Chapter : 42
Muttering to herself, she forced a bright expression and turned to her mother.
“How has your health been lately?”
“Did you really want to know?”
“Of course. I always think about you. You know that, don’t you?”
“And yet, ever since you left this house, you haven’t come to see me even once. As if you were waiting for the chance to run away from me. I thought you’d forgotten me.”
Her mother was as cold as a northern wind. Jacqueline’s eyes dimmed.
“Mother…”
Her aunt lightly took her hand and then let it go, as if telling her to understand.
Jacqueline nodded and forced another smile. She spoke gently.
“Are you taking your medicine regularly?”
“Medicine?”
Lady Somerset’s voice instantly sharpened. She glared at her daughter with irritated eyes.
“Medicine? Anyone hearing that would think I’m insane! I’m perfectly fine! I don’t need any medicine!”
Startled by her mother’s explosive reaction, like a dog whose tail had been stepped on, Jacqueline realized her mistake.
Her mother considered taking sedatives a disgrace. She believed that if others found out, she would be mocked.
Their eyes met, and her aunt shook her head again. It seemed to mean that it was not a good topic—or perhaps that it had been a long time since she had taken any medicine.
Looking at her mother’s hollow eyes, Jacqueline asked as if nothing were wrong,
“I sent a letter every week. Didn’t you receive them?”
“So you think you’ve fulfilled your duty with just a single letter? That must have been very convenient for you. This place isn’t even that far from the capital—couldn’t you have shown your face at least once? It’s not that you didn’t have time, it’s that you didn’t have the will.”
Swallowing the words It’s at least a thousand li away, Jacqueline soothed her. At times like this, it always felt as if their roles were reversed—like her and Benjamin, where teacher and student had switched places.
“I can’t leave freely without Lord Preston’s permission. You know what kind of job a governess is.”
“What a convenient excuse. Do you have any idea how I endure each nightmare-like day? Are you leaving me too? If so, then I have no reason to live anymore, Jackie.”
Lady Somerset spoke in a thin, trembling voice. At her words, which sounded like a threat, Jacqueline quietly embraced her shoulders.
“Why would I leave you? I’m working hard so I can rent even a small room in the capital. Then I’ll be able to come and bring you with me.”
“Let go of me!”
Lady Somerset shoved Jacqueline away harshly, then glared at her with cold eyes. Jacqueline, suddenly pushed back, stared at her in shock.
Her mother’s voice turned sharp again.
“A small room? Do you have any idea what people in society would say? Are you trying to disgrace me? You might as well tell me to die instead!”
“Mother…”
A weary sigh slipped from Jacqueline’s lips. Her aunt shook her head in resignation.
Jacqueline gazed silently at her frail, emaciated mother.
She still hadn’t given up hope of returning to high society. She dreamed of a splendid comeback as the Countess of Somerset.
That was why she despised her current reality so much—why it felt unbearable, like a nightmare.
Taking a step back, Jacqueline replied calmly,
“We’re not the glorious Somerset family we once were. You have to accept reality too. We have no estate, no servants, no money—nothing. We can’t go back to the way things were.”
“No, we can go back.”
Lady Somerset answered with firm conviction. Jacqueline, who had been sighing, faintly frowned. It was because she saw a strange glint in her mother’s eyes.
Suddenly, she remembered that her mother had sent a false letter to summon her here.
Why?
Why would Mother lie about being critically ill just to call me here?
Only now did the fundamental question arise. Jacqueline’s gaze toward her mother grew calm and steady.
“What is it?”
“……”
“Why did you call me here? Please, tell me honestly.”
Lady Somerset looked at her daughter with cold eyes. Then she lifted her chin elegantly. For the first time, a faint smile formed on her pale lips.
“There is someone who wishes to meet you, Jackie. Someone who will restore our former glory.”
A chilling premonition slid down her spine. Without realizing it, Jacqueline took a step back, frowning.
Lady Somerset’s smile deepened.
The sun had set, and a full moon peeked over the eastern sky.
It was time for the banquet.
After stepping out of the carriage, Windsor fastened his jacket buttons one by one. Standing beside him, Roman whispered stiffly,
“I know you dislike banquets, my lord, but do try to fix that expression—unless you intend to quarrel with Baron Heinz, who invited you.”
Instead of replying, Windsor stepped forward. Then he took out his pocket watch and checked the time.
“They must have arrived by now.”
“Pardon? Who? Are you waiting for someone?”
Roman followed behind, adding his question, but Windsor said nothing. In his mind, he was only thinking of the arrival time of the train heading to Southfield.
“I’ll wait in the carriage. Good luck in there!”
Pretending not to hear Roman’s encouragement, Windsor entered the mansion. A servant guided him to the drawing room.
“Oh, Marquis Preston!”
Baron Heinz, the host of the banquet, greeted Windsor warmly. The nobles who had already arrived looked surprised at his appearance.
“Isn’t that Lord Preston?”
“He’s attending a banquet? Has the sun risen in the west today?”
Ignoring their murmurs, Windsor lightly shook hands with Baron Heinz and greeted him indifferently.
“Congratulations on Thunderbolt’s victory, Baron.”
“Thank you! Hahaha, at this rate, we might even aim for the season championship! Come this way. Are you interested in horse racing, Lord Preston? I know a few fine horses—excellent bloodlines. I can introduce them if you’d like.”
Heinz seemed to be in high spirits. His face was flushed, as if he had already had a few drinks.
Windsor had little interest in the banquet itself. He had no intention of dancing with ladies or getting drunk.
He had only attended because Baron Heinz had extensive connections in the legal world. Maintaining a close relationship with him might help him secure a competent lawyer.
An hour should be enough.
Estimating a proper amount of time to stay without being rude, Windsor exchanged light conversation with those seated nearby.
There was no need to lead the conversation. As Jacqueline had taught him, it was enough to nod occasionally.
—Don’t just sit there like a sack of barley. Offer compliments from time to time. No one dislikes praise. Everyone is eager to boast, so scratch where it itches appropriately.
Recalling her nagging advice, Windsor spoke casually to Viscount Jeffman beside him.
“I’ve heard that your trade ships have achieved unprecedented profits recently. Congratulations.”
Caught off guard by the compliment, Jeffman blinked blankly before breaking into a delighted expression and launching into his story.
“Hahaha, you flatter me. It’s just luck, really. Actually, we recently imported a new product, and it’s more popular than expected…”
Just as Jeffman became absorbed in his boasting, a servant entered and announced loudly,
“The banquet is beginning. Please proceed to the hall.”
The gentlemen set down their cigarettes and began to rise one by one. Those who had come with partners went to the tea room to escort the ladies.
Windsor walked down the long corridor alone. Even so, he was a man who naturally drew attention wherever he went.
Curious glances poured in from all directions—most surprised that he had attended.
Reaching the hall, Windsor took a place in a quiet corner. Baron Heinz thanked the guests, and once his speech ended, music began to play.
As if they had been waiting, people began skillfully asking for dances and graciously accepting them. Holding a glass of champagne, Windsor watched the crowd moving about like slippery fish.
It was boring. He couldn’t understand what people found so enjoyable about banquets.
More than that, he wondered whether Jacqueline had arrived safely—and whether her supposedly critical mother had improved.
Perhaps, even there, Jacqueline was enduring hardship with a firm expression, pretending not to notice the tears welling up, stubbornly persevering.
“She’ll need a handkerchief.”
Suddenly, Windsor thought of the gift in his drawer. A belated regret rose within him—why hadn’t he given it to her?
The moment he saw her smiling at Evan Knox, something twisted in his stomach. Unlike his usual rational self, his emotions had surged.
It was the same when he saw her holding back tears. An unfamiliar feeling had struck his throat.
What was the nature of that strange impulse?
Watching the dancing nobles with indifferent eyes, Windsor sank into thought. Though he was not an emotional man, she sometimes made him emotional—
Whether those feelings were good or bad.
Just as his thoughts deepened—
“Good evening, Lord Preston.”
A cheerful voice came from right beside him.
Turning his head slowly, he saw a beautiful woman with reddish-brown hair elegantly styled, smiling at him.
Windsor spoke in a detached tone,
“Forgive me, but are we acquainted, my lady?”
At his words, the corners of her lips stiffened slightly. But in the next moment, her smile deepened.
“My name is Elizabeth Greenwood, daughter of the Earl of Greenwood.”
“A pleasure to meet you, Miss Greenwood.”
At that, Elizabeth frowned faintly once more, her elegant brows curving.
“Strictly speaking, it’s not our first meeting. I attended young Benjamin’s birthday banquet recently. I saw you there, Lord Preston—though we didn’t exchange greetings.”
“Is that so? Thank you for attending. Please accept my thanks on Benjamin’s behalf.”
At Windsor’s polite response, Elizabeth’s eyes widened slightly in surprise.
She had heard rumors that he lacked manners, but that didn’t seem to be the case.
This was exactly why rumors couldn’t be trusted.