Chapter 10
<10> The Strange Man, Ian Dalton (3)
Ian raised his head. He met Miss Pendleton's gray eyes and moved. He was gradually able to navigate the stage quite naturally. Mr. Dalton's expression gradually relaxed.
"Mr. Dalton, you really have good athletic sense. Except for being a little nervous, you're very natural. Why did you stubbornly refuse dance lessons in Eton?"
"The thought of having to embrace and make eye contact with boys while competing for strength during cricket and rowing hours was quite unpleasant."
Miss Pendleton chuckled.
"I can imagine. But a gentleman who can't dance in society faces his own difficulties, you know."
"Thanks to that, I became a rude gentleman who ignored ladies at the Ball."
"You must have felt wronged."
He shook his head.
"Actually, I think so too. I can't lead pleasant conversations with ladies, and I can't dance either. No matter how I look at it, I'm far from a proper gentleman."
"I think we have different views on the qualities of a gentleman. I think dancing or eloquence can be learned."
"Then, what qualities of a gentleman does Miss Pendleton think are important?"
"An attitude of respecting ladies, no, everyone including ladies. As long as you have that, nothing else matters."
"What a pity. I'm disqualified as a gentleman in that respect too. I respect people, but I'm not polite. Especially the etiquette of society. The reason I've shut myself off from the world is because I find the rules to be followed within it bothersome. The evening air I drink alone on the terrace of my mansion feels sweeter than the wine I drink at a crowded Formal dinner party. Ah, Miss Pendleton probably doesn't understand."
Miss Pendleton smiled.
"I've been involved in society and have gone through countless Formal dinners and Balls. Sometimes I danced with someone, and sometimes I spent twelve years as a Wallflower, watching others dance. It would be a lie if I said there wasn't a single moment during those many hours when I wanted to drink the evening air alone. Sometimes I wanted to throw off my gloves and run out into the streets of London."
Mr. Dalton's eyebrows rose slightly at the unexpected honesty. Miss Pendleton continued.
"But, for a lady, social activities are something that can never be avoided, just as humans have to learn to walk and fish have to learn to swim. That's the difference between ladies and gentlemen."
"Then, ladies are in a very frustrating situation."
Miss Pendleton laughed softly.
"Even so, Mr. Dalton, please don't pity the ladies. We have our own lives and happiness. Like lace made by weaving thread one by one, we are creating happiness quietly and elegantly. I hope a lady will appear who can share that happiness with Mr. Dalton."
"I don't know if the happiness of men and women can be shared. The men around me have been constantly absorbed in work and hunting after marriage, while the women stay at home, raise children, and focus on household chores. This has been the way of life since the beginning. In that respect, men and women are so different."
"There are many such couples around me too. But I think that if a couple is truly harmonious, they will spend as much time together as possible, even if they divide work and household chores. Not because they are trying to do so, but because their hearts naturally want it. A Soulmate refers to a constant attraction that desires each other."
Mr. Dalton lowered his eyes for a moment and fell into thought.
"Soulmate. Does Miss Pendleton believe that such a thing exists?"
"Yes."
"A concept that cannot be seen or touched?"
"I believe it as much as I believe in God."
Mr. Dalton chuckled.
"You have romantic ideas about marriage."
Miss Pendleton shrugged.
"That's probably why I'm living a life far from marriage."
Mr. Dalton was not one to be conscious of etiquette, but he chose not to laugh at this joke.
"I see why William introduced you to me. You are confirming what I always think about and soon doubt."
"Does Mr. Dalton have the same views as me?"
Mr. Dalton quietly looked into Miss Pendleton's gray eyes.
"Yes."
He added softly, as if to himself.
"I believe so strongly that if it's not that kind of marriage, it's meaningless."
Miss Pendleton looked at the person she was dancing with a warmer expression. Meeting someone who shared the same opinion, a belief as firm as a conviction, made him feel close, even though it hadn't been an hour since they had first met. Like an old friend.
Meanwhile, a different light began to flicker in his black eyes, which had been fixed on Miss Pendleton. A radiance like a blue flame. Something hot starting to burn quietly.
Miss Pendleton looked into his eyes and wondered what new emotion had taken root in him. Did her words just now inspire him to seek love? Or was he just sympathizing with her words?
Either way, it was enough for her to feel a new liking for Mr. Dalton. At least it meant that he was a young man who took a lady's words seriously.
Miss Pendleton was happier about that than the fact that he was handsome and had good prospects. A gentleman who doesn't take a lady's thoughts seriously cannot be kept as a friend or introduced to her friends.
The music ended. The two bowed politely, and Mr. Dalton took Miss Pendleton's hand and returned to their original spot. Mr. Fairfax, who had been watching their dance, applauded the two as they returned and expressed his gratitude to Miss Pendleton for helping his lacking friend. And he scolded Mr. Dalton for tiring Miss Pendleton because of him.
But Mr. Dalton, as if he couldn't hear his friend's nagging, stared intently at one place. At Miss Pendleton, who was unaware that the gentleman's gaze was fixed on her as she checked the location of her friends.
Miss Pendleton introduced her friends to Mr. Dalton one by one.
Miss Kate Reitz and Miss Eva Reitz, the two daughters of Viscount Reitz. At twenty and twenty-one years old respectively, they were kind young ladies who excelled at piano and embroidery.
And Miss Catherine Hayton, the second daughter of Judge Hayton. She was a twenty-two-year-old young lady who excelled at harp playing and French and had a cute smile.
But the most beautiful of them was Miss Dora Lance, the twenty-year-old only daughter of Sir Lance.
She was talented in instruments, embroidery, and art in general, and her intelligence was by far the best among her peers. These days, she was following in the footsteps of Elizabeth Deayer, who had changed her name, and was wielding power as the next star of society.
Mr. Dalton greeted each of the ladies with courtesy and answered even trivial questions sincerely. Miss Pendleton, who was watching from the side, noticed that his crooked attitude from when he met her had disappeared.
She guessed that Mr. Dalton had decided to act proactively about love through the conversation he had with her while dancing, and she was sincerely happy.
As the conversation continued, the ladies surrounding him gradually realized that Miss Dora Lance was eager in this competition. To have to compete with Miss Lance, the star of society. Moreover, Mrs. Lance, who was famous for being extremely pushy, was by her side, eager to invite Mr. Dalton to a Formal dinner.
The ladies gave up on this game and went to dance with other gentlemen or went to the lounge with gloomy faces.
When Miss Pendleton saw Mr. Dalton accept Mrs. Lance's invitation, she whispered to Mr. Fairfax, who was next to her.
"Then, I'll be going now."
"Already?"
"I've tied up a lady for Mr. Dalton to enjoy the party with today, so my work is done."
"Don't you want to enjoy it more? The waltz will start again soon."
"I'd rather give my grandmother a goodnight kiss than waltz. It's almost ten o'clock, so if I go now, I can help her to bed."
"Ah, in that case, I'll have the carriage prepared for you."
"No, I told the coachman to return around this time. He's probably waiting in front already."
Mr. Fairfax nodded.
"Thank you for today, Miss Pendleton. Please return safely."
"Yes. It was fun, Mr. Fairfax. Come and visit with Mr. Dalton sometime. I think my grandmother would quite enjoy getting to know Mr. Dalton."
"Haha, I suppose so. Then."
Mr. Fairfax kissed the back of her hand.
Miss Pendleton covered her shoulders with the shawl she had draped over her arm and hurried down the stairs. As she stepped out the door, the cool night air refreshed Miss Pendleton's body, which had been heated by the heat of the hall.
Miss Pendleton got into the Pendleton family's carriage, which was waiting in front of the hall. The beautiful waltz music could be heard behind her.
Did Mr. Dalton ask Miss Lance to dance? He certainly would have. How could he stay still when such a beautiful lady was showing him such keen interest?
Miss Pendleton sat in the carriage and imagined the scene of them dancing. They were a perfect match. If they got married, they would be an even more wonderful couple than the Morton couple. Well, it wasn't time to jump to conclusions yet.
While she was thinking about this and that, the coachman sat down, grabbed the reins, and started the horse.
Clunk, the carriage moved.
But, a man's shout reached Miss Pendleton's ears, who was lost in thought.
"Miss Pendleton!"
Miss Pendleton was startled and stopped the carriage. Mr. Dalton was approaching the carriage window. He was out of breath and his hair was a little disheveled, as if he had come out in a hurry. A flustered Miss Pendleton widened her eyes and shouted.
"Mr. Dalton, what's wrong!"
"I can't let you go without saying goodbye. You've been so kind to me today, and now you're leaving without a word like a stranger."
His voice was low. Miss Pendleton was embarrassed because she had no intention of making him feel that way at all.
"I'm sorry if it seemed that way. I thought we would be able to see each other again soon, so there was no need for a special greeting."
"Soon?"
Miss Pendleton smiled and explained.
"I told Mr. Fairfax that I would be happy if you two would come to my house sometime. We often have tea parties or small Concerts for young gentlemen and ladies at our house. It's a casual setting, and I'm sure Mr. Dalton will find it enjoyable."
Mr. Dalton was silent. Because he was standing with his back to the light, Miss Pendleton couldn't see his face well, but she could feel that he wasn't very interested.
Miss Pendleton quickly added.
"I'm not putting any pressure on you. If you're busy..."
"Is Miss Pendleton hosting it?"
