherited by a distant relative of the Dowager.

Talia knew it created a row when the then King wanted his wife to inherit her father’s Duchy, but citing laws that forbade consort’s to own any private Duchy, that plan was dismissed by the court. Now the Duke of Trenton is the Dowager’s third cousin once removed.

But now Great grandmother wants to give ME that Duchy? It makes sense that I, who has little claim to the throne can hold a Duchy. But aren’t I a working royal? Oh, wait... that’s because I’m not a consort but a blood Princess.

So that’s why some courtiers hate me now? Did I even ask for it?

Ah...these archaic traditions. There is one rule for a Royal and another for a non-royal. I can own a Duchy, but my husband cannot in this kingdom. UGH!

But why me? Great grandma, your bias towards your daughter is showing!

There is Lambert! There is still Lambert!! Why is everyone forgetting him?

AAAHHHH!!!

Why am I the only one who is worried for him?

That’s right! This might just be a rumour!

"How do you know all these?" Talia furrowed her brows.

"Oh HOW you ask?" Cordelia covered her mouth with her hands and chuckled, "Don’t you know?" she leaned closer to Talia’s ears. "I sleep with the King."

Talia shook her head in disbelief. If this is something that came out of Louis, there could be some truth to it. Or it could be just pillow talk!

"Stop talking about me in your bed and birth more babies, woman!" Talia glared at Cordelia as she laughed.

"It’s more fun talking about you though."

"What a shameless weirdo!" Talia grumbled as she left the royal residence.

She knew with the recent attempt on her life, she won’t be asked to visit anywhere that could have potential danger. That thought made her mind calm down.

---

"I heard that you’re planning to get our family into the Council."

Arthur, who was holding the pen, stopped signing and looked at the door banged open. It seemed like Jordan had grown bold enough to barge in his room. He looked at his assistant and she bowed her head and left the room without him saying a word.

It seems like Jordan did pick up someone smart to replace him.

"And?" Arthur leaned on his chair and opened the drawer to pull out a cigar.

"You’re cruel to punish me like this, Arthur. I know I did an unforgivable thing, but to forget everything I did for you just for my stupidity-"

"Heh!" Arthur snorted and took a puff. "Punishment? There are at least eight families willing to replace the Clairmont family. Why do you think people are lining up for a ’punishment’, Mr. McAllister?"

Jordan gulped seeing the sharp eyes looking at him with no sense of familiarity. It hurt him and made his palms go cold. "Then I request you to give the place to someone who loves nobility." Jordan bowed his head.

"Hmm... Why? It would do the McAllister family good considering two of their daughters are about to get married into nobility. A title would give him the security they need. Why are you refusing such good offer, Mr. McAllister? Is it because you feel like you’re betraying your love by taking the title of her fallen family? "

"NO! I trusted her and she hurt my sisters. I don’t feel sorry for her or her family. In fact I’m happy she ended up insane than dead because now her father and mother can see the state their precious daughter who was about to bring fortune to her family ended up. She even dragged them down to nothing. I want to see her get abandoned by them and wander in the streets getting ravaged." Jordan fisted her hand and his jaws clenched up.

The more he thought, the more he resented his stupidity. To think she made him believe that she wanted to change and for believing her, she paid it back by hurting his sister.

"The real reason is... I hate nobles. I fear them. The make my stomach hurt. Growing up... The blue bloods mocked us as ’nouveau riche’, nobles mocked us as commoners. The nobles... they were excessively harsh towards us. We had no place to belong and were ostracised. I don’t want my kids to be ostracised like I was as I know they still won’t accept us as one of them. They are all bigots. "

Arthur chuckled, "You’re a good man Jordan. And that’s why you consider a noble title as a burden and a punishment. You are right. It is a punishment. It brings all kinds of troubles to your doorstep. But I will need as much support in the Council and you’ll be my servant as long as you are in the Council. That’s why I want you there." Arthur’s tone got serious.

"And which noble ostracised you, Jordan? How many were you close with? Your eldest sister was best friends with a Wallace and another sister dated a noble with his family’s support. I don’t ever remember Talia hating on you for your status. In fact, she even let you hate on her. She could have ended you and your family for any reason just like that. But..."

Jordan stood frozen as he realised...

Sophia! It was only she who humiliated him for his status!

Tears dripped from his eyes.

Talia... She was always nice to me. But for Sophia I put her in danger!