Chapter 829: The third wheel
"You’ve spent all these years serving in the kitchen, but Penny is new at the table. I have full confidence in her, but the more support she has, the better. Can you do that for me, my child?"
For a while, Old Mrs. Pierson and Mildred didn’t speak, only staring at each other. Mildred kept her lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes swirling with mixed emotions.
"Old Madam, you’re stepping down?" asked Mildred, focusing on that, as it carried the utmost importance for her. "Why? Is something wrong?"
Old Mrs. Pierson chuckled. "I am old, Mildred. At my age, I was expecting no one to be surprised when I announced this."
"But even if you’re old, you’re still as sharp as I remember," Mildred frowned, worry shining in her eyes. "Old Madam, is that really the only reason you’re stepping down?"
"Yes." Old Mrs. Pierson unhesitatingly lied, nodding at Mildred to keep her from worrying further.
Although Mildred wasn’t her biological daughter, she had always been one in Old Mrs. Pierson’s eyes. When Mildred’s mother passed, Old Mrs. Pierson stood in as her mother. Thus, Mildred’s concern. It was a shame that Mildred had taken a different path in life, staying far from the Pierson family’s affairs.
"What I’m asking you is a lot," said Old Mrs. Pierson with a deep sigh. "So, if you don’t want to, it’s alright. I understand. I was just worried, that’s all."
Especially with someone claiming to be her son’s bastard, Old Mrs. Pierson was concerned. Although Zoren didn’t act or question it, accepting Jonathan with open arms, Old Mrs. Pierson still felt uneasy. She knew Zoren better than anyone — he wouldn’t simply accept someone without reason, especially when that person was using Zoren’s father’s name and tainting the image Zoren had of his father.
Even with Penny and the Bennets’ help, it was better if Zoren had additional support from other Pierson family members.