When Agatha heard those words, her gaze turned red with embarrassment. Most of the ladies' presence knew how she had gotten married to her husband. As a proper lady, it was disgraceful to climb into a man's bed before getting married.
Although she pretended not to care for many years, it was still a dark spot in her life.
"How can you let her seat with you with such a reputation? " a young lady asked. Although everyone seemed to be minding their business but, after knowing that Anastasia was the crown prince wife-to-be they paid a lot of attention.
Many of these ladies were looking for something to pick on about Anastasia. Indeed, if Miss Maria as Anastasia's teacher did not know proper etiquette, it would mean that Anastasia was not qualified to marry the crown prince. So, the lady jumped into the conversation even if her behavior was rude.
"you can not be so hatch with your judgment. Love is a powerful feeling. I am sure the two of them could not help it, " Miss Maria had a faint smile on her lips as she spoke.
The young lady listening to such an answer frowned her brows, feeling that Miss Maria was turning white to black. "A lady should compose herself at all times, " she stated, not wanting to give up on this opportunity to question Anastasia's character.
"My dear, you are young there are many things you do not understand. Feeling can not be easily controlled. Take yourself, for instance. It is very rude to speak into a conversation that you have not been invited to, but your principles as a lady was thrown to wind when you heard my words. I can understand that you can not stand such poor moral conduct, you should also understand how these people could not control their feelings. Lady Agatha, what do you think? " Miss Maria smiled. Of course there was no way she would allow Agatha to be comfortable.
Since Agatha dare to come for her then she would not let her go.
When Agatha heard this she had a strange smile on her face. Years ago, she had said that she could not help but fall in love with her friend's husband to be and climbing into his bed. It has been over two decades and Maria was finally biting her back. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ n0velfire.net
She did not know what to say or how to react, although Maria seems to be supporting her, Miss maria had placed a lot of emphasis on the statement 'poor moral conduct. '
"Miss, you are a teacher, do you teach your student with such low standards? How can there be a teacher like you ? How can your student become noble women in the future. Are you saying if an unmarried lady loves a man, she should climb onto his bed without been married, " the young lady asked. She felt embarrassed when Miss Maria pointed out her rude behavior. So desperate to redeem her image, she questioned Miss maria's moral standard, while Agatha was still thinking of how to answer the question directed at her.
Agatha felt like slapping the mouth of the young lady, after all this conversation was pushing her into limelight and it would affect her daughters reputation.
"You misunderstand me. I am a teacher, and so I have to teach my students good moral standards, but as you can see, I table with another. I am just a teacher; how can I go against the standard of Lady Agatha? " Miss Maria had a helpless look on her face. Her statement left the young girl stunned. Since she knew little about Agatha's past, she felt Miss Maria was a shameless person.
All her life, she had never seen anyone who would blame others for their actions so blantly. So she turned to look at Agatha waiting for her to refuse Miss Maria words but when she saw her dazed look, she was stunned again.
"My teacher has such high moral standards, back then I heard she would rather become a nun and suffer than marry a man with poor moral standards. How can she expect less from a woman?" Anastasia said seeing that the lady wanted to continue to question Miss Maria's moral standard. She knew in her heart that if Miss Maria's reputation is ruined then she would be dragged into it. In fact, the young lady's target was not Miss Maria but her.
When the young lady heard Anastasia trying to save her teacher reputation she become excited. "lady Anastasia, as the crown prince's fiancee, who might become the mother of the kingdom in the future, you cannot be unfair in your judgment. We have all heard what your teacher had to say. How could she say, that lady is qualified to share a table with noble woman because she climbed unto the bed of her master? Such a woman should stay with the servants or thrown into the inn, " the lady argued pointing at Lala. She was very pleased with herself when she said it.
"Lady Agatha, you must forgive my teacher, she understand that you could not control your feelings back then. This lady is young and lacks experience, you should over look her words, " Anastasia said. When Miss Maria became a teacher, her mother had told her about Miss Maria's life experiences. Although it was just a summary, she picked up the hint from here and there and could guess what Miss Maria was up to.
There were things that Miss Maria could not do or say. If she pointed at Agatha so directly, people would say she had become old and bitter but it was different when she said those words.
The young lady had not picked up Miss Maria's hints because she was carried away, wanting to fault Anastasia's morals.
The lady turned and looked at Agatga, then wispers began to go around. They were all from the same circle so even if it seems like they have forgotten the incident of twenty years ago it did not take a lot of hint to remember.
Lady Agatha broke out in cold swelt, she wish she could go back in time and pretend not to know miss Maria. She wanted to slap herself for inisiting on sharing a table with her. When she had made the decision earlier she thought she could show off her good and comfortable life. Now she was paying the price for her action.