Translator: Nox

Chapter 106

<106> The Worst Night (1)

"Ah, well... I don't think I've seen him today..."

"If you do, please call him over here."

"Daisy, just stay still! I'll take care of it!"

Miss Lance snapped irritably. Mr. Fairfax blinked.

'What's going on?'

"Brother, I'm thirsty. Could you get me a lemonade?"

"Of course. Ladies, is there anything I can get for you?"

The ladies giggled at Mr. Fairfax's affable manner.

"Then, I'll have a white wine."

"I'll take a plate of panini!"

He took the ladies' orders like a waiter and walked towards the dessert table.

As he took a tray from one of the servants and began to fill it with the refreshments the ladies had ordered, he overheard two ladies talking from behind a curtain behind the table.

"Miss Lance, do you think she's really engaged?"

"If she were, shouldn't she announce it today?"

Mr. Fairfax had no taste for eavesdropping on other people's gossip. He sped up his movements to get away from the area as quickly as possible.

"When would there be a better time? She'll probably make a big splash at the height of the Ball."

"That'll be quite a spectacle. I'm going to stay in the hall instead of going to the lounge."

'Hmm, hurry, hurry.'

He quickly piled the panini onto the tray.

He did a final check to make sure he hadn't missed anything from the orders, then turned to leave with the tray. But the whispering voice of a lady stopped him in his tracks.

"But you know, I'm not sure if Mr. Dalton really likes Miss Lance. Mr. Dalton seems to be somewhere else, while she's been fawning over him all week."

And Mr. Fairfax froze at the words that followed.

"Anyway, it's a good thing that Miss Lance will be the lady of the house here. There will be Balls at Whitefield Hall often."

"That's right. Maybe they'll open it to tourists."

The ladies continued to chat. Mr. Fairfax didn't feel it was worth listening any further. He already had enough information to chill his blood.

'The rumored fiancé of Miss Lance is Ian? What nonsense is this? Ian is too busy chasing after Miss Pendleton!'

He hurried back to Miss Lance's group. They greeted Mr. Fairfax, who had returned with the tray, with delight.

Mr. Fairfax distributed the food to the ladies. Then, telling them he had something to say to his sister, he took her away from the group.

It wasn't easy to find a place to have a private conversation. He ended up leaving the hall and taking his sister upstairs.

He asked in a low voice.

"Janet, Miss Lance's rumored lover... is it... Ian?"

Janet, who was wiping the sweat from her brow with a handkerchief after circling the hall, burst out laughing without a care.

"Brother, are you just finding out now?"

"......"

"I didn't know Ian would keep it a secret even from William! He really has no loyalty! He must have made a firm promise to Miss Lance to keep it a secret, right?"

"Janet."

"Yes?"

"How many people know about this rumor?"

"I told you. Everyone in London!"

The color drained from Mr. Fairfax's face.

* * *

"Hmm, Dora, I think we should find Mr. Dalton."

Miss Orson said, fanning her neck.

"There are so many people that he can't seem to find you."

Miss Lance retorted primly.

"How can a lady go looking for a gentleman first?"

"Still, isn't it a lady's virtue to give a gentleman a chance? At least, for a gentleman she likes."

Miss Lance shook her head.

"Then shall we go look for him? If we tell Mr. Dalton where you are, it will be easier for him to find you."

Miss Wilkes chimed in.

"Yes, let's do that. It will be harder for him to be brave after today than it has been so far. He hasn't had a chance to confess these past few days. There hasn't been any time alone."

Donovan agreed.

"That's right. We should have discreetly left you two alone. But the waltz is a dance for two, so he'll definitely have a chance."

Miss Lance said nothing. It was tacit permission. The ladies told Miss Lance that they would definitely find Mr. Dalton and bring him to her, and then moved away from her.

Miss Lance sipped her cold white wine and checked her appearance once more. Her heart was pounding even more due to the alcohol.

For the past few days, Mr. Dalton had been looking at her with unfocused, dazed eyes. It was a gaze intoxicated by her beauty.

'It's probably today.'

The Ball at Whitefield Hall, the romantic waltz, herself dressed to perfection. There couldn't be more perfect conditions for a proposal.

She waited for Mr. Dalton to appear through the crowd. In the meantime, the Cotillion ended and it was time for the Country Dance.

She had to dance with Mr. Fairfax first. She waited for Mr. Fairfax. However, he didn't show his face until the music started.

Miss Lance felt slightly displeased but soon shook her head.

'He wouldn't stand up a lady without a reason. Something must have come up, but when is Mr. Dalton coming? The waltz is right after the Country Dance.'

The Country Dance ended. The ladies and gentlemen who had enjoyed the lively time left the dance stage. Soon, the waltz began and ended. Next came the Quadrille and the Cotillion.

In between, she received dance requests, but Miss Lance refused and waited only for Mr. Dalton.

After an hour, she began to feel uneasy.

'I guess I have to go look for him.'

She lifted the hem of her skirt slightly and slowly moved forward.

There were too many people. With every step, she bumped into someone's shoulder and the hem of her skirt was stepped on.

'Where did you go, leaving me in a place like this, Mr. Dalton.'

Miss Lance felt annoyed. When she thought about it, he had left her alone at the Ball. He had never asked her to dance the waltz, which was called the dance of lovers.

She had always expected and waited.

'Mr. Dalton, where are you? Surely, you won't disappoint me again, will you?'

However, a middle-aged gentleman, flushed with drink, suddenly appeared in front of Miss Lance, who was steadily moving forward. He looked at Miss Lance with dazed eyes and bowed as if to greet her.

'Do I know him?'

Miss Lance was about to bend her knees slightly to show courtesy. At that moment.

"Ugh!"

"Eek!"

The gentleman's vomit poured onto the hem of Miss Lance's dress.

The people around Miss Lance turned and gasped in horror.

Miss Lance's face turned as red as a tomato. She pushed away the gentleman, who continued to retch, and ran forward. The ladies and gentlemen hurriedly cleared the way, afraid of getting vomit on themselves.

She ran out of the hall and hurried down the stairs. Once outside, she looked around. There was no one there.

Miss Lance looked down at the hem of her skirt. A filthy stain of mixed wine and shrimp dishes disgustingly decorated the beautiful lace-trimmed, milky white Silk Dress.

'He ruined the whole night! It's an expensive dress that I begged my mother to make! And I didn't even get to show it to Mr. Dalton! The Ball is over for today!'

She couldn't bear to see herself in such a pathetic state. She resented Mr. Dalton for leaving her alone, and she was upset that her expectations had been dashed once again.

She couldn't hold back her tears.

She could feel the passing servants and workers glancing at her, but she didn't care and cried her eyes out.

Then someone grabbed her shoulder.

"Miss Lance?"

She lowered the hand covering her face. Miss Pendleton was standing before her.

"Why are you crying?"

Miss Lance quickly wiped her face. She was so overwhelmed with humiliation and dismay that she was on the verge of losing her mind. She had been caught in her miserable state by the lady who might be Mr. Dalton's mistress (no, definitely his mistress).

Miss Pendleton checked the colorful marks on her skirt. Her brow furrowed slightly, but she quickly returned to her usual calm expression.

"It seems someone has made a big mistake with Miss Lance."

Miss Lance sniffled.

"I want to... go back to my room."

"The Ball is not even halfway over yet. There will be fireworks later. Aren't you looking forward to it?"

"But in this dress... in this state..."

"You can change. You brought a lot of evening dresses, didn't you?"

"They're not as pretty as this dress. Above all, my face is a mess right now! How can I go back like this!"

Miss Lance screamed and started crying again.

Miss Pendleton waited quietly. When her crying subsided, she wiped her wet face with her gloved hand. The soft velvet cloth absorbed the tears.

"You're a little swollen and bloodshot, but Miss Lance is prettier than any lady in the ballroom."

Miss Lance glared at Miss Pendleton suspiciously.

"Many ladies' faces are ruined after crying for a long time, but Miss Lance is still like a newly bloomed flower bud."

"Re...ally?"

"Of course. Now, go to your room, wash your face, and change your dress. I'll redo your hair. No one will know that Miss Lance cried. Not even Mr. Dalton."

Miss Lance, who had been rubbing her eyes, suddenly looked up at Miss Pendleton. She was smiling gently.

"Today is the best chance to receive his proposal, isn't it?"

Miss Lance nodded and went inside the mansion with her.

Miss Lance glanced at Miss Pendleton as she climbed the stairs. The situation was as if Miss Pendleton was helping her with Mr. Dalton.

'Has she decided to give up on Mr. Dalton? Or does she have some other ulterior motive?'

Miss Lance had no way of knowing.

When they arrived at the room, Miss Pendleton busily helped Miss Lance. She had the maid bring water for her to wash her face, helped her put on her dress, and did her hair. Miss Pendleton's styling skills were delicate and skillful.

Miss Lance in the mirror was as pretty as she had been when she was preparing for the Ball earlier. This was because Miss Pendleton had styled her hair to suit her face shape and had chosen a suitable evening dress for her.

Miss Lance couldn't help but say.

"Thank you."

Miss Pendleton shook her head as she secured Miss Lance's stray hairs with bobby pins.

"It's my duty to help you."

"Why?"

"I'm the one who introduced you to Mr. Dalton."

"Now that you mention it, I forgot to thank you for that too. Thank you."

"......"

When they were done, the two went out into the hallway to return to the hall. As they walked side by side, Miss Pendleton seemed to be lost in thought.