Chapter 1
I was the pampered eldest daughter of the Foster family—utterly hopeless at music, chess, painting, or literature, but fabulously rich beyond reckoning.
On Valentine's Day, I completely botched the garden party. On a whim, I handed out solid-gold jewelry to every maid in the courtyard as an apology.
But the new governess, Maya Irwin, threw the jewelry to the ground, clutching her heart in despair. "Money or not, you cannot humiliate your servants like this."
Flustered, I pulled out a thick stack of banknotes and said, "Then... would gifting them brocade count as humiliation?"
Then I waved a few estate deeds in the air. "Drawing lots for a manor—still no good?"
The maids all pushed Maya aside in unison. "We love being spoiled rotten."
*****
The glittering gold hairpiece, studded with rubies, crashed onto the brick floor.
The rubies splintered apart.
All the maids in the courtyard fell to their knees, terrified.
Maya Irwin jabbed her finger at the hairpiece on the ground and began to scold furiously, "You worthless brats.
"I was only gone for half a day, and you've already let yourselves be seduced by these filthy riches.
"You represent the dignity of the Foster family. How could you let yourselves be corrupted by these decadent, sugar-coated traps?"
Maya clutched her chest.
She swept her gaze across the courtyard, furious and heartbroken.
Then she barked, "Even if I had money, I'd never treat the servants like this. Being poor doesn't mean you have to lose your pride.
"You spineless lot—are you really selling your souls for just a handful of money?"
I sat in the ornate armchair reserved for the heiress and looked at the rubies smashed on the floor, sighing.
Then I pulled out a stack of notes from the biggest jewelry shop in Ashbourne and handed them to Maya.
"But... working all day is just so tiring," I said. "Why don't you go pick out a couple of brocade outfits and treat yourself? Is that humiliating too?"
Maya's eyes were fixed on the notes.
She drew in a sharp breath, her nostrils flaring.
I watched her in silence, pulled out a few more estate deeds, and placed them on the table.
"Then... how about drawing lots to give away manors?" I asked. "Still not interested?"
A maid, Eliza George, got up from the ground.
She pushed Maya aside and said, "Move it. I love being bribed. I'm happy to give in."
All the maids in the courtyard jumped to their feet together.
"We're happy to be corrupted."
Maya was shaking with rage.
She jabbed a finger at my nose. "This is outrageous. Joyce Foster, you're just dripping with the stink of money—acting like some tacky merchant. You're disgracing the Foster family's traditions."
"This is outrageous."
Maya lunged at the table.
She snatched up the estate deeds and notes and stuffed them into her sleeve.
She said, "I'm confiscating these filthy things for now. I'm going to report this to Lord Foster. The Foster family has no place for a sellout like you—throwing money around to win people over."
Maya spun around and bolted out of the courtyard.
Eliza was about to chase after her.
I held Eliza back by the hand and shook my head.
*****
Half an hour later, in the main hall, I was on my knees on the floor.
My father, Phillip Foster, sat in the ornate armchair.
My stepmother, Paola Jenkins, stood by his side.
Maya was on her knees beside me.
My estate deeds and notes were laid out on the table.
My father slammed his coffee cup down in front of me.
Coffee splashed onto my dress.
He shouted, "You wretched child. Is this how your mother's family raised you? Do you think you can solve everything by just throwing money at the staff?
"What do you take the Foster family for? Are you treating us like one of those filthy merchant houses from Briarford?"
I lifted my head.
"Father," I said. "That was just my own stash. I was simply spoiling my maids. Did I break any law?"
Phillip shot to his feet.
He jabbed a finger at me and barked, "You dare talk back to me? Maya is an etiquette tutor straight from the palace.
"You should be grateful she's here to whip you into shape. How dare you use money to insult her?"
I looked at Maya.
"I didn't humiliate her," I said. "She was the one who put the estate deeds into her sleeve."
Maya pressed her forehead to the floor.
"Please judge fairly, Lord Foster," she cried out. "I swear, I was only trying to protect the Foster family's good name.
"Lady Joyce was bold enough to buy off the maids with gold and silver today. Who knows what she'll do next? Maybe she'll start bribing men from outside the family.
"If we don't curb this spoiled, decadent atmosphere, how can the Foster family hold its head high?"
Phillip's face turned livid with rage.
"That's right," he roared. "You need to wash off that merchant's stink."
Paola wiped her eyes with a handkerchief.
"Please, Phillip, calm down," she said softly. "Joyce's mother passed away when she was little.
"Her mother's family just kept throwing money at her. Of course she doesn't know any better."
Paola then said to Maya. "Maya, you've been treated unfairly."
Maya straightened her back.
"Your kindness means a lot, Lady Paola," Maya replied. "But just because one tree is dying doesn't mean the whole forest can't flourish."