Translator: Nox

Chapter 114

<114> The Aftermath of Sincerity (4)

The next day, they arrived at London Station. It was a chilly dawn, the dusky hues of night not yet faded. They first checked into a nearby inn.

After a simple breakfast, Ian said to his agent,

"Let's head to Grosvenor Square after lunch. Have a hired carriage waiting in front of the inn by 1 PM."

"Yes, I understand. By the way, how do you plan to spend your time this morning?"

"I'm going to buy gifts for my nieces at Harrods. They seem quite disappointed that their beloved teacher has left."

Of course, so am I. He swallowed the unspoken words, dressed in a well-tailored suit, put on his gentleman's hat, and left the inn.

A cool autumn breeze was refreshingly purifying the stuffy air of London. He walked to Harrods, his hands in his pockets.

The department store was still quiet. He walked towards the stairs, passing silver cutlery sets displayed in glass cases, clerks smiling like mannequins beyond them, and mountains of various goods piled up behind them.

He had visited Harrods before. It was to buy a playhouse set for Olivia's birthday when he was in college.

He remembered the toy corner being on the third floor. He thought as he climbed the stairs.

'Since they want to be sailors, a toy soldier set would be good. If they liked books, I would buy them a complete collection, but the only person who can get them to read has run off to Bath...'

Just as Ian turned onto the staircase leading to the third floor, he ran into a couple. As he tried to pass them, the woman grabbed his arm.

"Oh my, Dalton!"

Ian looked at the woman but couldn't recognize her. Dark chestnut hair and black eyes. A petite face with freckles.

"Do you know me?"

The woman burst into laughter, "Ohoho!"

"It's me, it's me! Ann Steele!"

'Ann Steele...'

He flipped through the pages of his memory. Soon, he remembered the maid who greeted him with a haughty, sparrow-like face whenever he visited Laura's house.

"Ha, you look like a different person without your maid uniform."

"What brings you to London?"

"I have some business. What are you doing here so early? And with a man?"

Ann smiled brightly. And she held the arm of the man next to her tightly.

"This is my fiancé. Honey, say hello. He's a friend of the lady I used to serve."

The man took off his hat and bowed politely. He was quite handsome, with reddish-brown hair and blue eyes.

Ann chattered on.

"He's a lawyer working at Jayden & Mezz Law Firm. He hasn't been working there long, but he's already being recognized for his skills. We're getting married this year. We've saved up all the money we need. Here, look!"

Ann thrust her left hand right in front of Ian's face. A silver ring was on her ring finger. In the center of the ring was a small diamond that was barely visible upon close inspection.

Ian gave a bitter smile. The happiness and pride that filled Ann's face. He had proposed with a diamond more than ten times the size of this jewel, yet he had never seen such an expression on Laura's face.

'It must be the difference in their feelings for the men.'

"Well, I wish you happiness. May you build a warm home with your husband. Goodbye."

He nodded briefly and turned to leave.

"Wait, Dalton, wait a moment!"

Ann grabbed Ian's arm again.

"I have something to tell you!"

"What is it?"

"It's not a short story. If you don't have any urgent business, would you walk with me for a moment?"

"Is it about Laura?"

"Well, why else would I grab Dalton while I'm out looking at wedding furnishings with my fiancé?"

Ann let go of her fiancé's arm. And she cupped the man's cheeks with both hands and stroked them gently, almost cringingly.

"Honey, would you wait for me in the furniture corner on the fourth floor while I talk to this gentleman? Look for a rocking chair where you can sit and smoke your pipe after you come home. One that's sturdy enough that it won't break even if I sit on your lap from time to time."

The man kissed Ann's palm.

"It must be sturdy enough that it won't break even if you sit on my lap with our child in your womb. I'll choose well. My love."

The two looked into each other's eyes with affection, as if they had forgotten Ian's presence.

Ian was annoyed. He had never been jealous even when watching the Star's golden couple, but since he had just been rejected by Laura, he couldn't stand the cheesy display of affection.

'Don't they have any shame in a public place? Damn it. Couples are really annoying creatures.'

Ian grumbled inwardly for no reason.

Soon, Ann's fiancé left for the furniture corner on the fourth floor. Ann and Ian began to walk through the women's clothing corner on the second floor.

"So, what did you want to talk about?"

"Dalton, did you hear from the lady that a gentleman visited the Townhouse a while ago?"

"Not at all."

"Well, I guess it's not something I would tell Dalton. It seems you haven't won her heart enough to know all her worries. To take her to your own territory and still not win her love, if you had only half the skill of my darling, our lady would already be a happy bride veiled in a wedding dress."

"Did you ask me to walk with you just to tease me?"

Ann laughed, "Hoho!"

"Of course not, Dalton. Why would I waste my time on such a useless thing when I finally have a day off?"

"So, who was the gentleman who visited the Townhouse?"

"You know Ashton Law Firm in Cambridge? He's the senior lawyer there. His name is John Ashton. He's known as a reputable lawyer in England. Have you ever heard of him?"

"Of course. I was going to make him my legal representative, but he refused, saying he needed to focus on his business in London. So, he came to visit?"

"Yes! And guess what, he's our lady's first love!"

Ian stopped walking abruptly.

"...What?"

"First love. F.I.R.S.T. L.O.V.E!"

"..."

"When he asked about the lady's whereabouts, I first sent a letter to Laura. Laura told me not to reveal her location. So, when he visited a second time, I turned him away very coldly. But then he slipped thirty pounds into my hand and begged me to listen to his story for just five minutes."

"And?"

"With that many pounds, I could decorate the wedding hall with fresh flowers. I listened to his story behind the Townhouse. He said he met the lady twelve years ago and loved her so much. He even tried to run away with her, but it didn't work out as planned. But recently, his wife died of illness, and as soon as he got permission from his father-in-law to remarry, he rushed to meet the lady!"

"...What does that guy look like?"

"Don't even ask. He's so handsome! Of course, not as much as my darling, but he's not far behind Dalton. Above all, his devotion is amazing. He said he hasn't forgotten the lady for a single day in twelve years. He said he wants to marry her right away if the lady allows it!"

Ian listened to Ann's words with a hardened face. A handsome and wealthy lawyer, and her first love from her memories. The one who took her first kiss and even almost ran away with her.

He clenched his fist tightly.

"...But Laura said she didn't want to meet him."

"That's understandable, because Ashton didn't show up on the day they were supposed to run away together. He didn't even send a letter of apology afterward. The lady must have thought she was being played. But that's not what happened. Ashton's patron found out in advance and used a male servant to imprison him. And he gave him a lawyer's daughter with a large dowry as his wife. He tried to avoid getting married until the end, but his parents cried and begged him to get married, so he ended up getting married against his will."

"What a pathetic story. If it were me, I would have beaten the servants to a pulp and gone to her."

"Well, everyone's different. Anyway, Ashton wants to tell the lady all about it and atone for it."

"So, did you tell him her whereabouts?"

"No."

"Why? He would have given you a few more pounds, wouldn't he?"

Ann retorted, sounding displeased.

"A maid has her pride. How could I reveal something that the mistress I serve told me not to? I wouldn't do such a thing even if he gave me the money to buy a French wedding dress."

"Good, don't say anything about her whereabouts even if John Ashton shows up again. I'll buy you a French wedding dress if you promise."

"It's okay. I'm going to wear the wedding dress my mother passed down to me."

"Suit yourself. Are you done talking?"

"Yes. But is the lady doing well? I'm worried to death because I can't see her in person."

"She's doing well."

"That's a relief. Oh, right, I knitted gloves and a scarf for her to prepare for winter. Would you deliver them for me?"

"I'm sorry, but I can't."

"Oh my, why?"

He frowned and thought for a moment.

'Well, we exchange letters regularly, so she'll find out sooner or later.'

"She rejected my proposal and left."

"What?"

"She didn't leave for good. She just went to a friend's place in the countryside to rest for a while."

"Oh my goodness, really, Dalton only has half the skill of my darling..."

"Enough, Ann Steele."

"Okay, I won't. My sisters told me the same thing. They said they'd stab me with a steak knife if I brag about my fiancé one more time. So, where did our lady go?"

"Bath."

This time, Ann stopped in her tracks. Her eyes and lips were wide open in surprise.

"Oh my! Oh my!"

Ann clapped her hands wildly.

"It's fate! This is fate!"

"What..."

"Bath! Ashton said he was going to Bath too! He said his daughter is not well, so they're going to spend the winter there, taking hot spring treatments!"

"..."

"Bath is a small city. They're bound to run into each other. Maybe the two of them are destined to be together! Well, our lady doesn't marry someone of a different social status, so John Ashton, who is middle class, is a much better match..."

Before Ann could finish speaking, Ian turned around and quickly walked towards the stairs. The sound of his shoes faded away towards the first floor.

Ann walked briskly to the department store's large glass window and looked down at the street. She saw Ian Dalton rushing out of the entrance and quickly grabbing a hired carriage.

Ann gave a satisfied smile.

'That's right, Dalton. Be more proactive. Don't take your eyes off the lady for a moment.'

Ann whistled and slowly walked towards the fourth floor, where her fiancé was waiting.

There was a reason why Ann told him about John Ashton. A love triangle is what makes a man's heart burn. She wanted to ignite jealousy in Ian's heart and make him hold on to Laura even tighter.

She didn't know that Laura had left for Bath, but it was even better. Ian Dalton would work even harder to win her heart there.

Ann snorted, thinking of John Ashton's back as he left for Bath with slumped shoulders.

'A lawyer with a child dares to covet our precious lady? No way. The place that suits Laura is Mrs. Dalton of Yorkshire's most prestigious family!'