Chapitre 21: Good Riddance!
As she followed behind the 'grumpy' old lady (because that was clearly her perspective of the woman now), she easily concluded her to be a weird woman in every sense because of how she kept muttering some incoherent blabbings as she led her up the alley.
Louisa, however, had too much of her own thoughts pulling her into at the moment. For this reason, she chose to not bother too much about Mrs. Phellipe's strange attitude.
Recollections of her last natural talk with her mother back at home started to fuel her thoughts at about now.
______
Back at the house, Zeke and the other mercenaries who accompanied him for the visit had just left after they'd successfully retrieved the 'missing note' from her mother. It bothered Louisa when she heard of Elizabeth's sudden disappearance from the Castle but she was much more conflicted about some other matter.
She lifted up her eyes only to catch a peek at her mother who was hurrying off to the kitchen.
''Not so fast, mother.'' She quickly said in a demanding tone. Promptly, Letita halted in her strides but still kept her back to her.
''Turn around, mother. I need you to look me in the eye when you tell me what I need to know.''
''And what do you wish to know?''
Louisa did not say anything at first. Instead, she pulled forward from where she stood with her back leaning against the entrance door. She walked some two paces forward before pushing forth her other foot to meet with the first. Then, she stopped.
''There is something I would like to know, mother, how many more lies have you kept away from father, from Elizabeth and from me?''
''What do you mean?''
Letita turned to face her squarely.
''Are you asking because you don't know? Or you just want to avoid the question? Why did you keep that note away from all of us? Mother, everyday comes with a new revelation. It is almost like I do not know you.''
''So what?'' Letita said with a snap. ''So what, if I have a couple of skeletons hanging inside my wardrobe? Does that give you the right to question my motives? Do you consider yourself in any position to judge me?''
''What do you even mean by that?'' Louisa asked in a startled tone. ''And why are you clearly avoiding the question? You know, for one, I never fully understood your loathsome hatred of my sister, Elizabeth.''
''Foster sister, Louisa. I stand to be corrected but she is not an offspring of my womb. Matter of fact, she is no longer qualified to be addressed as a Blythe because your father disowned her already.''
''Right. Should I remind you how you practically forced father into doing that?''
''How dare you, daughter! How dare you! Would you rather stay on the side of that brat or mine? Also, it is no fault of mine that a mother's love caused me to shower all my love and affection on you than on that ungrateful child who I'm truly elated to no longer share any ties with. After all, you are my own flesh and blood and not her! You are a more perfect version of me, not her!
So, my love. Do not mind her. That girl, Elizabeth, was always going to get in your way and I kept saying it back then because a mother's instinct can never be wrong. But you and your father, Jacob, were far too compromising to believe me. Now, here you have it. That Swine! She sneaked out of the house, disregarded my decision to not journey to Aegremonth. She used her pitiful state to her delight and stole the crown that was meant for your head. How about that? heh?''
''I have nothing to say.''
''Then don't, because not in this lifetime or the next would I show a tiny bit of compassion for that Elizabeth if our paths were to ever cross again. Mark my words because I mean every bit of it.''
Louisa exhaled tiredly after her mother's declaration. She knew the talk about Elizabeth was a dead end as far as her mother was concerned. Only she, Letita, fully knew why she had to harbour so much resentment towards Elizabeth all those years. But Louisa never understood it and was always quick to brush the talk under the rug every time her peers made mention of it.
Louisa decided not to flag the issue any further.
''Look, honey. I understand it is only normal for you to care for that girl. And that is because you have such a good heart. But she is not as important as this fine gentleman you have come to meet.. this Rochester. You are a brilliant girl with your whole future in front of you. Elizabeth has clearly picked her choice. I suggest you move on yourself.''
''I think you are right, mother.''
''But of course I am right, my Jewel. Your mother is always right. Even Jacob, your father knows this. So, wipe that smudge look of pity off your face and let us focus on trapping this merchant for your keep. Or do you no longer want that?''
''Mother? How can you joke over a thing as that.''
''Well, I was just saying. Anyway, I did tell you categorically that I have a plan to catch him, yes?''
''Of course, mother. You did, and I am all too eager to hear it.'' Louisa laughed cheerfully, afterwards.
''Good. Firstly, we would need to go back to that inn and put up a carefully rehearsed show. When the heat subsides, he will definitely want to make his demands and once he does that, this is what we are going to say to him… ''
______
Louisa recollected all of their little mother-daughter talk now. Letita's suggestion at first had sounded too implausible but after an afterthought and with her mother taking the pains to explain the order of things to her, Louisa soon followed through with their purported plans.
'There is no denying how smart of a crook my mother can be. Using my ovulation cycle to come up with a believable lie about being pregnant is far too outrageous!' She thought.
Just then, the housekeeper, Mrs. Phellipe pulled to a stop in front of an enormous door standing directly before them.
''Alright, Ms. Hazel. Behind this door is your bedroom. You can go right in and make yourself at ease if you wish.''
''If I wish?''
''Why, yes! In the interim, I'll have Brightfin send up your food or would you like to have your meal handed you in the servant's quarters of the house?''
''How dare you!''
''Hehehehe, there's nothing to dare, Ms. Hazel. I am a strange old lady after all. And I do not like girls like you!''
Snorting after, Mrs. Phellipe turned and walked out on her.
Louisa stared long at her distancing silhouette and was even more displeased by the fact that Rochester had left her all alone to begin with.
''Weirdo!'' Louisa cursed at the woman who was far gone by the time she'd said this.
Wrapping her slender fingers around the knob, she pushed open the door and pulled herself into.
'Well then, it's good riddance to you, Mrs. Phellipe.'
Louisa fully entered her lavish bedroom and quickly shut the door behind her.
Cadeaux
-- Cadeau
reçu État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone