Kysonâs face remained stoic as he turned back to Betty, his voice icy.
âDid you instruct Dulcie to sweep here all afternoon?â
âYes, Mr.
Shaw.
Sheâs one of the maids.
Itâs my role to assign their tasksâ¦â
âConnolly,â Kyson cut her off abruptly and turned to Connolly.
âWhatâs your take on this?â
Connolly was taken aback, his fear palpable.
Although Betty and Reina were clueless, Connolly was familiar with Kysonâs methods.
Kysonâs question hinted at suspicion.
Perhaps he believed Connolly was involved in the unfolding events.
It was a test.
Choosing honesty, Connolly explained, âAs we approached, I overheard Betty and Dulcie quarreling.
It was Betty and Reina who deliberately stirred up trouble, aiming to provoke Dulcie.
â
The color drained from Bettyâs and Reinaâs faces.
Kyson, with a chuckle, adjusted the wig slung over his left shoulder to his back, his demeanor shifting to a refined poise.
âWhat actions does the Shaw familyâs employment contract dictate we take in such situations?â
âThe contract states that troublemakers are to be disciplined by the family rules.
They must receive ten lashes each, and then clean the yard.
By tomorrow morning, they will be dismissed and banned from working here ever again.
â
While the prospect of a whipping was bearable, the threat of dismissal terrified Betty and Reina.
They reacted with immediate alarm.
The Shaw family was known for its generous salaries and bonuses for servants, but they showed no leniency toward those they fired.
Once dismissed, these individuals were blacklisted, essentially barred from securing employment in any prestigious household.
Moreover, even lesser affluent families, keen on currying favor with the Shaw family, might treat them harshly.
Ultimately, they could be ostracized from Stastle entirely.
In a desperate plea, Betty implored, âMr.
Shaw, you must reconsider.
Mr.
Wilson himself recommended me for this position because he saw me as a potential spouse for you.
For his sake, please, forgive my actions just this once!â
Kyson snorted dismissively and said, âHe has no authority here.
You think you can look down on everyone just because an elder vouched for you? That only makes your mistake even graver.
And you? Youâre certainly not worthy of being my wife.
You piece of shit.
â
As he mentioned the idea of a future wife, his gaze drifted involuntarily toward Dulcie, who was standing quietly not far away, her head bowed in thought.
Betty was trembling with fear.
She dropped to her knees in front of Kyson.
âMr.
Shaw, please, donât fire me.
Give me another chance, will you? My family just relocated to Stastle to be with me.
Iâve just paid this monthâs rent, and losing my job would put us all on the streets.
Mr.
Shaw, Iâm begging you, have some compassion!â
Kysonâs lips twisted into a sneer.
âCompassion isnât in my nature.
â
His eyes returned to Dulcie, and he spoke with calculated emphasis.
âWhy donât you plead with the person youâve wronged? If she forgives, then perhaps Iâll reconsider.
â
Betty and Reina felt a surge of reluctant relief.
Although they resented Dulcie, calling her unkind names in private and finding the prospect of begging her demeaning, they saw no alternative.
ââDulcie! Please, Iâm desperate.
Losing this job means losing my place in Stastle.
Iâll be backed into a corner! Canât you just forgive me this once? I never should have offended you, never should have bullied you.
Iâll do whatever you want from now on.
Iâm truly sorry!â
Tears streamed down their faces as they clutched the hem of Dulcieâs dress, their demeanor pitifully submissive.