Chapter 64 Chapter 64 Bella/Oti had been away from her for so long…
Early morning, Chalvey Manor.
It snowed last night. Isabel walked on the road to the farm, and the snow made a rustling sound under her feet.
Some of the tenant farmers on the roadside smiled shyly, while others greeted her warmly: "Hi! Duchess! Good day!"
Isabel nodded and smiled, and Edith and Emily followed behind her and took out the condolence gifts from the basket and distributed them one by one.
"An early Christmas gift, please accept it."
The tenants put their hands together and prayed: "Oh, thank you, the Duchess, thank you, Mr. Spencer, I hope everything is well with you, and I hope Mr. Duke will recover soon."
"Thanks."
…
As she moved forward, Isabel received countless gratitude and blessings.
As the owner of the manor, it is a necessary procedure to send condolence gifts to the tenants on the eve of St. Peter's Day every year.
However, Isabel did not intend to be perfunctory. She wanted to take this opportunity to understand the details of the affairs of the manor.
Just like now, she was visiting and talking with every household, while asking Victor to record the family situation of each tenant farmer in detail.
Yes, Mr. Victor, the elite assistant, was completely seconded by the Duchess during the period when the Duke was recuperating.
"Ma'am, the statistics are complete." Victor pushed his glasses up. "This year's harvest has been halved compared to previous years. Over 30 percent of the tenants are struggling to make ends meet."
Isabel was not surprised after hearing this. This was something she had expected after reading the account books of the manor.
Since taking over Chalves, I have never known what is happening. I have been shocked by what I have seen.
As the head of the seven major families in the empire, the Spencer family maintains the dignity of a top wealthy family on the outside, but in fact it has been hollowed out on the inside.
Honestly, ever since the industrial boom in the north, financial crises for aristocratic families have been common. After all, most established families have been spending ever more to keep up with the times, but relying solely on land isn't enough to make ends meet. Consequently, some, like Norman, have embraced the trend and invested, while others have simply held onto their land and waited for their family's decline.
But such things mostly happened to the middle and small nobles. They had empty titles but no real power, and were not exposed to the latest news from the ruling class. Therefore, they were unable to resist the tide of the times.
But for the great nobles, such a crisis was not enough to completely destroy the entire family. Their foundation was so deep that ordinary people could not imagine it. Even if they gave birth to an unpromising offspring and lived off the wealth, it would take more than ten lifetimes to eat up all the wealth.
The current Spencer is equivalent to what he will be like several lifetimes later. This level of deficit can only be caused by a family with corrupt officials.
Isabel spent a few days looking through the account books and found two key points.
One was the funeral of the old Dukes Frederick and Ludwig, and the other was the wedding of Louisa and Edmund.
I have no idea about the former for now, but the latter is easy to understand. Two days ago, Sophia suddenly sent me a Christmas gift with a blank check inside.
Such a straightforward sarcasm was enough to make Isabel understand that when Sophia said "there's a long way to go" that day, she was waiting for her to discover the Spencer family's financial crisis.
Judging from the account books, Louisa and Edmund spent a huge amount of money when they got married. After Louisa took charge of the estate, they established business ties with the Earl's House of Brunswick.
Adam may appear to be the new Earl of Brunswick, but in reality, it's his mother, Sophia, who controls everything behind the scenes. This means that for a long time, Louisa and Edmund used Sophia as a bridge to collaborate with the Bruson family, a major industrial power in the north.
Lisa Bruson was the lady who spent a huge dowry to marry into the Brunswick Earl's Palace. She was also Sophia's nominal daughter-in-law and the actual money bag.
In order to deceive old lady Violet, Edmund bribed Andrew and the family's accounting lawyer to cook the books together.
On the surface, the Chalvis family prospered during Louisa's time as housekeeper, but secretly, Edmund and Sophia had already transferred the Spencer family's property out.
Isabel couldn't help but sigh. Aunt Mary's famous saying was right: stupid people are more terrible than evil people. It is hard to imagine what kind of earth-shattering stupid things they would do. Edmund is even worse. He is conceited on top of his stupidity.
He looked down on Sophia from the beginning, believing that she was of humble origin, did not have the courage to deceive him, and could not shake his position.
It seems like a pig-killing scam. Sophia gained his trust by giving him a small profit first, tricking him into paying out a large sum of principal. Later, she kept hanging him with the interest, making him think there would be a high return.
After all, Edmund saw no reason why his aunt, a bastard in particular, couldn't turn the tables. One was the Earl of Brunswick, a prestigious household, and couldn't escape. The other was an industrial magnate in Kent, with a stable source of funds. That's why he felt comfortable embezzling family assets, investing them, and then pocketing them himself.
Yes, his idea was very idealistic. Unfortunately, he didn't anticipate that he would end up in jail.
He never expected that his aunt Sophia had been plotting against him from the beginning to the end, and half of the Spencer family's wealth went into her pocket.
One thing to note, the accountants who cooked the books were talented, but they just followed the wrong people. If Isabel hadn't checked the accounts herself, she might still be in the dark, just like Lady Violet.
Thanks to Luisa's evidence, several accountants were also sent to prison by Isabel. She even wanted to hire them again after they were released.
"Let's waive all the rent this year." Isabel looked up from her thoughts and instructed Victor.
"Yes," Victor said after a moment's hesitation while recording, "but this might increase our financial burden."
Isabel couldn't explain to him the old Chinese saying: "A lot of debt doesn't weigh you down, and a lot of lice doesn't itch." She could only shake her head and say, "Saving money won't fill Chalvey's hole. What really helps is finding a way to make money."
Victor frowned. "What do you mean?"
Isabel smiled and looked into the distance: "Wealth is in the north, so let's go north."
Victor reacted quickly, a sharp gleam flashing behind his glasses, "You want to go to Haddonfield. As far as I know, your sister has a marriage..."
Isabel gave him an admiring look and said nothing more. She turned around and announced the rent exemption to the tenant farmers.
The tenant farmers were so moved that they wept. Voices of gratitude rang out one after another. Several elderly people crossed themselves and muttered, "Mr. Spencer's legacy still blesses us. Your heirs are compassionate. May you rest in peace in heaven."
Isabel looked up: "Which ancestor of the Spencer family are you praying for?"
The elderly man wiped his tears and said, "Oh, sorry, ma'am, I lost my composure. I was missing General Ludwig. We all enjoyed the grace of this venerable man. If he knew that a kind lady like you would be his successor, he would be very happy."
"Thank you for the compliment." Isabel crossed herself.
On the way back, the villagers warmly presented us with garlands and fresh fruits.
Isabel couldn't refuse, so she accepted them all. Along the way, she once again heard the villagers' admiration and remembrance of Ludwig.
"Oh! Time flies! I still remember eight years ago when Mr. Ludwig came to visit us with the young Duke Heinrich."
"Yes, in the blink of an eye, Heinrich has already married a wife. And she is a thoughtful and kind lady!"
"It would be great if Mr. Ludwig were still alive..."
"Oh, stop it, you know, I always cry easily."
…
Isabel listened silently.
Victor explained, "In the past few years, Mrs. Louisa's visits have been just formalities. The last person to show such genuine care for the tenant farmers was Mr. Ludwig. Therefore, the villagers love him very much."
"Aren't events like this always hosted by the hostess?"
"Princess Georgiana...is not in good health." Victor lowered his head and said vaguely, "The old duke and the old lady are also old, so Mr. Ludwig has been taking care of them for a long time. He also took on the pressure and helped exempt all the villagers in the area from the church's redemption money. This is no small matter."
Isabel wanted to ask more questions, as she was a little curious about Ludwig's relationship with the church, but now was not the time, so she had to suppress her doubts.
In the evening, the servants of the manor who suddenly received the news were busy packing the luggage for the Duke and Duchess's trip - the convoy will set off for Kent tomorrow.
Although everyone was suspicious of Isabel's sudden decision, they dared not question it. The only two people who had the right to question it were the Duke, who drank the "poison" his wife offered him, and the old lady who fainted after learning of Charvez's true financial situation.
In short, neither of them tried to stop Isabel's decision, and the trip was set.
The Duke, who in the eyes of the servants "was sold but still helped count the money", has been very clingy recently.
Because he couldn't walk around or go hunting while recuperating, Heinrich's daily routine consisted of eating, sleeping, taking medicine, watching his wife go out, and waiting for her to come back.
In the bedroom, Heinrich heard the sound of the doorknob turning. He suddenly turned off the light and covered himself with the quilt, pretending to sleep.
Isabel, with her hair loose and wearing silk pajamas, naturally lifted the quilt and asked, "Are you angry?"
A deafening snoring sound came from under the quilt.
Isabel chuckled. "I didn't mean to stay away from dinner tonight. The tenant farmers are so hospitable, and I just wanted to stay and learn about their living conditions."
"What about yesterday?" Heinrich showed his face and said in a bad tone.
"I attended Mrs. Cynthia's dinner party yesterday."
Heinrich threw back the covers and sat up, angrily saying, "What kind of lousy dinner party is this delicious?"
Isabel tilted her head and smiled, then waved, "Okay, don't be angry, come here."
"I'll do whatever you say? Do you really think I'm Blake?" Heinrich snorted.
"Blake can't appear in my bed." Isabel folded her arms, leaned against the head of the bed, and looked at him leisurely.
Heinrich's eyes moved slightly, and he quickly turned his head away, looking cold and arrogant, as if he would never bow to petty gains.
Isabel ignored him, yawned, and took off her silk pajamas.
The dark green halter dress highlights her fair skin and looks smoother than the fabric of her clothes.
Heinrich's Adam's apple rolled.
Isabel leered at him, raising her eyebrows slightly.
The two looked at each other for a moment, their eyes blending in the air.
The lights on the wall flickered and a faint fragrance flowed.
A few seconds later, a tall shadow quickly pressed forward.
Clothes were thrown off the bed, the sound of cloth tearing mixed with the sound of gasping, and the metal bed legs creaked under the heavy weight.
…
At midnight, the moon is at its highest point in the sky.
The bed frame finally stopped shaking. Isabel closed her eyes, brushed aside her sweaty hair, and lazily patted the man who was still on top of her. "Water."
Heinrich didn't move, chasing her lips and kissing them.
Isabel pushed his face away: "We have to leave tomorrow, we can't be too late."
Heinrich snorted, bit her finger, and struggled with her for a while before getting up.
The man casually pulled a piece of clothing over his shoulders. His smooth muscle lines were covered with a thin layer of sweat, which shone in the night, making his shoulders and legs look even broader.
He took a sip from the cup, stepped onto the bed in two or three steps, and handed the cup to Isabel.
Isabel drank half a cup of cool water from his hand, which relieved her dry mouth after excessive pleasure and made her close her eyes in comfort.
Heinrich looked at her for a moment, then leaned forward and kissed her gently.
Isabel stroked his head lazily. "The sun will rise again tomorrow. Now, can you let me sleep?"
Heinrich said vaguely: "You go to sleep."
Isabel closed her eyes and let him push her around.
…
The next morning, Heinrich woke up refreshed.
The Spencer family's motorcade was waiting outside when they saw the Duke stepping into the carriage in formal attire, looking radiant.
The Duchess was half an hour slower, but still looked graceful.
Heinrich opened the car door for his wife and nodded politely, "Please get in, ma'am."
Isabel stretched out her hand, her gorgeous skirt swept past, her eyes lingering on the man's straight back, thinking that she should not feed him too much tonic next time.
"Victor, have you sent a letter to Winston to inform him of our arrival time?" Isabel smiled and ordered as she got into the car.
"The postman has done as instructed. I'm sure the White family has received the letter." Victor nodded.
Isabel: "Thank you."
"Set off."
After the two masters were seated, the guard at the front of the convoy shouted orders.
The Rising Sun Lion flag fluttered in the wind as they set off towards the north.
Isabel watched the scenery outside the window gradually recede, the corners of her lips raised.
Otti has been away from her for so long, I wonder how he is doing?
—
At the same time, in the Earl's Palace of Brunswick.
The maid nodded respectfully to Sophia. "Madam, the Duke and Duchess of Spencer have departed for Kent. Perhaps they plan to spend Easter there."
Sophia raised her eyebrows slightly and said nothing.
In the corner, Adam, who was sitting in a wheelchair, coughed twice, his pale, frail face flushed with a sickly red. His wife, Lisa Blossom, patted his back cautiously while stealing glances at Sophia's face.
"Mother, my grandfather just happened to write asking if I'd like to go north for the holidays this year." Lisa's eyes rolled, thinking about how to politely ask him. "I heard it snowed heavily in Haddonfield, and the scenery in northern Kent is very special. Perhaps you'd like to go and enjoy the beauty there?"
Sophia smiled, her dark eyes staring at her: "Are you going to enjoy the beautiful scenery, or go and support your Blossom family?"
Lisa's face turned pale and she didn't dare to speak.
The Blossom family is competing with the White family and really needs a prominent helper.
But mother-in-law Sophia has always been very powerful. Since she married her daughter to Philip, she has become even more feared and has firmly controlled the Brunswick Earl's Palace.
Lisa was originally a pawn of the Blossom family to curry favor with the powerful. Although she was so powerful in Kent, in her husband's family, she was just a young wife who had to look at other people's faces.
Adam started coughing again. He patted his wife's hand and said soothingly, "Mother naturally has her own opinions. I'll go home with you after the New Year..."
Before he could finish his words, Sophia interrupted him and said, "No, we're going to Kent to celebrate the festival this year."
Lisa was stunned and did not miss Sophia's meaningful look.
"The game in Mellenwick is over, and the next battle will shift to Haddonfield." Sophia smiled as she looked out the window, gazing in the direction of Chalvey. "I look forward to seeing you again, dear Ms. Norman."
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The author has something to say: There are some plot details to explain regarding Chalves' departure. See you tomorrow.
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