Chapter 103
<103> Hunting Party (6)
"Since you're adjacent to Whitefield, your interactions with Mr. Dalton must be smoother than usual."
"Yes. Mr. Dalton often comes to see his nieces and nephews. He's a good uncle."
"Miss Sheldon visits as well?"
"Yes, with her nieces and nephews."
"I heard you were a great help with this gathering. I've only been here for a day, but I can feel how much effort you put in. Thank you so much, Miss Sheldon."
Miss Pendleton expressed her gratitude.
"Mr. Fairfax mentioned that the distance between Dunville Park and Whitefield is quite significant?"
"Yes, it's a two or three-hour journey."
"It must have been hard traveling back and forth to prepare for the gathering. How many days did you spend preparing?"
"About two weeks."
'She must have been living in this house for two weeks, sharing a bedroom with Mr. Dalton.'
Miss Lance's throat felt parched.
"Miss Sheldon, I'll be frank with you. I was very concerned watching you today. You seemed like… Ah, no. I won't say it directly, for your reputation's sake."
"……."
"Before, you advised me on how easily a woman's reputation can be ruined. I was touched by your concern. And I wanted to be that kind of friend to you as well. And today, I have the opportunity to be a true friend to you."
Miss Lance tried her best to infuse her voice with genuine concern.
"I may be younger than you, Miss Sheldon, but I know how the world works. England is in a recession, and heads of traditional families use marriage as a means to protect their houses. Women who lack wealth or lineage are not considered marriage material."
Laura looked puzzled but listened quietly.
"To young heads of families, beautiful and poor women are merely easy targets for affairs. And affairs don't harm men much, but they ruin a woman's reputation. It's unfair, but that's the way the world is."
"……Excuse me for interrupting, Miss Lance, but why are you telling me this…?"
Miss Lance took a deep breath.
"Miss Pendleton, you have plenty of time to marry. You're not even middle-aged yet. But in any class, a woman's reputation greatly affects her marriage prospects. Even if your class has declined, you shouldn't carelessly throw away your precious chastity. Men won't take any responsibility, even if that man is a gentleman from a prestigious family with such a magnificent estate."
Miss Pendleton's eyes widened. She realized Miss Lance's intention. Soon, her face turned bright red.
Miss Lance thought she had hit the mark and was overwhelmed with shame. She continued her lecture disguised as advice.
"It's a sin to be ashamed of not only to your deceased parents but also to God. Just because your parents committed a sin doesn't mean you have to repeat that fate…"
"Miss Lance."
"Yes."
"Please stop. Any more than that would be an insult not only to me but also to Mr. Dalton."
Miss Pendleton's face, as well as her neck and chest, were now red.
'Okay, she must have understood after hearing this much.'
Miss Lance readily fell silent. Miss Pendleton looked around as if she didn't know where to look, and then suggested returning to her room.
The two awkwardly walked through the hallway and up the stairs. Miss Pendleton seemed to be thinking about something the whole time.
Miss Lance stopped on the second-floor landing. Miss Pendleton's room was on the third floor. Miss Lance greeted her and was about to walk towards the hallway.
"Miss Lance."
Miss Lance stopped. Their eyes met in the darkness.
"I'm saying this out of concern, but don't give Mr. Dalton the advice you gave me today. He will feel insulted, and his favor towards you will disappear."
Miss Lance nodded, flustered. She never imagined that she would worry about her relationship with Mr. Dalton.
Miss Pendleton smiled faintly.
"Well, sleep well. There's boating tomorrow."
She silently walked up the stairs.
Miss Lance slowly returned to her room. She felt like she had done something shameful while walking down the hallway, but she couldn't figure out what it was, which frustrated her.
* * *
The next day, the ladies and gentlemen paired up in groups of three or four and took rowboats on the lake near Whitefield. The sight of gentlemen slowly rowing and ladies twirling their parasols as they admired the surrounding scenery was one of extravagant beauty.
The villagers living nearby watched them from afar with curiosity. The nobles pretended not to see them and indulged in their own pleasures, singing, flirting with their favorite person of the opposite sex, and dipping their hands in the water to wet their gloves.
Laura was on a rowboat, listening to the chatter of the other ladies. They had openly scorned her when they were in London, but after being introduced to Mr. Dalton as a member of the Dalton and Fairfax families yesterday, they had become quite friendly.
They told her all sorts of London news that Laura already knew. The head of the Pendleton family was looking for investors for his shipping business and had started a large-scale construction project, Mrs. Elizabeth Morton was bedridden with morning sickness, and Miss Joan Jenson was enjoying immense popularity in British high society, with countless suitors lining up despite having a fiancé.
Laura half-listened to their words and looked at the rowboat far ahead.
Miss Lance was sitting on the boat with Mr. Dalton rowing, holding a sky-blue parasol. Miss Lance was chatting with her friends sitting next to her and occasionally talking to Mr. Dalton. Whenever she did, Mr. Dalton would turn his head and say something back.
'It has to work out.'
The two of them had to get engaged at this gathering. All the ladies were talking about the secret love affair between Miss Lance and Mr. Dalton. If Miss Lance couldn't marry him, her life in high society would be over.
And Miss Lance's heart would be wounded beyond repair.
In the advice Miss Lance gave yesterday, there was an obvious sense of wariness towards her. She was wearing a mask of concern on the outside, but Laura couldn't help but feel the jealousy hidden inside. Miss Lance loved Mr. Dalton that much.
And that love must have been encouraged by Mr. Dalton. She hadn't seen the two of them being affectionate with her own eyes, but there was no way a popular and confident lady like Miss Lance would have fallen so deeply for a man who wasn't interested in her.
She didn't want Miss Lance to be hurt like she had been 12 years ago. She had been misunderstood by a lady who was nine years younger than her, which was unpleasant, but once the two of them were engaged, she would be able to clear things up. First, their engagement was urgent.
Of course, on the day their marriage was decided, her heart would be shattered like a shipwreck. But that was a burden she had to bear, Laura told her aching heart.
The boat ride was followed by a picnic. As Laura had planned, Mr. Dalton had been spending time with Miss Lance's group all along.
Miss Lance's laughter could be heard from across the way.
Was the atmosphere really ripening well? Laura turned her gaze towards them and saw it. Miss Lance naturally leaning her head on Mr. Dalton's shoulder.
Laura quickly turned her head away as if she had seen something she shouldn't have. She instantly lost her appetite and couldn't eat anything throughout the picnic.
After the meal, tennis and croquet followed throughout the afternoon. Laura tried not to look at Mr. Dalton and focused on instructing the servants to clean up and watching the games.
"Miss Pendleton."
Laura, who was standing near the tennis court, watching the balls go back and forth with a dry face, flinched at the voice that came from beside her.
It was Mr. Dalton.
"It's a perfect day for outdoor activities. Miss Pendleton picked a good date."
Laura nodded.
"Yes."
"Do you like tennis? I don't think I've ever seen you play."
"……I don't really like it. I get tired easily."
"Your health has improved since you've been staying at Dunville Park. You should participate."
Laura shook her head.
She felt strangely suffocated. She didn't want to hear his voice, and she was annoyed to even reply. She had never felt this way before. His presence had always been welcome.
"Are you tired? Did you overdo it yesterday and today?"
"No. I just… I just want to stay like this."
She could feel his gaze on her cheek. She could picture his dark eyes staring at her. Laura didn't look at him and only looked at the court.
"You're not in a good mood. Is it because of me?"
"……."
"I don't know why, but if you're this angry, it must be my fault. I'm sorry."
Laura wanted to cry.
"Mr. Dalton didn't do anything wrong. I'm just not feeling well."
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"No. I'll take care of it if I need to."
Laura turned her head completely away from him.
'Laura, you idiot. Why are you taking it out on him? He didn't do anything wrong. It's just that you unilaterally like him.'
Soon, Miss Lance's voice calling Mr. Dalton from behind was heard again. He turned and walked away from Laura.
A faint mist gathered in Laura's eyes, and her heart felt heavy as if a brick had been placed on her chest.
Laura quickly rubbed her eyes. She suddenly wanted to escape from this whole situation, to run far away, to leave Yorkshire and hide somewhere.
* * *
Laura had to keep realizing that she had underestimated her feelings.
In the subsequent events, Mr. Dalton was with Miss Lance's group all along. At the small concert where an orchestra was invited, Mr. Dalton and Miss Lance sat side by side and watched. It was because Laura had designated the seats that way.
In the whist game and billiards match that followed as an after-party, Miss Lance and Mr. Dalton were in the same group. This was also Laura's plan.
Laura focused on dealing with the other guests, but she was on edge just being aware of Miss Lance and Mr. Dalton being together.
After the day's work was done and Laura returned to her bedroom, she couldn't deny that she was jealous.
She sat curled up on the bed and thought. If she was this miserable now, what would happen when he got married? If she had to see him as another woman's husband.
A sharp pain flashed through her heart. She shuddered.
'I have to leave this place. Fortunately, I have my father's inheritance. I don't need to save a lot of money. Let's write to the boarding school I graduated from. Let's see if there are any teaching positions and teach children there. The pay will be less than a governess, but it will be stable and rewarding.'
Laura made up her mind and lay down on the bed.
Knock knock.
"Yes."
"It's me."
It was Mr. Dalton's voice. Laura jumped up from her seat.
