Chapter 66
Three days after they began consistently ignoring the scandal, the reporters’ fervor finally started to wane. Compared to Mr. Benjamin Dawson’s prediction that it would take at least two weeks, public interest seemed to be cooling remarkably fast.
It was as if someone had suddenly swept them all away from the world. Despite the uproar in the gossip rags, the mainstream media with actual public trust hadn’t bitten much into the topic, which played a significant role.
Thanks to the receding spotlight, the last few days had been peaceful. Ever since she received word from River Ross that he was returning, Vanessa had even felt a certain sense of stability.
“Here you go, My Lady.”
“Thank you, Mary.”
Vanessa pulled the plate Mary placed on the table toward her. The plate was colorfully arranged with seasonal fruits—bite-sized pieces of peaches, summer strawberries, and blackberries—alongside two pieces of sweet chocolate.
Mary refilled the half-empty glass with apple juice and arched an eyebrow.
“I’m bringing it because you asked for it… but you really should have a proper meal. Don’t keep eating things like this just because of the heat.”
Since the departure ceremony, Mary had somehow become even more composed and quiet, yet when she nagged, her old prickly temperament came through perfectly. It was ironic that her most cold-hearted moments were when she felt the most human.
Now, Vanessa even missed that thin warmth. Mary was the only one in this castle who still looked after her. Vanessa gave a gentle smile and nodded.
“I suppose I’ve had a lot on my mind. I won’t skip dinner tonight.”
In truth, she had found it difficult to eat lately. Even though she knew she needed to eat well to endure this difficult time, she found herself reaching for sweet snacks whenever she came to her senses—chocolates, candies, or cookies filled with jam.
She often lost her appetite when the weather was excessively hot, but for some reason, this summer was particularly unusual.
Even while sitting still, her whole body would suddenly flush hot as if she had a fever, and she suffered from bouts of dizziness that felt like seasickness despite standing on solid ground. Sometimes, cold sweats would break out for no reason. Her body had never been particularly robust, so she had initially chalked it up to the recent wide temperature fluctuations between day and night, but…
“You’ve been spending all your time in this conservatory lately.”
“Hmm?”
“Mr. Ross was worried that something might have happened. He said you’ve changed too much compared to a few weeks ago when you first returned from school. Back then, you spent all your time in the Rose Garden, the library, and the west drawing room.”
The hand that had been picking up the chocolates stopped mid-air. As Mary pointed out, she had been intentionally spending her entire day in the conservatory, far away from the Rose Garden. Of course, her “schedule” consisted of nothing more than being confined to the castle and working on overdue manuscripts.
At first, she had done it to avoid the eyes of the reporters, but as time passed, she found herself genuinely reluctant to go to the Rose Garden. Perhaps she was simply afraid to face that space without River Ross there.
“Just because. I haven’t really felt like it lately,” Vanessa replied, casting her gaze down and pretending it was nothing. She shifted the chocolate melting on her tongue to her cheek before continuing. “The grass has grown long again since no one’s been tending to it. There are more bugs, too.”
“Mr. Ross is quite busy, after all. Managing even one conservatory is a lot of work, but since he’s in charge of all three gardens, it’s difficult for him to look after that place as well. The Rose Garden is quite secluded, too.”
“That’s why I always liked it. When I’m there, my noisy mind grows quiet.”
Vanessa paused for a moment before adding in a thin voice, “And right now, I just… want to hear the sound of someone nearby, even if it’s just chatter.”
Listening to the maids talk reminded her of the times she had chatted with Rosalyn without a care in the world. Before the malicious scandals and sensational gossip, back when they were just students at Saint Louis.
Vanessa let out a laugh that sounded like a sigh. Perhaps this was the hardest part of everything she was facing—the fact that Rosalyn and Blair weren’t by her side.
Just then, the sound of maids laughing drifted in from beyond the conservatory door. It seemed Ellie, a maid who had gone to the cathedral in Bath for her wedding that morning, had just returned. Her cheeks were flushed with a rosy glow as she handed out armfuls of white flowers she had bought.
Vanessa watched the scene with vacant eyes. A happy bride. When she had vaguely tried to imagine herself in that position, it had felt awkward for some reason, yet it was fascinating to see that such a thing could exist so naturally in reality. In some ways, she was even a little envious…
“Ask Harold if he could give Ellie a special leave. It’s a bit much to ask a newlywed to stay away from her husband until the weekend. My uncle won’t mind if it’s just for two days.”
“…Ellie will be pleased.”
Mary, who had been following Ellie’s movements with her eyes, spoke up as if she had just remembered something.
“Ah, speaking of which. It seems the man who looks after the garden has returned.”
“He’s back?”
Vanessa blinked her rounded eyes rapidly. The man who looked after the garden. For a moment, a surge of doubt rose within her, wondering if she had misheard.
“Who?”
“Mr. River Ross. A car arrived around noon and he got out. The maids offered him a meal, but he declined and went straight to his quarters in the garden.”
Vanessa instinctively bolted upright before realizing how strange she must look and slowly sank back down. Her blood raced so fast it made her dizzy, and her heart thundered in her ears. Just hearing that she could see him if she went to the Rose Garden right now was enough.
Stay calm, do not show your emotions, be concise and elegant. It was what the ladies at Saint Louis were taught until their ears bled, but as always, it was difficult to put into practice. Vanessa anxiously fanned her face with her hand before she couldn’t stand it anymore and stood up again.
“I should go rest. The sun is so hot…”
The words she added were little more than an excuse. Her heart was so frantic that she no longer cared how she sounded to others. As Vanessa hurried out of the conservatory, Mary caught her from behind.
“Wait a moment, My Lady.”
Mary stepped closer and turned her around. Her hands were deft as she fixed the loosely tied ribbon of Vanessa’s shirt.
With her eyelashes lowered calmly, Mary’s face betrayed no emotion. Not sympathy for a lady fallen for a man, nor disgust for a woman caught in a filthy scandal, nor even any minor feelings, good or bad.
It was as if she were saying that looking after her own life was hard enough without worrying about anything beyond straightening a disheveled appearance.
“Dinner will be ready on time. Please don’t be late.”
Having finally finished, Mary brushed past her and left the conservatory first. Vanessa watched the maid’s retreating back, momentarily speechless, before shaking herself out of it and walking in the opposite direction. At first, she moved slowly, conscious of others’ eyes, but by the time she reached the secluded path, her pace quickened.
The iron gate leading to the garden was wide open. Unlike the gloomy version she had imagined while avoiding it, the garden was as beautiful as ever. With every step, the dizzying scent of summer flowers in full bloom rose up, while wild lavender and late-summer roses surrounded their little hideout like a sturdy fortress wall.
Vanessa opened the door to the shed without hesitation and stepped inside. Her eyes couldn’t adjust to the dim interior immediately, making everything look dark, but in her hopeful excitement, she didn’t even think to wait. She reached out and felt her way forward.
“River? Are you here?”
Her voice, carefully let out, echoed through the space. For a moment, it felt as though the room were empty. Soon, familiar footsteps approached from the other side, and a man appeared, pulling back a hanging cloth with the sunlight at his back.
At that moment, her darkened vision returned to normal.
“Vanessa.”
Upon discovering her, his cool face eventually broke into a breeze-like smile. It wasn’t a look of great intensity, yet it was fresh enough to send violent ripples through her heart.
As if possessed, Vanessa approached River Ross. She reflexively reached for his beautiful face, then hesitated before gently stroking his cheek. She wanted to feel the reality of him being here right now.
“……”
His strong jawline, his firmly set lips, the smooth bridge of his nose, and his sharp eyes… Her fingertips trembled slightly as she touched them in turn. River Ross let out a low chuckle and submissively lowered his head a little further into her touch.
With eyes that were anything but docile, he pretended to be a tamed beast.
“You’re getting quite bold with your hands now. How fearless.”
