The next morning brought thick dark clouds and heavy falling rain across the entire countryside area.
Leo was feeling slightly sick with a small fever, so he was crying softly in his nursery.
Nora prepared a warm cup of herbal tea and brought his favorite soothing storybook into the room.
She rocked him gently in the cozy wooden chair until his soft cries turned into quiet snuffles.
Victoria suddenly burst into the nursery room without knocking, her silk dress rustling loudly with every step.
Victoria: Why is this child making so much annoying noise when I am trying to rest?
Nora: He has a slight fever today, Miss Victoria, and he just needs some restful comfort.
Victoria: I do not care about his small cold, just make him be quiet immediately!
Nora: He is only three years old, ma'am, and he misses his loving father very much.
Victoria stepped forward with a furious look in her eyes and pointed her finger at Nora's face.
Victoria: You are just a hired maid, so do not tell me how to handle this child!
Victoria: If you speak back to me again, I will make sure Arthur fires you without pay!
Nora held her tongue and nodded her head slowly to prevent further dangerous escalation in the room.
She knew that provoking Victoria right now might put little Leo in even greater emotional distress.
Victoria turned on her high heels and stormed back down the long grand hallway toward her bedroom.
Nora held Leo tighter in her arms and whispered reassuring words softly into his ear.
Nora: Do not worry, little one, I will never let anyone hurt you while I am here.
Later that afternoon, Nora found an old leather notebook sitting open on Victoria's guest bed nightstand.
She glanced at the handwritten pages and saw detailed notes about Arthur's legal life insurance policies.
Victoria was calculating exact financial figures regarding the child's inherited estate assets and trust accounts.
Nora realized that Victoria was planning to legally remove Leo from the official family will entirely.
She knew she needed solid hard evidence before she could present these dark findings directly to Arthur.
She carefully took a quick clear photograph of the handwritten notebook pages using her personal phone.
Her hands shook with intense nervous energy as she slipped her phone back into her apron pocket.