#CHAPTER 10 A Warm Welcome?

The second Lily and I turned around, we saw that we’d been confronted by a beautiful, well-dressed woman whose expression was laced with haughty scrutiny. Behind her, was a small group of women that mirrored her same look. She arched a manicured brow and pursed her lips. “A face I've never seen, a new maid? Wandering around like this, not knowing the rules," she said with a sneer. “You ought to know that the courtyard is not open to people like you.” Lily stiffened beside me before squaring her shoulders back and meeting this random woman with a stern look of irritation. "You are being rude, Monica. She is not a new maid—she is James’ lover," she told her. The nerves in my stomach jolted as each one of them leered at me in distaste. I felt myself grow tense under the other woman’s judgemental gaze. After the day I’ve had, this was truly the last thing I needed to deal with. Monica’s sharp features went pale as a ghost’s. Her dark brown eyes fixated on me with a mixture of horror