CHAPTER 222: BETRAYAL

Natalia entered the room with a tray and a smile.

Her expression changed to surprise on seeing George there, then she bowed.

"Master."

George didn’t reply, but the maid didn’t seem to notice.

Instead, she approached Charlotte and placed the tray on the bedside table.

She filled the teacup with tea from the teapot and turned to Charlotte.

"My lady, it’s time for your evening tea." Charlotte drank tea regularly.

As she was about to pick up the teacup, she said, "This is calming chamomile tea. It will help you feel better."

Before she could fully raise the teacup, Charlotte said.

"Leave it there. I will drink it later."

Natalia hesitated. She wanted to watch Charlotte drink the tea as she always did to make sure she drank the whole thing. But she couldn’t insist now that George was present.

It would not only be audacious of her, a mere personal maid, to do so, but also suspicious. She had no choice.

But she could only hope George wouldn’t drink too. But she had prepared one teacup. She sighed silently in relief, but this seemingly unnoticeable action was caught by George.

Natalia could only say, "I understand. My lady should drink the tea while it’s still fresh and hasn’t turned cold." She bowed and left the room.

Charlotte was still staring at the door even seconds after it closed.

Her face vividly expressed the emotions she was feeling; confusion, anger and disbelief. But she also felt deeply hurt.

Natalia’s reaction was off. Why would she be so averse to her not drinking the tea now in front of her? She was only now beginning to notice how odd and suspicious Natalia’s behavior usually was. She had failed to notice all this time.

Her gaze moved mechanically to stare at the still tea in the teacup.

George picked up the teacup and took a sniff with a thoughtful expression, then a sip.

A few seconds later, his expression changed. There really was something in the tea. You wouldn’t notice unless you were looking for it. It was a slightly off smell from the smell of tea.

If not for his keen senses and the close contact with the tea, maybe he wouldn’t notice anything.

Charlotte obviously hadn’t been able to notice.

"Huu~" Charlotte’s hand flew to her mouth and tears filled her eyes. Everything sunk in all at once.

George’s face changed to heartache. He put the tea down and held her in his arms, caressing her hair.

Charlotte bawled like a child. She couldn’t stop thinking about how Natalia had come to become her personal and most trusted maid.

It was a few weeks after her marriage with George. She was still getting used to the mansion.

Natalia had been a new maid that entered the mansion. She had been sweet and shy and always made herself readily available to help Charlotte.

She also spoke to her normally, smiling cheerfully at her, telling her how glad she was that Charlotte was the madam of the Oswalt Mansion, saying how sweet and kind she was, unlike other madams of noble households.

When the time came to choose a personal maid, the choice was obvious. She had chosen Natalia.

Back then, Natalia had been very happy, almost jumping up and down in excitement.

She had smiled brightly and said while holding her hands together, and bowing endlessly. "Thank you for choosing me, my lady. I feel so happy. I’ll serve you very well, my lady."

Charlotte had also been happy, nodding and smiling at her, thinking that she had also found a friend. Who knew Natalia would end up betraying her?

’Truly wicked.’

She couldn’t help the sobs that escaped her lips.

George held her tighter, whispering gently. "It’s alright. It’s going to be alright."

His hands clenched. Seeing his wife crying so sadly made his heart ache and he felt like making the maid responsible for this suffer. Well, he would, but now wasn’t the time.

After some time, Charlotte finally calmed down.

She leaned back against the headboard and watched George pick up the teacup again. She was still weak, and knowing the cause of her I’ll health didn’t automatically take away the illness.

Thinking of Natalia’s words about the tea helping her feel better, her lips curled up in a mocking smile.

It was ironic. The tea said to make her feel better was actually killing her. How laughable!

This time, George entered the bathroom. When he came back out, the teacup was empty.

His eyes stopped on Charlotte’s hand. They had formed into tight fists on her lap.

He sat on the bed and put his hand on hers, rubbing circles and slowly releasing her hand from its clenched position.

With his other hand, he held her cheek and caressed it slowly. Charlotte leaned into his touch.

"It’s alright. Now that we know what’s wrong, leave the rest to me."

He had to find out who had sent that note. But for now, knowing who was behind that maid was more important.

George wasn’t stupid. He knew that someone must have ordered the maid to poison his wife. How could a mere maid get such a complex poison unless someone gave it to her?

’The audacity!’ He almost hissed.

Charlotte looked into his eyes and nodded.

Slowly, George leaned down, kissing her tears away gently.

He pulled back, staring at her face before leaning in once more. Slowly, Charlotte leaned forward too.

Finally, their lips met.

Knowing what the problem was made it feel like a large boulder had been lifted off their chests and they could breath freely again.

Tears couldn’t help but escape Charlotte’s eyes again, rolling down silently. Her hand moved up to grip his clothes, holding onto him like an anchor.

George could feel her tears through the kiss. His heart ached endlessly and it felt like a hand was gripping his chest ruthlessly.

Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.

Charlotte tensed. Was it Natalia again?