"I am surprised you have finally decided to speak with . Is it because your husband is not around?" lanie asked, searching for the duke.
"You must stop blaming Edgar for the decisions I have made. He is not the villain you try to make him out to be. What did you need to speak of?" Alessandra said, wanting to get to the point.
Alessandra didn’t want to wait around long enough for trouble to stir up, though she was already staring trouble in the eye.
"All these years have passed, and you still refuse to see the truth about the duke. If you ask anyone in town, they will speak of his dangerous side," lanie said, certain of it.
"I do not need to hear what the town says about my husband. I am the one married to him, and if you have asked to speak to only to tarnish my husband’s na, then I will not stand here with you," Alessandra said, ready to leave.
Plenty of years had passed for lanie to realise that Edgar wasn’t anything like Desmond. It was ti for lanie to move on.
"I have not taken the risk to speak with you to rile you up. I wanted to speak about the current state of my family," lanie said, licking her lips after. She was nervous when she shouldn’t have been.
"You must be more specific so I know which family you speak of," Alessandra replied.
lanie frowned. "Must you always be this way? lody must have spoken to you. You cannot believe all that she says."
"So, now you would claim lody to be a liar?" Alessandra asked, hoping lanie didn’t bear any hatred for lody.
"No, I am not. I have heard from Claire and Luke about how the n in your family visited to threaten them because of the mines. You would cut ties with your siblings all because of our differences with ?" lanie asked, disappointed.
"No," Alessandra responded, shaking her head. "I shall remain close to my sister, lody. She has never forsaken , and I take her words for the truth. I am giving you what you wish for by not intruding on your new family."
"My family is now a ss because of your family. You have allowed-"
"You are placing this on when I have not spoken to you or anyone before lody?" Alessandra asked, but she wasn’t surprised.
It was always her fault. Everything was always her fight for rely existing.
"Penelope did not wake up one day and decide she would be rude to . As they have gotten older, the disrespect has grown. I worry that soon you will turn Isabelle against . The child is sweet, but she will be ruined," said lanie.
lanie wished for there to be a way she could take Isabelle and raise her, but she knew Alessandra wouldn’t allow it.
Alessandra laughed, keeping herself calm in the mont. "No matter how much I distance myself, you will always place as the source of your troubles. I am not to bla for what has happened. The children are of age to make their judgnts."
"That is true, but I know that you have spoken to them. Are you aware of how awful Penelope was to ? That girl doesn’t know how to respect her elders," lanie said, still wounded by her last talk with Penelope.
Nothing would ever change that she was Penelope’s grandmother. There was respect owed to lanie.
"Penelope has always been a respectful young lady. If she has lashed out, then it is because soone has upset her. She adored you greatly. If she said sothing that was out of line, then I will have her apologise," Alessandra promised.
Alessandra had not raised any of her children to be rude.
"If? I am telling you that she was out of line. I am her grandmother!" lanie argued.
This was why she could not speak to Alessandra. Alessandra never took her side.
"Are you? Have you not said that you do not see as your daughter? Worst of all, you have said it in a space where Penelope would overhear it," Alessandra revealed.
"I," lanie said, at a loss for words. When could Penelope have heard her say this?
"If lody shared what I said, then your anger must be directed to her. I have never said anything before Penelope. She is wrong with her claims that I have tried to turn her against you. I have only spoken the truth," lanie said, but her tone of voice wasn’t convincing.
Alessandra smiled. "I am certain your truth was said to present as a bad mother. Doing that won’t make up for how bad you were as my mother. I have no ti to speak of this. Why did you want to speak to ? Is it about my children, lody, or the mines?"
"It is about the mines. You have plenty of wealth in your hands thanks to your husband. Claire and her husband have struggled to get by as of late and have only been able to remain afloat thanks to the mines. They need help," lanie said, hoping she didn’t need to plead.
"And they should receive it," Alessandra said, her words giving false hope. "You should help them. You have saved plenty since I didn’t request anything. I urge you to help Claire."
"Alessandra, I had nothing from your father. I left with only the dress I wore, and Lewis doesn’t have the kind of money to aid Claire. She was doing well with the money from the mines, but I have been told you will stop sending. She has not done anything to you," lanie said, hopeful Alessandra would have a heart.
"I have long grown tired of helping all of you. Since you returned, you have only sought ways to bleed dry. I am only considered family when there is sothing you need, and I will not help-"
"Alessandra!" lanie exclaid, getting the attention of passersby.
"It is duchess. You have not earned the right to address without my title. The matter of the mines is final. If you wish to change it, then go to the Cromwells. You are other than , so perhaps they might let you decide," said Alessandra.
lanie shook her head, refusing to believe that Alessandra ca from her. "You are every bit of your father."
"How odd. I have grown up hearing that I was like you, mother. I have only entertained this to ask that you do not approach or my children again. We have nothing more to speak about. Not about my children, the mines, or who I have married. Leave alone just as you always have," Alessandra said.
"You selfish child," lanie said, starting to see more of Desmond in Alessandra. "It is no wonder Penelope is the way she is. She is following your lead. If you cared for her, you would have directed her away from the prince."
"We are not all you. We have picked our husbands wisely and do not need to live hating every man who holds status. Do not judge us for what you did. You picked my father," Alessandra reminded lanie.
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