"You will enter the palace since you want to do it so badly. I just hope you will be happy," Philip squeezed her hand gently. "I think we should go now. Do you want me to pack food for you?"
"Yes," she nodded.
"Remember when I bought you a necklace? You began asking how I got the money. Now I take you on a date, you eat non-stop, and you do not ask where the money is coming from?" He asked.
Patricia shrugged. Whenever it came to food, she did not care.
***
Mabel waited for Patricia to come until she fell asleep. She felt as if she had been tricked. When she woke up at dawn, Patricia was still not around. Mabel felt she had been deceived. She went to the kitchen and decided to help the servant who was to serve Lady Margaret her breakfast.
On reaching Lady Margaret's room, she knocked.
"Come in," Lady Margaret said.
Mabel dropped the food on the table and turned to face Margaret. She was trying to be bold. The truth was that she had always been scared of lady Margaret.
"You have done your work, and you should leave. Or, do you want me to beat you out of here?" Margaret rose to her feet.
"I have information that will please you, my lady. I know the person who caused your accident in the kitchen," Mabel said.
Margaret froze, then she exhaled. "You know who did that to me? Who set hot coals on my path?"
"Yes, my lady," Mabel responded.
Margaret walked over to a small chest and opened it. She brought out a gold bangle. She walked over to Mabel. "Stretch forth your hands... Servant."
Mabel obeyed, and she felt the gold bangle drop into her palms. She smiled.
Margaret could sense the all-too-familiar stench of greed from the servant's eyes. "This is just the beginning of the benefits you will receive from me. If you tell me everything, you will get more. This is a golden promise. I want every single detail, do you hear me? I want every detail."
Mabel nodded. She would spill the beans. If Patricia would not give her money, she could get enough of it from Lady Margaret. And she could have enough money to bribe the palace eunuchs. She could imagine herself as one of the crown prince's concubine in no time.
***
Patricia had come in late last night. It was hard for her outing to end. They both did not want it to end. And so, she had returned very late, and before the break of dawn, she had hurried to be with Philip again.
Now Patricia was in the kitchen doing her chores. She heard an angry voice scream behind her, "how dare you? Wicked servant! You ruined my chances."
Patricia turned. It was Fluffy Margaret.
Patricia closed her eyes. Her mind had been filled with thoughts of Philip, and she had forgotten to take care of her issues with Mabel. Mabel had come in with Margaret.
Margaret half-ran towards Patricia. "I am talking to you. Evil Patricia!"
Patricia dropped what she was doing and turned to meet Margaret's gaze. She bowed slightly, but did not shiver. "What does the mistress need? I will get it for her."
Margaret took in Patricia's composure. She was not scared nor frightened. "You have been accused of harming me. Someone accused you of being the cause of my accident."
Patricia would not be cornered, "Lady Margaret, you are noble and wise. I believe you will not let anyone fill your ears with lies to satisfy their own schemes. I am innocent. And if my lady investigates, she will soon know who is lying and who is not."
"Bold words," Margaret said. She was impressed by Patricia's calm. She thought a guilty maid would always fidget when frightened. Patricia's boldness questioned all of Mabel's allegations.
"My lady, who is my accuser? I will love to show how wrong they are," Patricia said.
Mabel yelled, "She is lying. My lady, I told you the truth. She is the one who set the trap."
Patricia gasped, "Mabel, how dare you lie to the mistress? You are such a bad person. Was it not yesterday you threatened me to give you my valuables so that you can bribe the palace eunuchs who come to the mansion? You told me you wanted to bribe them so you could join the concubine's selection? You said if I did not do as you say, you would frame me. You are so desperate to be a concubine. And that is why you have done this against me. You are evil!"
Margaret's eyes widened. Mabel felt like fainting. This was information that Lady Margaret should remain unaware of, and Patricia had spilled them so casually?
Margaret had been so hurt about not being able to join the prince's harem. But now, she was hearing that a maid was trying to get a position she was denied? Did Mabel think she was better than her?
Patricia continued. "In fact, Lady Margaret, I was not the only one Mabel went around asking for valuables. She asked other servant girls to give up their valuables too, mouthing various threats to force them to do her bidding. I speak the truth. You may investigate my claims. My lady, I wonder why Mabel met you with this lie."
Patricia briefly paused as if thinking about her words. Then she gasped as if suddenly realizing something. "Lady Margaret, does Mabel want money and valuables from you too? Does she want to add your money to what she intends to pay to the palace eunuchs to help her become a concubine of the crown prince?"
Margaret could not take it anymore. She turned to Mabel and hit her across the face.
Mabel fell to her knees and began to shiver. She could not utter a single word in her defense.
"You good-for-nothing bitch! You dare to use me to fulfill your schemes?" Margaret's yelling shook the entire mansion.