CHAPTER 89 MASTER LANCASTER'S QUESTIONING

Zachary pulled a straight face once he heard her asking, pretending like he was still mad at her and did not answer.

Yvonne rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly and dared not ask more.

"What are you doing standing there? Come and help m e!" Master Lancaster looked at her in indignation.

"Okay, coming!" Without hesitation, Yvonne quickly went to help the old man to the dining room.

Just as they arrived, Henry came as well.

Master Lancaster knocked on the table. "Sue, serve dinner."

"Yes, master." Sue wiped her hands on her apron before going to the kitchen to fetch the dishes.

Yvonne thought about it and got up to help. Before she stepped away, the old man stopped her. "Stand right there. What are you going to do?"

Yvonne froze in her tracks. "Help Sue."

"You're not allowed to. Sit down." Master Lancaster knocked the leg of her chair with his walking stick.

Not daring to defy him, Yvonne sat back down obediently.

The old man looked pleased. "That’s the way to go. As the Lancasters' young mistress, these aren't your responsibilities. You should be learning how to socialize and mingle with the upper-class. When you know how to do it, you may even be unexpected help t o Henry for the Lancasters."

Yvonne listened seriously, grateful because she knew that Grandpa was teaching her how to act as Henry’s wife.

"I know, Grandpa. Thank you." She stood up and bowed to the old man.

He raised his hand. "Sit, sit." Content is © by .

"Mm," she followed docilely.

Henry who had kept quiet suddenly snorted as he put down his coffee. "Grandpa, why are you teaching her these things? It’s been three years since she married into the Lancasters but there's no improvement. She still doesn't act like an upper-class woman."

It was because of this that he had never regarded her highly.

Henry had been through elite education since he was a young boy. The environment that he was in and the people he was acquainted with were impeccably exclusive.

His ideal wife should be the same. That was why he had never imagined himself to marry an ordinary woman without any strengths. The stark contrast was one of the reasons he had never been able to accept her.

Yvonne was delighted when she received Grandpa's teaching, but when she heard Henry's mockery, it felt like a heavy blow. She was bitter and a sense of inferiority crept up.

"It's not that I don't want to improve myself. No one’s taught me." Yvonne tightened the cutlery in her hands.

"No one?" Master Lancaster squinted, slightly disbelieving. "I remember hiring an etiquette coach for you back then to teach you all about the etiquette and mannerism and to introduce you to the debutantes?"

Yvonne peeked at Henry. "There was an etiquette coach but the person left after teaching me for several days."

She remembered that the coach had left after receiving a call and she was on the spot. She did not hear the conversation but she heard the voice of the caller. It was Joe! It was apparent as to who was behind the instruction for the etiquette coach to leave. 1

Yvonne's glance toward Henry was caught by Master Lancaster. His face fell. "Henry, it was you?"

Henry's gaze flickered. The memory that had long been forgotten resurfaced.

It was three years ago when he had just gotten married to Yvonne. Grandpa had assigned her an etiquette coach to groom her into a legitimate Mrs. Lancaster. Back then, he was dissatisfied with the marriage, thinking that he would definitely divorce

her and so assuming that it was unnecessary to groom her, he asked Joe to send the coach away.

After that, he no longer paid attention to her and slowly forgot about her, for three long years. If Jackie did not come back suddenly and needed a suitable bone marrow donor, he probably would not have recalled his forgotten wife. 1

Thinking about it, Henry looked down to hide the complex emotions in his eyes and admitted, "It's me.”

"What a great job!" Master Lancaster was angered, pointing an accusing finger at him shakily. "Why have I never known that you're two-faced? I’ve never intervened with your married life and now I get to know that you've done something like this!"

Knowing that he was at fault, Henry pressed his lips together without saying anything.

It was rare for Yvonne to see him like that and she found it amusing for a moment.

"Henry, tell me honestly. You must have done more to Yvonne in these three years." Master Lancaster stared right into Henry's eyes.

Henry looked away. "No!”

Other than not laying a finger on her and not seeing her, he had not done anything else.

"Is it so?" The old man was doubtful.

Not wanting to remain on the same topic, Yvonne pulled the old man's hand. "Grandpa, Henry really

didn't do anything to me. Don’t worry. Let's eat."

She then scooped some of the food onto Master Lancaster's plate. The latter chuckled. "Okay, I’ll stop here since the girl's speaking for you."

He ended it with a glare at Henry.

Henry feigned obliviousness, slowly drinking soup from his bowl with a spoon.

The dinner ended just like that.

Master Lancaster did not stay, returning to the main estate with Frederick after the meal.

When Sue came out after washing the dishes, she announced, "Sir, madam, hurry up and go back to your room for a rest."

The drug would start taking effect if they lingered.

In spite of it, Henry picked up his jacket on the back of the couch and was prepared to head out. "I'm going to the hospital tonight. I won't be coming back."

Yvonne was watching television. Her gaze dimmed when she heard him. "To keep Miss Conrad company?" She forced a smile at him.

"Their dance company is performing at the Lincoln Center today. I worry that Jackie will be upset, so I'm going to see her,” Henry replied blandly. 1

Sue grabbed her apron in panic. "No, you can’t go, sir!"

Yvonne and Henry looked at her simultaneously.

"Sue, what's up with you?" Yvonne asked in bewilderment.

Henry narrowed his eyes. "Why can't I go?!"

Sue knew that she must not divulge about the drug or her effort would be wasted. Blinking, she quickly seek an excuse. "Because it’s late now. Master's just left. It's not appropriate for sir to leave madam and keep another woman company.”

If the aphrodisiac worked in the hospital and something happened between him and Jacqueline, it would be a disaster!

Hence, Sue absolutely had to stop him from going out.

"Keeping Jackie company is just one of the reasons I'm going to the hospital. I have something else to speak to her about,” Henry said putting on his coat.

"Can I ask what it is?" Yvonne tugged the corners of her lips.

Pressing his lips together, Henry did not answer.

Yvonne understood that he did not want to tell her and forced a smile. "Sure, go ahead then."

"Madam?" Sue stared at her in shock.

Yvonne ignored Sue and told Henry, "Go ahead, don't keep Miss Conrad waiting."

"You're not asking me to stay?" Henry squinted his eyes.

"Stay?" Yvonne was taken aback for a beat before shaking her head with a wry smile. "Will you stay if I ask you to?"

Not waiting for a reply, she answered her own question, "You won’t. I might as well let you go."

"Hah, how generous of you!" Henry snorted, a flicker of rage flashing in his eyes. 1

What did she mean that he would not stay if she asked him? What if he did stay?

She voted him down before anything happened. This woman really did not care about him at all! 1

Henry stared at Yvonne icily, then and turned to leave. "Wait!" Sue stopped him.