Chapter 105
<Chapter 105> Hunting Party (8)
Late at night, when Ramswick entered his master's bedroom, Ian Dalton was lying on the bed, pressing his eyes with the back of his hand.
He had half taken off his tuxedo. His casually loosened linen tie and the four or five unbuttoned buttons revealed glimpses of his curved collarbone and split chest. His combed hair was disheveled, and his jacket and vest were lying on the floor as if abandoned.
It was in stark contrast to his usual appearance, where he insisted on neat formal attire even when performing his daily duties. But Ramswick was not surprised.
Miss Sheldon had been avoiding his master for the past three days. Until then, the two had been seeking each other out like an affectionate husband and wife. The two, who used to whisper and laugh like close childhood friends, had become like strangers.
She wouldn't even let his master speak to her, and if he came near, she would quickly move away like a roe deer hearing the footsteps of a hunter. Ramswick, who had been observing the whole situation from afar until today, the last day of the gathering, felt a great pain watching his master's wounded face. Miss Sheldon was not responding to his master at all, and he was only able to get a glimpse of her feelings through the butler.
"Master. I have a report."
His master turned his head. His haggard face, unable to sleep, stared at the small old butler. He slowly raised his upper body and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Mr. Philip said he sent it and brought coffee cake and sherbet. She ate about half and then refused it. She seems to be in a good mood, and she is praying to quickly finish the gathering and return to Dunville Park."
"What about what I told you to ask?"
Ramswick swallowed hard.
As he hesitated, his master's face hardened.
"Answer me."
"...At first, she only said she didn't know, but when I repeatedly asked, she said it. Perhaps, she might go to the boarding school she graduated from and become a teacher. She even sent a letter to see if there was a position already..."
His face crumpled miserably. He bowed his head and rubbed his face roughly.
Ramswick's heart burned with worry. Was Miss Sheldon really trying to leave his master? And if so, could his master really accept that reality?
His master had not slept a wink since Miss Sheldon began to ignore him. He smoked cigarettes one after another and refused to eat. He acted blankly no matter what was said, making the servants and guests wonder. It was as if he had lost his soul.
'What if he goes crazy?'
This sincere old butler, whose only concern was his master's peace and happiness, was getting deeper wrinkles due to worry.
"She told me to tell you, Master, that there will be fireworks after the last Cotillion at tomorrow's Ball. She said she ordered them additionally because she thought an event was needed to decorate the finale since it's the last day."
As if he didn't care about such things, he took a cigar from the cigarette case and put it in his mouth. Ramswick bowed and left the room.
Click, the sound of the door closing was heard.
He smoked a cigar in the dim room. When he finished one, he took another one and put it in his mouth, and when he finished that one, he put another cigar in his mouth.
But he couldn't get the stability he expected. His chest continued to feel stuffy.
'She might leave Dunville Park?'
The nightmare he had feared had become a reality.
He didn't know where things had gone wrong. In the preparation process, he wanted her to become familiar with Whitefield Hall. He wanted her to know every corner of this mansion and become friendly with the servants so that she could lightly dismiss the burden of becoming the mistress even if she received a proposal.
Also, he wanted to show off to the nobles who had ignored her how strong a protector she had gained, and how great her father was as a painter.
But this plan only made her distance herself.
'She's my mistress? If only I could find that bastard who said such dirty words and tear his mouth apart.'
But he couldn't waste time on such venting. Laura was trying to leave. She was trying to fly away forever.
'I can't live if she leaves.'
The past three days had been hell just from being ignored by her. Nothing entered his head. All the humans coming and going in front of him looked like monkeys. Even when William kept waving his fingers in front of his eyes and asking how many he saw, he couldn't answer.
'I can't let her leave. I have to keep her by my side no matter what.'
He racked his brains. But even when he was sober, he was not rational when it came to Laura's problems. His brain, which hadn't slept for a single minute in three days, came up with an absurd answer.
'Before Laura leaves, let's propose to her.'
He bit the cigar with his teeth.
'I'll call her quietly to the terrace at tomorrow's Ball. And I'll tell her that I've been loving her all along... But she won't accept it.'
He stubbed out the cigar and chewed his fingernails. Soon, a heinous idea came to his mind.
'If she refuses, I'll say I'll fall off the terrace.'
Adrenaline rushed through his body with excitement. He jumped up and paced around the bed.
'Yes, then she'll definitely accept. Because she's kind and good-hearted. Let's get married first. We'll use separate rooms and live like siblings until she loves me. I'll wait for years until her heart is the same as mine. When her heart becomes the same as mine, then our married life will begin in earnest.'
Was his judgment impaired due to lack of sleep? He was so caught up in the possibility of keeping Laura by his side that he didn't remember that Laura was deeply religious. It was obvious how much contempt Laura, a Christian who considered suicide the most terrible sin, would feel if she knew about the plan.
The next morning, as soon as the sun rose, he ordered one of the servants to retrieve the diamond ring from the bank vault. It was a valuable item passed down through the Dalton family, and it was the wedding ring that his father had personally put on his mother's finger on their wedding day.
Around Formal dinner, a quick-footed servant presented the ring to his master.
Mr. Dalton put the thumb-sized diamond ring in the case in his tuxedo breast pocket. And he moved his feet, shod in shiny shoes, and headed to the ballroom downstairs.
* * *
The hall was so noisy with the sound of the orchestra and the chatter of people that it was deafening.
Mr. Fairfax danced the Quadrille happily with his sister and parted ways to find their respective friends.
He had decided to dance the next song, the Cotillion, with Miss Pendleton.
He hadn't been able to have a proper conversation with her for the past few days. There were many stories to tell. Miss Pendleton was a friend he cherished at a similar level to Miss Hyde, and she was a person he respected personally.
Mr. Fairfax found her next to the drinks table. She was wearing a dark purple velvet dress decorated with white lace and gold accessories, and was instructing Ramswick to send more maids to the ladies' lounge.
She bent her knees slightly when she saw Mr. Fairfax.
"Hello, Mr. Fairfax."
"Hello, Miss Pendleton. Ah, Pendleton has become a forgotten old name, hasn't it?"
"I don't care what I'm called. Call me whatever you're comfortable with."
"I'll call you Miss Sheldon. You've lost your name for so long, having such a wonderful father, so you should continue to be called by your proud name from now on."
Laura smiled brightly. Mr. Fairfax could feel a faint shadow on Laura's smiling face.
'Is she worried about something?'
He postponed the question for now. It was not polite to point out that a lady's complexion was bad.
"Miss Sheldon, is the next Cotillion promised?"
"No."
"Then with me?"
"Okay. I'm glad to be dancing with Mr. Fairfax after a long time. You're a master of social dance."
"I'm at a level that I'm not ashamed of in front of Miss Sheldon. Miss Sheldon's steps are lighter than feathers."
Laura laughed heartily. But suddenly, her laughter stopped. Laura's gaze was directed over Mr. Fairfax's shoulder.
Mr. Fairfax turned around. Ian was striding around the ballroom, looking around in all directions.
He raised his hand.
"Hey, I...!"
"Mr. Fairfax!"
He turned to Laura.
"The next Cotillion will be difficult. Please forgive me, Mr. Fairfax."
"Are you perhaps sick somewhere?"
"No. Um... I remembered something I hadn't instructed."
"I'm worried that you're working too hard. You can't even enjoy yourself."
"Please enjoy yourself enough for me. And please don't tell Mr. Dalton which direction I disappeared in."
"Ah... yes."
Laura hurriedly left the spot. As soon as she disappeared, Ian approached him.
"William, have you seen Miss Pendleton?"
"Huh?"
He rolled his eyes.
"I haven't... seen her."
Ian swept back his neatly combed hair.
"Damn it, where did she go?"
Mr. Fairfax looked closely at Ian's face. Ian, who had been getting more haggard day by day, had a strangely excited blush on his face today.
"Is something wrong?"
"Nothing. Let me know if you find Miss Pendleton."
"Okay..."
"And, if Miss Lance looks for me, tell her you haven't seen me. She's been sticking to me like glue these past few days, and it's driving me crazy."
"Hey, how can you talk about a lady like that..."
Ian disappeared into the crowd without listening to him until the end.
'I don't know what's going on. Is it a game of tag?'
He shrugged and walked around the hall to find another friend. Then, he saw his sister's back in the distance. She was mixed in with Miss Lance and her group of friends.
He approached them to greet the ladies.
"Hello."
The ladies bent their knees and bowed.
"Are you having a good time?"
"Yes."
Miss Lance laughed heartily. She had a more lively face than when he saw her on the train. Her hairstyle and dress were also excellent. She was by far the most eye-catching woman in the hall.
"Brother, brother, Miss Lance's dress, you know, a tailor from France made it by hand!"
Miss Lance blushed as if she was embarrassed. Mr. Fairfax clapped to match her rhythm.
"No wonder it was dazzling from afar. You're definitely the star of today."
Miss Lance's friends laughed happily. Miss Lance blushed.
"Thank you."
"All of today's dance partners must be fully booked already."
"That's not true. Of course, I have to dance one song with Mr. Fairfax."
"I'm honored, Miss Lance."
At that time, Miss Wilkes, who was next to Miss Lance, covered her mouth with a fan and whispered to Miss Lance.
"No waltz. No waltz!"
"Be quiet!"
Even though it was a whisper, Mr. Fairfax could hear it all.
'She must be saving the waltz for her lover.'
He laughed inwardly.
"The Cotillion has already started, can I reserve the next country dance?"
"Okay."
"But, Mr. Fairfax. Have you seen Mr. Dalton?"
Miss Orson, who was next to Miss Lance, asked.
Mr. Fairfax felt conflicted between his friend's request and his courtesy to the lady.
