As he walked out of the dining room, the Duke of Richmond let out a sigh of relief. Although he had thought about how to break the deadlock with his wife Mary before returning to the castle, he was finally cautious and reticent out of the disposition of a noble nobleman.

Duchess Mary was better than him in this respect, after all, Mary had a big earldom who was being favored by Henry VIII. Growing up with the eldest brother of the earl, she would not be as restrained, uneasy or nervous as other noble women in front of male nobles. Moreover, she liked freedom and independence, and she still did not have a strong sense of dependence on her husband, the Duke of Richmond.

After her husband left the restaurant, Mary also ended the day's dinner. At this time, Amy, who had already eaten dinner, stepped forward and asked, "Madame, are you going back to your room now?" ”

As Mary got up, Kelly, another maid, walked up behind her and straightened the hem of her crumpled skirt. Mary glanced at Amy, "Well, did you have dinner with Kay?" ”

"Yes, ma'am."

"Okay, take me to the castle garden."

Nottingham Castle was built on a very large man-made mound on the banks of the River Swell, and when it was completed, it was found that there was still a large mound in the southeast corner of the castle. Therefore, the craftsmen built a separate castle garden on the vacant land, on the advice of the court ministers.

After years of maintenance, the garden, which stands apart from the castle, has become even more spectacular and beautiful. Because the garden was about the size of her father, the Arundel Castle Garden of Duke III of Norfolk, Mary was pleased with the beautiful garden.

Walking through the gardens, Mary's mood became soothed. Amy, the maid, walked softly on the back left, while Kelly sat by her side2 leisurely admiring the view of the garden. Then Mary looked around happily, "Amy, what do you think of this garden compared to my father's?" ”

Amy stepped forward and smiled, "Ma'am, I think both gardens look the same. However, the Arundel Castle Gardens are walled on the east and west sides, while this garden is walled on three sides. ”

"That's right. Amy, His Highness didn't eat much at dinner today, do you think it will have a bad effect on His Highness's body? ”

After thinking about it, Amy just smiled lightly, "Madam, your guess is right. I used to hear from my family that sometimes a person can't eat because of some bad things. ”

Mary pondered her words seriously, then turned her head to look at the other maid, "Kelly, what do you say?" ”

Kelly also stepped forward, but said something from the past with a solemn expression, "Yes, ma'am. After my mother, sister, and brother died of the plague, I didn't eat anything for almost three days. ”

"Well, the grief of losing a loved one can be overwhelming. So, is Your Highness in a bad mood because of some of the Committee's affairs? ”

"Madam, you can go to the study and meet with His Highness to talk." Kelly has a good suggestion.

"Kelly, if Your Highness is willing to talk to me about more affairs, I won't worry about His Highness's health like this."

The two maids did not continue the conversation, but followed Mary in silence. The two followed Mary from the west side of the garden to the end of the east side, and then slowly returned from the east side to the west, Mary asked Amy again, "Amy, I find that His Highness is very happy in the presence of Miss Isabel, and it seems that the two of them have a lot to talk about, don't you?" ”

"Ma'am, this... I don't quite know. ”

"Forget it, do you know where Miss Isabel is now?"

"Madam, Miss Isabel should be at her father's estate, right?!"

Mary thought as she walked slowly, "Amy, it's not dark yet, you have someone go and get Miss Isabel, I have something to say to her." ”

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By the time Isabel returned to her father's estate with John Neville, it was already completely dark. As the two of them rode to the door of the manor, one of the Duke of Richmond's guards came up and saluted, "Your Excellency, the Duchess, please come to the castle." ”

Isabel stood beside the horse and glanced at the guard, "Well, when did the Duchess send you to me?" ”

"Well, shortly after dinner, it's almost sunset."

"Okay, you wait." Isabel turned to John, who was standing beside her, and said, "John, go back and tell Sir and Madame Sir that I will go to His Highness's castle now." ”

"Yes, godmother. Uh, when are you coming back? ”

"I don't know, and you don't have to wait for me."

With that, Isabel turned on her horse again and galloped towards the castle on the south side of the manor. When she hurried to the Duchess's room in the main building of the castle, Amy hurriedly invited her into the room.

As soon as Mary, who was standing in front of the window, saw Isabelle's arrival, she hurriedly greeted her, "Miss Isabel, you are finally back." You know what, I've been waiting for you for a long time. ”

Thinking that something was wrong, Isabel saluted and asked eagerly, "Madame, is something wrong?" ”

"Amy, you and Kelly go out." After Mary finished instructing the maid, she took Isabelle's hand and sat down on the chair on the side of the room, "Isabel, His Highness didn't eat much at dinner today, I want to ask if you know the reason?" ”

Looking at the Duchess's anxious eyes and some inexplicable questioning, Isabel really wanted to shake off her hand and stand up, "He is your husband, you should ask him about this kind of thing." ”

Glancing at Mary's expression, Isabel had no choice but to smile helplessly, "Mary, you don't know why Your Highness can't eat after dinner?" ”

"If I knew, I wouldn't have had you come to the castle from your father's estate."

"Okay. Mary, why don't you have a drink first, I think you're too nervous. ”

"Well, no problem." After Mary had finished speaking, she called Amy in and gave a few more commands. After the maid left, she stood up and came to the window to look at the dark night scene outside the window, "I know, today is the time you specially arranged for me to be alone with His Highness. However, His Highness did not say a few words to me all day today. ”

Isabel stood up and untied the belt with the dagger and hung it on the shelf beside her, slowly walked over to Mary and leaned against the wall to look at her, "Mary, do you think of His Highness as your childhood playmate in your heart?" ”

Mary looked back at her, "I'm sorry, Isabel, I forgot what you taught me. ”