Her Graceful War Song (Carissa Sinclair) novel Chapter 1007

Just moments ago, Jessica had been brash and loud. However, the sight of Carissa and Violet instantly silenced her.

She clutched the hem of her dress, her chin raised slightly, unwilling to lower her head even in her fallen state. A pair of small, gilded butterfly earrings dangled from her ears. It was out of place with her shabby attire, as if it was all she had to maintain the last bit of dignity and respectability.

She had come alone, without even a maid in tow.

"Your Grace, Ms. Spencer, you've come at just the right time," Hannah said.

Her face was livid, ashen with anger.

"I've dealt with my fair share of troublesome people, but I've never seen anyone cause this much of a scene! She wants to stay at the workshop and insists we change the name to her own. When I asked what she was cast out for, she refused to say a word."

It wasn't hard to understand why Hannah was furious. When the workshop was first established, she and Carissa laid down strict rules. Any woman cast out for committing evil deeds or harming others wasn't to be accepted.

So, when Jessica arrived, she had to be questioned. But now, she was evasive, not saying a word, and yet still acting arrogant—how could Hannah not be enraged?

Carissa and Violet sat. Jessica saw their silk dresses and jewelry, which were just like what she wore when she was still royalty. Now, she wore coarse fabric and simple hairpins, looking old and poor. She didn't even have any makeup on her face. The stark contrast made her angry and ashamed.

But she couldn't avoid coming, and she dared not show her arrogance in front of Carissa. After all, Carissa was a government official, and Eleanor's case was being handled by Rafael.

Carissa studied Jessica and said, "Jessica, do you really want to stay at the workshop? Do you understand that it's not a place of luxury? You'll have to work here."

Jessica's bravado wavered, but she still tried to maintain her pride.

"By virtue of age, you and Rafael should be talking to me more respectfully. But I won't hold it against you. I'm here to stay at the workshop, but don't think I've come begging! You said it's a shelter for..."

Margaret was currently managing the Marquis of Ironridge's family's household. Hannah knew Margaret well—she was not the type to cast out a woman just because she couldn't bear children.

For ordinary families, a woman might be divorced and cast out for not producing an heir, especially if the husband couldn't take a concubine. A woman who couldn't carry on the family line was seen as no better than a barren hen.

But the Marquis of Ironridge had a secondary wife, Emma, as well as Serena for a concubine. Emma was also Margaret's niece, and she had borne children. Jessica was Leopold's primary wife. Even if she couldn't have children of her own, Emma's children would still be regarded as Jessica's.

The contrast between the high nobility and common folk was stark. Marriages among the wealthy were often political alliances, combining powerful families rather than simply producing heirs.

Though Jessica had been stripped of her title as a duchess and her estates had been reclaimed, the Marquis of Ironridge's family wasn't the type to cast out a wife over something like infertility. They weren't so cold and calculating.

Carissa had also dealt with Margaret a few times. Before her marriage to Rafael, she had received a golden bracelet adorned with interlocking pearl patterns from Margaret as a gift, proving the older woman was in fact warm and kind-hearted.