Chapter 35
A young girl, her dress a froth of elaborate frills, stepped out from behind William. She fixed Benjamin with a pair of keen, intelligent blue eyes.
“Hello, Olivia.”
“Hello, Benjamin.”
A nanny stood directly behind Olivia. Jacqueline offered a polite nod, which the woman returned with a cordial smile.
Benjamin turned toward William, delivering his request with a practiced, formal air, as if he had spent the morning rehearsing his lines.
“William, would you be so kind as to have refreshments set up in the greenhouse? Olivia and I intend to take tea there.”
“Of course, Master Benjamin.”
The children made their way straight to the glass-walled structure. It was late spring, on the cusp of summer, and the air was soft and temperate—warm enough to be felt, but not so much as to be stifling.
Betty began arranging the treats on the table. Olivia, clearly no stranger to the house, helped herself to a cookie and a sip of lemonade. Even so, her eyes darted toward the staff, waiting impatiently for them to withdraw.
Once they were relatively secluded, Olivia leaned in and whispered for Benjamin’s ears only.
“You haven’t forgotten your promise about the cicada shells, have you?”
“Not at all. But first, we should find a way to dismiss your nanny.”
Following his lead, Olivia glanced back at her attendant. The woman, standing a respectful distance away, asked, “Is there something you require, my lady?”
“Benjamin, wouldn’t it be a kindness to let Marie have a rest?”
“A wonderful idea. William, please escort Marie to a sitting room and serve her some tea. We shall be occupied here, so the rest of you may go—except for Miss Somerset, naturally. She is our chaperone.”
“As you wish, sir.”
William looked toward Marie, silently gauging her reaction to the arrangement.
The nanny looked at Olivia with a flicker of maternal concern, but the girl offered a breezy reassurance.
“Go on and rest, Marie. I won’t be going anywhere. Besides, what could possibly happen here? This is Preston Manor.”
“Very well, Lady Olivia.”
With those words, Marie followed William, her gait notably lighter now that she was off duty. Jacqueline watched the two little conspirators with a sense of wonder, marveling at where they had picked up such effortless guile.
Then, a memory of her own sixth year surfaced. She, too, had spun countless webs of deception just to slip away from her parents’ watchful eyes. To an adult, those lies must have been transparent as glass, yet at the time, she had played her part with absolute gravity.
“Quickly, let’s go find those shells!”
The moment Marie was out of sight, Olivia began to prod Benjamin. She knew her freedom was on a ticking clock and didn’t want to waste a single second.
Benjamin gave a solemn nod and led the way out of the greenhouse.
“This way. I know a spot where they’re practically everywhere.”
“Wonderful!”
Jacqueline followed a few paces behind at a leisurely stroll. There was no reason to intrude; Benjamin was clearly over the moon to be showing his new friend the wonders of his world.
“Oh… wait…”
A moment later, however, Benjamin’s confidence faltered. He looked around, his eyes darting frantically, letting out a small sound of dismay. Olivia’s brow furrowed, causing the oversized ribbon in her hair to lurch.
“There aren’t any shells here, Benjamin.”
“That’s impossible. They’re always right here…”
Muttering to himself, Benjamin searched the undergrowth. Suddenly, his face lit up, and he lunged toward a patch of grass.
When he pulled his hand back, a small insect was struggling between his fingers. He turned to Olivia, beaming with pride.
“It’s a ladybug. Look at the black spots on the red—isn’t it striking?”
“Oh, it is! May I hold it?”
“Sure. Here.”
He carefully transferred the tiny creature to Olivia’s small palm. She stared at it, mesmerized.
Then, she pressed the insect against the fabric of her dress at her chest. Before Jacqueline could even think to intervene, Olivia gave a brilliant smile.
“Look! Doesn’t it look just like a brooch?”
“Wow, it really does.”
“Thank you!”
As the children chattered happily, Jacqueline found herself grimacing and taking a reflexive step back. Watching the ladybug’s legs twitch against the fabric made her skin crawl.
A low groan escaped her. She remembered loving ladybugs as a child; why did she find them so repulsive now?
Perhaps, she mused, growing older simply meant becoming more fearful of small things.
Her internal monologue was cut short when Benjamin placed a stag beetle directly onto the crown of Olivia’s head.
“Now it’s a hairpin! With those horns, you look like a powerful warrior!”
“Really? Thank you!”
Adorned with a beetle crown and a ladybug brooch, Olivia cupped her face in her hands and gave the most angelic smile imaginable.
“I want to catch one myself now.”
“You have to sneak up very quietly so it doesn’t notice you, then grab it fast.”
“Got it! I’m going to try!”
Jacqueline felt a phantom crawling sensation and began to scratch her arms vigorously. No matter how much she rubbed at her skin, the itch persisted.
As she tilted her head back to scratch at her neck, her breath caught.
The sun was filtering through the canopy above. Beams of golden light, the exact shade of Windsor’s hair, pierced through the leaves in shimmering strands.
Enveloped in that radiance, the sound of the children’s laughter filled the air. Without realizing it, a soft, genuine smile touched Jacqueline’s lips.
“Benjamin, Olivia—look up.”
The children, beetles and all, tilted their faces toward the sky.
“Whoa!”
“It’s beautiful!”
They squinted into the brilliance, gasping as shadows and light danced across their features.
Hoping this moment would linger in their hearts as a golden memory, Jacqueline rolled up her sleeves.
“Well then, shall we start the real expedition?”
“Yes!”
Together, they ventured further into their small wilderness. High in the branches, the cicadas seemed to sing with renewed vigor.
Windsor moved through the hallway with his usual impeccable poise. William followed close behind, ready with his master’s hat.
Just as Windsor accepted the hat and prepared to exit, a carriage pulled to a halt in the drive. He paused, watching as the door swung open.
A young woman stepped down, aided by the coachman. She was dressed in an extravagant gown layered with pink ruffles.
Her cheeks were pleasantly plump, giving her a youthful, sweet appearance, and she was small enough that she barely reached Windsor’s shoulder.
As she began to walk with her maid, she caught sight of Windsor at the entrance and froze. Her round eyes widened in surprise.
She stood there, staring, clearly waiting for him to offer the first greeting.
A true gentleman never leaves a lady waiting. He must always be the one to speak first.
Jacqueline’s persistent advice rang in his mind. Taking the hint from his memory, Windsor descended the stairs and gave a polite bow.
“Good day, Miss Humble. I was informed of your arrival today.”
“Good day, Lord Preston. I am grateful for the invitation.”
Samantha gathered her skirts into a graceful curtsy, then looked up at him again.
She found herself momentarily transfixed by the way the sunlight hit his golden hair and the depth of his slate-blue eyes.
As her expression turned somewhat star-struck, Windsor’s professional tone broke the spell.
“I understand you are a dear friend of Miss Somerset. You are a most welcome guest in this house. William, please ensure Miss Humble is accorded every hospitality as my personal guest.”
“Certainly, my lord.”
“I am truly touched by your generosity, Lord Preston.”
“It is my pleasure. I hope your stay is a pleasant one.”
With a final bow, he stepped into the awaiting Preston carriage. Samantha watched him go, her eyes following the vehicle until it disappeared past the garden gates.
“Samantha!”
Jacqueline came bursting out through the front doors. Only then did Samantha turn away from the road, rushing forward to pull her friend into a fierce hug.
“How have you been, Jackie?”
“What are you doing here? Is everything all right?” Jacqueline asked, pulling back slightly to search her friend’s face for signs of trouble.
Samantha let out a mischievous laugh. “What’s wrong? I told you I’d come back for you, didn’t I?”
“Well, yes, but…”
The phrase I didn’t think it would be this soon died in her throat. Besides, she reminded herself, this wasn’t her house to gatekeep.
Jacqueline looked toward William with a hint of hesitation, but Samantha took charge with the confidence of someone who belonged there.
“Come, let’s go inside. We have so much to discuss over tea.”
Jacqueline could only shake her head with a faint smile and follow her in.
They were shown to the drawing room. Betty, having been briefed by William, greeted the guest with her most rigid, formal posture, looking every bit the professional maid.
Samantha gave a brief nod of acknowledgement before taking a seat. It was only after the tea and cakes were served that the two friends finally spoke freely.
“Jackie, I can’t tell you how happy I am to see you. I truly am.”
Jacqueline smiled, though her mind was a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts.
She was genuinely thrilled to see her best friend, yet there was a lingering sting of shame at being seen in her current, diminished state.
A vast social chasm now separated them. But as she looked at Samantha’s guileless, honest face, Jacqueline felt her defenses soften.
Samantha was exactly as she had always been. It was only Jacqueline who had changed.
“I saw the news of your engagement in the papers. Congratulations, Sammy—I’m sorry it’s a bit late.”
“Thank you. But Jackie…”
The levity left Samantha’s face, replaced by a somber, hesitant look. She paused, as if weighing her words. Jacqueline watched her, wondering if she was about to be asked for something she no longer had.
Gauging Jacqueline’s mood carefully, Samantha spoke in a soft, earnest voice.
“If you ever find yourself in need, Jackie—of anything at all—please promise you’ll tell me.”
“…I will. Thank you, Samantha.”
Jacqueline managed a smile, though she kept her gaze fixed on her lap. It was clear now that Samantha had been deeply worried about her during her disappearance.
While Jacqueline had been drowning in the middle of a storm, she hadn’t realized her friend had been standing on the shore, watching in terror.
Only now, having found a temporary foothold on a solid rock, could she see the concern in Samantha’s eyes.
“I’m sorry for the silence, Sammy. Everything happened so fast, and I was just trying to survive the day.”
“Don’t. I understand perfectly. I would have done the same thing. You never have to apologize to me for that.”
“Thank you.”
Relieved, Samantha finally reached for a cookie. She was still the same girl who couldn’t resist a sweet treat.
That realization brought Jacqueline an unexpected sense of peace. In a world where everything had been upended, it was a comfort to know that some things remained exactly as they were.
Samantha finished her cookie and looked up, as if a thought had just struck her.
“Oh, that reminds me, Jackie.”
“Yes?”
