Before leaving Richmond Castle, the Duchess asked Isabel to take on the duties of steward of the Duchy's affairs after celebrating Michael's Day with her family. And, until the Duchess returned to the domain of her father, Duke III of Norfolk, she was in charge of the affairs of the territory.

Isabel really didn't understand what Mary was thinking. Is it because the law and Christian doctrine stipulate that the wife is legally and customarily subordinate to her husband? Or was it because his appearance changed the fate of the Duke of Richmond that led to this series of changes?

Had she not appeared, the Duke of Richmond would have been dead for several years, and Mary might have entered the court as a duchess as a lady-in-waiting. Then, with the assistance of a lawyer, she will also obtain the inheritance of the Duke's estate and property.

Isabel Walton drove her horse alone along the way from the castle to Asker's estate, bowing and greeting her as she was greeted by squires, sergeants, servants, boykeepers, tenant farmers, and hired men who knew her. While she smiled back, a past flashed in her mind.

In the first half of this year, her father mentioned one thing to her. In the Wills Act promulgated this year, testamentary rights under the common law were regulated for the first time. However, testamentary rights exclude married noble women.

Regardless of whether a married aristocratic woman was an heir before marriage, her husband had absolute right to dispose of the estate and property during the marriage. If a married noble woman is the heir, her husband has the right to supervise and benefit from the property she brings into her husband's house, but he is not allowed to sell or mortgage the property of the heiress.

In real life, however, aristocratic husbands had no choice but to rely on their wives to oversee large aristocratic families, large estates, numerous servants, and employ numerous squires as assistants in their family affairs. In fact, as long as it was in the interest of the Duke, the Duke would allow and direct Mary to exercise powers that were not permitted by law.

As long as Mary did her best to fulfill her duties as a wife, she could amass considerable power, resources, and personal prestige. Moreover, the Duke will also specify in his will that he will bequeath more movable and immovable property to her.

This property will be much more than what is provided for in the common law or nuptial agreement.

Now, Mary was still unwilling to fulfill her duties as a duchess, and the more Isabel thought about it, the more she couldn't figure it out. Suddenly, she linked the property problem of the aristocratic marriage to herself. One day, a few years later, when she became the wife of a knight or nobleman, it seemed that she would also humbly obey the law. Without an independent legal identity, they are not allowed to independently own private property, and they are not allowed to make a will on their own property without the consent of their husbands.

Isabel was certainly reluctant to allow herself to fall victim to the marriages of the nobility of the 16th century. With the advent of prenuptial agreements, which were a form of documentation relating to matrimonial property, she could work with a lawyer to circumvent the law and get her future husband to grant her the right to make a will.

Even more beneficial to her was the fact that the husband of a nobleman or knight would certainly not stay in the realm for many years, but would often go out to inspect the estate, conduct legal commercial trade, attend parliament, attend court and serve the royal family. Therefore, her husband could only rely on her to supervise the affairs of the territory and the estate, so that she could enjoy a certain degree of autonomy, testamentary power and inheritance of property.

The journey from the castle to the manor was less than 3 miles, and Isabel rode for a long time on horseback. It wasn't until the horse under her crotch led her to the door of Ask's manor, and the manservant standing at the door bowed to her and saluted her, that she brought herself back to reality.

When he dismounted, he glanced at the manservant who stepped forward, "Is Mr. Neville in the manor?" ”

The manservant replied respectfully, "Miss, the gentleman has been in the manor for a while and then has gone out. ”

"Well, did he tell me anything?"

"Sir said that your gift to Yule and Dorothy's son has been given to them separately. Also, let me tell you that he goes... Fulfill... His... Duty?! ”

Isabel smiled softly, knowing that the valet didn't quite understand what her godson John was talking about. He nodded his head and commanded, "I see, you go and tell Madame that I will lead the horse to the stable." ”

On the way to the stables north-east of the manor, she recalled the hot springs mentioned by Sir Francis. To satisfy her curiosity, Isabel decided to take advantage of the Michael Festival holiday to visit Harrogate to investigate the local rural customs of bathing in hot springs. If possible, you can also try the effect first.

Even though it's not the best time to take a dip in the hot springs, she still wants to go for a while. Either way, soaking in hot springs can make you live a healthier life in this day and age. It's just that it's not interesting to go alone, it's better to find a few family members and close friends to wash together.

Caroline, the wife of the eldest brother Ernest, who is also the sister of Sir Francis, can be counted as one. Sister Yufemia, you can also call along. As for Catherine Neville, John's stepmother, Lady Latimer, she may not have time to spare, as she was to oversee her husband's estate and estate. I don't know if Sir Alex Ferguson's wife, Maria, will have time, and if so, I'll call her along.

By the time she came to the clearing outside the stables, she had already made her final decision. When he had finished his work of tending the horses, he went back to his room and wrote to the nobles and the knight's wife, telling them about the hot springs. Yuul Carter, the senior manservant of the stables, saw her coming, and hurriedly came to her and saluted, "Good day, miss." ”

Isabel looked at the senior valet standing in front of her, and smiled lightly with a hint of apology, "Yule, because I had to deal with some troublesome affairs yesterday. So, the gift promised to be given to you has not been given to you until now. ”

Yule hurriedly stepped forward to hold the war horse for her, and shook her head repeatedly, "Miss, you don't have to apologize. Because I believe that as long as you promise something, you will definitely do it. Miss, let me lead your horse. ”

Seeing that he had persisted, Isabel had to leave the work of maintaining the horses to him. When he removed the sword from the bridge in front of the saddle, he chatted with him, "Yule, are you still satisfied with the gift?" ”

Yule led the horse towards the stable, and said excitedly to Isabel beside him, "Miss, that horse is simply amazing, probably a thoroughbred, right?" ”

"Maybe." Isabel smiled, but said with the hot spring bath in mind, "Yur, do you know that Harrogate has a custom of bathing in hot springs?" ”