For several days in a row, except for going to Ms. Turner's place at Liao Xiang Courtyard to pay her respects morning and evening, Lauren Brooks hardly left her room. Ian Brooks also went to the academy to study every day and could only come to see her in the evenings. However, Jinxiu Pavilion was no longer as quiet as before, with all sorts of people coming and going.

During her recovery, Ms. Turner had only sent Mrs. Carter over once, but now, almost every other day, maids would come to deliver things—sometimes a plum blossom box filled with pastries, sometimes top-grade bird’s nest from other households, and sometimes little trinkets for decoration. Since she was receiving such unusual attention from Ms. Turner, the second and third branches also frequently sent people to visit, especially Mrs. Bennett from the second branch, who not only personally brought the previously missing monthly allowance but also repeatedly apologized, explaining that the daughter-in-law in charge of the matter had already been dismissed.

Although Lauren Brooks found all this attentiveness rather inexplicable, she was still unfamiliar with the people and this era, and truly had no time to be distracted. Besides, she still had plenty of books to read, so she simply decided to remain unmoved. Still, her routine morning and evening walks in the courtyard remained unchanged. In this grand household where every move was watched by countless eyes, morning and evening exercise was just a luxury; she could only use these walks to try to strengthen her seemingly frail body.

After returning from paying respects to Ms. Turner in the morning, she was, as usual, reading in the east side room. She had only read a few pages when Ruby Hall came in. She put down her book with a smile and asked, “Ruby Hall jie, you’ve been here for three days now—are you getting used to it?”

Although Ruby Hall was not as striking as Lillian Jones, she was still graceful and elegant, and none of the maids in Jinxiu Pavilion could compare to her. She was also very well-mannered, always dressing simply, with only two small jade plugs in her ears. It was only after Lauren Brooks had teased her last time about not imitating her own plainness that she started wearing a silver bracelet. Now, standing before Lauren Brooks, she glanced at Lauren Brooks’s simple attire and couldn’t help but compare her in her heart to the luxury-loving Ivy Brooks and Yvonne Brooks, sighing inwardly.

If someone with such looks had been born into the second branch, she would rightfully be a noble daughter of a marquis’s household—how could she be so unsupported in the main branch?

“Fiona Quinn jie has already introduced me to everyone. Everyone is very kind, and besides, Jinxiu Pavilion is quiet, so I have more free time every day and have managed to do quite a bit of needlework in my spare moments.”

Lauren Brooks nodded, then went back to her book. After a while, without looking up, she said, “Evelyn Young has always been sharp-tongued. When she’s in a mood, no one can escape her jibes. Just don’t take it to heart.”

Ruby Hall had originally come in to serve tea since Fiona Quinn was not around, but upon hearing this, she froze for a moment, then felt a pang of anxiety. Although the maids by the old lady’s side were considered respectable, they were usually married off to stewards. The maids by a young lady’s side started at second rank, but after coming of age, they would be promoted two ranks, usually filling vacancies left by others. So, she had long expected that some would resent her. Sure enough, while Fiona Quinn treated her well, Evelyn Young often gossiped behind her back, though she pretended not to hear.

So, after a brief pause, she smiled and said, “Evelyn Young is just young and a bit lively, that’s all.”

“Jie, are you talking about me again in front of the young lady? I’ve always been like this, and no one ever complained before.”

As she spoke, the curtain of the study was lifted high, and Evelyn Young walked in. She glanced at Ruby Hall with a half-smile, then raised her head and walked to the desk, smiling as she placed a stack of books on the table: “Miss, these were just sent in by Fourth Young Master. He’s really thoughtful—once you mentioned wanting to read, he found so many books for you.”

As she spoke, she opened her palm to reveal a small silver ingot: “Fourth Young Master also said that the money you gave him wasn’t used at all. He was going to ask the steward for help, but as soon as he mentioned it, the person volunteered and didn’t charge a single coin, even said a lot of nice things. Now that you’re better, Fourth Young Master seems much more cheerful these days.”

Lauren Brooks casually handed the silver ingot to Ruby Hall, then turned to see Evelyn Young glaring at Ruby Hall, so she asked, as if carelessly, “Where did you get these books?”

“At the second gate,” Evelyn Young quickly replied with a smile when Lauren Brooks asked her. “I happened to be there on an errand and saw Fourth Young Master talking to an old woman at the gate, so I went over and asked, and ended up taking the books.”

Lauren Brooks nodded and asked no more. Evelyn Young then withdrew, and after Ruby Hall poured some water and saw there was nothing else, she too left the room. About a quarter of an hour later, Fiona Quinn finally returned. She first mentioned the matter of the missing monthly allowance being made up, and then quietly said, “I found out that it was Mrs. Bennett lending money at interest for Second Madam, so not only was this month’s allowance late, but ours was also short, thinking that Miss wouldn’t make a fuss. This time, seeing that the old lady is being especially kind to Miss, they hurried to send the money to make up the shortfall here.”

Upon hearing this, Lauren Brooks kept it in mind, but knowing that Second Aunt was now in charge of the household, she realized others probably knew the reason but just didn’t dare speak up. So, after nodding, she asked Fiona Quinn, “After these two days, what do you think of Ruby Hall?”