Chapter 43
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 43
“My lady. Here you are.”
“Thank you, Mary.”
Vanessa offered a faint smile as she accepted the thick envelope. With an impassive face, Mary gave a curt nod and quietly left the room.
It had been just over two weeks since Mary had started mailing manuscripts and running errands to the publishing house in Bath on Vanessa’s behalf. It was all for money. Mary’s younger brother’s condition had worsened, and the hospital bills had soared far beyond what a maid’s weekly wages could cover.
“You’re offering me money?”
Vanessa had wanted to help, even just a little, but Mary had flatly refused, saying she had no reason to accept her lady’s money. Perhaps it was a matter of pride. After all, Mary was already receiving a higher wage than the other maids for the sole purpose of keeping an eye on Vanessa.
“It’s true that we need another five pounds a week to keep him in his current room… But no, I should refuse. What if I go soft and you try to run away, my lady? This is how I make my living.”
“I’m not going to run away, Mary.”
“That’s what they all say. If you knew how many young ladies with lovers bolt right before their weddings, you wouldn’t say that.”
“Look, here. It’s a letter from the publishing house.”
Mary had stared at the letter Vanessa held out, her expression deeply suspicious, as if it were a bomb about to explode. But after reading it, she had looked up with wide, startled eyes.
“Did you really write this novel, my lady?”
“Yes. I’ve been paying the milkman to mail the manuscripts for me. If you take over, I’ll give you the money I used to pay him.”
“The milkman… So that’s why…”
“Once my uncle sees I can earn my own living, he might reconsider my marriage. This notebook has a record of all the manuscript fees I’ve received. Except for what I need for university tuition, I’ve been saving every month to persuade him.”
Of course, she had spent most of the money earmarked for “university tuition” on gifts for Rosalyn and Blair. The thought of the lost pendant and cufflinks still stung.
“You’ve saved quite a tidy sum.”
“It was getting harder to meet the milkman in secret, and he only comes on Wednesdays, which was inconvenient. So, Mary, I was hoping you could help me…”
Since then, Mary had been handling a few minor tasks for her. She dodged Uncle Wyatt’s surveillance to hand the manuscripts to the postman early in the morning and, on weekends when she stayed overnight to visit her brother, she would pick up the proofs directly from the publishing house. Just like today.
Shaking off her thoughts, Vanessa slit the envelope open with a paper knife. A short note from her editor was attached to the corner of the first page of the thick manuscript.
The depth you’ve added to the leads' previously dry relationship is truly outstanding. The first meeting between Miss Welsh and the murder suspect, ‘Navy,’ was also highly impressive. I assume we’ll learn this charming character’s name when they meet again?
Particularly, the scene where the two get trapped in a narrow dressing room, or the scene where Miss Welsh slyly gropes ‘Navy’s’ chest…
“My lady.”
Startled, Vanessa hastily put the manuscript down. It was a bit too scandalous for so early in the morning. And of all the parts to be reading… She fanned her burning cheeks with her hand and looked up.
“What—cough—what is it?”
The maid who entered widened her eyes, taken aback by Vanessa’s flustered reaction.
“You didn’t answer my knocks… The veil imported from Cologne has arrived. Would you like to try it on?”
“Now?”
“Lady Rosalyn is waiting in the drawing room.”
Vanessa hesitated for a moment before setting the letter aside as if nothing had happened.
“Very well… Tell her I’ll be down shortly.”
“Understood, my lady.”
The maid curtsied politely and left the room. As Vanessa watched her go, she was struck by a strange sensation. The attitude of the servants at Gloucester Castle had subtly changed lately.
While many had once seen her as a walking disaster, more and more maids now cast friendly glances her way. They would sometimes smile when their eyes met and were genuinely delighted when she shared the treats she received as gifts. In return, her favorite custard cream would sometimes appear on the dinner table for dessert.
They must have heard about me helping with Mary’s hospital bills.
Though young, Mary was one of the longest-serving maids at Gloucester Castle. When Vanessa first arrived after graduation, she’d thought she would never get close to anyone here. But if things continued like this, she felt she could manage just fine.
Vanessa left her room with a much lighter heart. The hallway was bustling as servants from the Winchester household carried luggage up and down the stairs. Puzzled, she watched them for a moment before opening the drawing room door.
“Ah, welcome, Vanessa.”
“Rosalyn.”
Vanessa’s steps faltered at the sight of the familiar, brightly smiling face. A sense of unease washed over her. Even though she knew Rosalyn’s confinement was over, she instinctively avoided her gaze. For some reason, it was difficult to look her in the eye.
She fought to protect my honor, while I dragged that same honor through the mud…
Vanessa returned the light embrace Rosalyn offered and sat in the chair opposite her. As soon as the maids set down their iced tea, Rosalyn rested her chin on her hand and asked.
“You’re a bit strange today, Vanessa. Why do I feel like you’re avoiding my eyes?”
“No. Of course not…”
“See? Even now.”
“Really, I’m not. I’m just… a bit tired from one thing and another…”
Her excuse was weak, but Vanessa forced herself to look up. She met Rosalyn’s gaze with an awkward smile. After studying her with narrowed eyes, Rosalyn shrugged as if deciding to let it slide just this once.
“Well, as long as it’s nothing.”
“What about our plans for tea today? Didn’t we receive an invitation from the Elliotts?”
“I canceled everything when I heard your wedding veil had arrived. They say the woman closest to the bride should be the first to see her in it. I absolutely detest Count Roden, but I still can’t miss a once-in-a-lifetime moment for you.”
It was an old promise between them—to be the first to see each other in their wedding veils and to be each other’s bridesmaids. Recalling those innocent days, a smile involuntarily spread across her lips.
“Thank you, as always, Rosalyn. I mean it.”
“Who knows? Maybe the Count will go mad and cancel the wedding next month.”
Vanessa let out a short laugh at the silly joke. Only then did Rosalyn’s expression soften into a relieved smile. Vanessa consciously glanced around the drawing room, finally bringing up the topic she had been trying to avoid.
“Where is Blair?”
“Ah, he went to meet a real estate agent.”
“A real estate agent? Why?”
“His Grand Tour was canceled. He decided to stay in the South a bit longer because of it.”
“The tour was canceled? I had no idea…”
“It was only decided a few hours ago. Blair suddenly insisted he wouldn’t go. His attendants will return to the Linden estate first, while Blair and I will stay at a hotel in Bath for another month or so.”
“Won’t a hotel be uncomfortable? You’re welcome to keep staying here with us.”
“No matter how close we are, staying too long would be bad manners. What was supposed to be a one-month stay has already stretched to almost two. You have no idea how furious Lady Winchester was on the phone.”
Sighing, Rosalyn shook her head and casually continued.
“She told us to return to Linden immediately. The only reason she’s tolerating this is because Blair’s wedding has been moved up.”
“Blair’s wedding… has been moved up?”
“Yes. He single-handedly ruined the very tour he’d insisted on taking. Since there’s no reason to delay any longer, being dragged to the altar is the next logical step. He must have liked it here, because he plans to look for a marital home in the South.”
Vanessa bit her lip. She had known for a long time that the Grand Tour was Blair’s way of postponing the wedding as long as possible.
Once, she had thought his stubbornness was simply because he wasn’t ready to lead a family—a sort of childish rebellion. She had dismissed the possessive glint in his eyes as nothing more than the protectiveness of an old friend.
“Of course, Sissy was absolutely thrilled.”
Vanessa avoided Rosalyn’s gaze, painfully picking at a hangnail. Her stomach churned with guilt, even though she had done nothing wrong.