Chapter 32: Stirring Up Trouble, Selena Reaps What She Sows

A middle-aged noblewoman dressed in a plum-colored gown said, "Miss Miranda should have been the one to entertain the ladies, but Lady Croyso is not her birth mother, so how could she dare to command her?" The implication was clear: Miranda should have taken the initiative to entertain the guests from the start. Her lack of action was a breach of etiquette, and Lady Croyso, unable to direct Miranda, had to settle for Selena, which only led to further blame.

Lady Croyso seized the moment and said, “Not at all! The fault is mine; I should apologize to Miss Miranda!” She curtseyed deeply, though the apology suggested Miranda was ungrateful.

Someone nearby sneered, “All the elders are here, yet Miss Miranda wants to take the ladies away? Lady Sheffield knows the rules, but it seems Lady Croyso and Lady Sheffield have their own set. Perhaps I should ask my husband’s mistress for guidance!” She laughed, shaking, and the others followed suit.

Lady Sheffield, long sensitive about her past as a