There wasn't any real response; at least like verbally or something like that, just a bright twinkle in the star that gave Leila the warm feeling that Evangeline agreed with her.
Leila smiled before she headed back to the party, conversing with a few people and enjoying some champagne, while sharing glances with Jules who smiled back at her before she got a bit tired, and she told Pierre in a whisper that Jules invited her tomorrow for a play date and waved subtly at Jules with a smile.
She shared a mutual, sharp look with Tremaine, and she then left, coming up to the rental carriage, with Ella and Naveen giggling as the mule burred, nuzzling them, with Jiminy supervising over them.
Jiminy saw her approaching, and he spoke, "Ella, Naveen, why don't you two go to bed? It's lucky that you got past your bedtime curfew.", and Naveen pouted, "Aww! Okay, Sir Jiminy.".
Ella saw Leila and smiled widely, "Leila!", coming to hug her, and Leila kneeled down to hug her, "Hello, darling. Did you behave well?".
"Yep! Wow, you look so pretty! Did you see Papa? He was missing you a lot!", Ella complimented before stage-whispering, and Leila chuckled, "Yes, I saw your Papa, and he told me that you said he was dashing, and you know what? He was really dashing. I'll bring Carlo tomorrow, so you can play with him in the chateau...I want some grownup time with your Papa, is that okay?".
Ella nodded before she yawned. "Alright, that's probably a good sign for you to head to bed.", Leila chuckled as Ella and Naveen headed on their way back leaving Jiminy and her alone. "Everything alright?", Jiminy asked her.
Leila smiled as she stood up, "Yes...", blushing, "I had my first kiss with Jules...", not going to mention the rest that followed.
Jiminy smiled widely, "Golly! I'm so happy for you! He really likes ya, huh?", and Leila smiled, "He asked me to court him, and he's waiting for my answer tomorrow as he knows that I like to take things in at times before they overwhelm me...".
"That's fair as tonight was socializing with those people.", Jiminy nodded in understanding, "Well, let's go home. I have a feeling that the girls are going to be over the moon.", with a grin, and Leila giggled before being helped up into the carriage, and then Jiminy urged Arnaldo on, heading home to the cottage.
Leila felt herself torn as they left inside. Was she really right to keep what she had just agreed to with Tremaine a secret from her family? And was she still feeling as confident about things now as when she was confronting the vile woman?
Leila exhaled, whispering, "No, I can't cheat...", as she knew if she told her family, they would do anything to help her, but if Tremaine catches a whiff, who knows what else could she do? She had a lot to prove, and a lot to lose...And besides, she can't use one of the compasses to inform her that Jules is her significant other, for if it's true, it's more pressure on her shoulders, and it's cheating, with the deal she just had done with Tremaine.
Nor getting Evangeline for help as that thought did occur to her; certainly, Tremaine wouldn't see it coming but again, it would just be another form of cheating. She took a deep breath. She could do this, this would all work out... it had to.
Perla and Juliet were overjoyed to say the least when they heard the story of Leila and Jules dancing together and having their first kiss, and after Jiminy headed to bed, Leila spilled the beans on how Jules is really good at finding his passion, how they felt almost excited before the moment was broken by Jules's head of staff.
Perla and Juliet happily teased her after they gasped comically at the almost seductive words Jules and Leila used before parting away for the party.
And so, Leila went with Carlo, and with the children occupied in the chateau, Jules told her that Eleanor Tremaine surprised him by almost boldly asking to be courted by him when it was usually the man who did the tradition.
Jules asked Leila to forgive him, and Leila told him that it's okay as Eleanor has prospects as much as her, having two daughters just Cinderella's age, and she suggested that Jules would do an experiment of Leila and Eleanor interacting with Ella and of course, him, taking turns every day.
Unknowing of the deal, Jules was glad of the wonderful compromising idea, and today, Leila happily was able to start being courted by Jules, strolling in the gardens, conversing with each other while doing silly games like making shapes in the clouds, sharing a lunch with the children, and of course, a few brief moments of gentle passion secretly in a few places Jules knew about.
And so, for the next two weeks, Jules courted the prospective ladies, and to Tremaine's horror and disgust, she discovered that Jules was gravitated towards Leila more than her intentionally, and she was desperate to find a solution to stop this...A duke marrying a peasant woman! She was relieved that Jules hadn't proposed to Leila so far as he seems to have a lingering hesitation to do it, maybe honoring his late wife, though he already had mourned her for a year and a half which was beyond understandable for French society, but it was starting to be concerning for the people.
Tremaine knew that the last day of the deal is tomorrow, and it ends by midnight, and to her shock, Jules didn't just invite her and her daughters, but he invited Leila and her family to join him and Ella to a royal birthday party ball as it was the young prince's birthday tomorrow.
She knew the castle is prone for romantic moments, and if Leila is proposed by Jules by then, she loses the deal!
Tremaine wasn't clearly as desperate with things as Leila would be. All she would really lose is servants and a chance to snag a rich noble. As Leila said that night, there might be others out there, but for her, taking the one that was truly viable at the soonest was something she couldn't just let walk away.
And she knew that she was not looking good with things... Ella obviously wasn't warming up to her as much as Leila... despite Tremaine's decent appearances. She couldn't stand the girl; it would've been better to have the little one just out of the picture completely since she didn't want to raise a child that wasn't her own.
Tremaine thought as she stayed in her 'temporary home'; there had to be a way to win in the next day... somehow...
Wait, out of the picture...if she somehow frames Leila, something that couldn't be traced to her...Tremaine knew that Ella practically adores Leila...if there was a betrayal to Jules...yes, a motivation for Leila to get close to Jules and Ella...After all, what kind of peasant wouldn't give anything to be rich?...If Jules finds out that Leila killed Ella, just to be out of the way, then Jules would be outraged, grieving, and he would ban Leila forever from the Chateau, out of his sight, then...Tremaine would be there to comfort Jules, he would grieve, yes, but he would move on again, and he would be distracted by her daughters, with Tremaine saying that they would love to have a father, and that Ella would have wanted him to be happy, and that she liked her daughters when they visited the Chateau on the courting days between Tremaine and Jules...
Yes...that would work...but what would work fast, to stop Jules proposing to Leila if he is going to do it in the castle ballroom or at least in the castle gardens, since it's romantic, and they would want to be alone for some fresh air from enjoying the birthday ball for the prince?
Fast...what is fast to kill somebody? Weapons aren't allowed, apart from the guards, of course...Plus that's messy and could literally get her caught...of course, there's like a thousand people to come to the castle, invited...so, there would be music, lots of conversation, and such, to be distracted to notice...yet it has to be subtle...of course! Poison! And if she frames Leila right there in the castle ballroom, ooh, with Jules shocked and grieving and such, the king would be outraged that such a crime would be done in his castle like that...The king would literally ban Leila from France, and her family would either shun her or follow her.
Tremaine would be deemed as a heroine, and she would be popular in the social circles...she could have everything she can get! With a noble as her husband, her daughters socially inclined as duchesses or such, oooh, maybe, one of her daughters then can marry the young prince when they are of age...Yes, brilliant!
Of course, there would be the matter of getting the poison. Something inconspicuous; that could easily poison a young girl, but she couldn't be seen getting anything of the sort if she wanted to feign innocence. Then it hit her... who would have no choice but to do it and would basically be able to keep quiet? She knew there was a reason she kept the young negro boy around instead of already selling him. Ray would easily do whatever she wants if she threatened Naveen.
Tremaine rang the string bell that ran through her temporary manor, to the kitchen, to grab Ray's attention, and Naveen replied, "You want me to take her tea, papa?", and Ray replied, "No, I'll take this one. You keep cleaning the dishes and put them on the table for me to put them up in the cabinets, alright?".
"Yes, papa.", Naveen nodded, and Ray went to prepare Mistress Tremaine's tea tray and such, knowing what she takes before heading upstairs to Tremaine's sitting room, as her daughters are occupied with a governess elsewhere in the manor.
Ray soon arrived as he took a deep breath before opening the door to walk in. "Your tea, mistress.", he said as he walked over to her as she smiled before he placed it down.
"Why, thank you, Ray.", Tremaine said which certainly confused him. She rarely was considerate with him. "Why I have you here, there's something I want you to do for me.", she said.
"Whatever you wish, mistress.". Not like he had much of a choice due to him being her slave; he always did think of running away with Naveen... but knew it was probably foolhardy. Tremaine would make sure to hunt them down to the ends of the earth if she could.
Tremaine nodded, "Good. Now, I inquire you to pick up a poison, a fast-working one, and if I see even a franc out of the amount required for the poison, you and your son won't get dinner tonight.".
Ray widened his eyes, and bowed his head, "Yes, mistress...What kind of poison?", and Tremaine smiled even more maliciously, "Why, a child-sized poison, for sweet Ella, to frame Leila, your pathetic friend, and before you dare obstruct me, I will do in my power to sell your son to the slave market, I hear they're looking for young boys to work on some farms and plantations.".
Ray was stunned to hear what she had said. And just so callously and without even a second thought or shred of remorse. She wanted him to kill Ella and frame Leila or else she would rip Naveen from him. And of course, her word of 'obstruct', he knew very well. He couldn't warn anyone. Who would believe him compared to Tremaine's word? He was just an uppity slave trying to make his mistress look bad in that scenario and she would not be punished; and she would make sure to sell Naveen there... if not just out right kill him in punishment.
Naveen is the only thing Ray holds to heart despite the circumstances he was born into...His mistress's husband, Marcel had an agreement with another owner in the previous village...Ray was forced to copulate with one of the women there...She was called Rosa...It was humiliating for both of them to be forced and watched by his master and her master to make sure it worked.
He knew her as a friend when they were allowed to have Sunday off because of the Bible rules...But she unfortunately died in the fields when Naveen was barely weaned off her milk...Since it was a boy in the agreement, Marcel was able to take the boy home to Ray who was all too relieved to have his son in his arms from that day to all his life as every Sunday he was free to see Naveen, loving him so much, even when his friend knew that she couldn't love Ray nor he, as it wasn't real love, but they both loved Naveen, that's for sure.
And now the boy was once more threatened by the cruel mistress. And it seemed that she was truly wanting to twist the knife against him, considering who the targets were of this despicable plot.
"Do I need to put the child on the auction block already?". He snapped back to reality when Tremaine said that. "Do you understand, you black brute?".
Ray's heart pounded in fear, and he bowed his head, "I understand completely, crystal clear, mistress. Which apothecary do you wish me to go?", and Tremaine replied, "The one I hadn't been to.", intending to cover her bases, and she knew that there was two apothecaries, one popular, and she went there occasionally, and the owner will know her, but there was also the second one, less popular, yet more used by the commoners, and the owner does not know her.
"Yes, mistress.", Ray nodded in submission, and Tremaine replied, "Good. And be quick about it.", taking a small pouch of francs from one of her pockets, "And remember, use it all up, or no dinner tonight for you two. Only chores all night with minor bathroom breaks and sips of water, is that clear?".
"Clear.", Ray said as he started to walk out of the room; his mind racing as he felt sick to his stomach, practically on the verge of breaking down with the pressure and guilt.
With a heavy heart as he returned to the kitchen, seeing his smiling son as he pretended to play with a couple of sticks, seeing the dried dishes on the table for him to put up in the cabinets, he knew that he can't lose his son...yet for a kind noble like Jules to lose his daughter, framing Leila, and Tremaine definitely going to marry him after grieving and such...it's a horrible plan, yet she was right...
Who could believe a slave's word over a noble woman's word? He sighed deeply as he swiftly put up the dishes, and then glanced at Naveen, "Son, I'm going out. The mistress needs me to pick up something she ordered, and you must stay here in case the mistress, or the girls need something.".
He wished to take his son away from here but stealing the little bag of francs to buy a horse or food, and with him and Naveen still as property, they could get caught, or worse, shot to death...No, he can't do that to his son, to make him scared and afraid.
Naveen nodded, "Okay, Papa. I promise to be good.", and Ray smiled softly, rubbed his head, "I know you always will. I'll be back shortly.", kissing his forehead before heading out.
With precise swiftness and a quiet request, with the bag of francs in front of the owner, Naveen felt even more dirty than digging in the fields or such, taking the poison, hidden in his pocket, and returned back to the manor.
Tremaine saw that Ray completely obeyed her commands, and let Ray and Naveen have dinner without punishment, even abiding slightly on the chore demand, but not enough to let them relax, and Tremaine only spared a drop on a leaf, to make sure it worked, and the drop destroyed the leaf instantly.
Tremaine was delighted, and she all but practically made sure that she and her daughters were all outfitted and ready the next day, almost having a smile all day, with something plotting behind her eyes, and with her death glare directed at Ray for a moment before she and her daughters left in a rented carriage on the evening of the party, heading for the castle.
Ray felt even more dirty over the next two hours, and Naveen thought he was sick, worried about him, and Ray reassured him that it was the tea, having been steeped too much, and told him that he will have a bit of fresh air and that he will be back to tuck him in for bed after chores.
Sitting on a bench, hidden behind some rose bushes, Ray broke down, crying, looking up at the stars, "Lord, I'm terribly sorry...I'm not strong enough to stop her...I'm a slave...If I'm to be in hell, please spare my son...he's innocent in all of this...I wish I had the courage to stand up...".