Judging from the maids' reactions, it seemed like Mrs. Bellingham didn't have a very good reputation around here, so Mariam figured she'd hear some interesting stories as soon as she asked.
"I heard Mrs. Bellingham slapping the mald upstairs earlier? From what I heard, it seemed like she was trying to steal Mrs. Winston's jewels, but the maid caught her and she was taking it out on her..."
The maids were shaking their buttocks and making a fuss.
"Is that true?"
"This shameless woman stole all of Madam's dresses yesterday, and now she's even touching Madam's jewelry in an empty room?"
"It must have been Anna who went up to Madam's room, and she hit her? That's unbelievable. Oh, really. She hit the Madam's personal maid!"
The maids were even more agitated and fiery than Mariam had expected.
'I don't know what it is, but it seems like something really interesting is happening in this house.'
Gossip about love affairs was always the best dessert, and the wardrobe was a year-round gathering place for ladies in search of delicious treats.
And Mariam, in addition to taking measurements and running errands there, was also responsible for pleasing and entertaining the demanding ladies.
Mariam secretly cheered at the fact that she was the first to discover this mouthwatering, piping-hot dessert.
"What on earth happened? Tell me more."
***
That evening, Penelope locked herself in her room and refused to eat.
When Penelope didn't come down to the restaurant, Isaac heard from the butler about what had happened that afternoon and went to see Penelope.
"Isaac!"
Penelope, who was lying on the bed with her face buried in the pillow, cried and clung to Isaac.
"I came here because you didn't come down to the restaurant. I heard the gist of what happened today, is that why you're here?"
"I don't feel like eating. Do you know what kind of insult I suffered today? I was treated like a thief by the maid! I told her it was a misunderstanding. I thought Bridget was in the room.
"I heard Bridget's bracelet is broken."
"Are you doubting me too?"
Penelope glanced at Isaac.
Isaac consoled her as she trembled and shed tears of betrayal.
"I want to hear the whole story. The butler who told me the story probably doesn't know how wrong you are."
He said that he would listen to both sides of the story, but since Bridget's position was relayed by the butler, what he actually wanted to hear was only Penelope's position.
Only then did Penelope's expression soften and she took a deep breath as if she was upset.
"It's Anna who broke the bracelet."
She said so without blinking an eye.
If Anna hadn't come, she wouldn't have waved her arm wildly, and the bracelet wouldn't have been broken, so Penelope thought that Anna had broken the bracelet.
"Yes?"
"I was just watching, and then she suddenly showed up and accused me of being a thief and then caught me. Bridget must have seen it too."
Isaac's expression turned fierce.
"Bridget was there then? Since when?"
"I feel like she's been watching it from the beginning."
Penelope left out the word "probably," because she thought Isaac would be indifferent if she said it was a guess.
Penelope wanted Isaac to take this seriously.
"And then she tells me that it wasn't Anna's fault and I'm apologizing to the maid. Heck! She knew it was a misunderstanding, but she deliberately framed me!"
Penelope lowered her head sadly and shed tears.
The tears that fell incessantly from her large eyes broke the hearts of those who saw her.
"Don't worry, Penelope. What's the problem if I know the truth?"
"There was another person with Bridget. She heard Anna accusing me of being a thief, but Bridget didn't stop her. She must have thought I was definitely a thief."
"Who was there?"
"I don't know who it is, either. It's Iike a wardrobe clerk or something."
"Don't worry about the wardrobe staff. What can they do?"
"It's a matter of feeling! I'm not a thief!"
Isaac frowned.
'Did you come with her to plot something so deadly? To tarnish Penelope's reputation?'
Thinking about it like that, Isaac became very annoyed.
"First, eat. You shouldn't skip meals even if it's for the sake of the baby in your stomach. I'll talk to Bridget."
"Just the two of you?"
"Then?"
"Let's show the employees that it was the maid and Bridget who were at fault. Then they'll all know how wrong I am."
"Yes. So, are you going to eat now?"
Penelope pursed her lips and nodded reluctantly.
"Yes, good idea. Ask the butler to bring the food to your room."
"Thank you. I don't know what I would have done without you!"
The word "thank you" made Isaac shrug his shoulders.
"I'll deal with anyone who harms you. So feel free. At least for the baby's sake."
***
Isaac went outside and looked for Bridget.
Just then, Bridget was leaving the restaurant and walking across the lobby. She seemed to have finished her meal alone.
'Penelope is so upset that she can't even eat, but the person who created this situation looks so peaceful.'
Bridget's calm expression turned Isaac's stomach.
"Bridget."
At Isaac's call, Bridget looked up at him as he came down the stairs.
At first glance, she could tell he had a very angry expression on his face.
"What's going on?"
Even though he asked she already knew what he was going to say.
Bridget stared at Isaac calmly, thinking that what was coming had come.
"You treated Penelope like a thief?"
His sharp voice echoed loudly in the lobby.
Upon hearing that, the employees' gazes all turned to Bridget, who was standing in the center of the lobby.
"People are watching. Let's go to the study and talk."
Bridget said politely.
It was embarrassing for a couple to fight in front of their employees no matter what happened.
Wouldn't it be even more so if a marital fight centered around the conflict between the wife and the concubine were to be held in front of other people?
'I wonder if that guy knows that.'
Bridget knew that Isaac didn't treat his employees like people.
Because of his sense of entitlement as a commoner, he believed that 'I am a special person, different from them, and that is why I became a noble.'
To make himself special, he firmly believed that commoners were uncivilized and ignorant.
Because of this, he often overlooked the fact that employees also have their own thoughts.
'That's why you accepted Penelope's ridiculous offer to live with her. Without any shame.'
In her past life, Bridget had been harassed by Isaac in front of her employers.
How shameful it was.
The shame came not only from being persecuted but also from being embarrassed by what her husband was doing.
Bridget never thought, then or now, that he would ever listen to her and calm down.
As expected, Isaac completely ignored Bridget's words.
"Did you embarrass Penelope in front of outsiders just because you were concerned about people's eyes? Huh?"
Bridget, who only thought of leaving the Winston household at the right time, did not feel ashamed as she had in her past life.
Rather, she thought It turned out well.
In her past life, she had been struggling to calm him down when he was excited, unable to even say anything, but she had no intention of doing that anymore.
Penelope may have lied to him, but she thought Isaac would use this as an opportunity to reveal the truth.
Bridget explained the situation in a clear voice that all her employees could hear.
"Yes. If that's what you want, let's talk about it here. If you're talking about the dress shop worker, she was the one who was called to make Penelope's dress. We were looking for Penelope at the time, and we happened to hear the commotion."
"Okay, let's say it was just a coincidence that she was there, but then why did you blame Penelope for the bracelet that the maid broke? Why make a big deal out of that bracelet?"
"I didn't blame anyone for that. Just like you said, why don't you fix that bracelet?"
Isaac was speechless.
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