The Baroness Misbehaves
Chapter 47: Silence Is Golden (2)

Chapter 47: Silence Is Golden (2)

The sound of someone being heartlessly slapped across the face echoed in a quiet room in one of the Duke’s Mansions that night.

Isabella’s mind went numb when Abbot had furiously slapped her face without warning. Even with their constant late night arguments, Isabella never expected her husband to eventually raise his hand at her one day.

An intimidating silence dawned in the room and Abbot’s fury flashed in his cold blue eyes.

At first, Isabella didn’t believe that she got slapped in the face, but when she lifted her shaky hand to touch her cheek, the pain she never even knew was there slowly overwhelmed her face down to her heart, breaking it into pieces and rendering her weak.

Looking at Abbot, her eyes had turned watery from the fact that he literally dared to raise his hand at her, all because she chose to help Cassian get out of his situation.

"You....you slapped me Abbot?" Isabella was at the verge of losing her voice, and her tone cracked in pain when she asked him those questions.

"You made me do it Isabelle! You fucking made me do it!" Abbot frankly blamed her, the anger showing no sign from deducing in his sharp eyes.

He never intended to hit her, but seeing her stand up for that illegitimate bastard, to the point of arguing with him, triggered his fury.

"You know how much I hate Cassian, I despise everything that has to do with that man and yet you always chose to help him. You are my wife Isabella, my wife!! You’re supposed to hate the things I hate and like the things I like!!"

"Well I’m sorry that I was born differently, Abbot. If you wanted a woman who would literally stoop low to do your bidding, then you shouldn’t have married me from the beginning!" Isabella yelled back based on his silly excuse, feeling extremely hurt that her own husband had raised his hand at her.

"Your mother already taunts me for not having to provide an heir for you in our two years of marriage, and when I needed your comfort, you slapped me, Abbot."

She sighed painfully and blinked her tears away. This was too much.

Closing his eyes and massaging the skin in between his eyebrows, Abbot tried to calm himself down, and only then, did the gravity of his actions begin to affect him.

"Isabelle.."

"Keep your insincere apologies to someone who would believe them. I don’t need it." Unable to stay in the same room as him, she angrily walked out.

"Come back here, Isabella!" He ordered, but the hurt Isabella had already left, slamming the door shut behind her.

Most of the candles had gone out, and the spacious corridor felt cold unlike her room. Regardless, Isabella continued to walk through the dim corridor, not particularly sure where she was heading.

All she knew was that she needed to be alone, away from that man, most especially.

She had gotten tired from having to tolerate Abbot’s nonsense, and the fact she’s been keeping silent doesn’t mean she’s stupid.

Today, he had crossed the line by literally raising his hand at her.

She wouldn’t have married him if her father wasn’t so hungry to have his rank achieved by claiming to have his daughter married to a Duke’s son. She was against the marriage but her father wasn’t ready to hear her plea, so she had to pretend to be happy with the alliance.

And now, she’s suffering because of her own abrupt decision, and her father’s aim to satisfy his hunger for more wealth.

Quietly walking past Cassian’s room door at her left, the curtains had opened slightly due to the wind, and since the window was made of glass, Isabella could easily see through.

Although it would be wrong of her to do this, Isabella couldn’t stop herself from stealing a peek to see if they were already asleep.

Looking through the curtains, Isabella could see Cassian awake. The young lad was busy adjusting the duvet on Madeline’s body when she had rolled it off in her sleep.

Due to his actions, Madeline subconsciously turned and wrapped her hands around him, throwing her leg on his body and resting her head on his chest like it was her favorite pillow.

Cassian paused in his movements, and that odd, yet pleasant feeling warmed his heart. He shook his head slightly and continued to adjust the duvet, covering her up properly before turning the lamp back off and lying down to sleep.

This was what being a couple felt like. Unfortunately for Isabella, she doesn’t get to experience such caring times with Abbot.

Why shouldn’t she save a man who knew how to treat women right.

Moving away from curtains, Isabella only felt her tears increase and she dashed off from the corridor.

In the morning, Madeline had stepped out of her room as early as she could, feeling refreshed from having to have slept well last night.

The servants as usual were on duty. They were two female servants scrubbing the floor while some of the male servants she spotted along the way, were either repainting the walls or carrying loads to the kitchen.

Madeline released a sigh. She wanted to take a quick look around the mansion since she was sure that there were other places she needed to tour first.

You can’t view the whole house in one day.

Walking past a room, Madeline self-consciously halted when she found the door to the room slightly ajar.

Stepping inside to satisfy her curiosity, she was surprised to see the strange lady dozing off on a couch.

Isabella had dozed off and was resting her head against the arms of the chair.

Wasn’t she Abbot’s wife? The one who helped them?

"It’s you."

Isabella’s sleepy eyes instantly snapped open when Madeline came to stand before her. "Are you alright? Why are you sleeping here?"

The concerned Madeline felt it’d be right to ask, and she could tell from the lady’s face how disoriented she looked. Since it rained, the weather this morning was relatively cold.

How did she sleep here? And without a blanket?

"It’s nothing." Isabella quickly got to her feet after seeing she fell asleep on the couch. She wasn’t even aware of when she slept.

"I....I got tired and decided to rest here. I didn’t know when I dozed off, I’ll... I’ll head... to my room now." And she left before Madeline could ask her any further questions.

Is it just her or was her cheeks slightly red??

Stepping out of the room, Madeline could hear a very slow, charismatic music coming from somewhere nearby. The melancholy in the music tone had captured her ears, making her come to a quick stop.

Following where the sound of the music was coming from, Madeline went up the second stairs and stepped into the balcony to find Inna playing her Cello.

The young girl played with such enthusiasm, and her gaze was fixed on the manuscript she had set on the stand. The sun was already rising, and it’s warm yellow light bathed Inna, softening her already delicate features and making her look divine.

As enjoyable as the tone of her music waa, Madeline felt a bit of sadness conveyed in the music. She only interrupted when Inna had finished playing.

"You’re very talented with that Cello of yours." Madeline complimented with a clap of her hands. "How did you learn to play it so well?"

Inna shrugged. "My grandmother got them for me on my 10th birthday, but she made me keep it since I was still very little to play such a big cello."

Madeline chuckled at Inna’s sarcasm before moving closer to where she sat. "Your grandmother sounds interesting."

"She’s the number one person Cassian fears in this whole universe, then Uncle Williams, then mother." Inna shook her head before keeping her cello aside.

"Cassian and his grandmother don’t get along?"

"They do, just that grandmother’s really strict with Cassian, same way mother is. I’m the cherished one so I’m easily overlooked and pampered by both."

"Hmmn." Madeline pressed her lips into a thin line. She was about to ask Inna some questions concerning the tattooed scar on Cas’s back, but recalling Cas’s words to respect his decision, she remained silent.

Madeline noticed the lack of sleep in Inna’s eyes. "Did you sleep at all, Inna? Your eyes are a bit swollen."

"It’s obvious? I was too busy practicing for my dance test so I didn’t get much sleep. I can’t disappoint my mother." She got to her feet and stretched her arms and legs.

"Don’t you think you deserve a break?" Madeline said, looking worried that she might overstress herself.

"Do you know something, sister-in-law?" inna’s brown eyes diverted to Madeline who only blinked.

"What?"

"My mother never lived a luxurious life." She stated bluntly. "She wasn’t able to do these things, or learn the etiquettes of the world. She doesn’t want her children to suffer the same thing, so I have to work my best so she doesn’t get disappointed."

Madeline smiled after hearing Inna’s reason for practicing so hard. "I am sure she’s already proud of you. I wish you the very best."

"Thank you." They exchanged friendly smiles before Inna picked up her cello. "I need to go change and get ready for breakfast before I leave. It was lovely speaking with you on such a pleasant morning, I feel more confident now."

She bowed her head as a show of respect to Madeline before taking her leave from the balcony.

Madeline admired how her mother-in-law did a good job in bringing her children up despite the ups and downs in the Duke’s mansion. Now that she thought about it, where is her mother-in-law?