Chapter 138
#<Episode 138>
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This year's Christmas was a white Christmas. Snowflakes had been falling heavily since dawn, and they continued to pour down without ceasing until noon.
Laura sat on the bed, gazing out the window. Her cheeks were always flushed from the indoor air, which was more than warm, almost hot, but today her blush was even deeper.
"Isn't it wonderful, Miss Pendleton?"
Miss Hyde, who was sitting next to the bed, also had her eyes fixed on the outside. Laura nodded.
"It's truly wonderful. I don't think there's anything as wonderful as a snowy Christmas."
Laura turned to Miss Hyde with a slightly regretful expression.
"If it weren't for me, we could have had fun partying at a restaurant and shopping at the department store. I'm so sorry."
Miss Hyde shook her head.
"What would Christmas mean if Miss Pendleton were bedridden? Besides, on days like this, you only suffer from being jostled by people if you go out. After all, the best way to spend Christmas is quietly with someone you cherish."
Miss Hyde soothed Laura with a voice full of kindness and sincerity.
'If it weren't for Miss Hyde, the time spent in bed would have been torture.'
Laura smiled, looking at Miss Hyde with eyes full of affection.
It had been almost two months since Laura had woken up from the Fever.
After suffering from a high fever, Laura woke up after three days, only to be confronted with the terrifying face of a doctor standing next to her bed, looking down at her.
"You reckless young lady, why on earth did you ignore Mrs. Rover's advice and go outside? You even visited a Fever patient; were you trying to die?"
Laura quietly admitted her mistake. He continued in a solemn voice, like a heavenly judge.
"From a doctor's point of view, a patient who values goodwill more than their own body is a sinner. A sinner who cannot take care of the body given by God! I will punish you. Do not leave the house until March next year. Even on Sundays, pray at home, and on Christmas, just cut a cake at home. Do you understand?"
The authority of a doctor held great power over the sick. Laura obediently accepted the punishment.
The doctor made her swear in the names of God and her parents before leaving.
Laura did not set foot outside the house, as the doctor had ordered. She didn't even go out of her room much. It was partly because of the promise, but also because she was unable to move around easily due to persistent dizziness and nausea from the aftereffects of the Fever, which made it difficult for her to eat properly.
Miss Hyde was always by Laura's side. She kept her company, helped Mrs. Rover with washing her, and read to her.
"When will Miss Rotis be back?"
"She'll probably be back before dinner. She'll bring a Christmas cake on her way. Miss Pendleton, let's have a fun Christmas."
Laura nodded.
She thought. Being able to spend days like today with people you love is a great happiness. A warm fire, delicious food, gifts exchanged, carols sung in unison.
There's no better day than Christmas to confirm that you are a blessed person.
'I wonder how the Dunville Park family is doing.'
She could imagine it. Mr. and Mrs. Fairfax and their children sitting by the warm fire in the living room.
With the gold baubles and star decorations on the tree twinkling, the children would have received large gift boxes from the adults. George and Daniel would be tearing at the wrapping like excited wolves, screaming, while Olivia would be looking forward to unwrapping her gifts, even while despising her younger brothers.
Little Ian, sitting on his mother's lap, would be sucking his finger and watching his older sister and brothers with curious eyes.
Mrs. Fairfax would be smiling proudly as she watched the children. And she would say to another member of the family standing beside her, Mr. Dalton.
'Ian, it seems the children like the presents you bought the best. As expected, their uncle knows his nephews' hearts best.'
Mr. Dalton would turn away, grumbling.
'It's just that their mother and father are indifferent. I just picked something that the clerk recommended as a good seller.'
Laura couldn't help but laugh at the thought. Yes, Mr. Dalton would definitely react that way. He was always busy hiding his abundant affection for his nephews.
'He'll be spending a Christmas that isn't lonely. Because he has the family at Dunville Park.'
Just then, Mrs. Rover, who had left to fetch water, came into the room. In her hands, besides the water bottle, she held a small bundle of letters.
"The servant brought the letters. It seems they're all for Miss Pendleton."
Miss Hyde took the letters.
"Honestly, our Miss Pendleton is so popular."
Laura put the water bottle on the table and said to Mrs. Rover, who was poking at the fireplace with a poker.
"You can go in now, Mrs. Rover."
"It's not even five o'clock yet."
"It's Christmas. If you go now, you can buy presents for the children at the toy store. Have a delicious dinner with your children, Mrs. Rover."
Mrs. Rover looked surprised, but soon put on the coat that had been hanging on one side.
"Thank you, Miss Pendleton. If I go now, I can make a new chicken dish for the children instead of the soup I made this morning."
"Merry Christmas, Mrs. Rover."
"Merry Christmas, Miss Pendleton."
Mrs. Rover left the room. As soon as the door closed, Miss Hyde said energetically.
"Then, shall I read the letters until the Christmas cake arrives?"
Laura nodded.
With practiced hands, Miss Hyde took a letter opener from the drawer. And she began to open and read the letters that were on top.
The first letter was from Mrs. Morton.
At the beginning of the letter, she informed her of her recent situation. Being heavily pregnant, she had gone down to Lincolnshire, where she had a villa. Trembling as she waited for the birth, she was wondering what name to give the child who would soon be born, under the devoted care of her husband.
"…Sister, if I have a daughter, I will definitely name her after you. Laura Morton. A lovely name, isn't it? I will raise her to be a wonderful lady like you. I will go up to London when my body recovers. Please be sure to attend our child's christening. You must be the child's godmother. Ah, I miss you so much. I'm so nervous about my first childbirth. It would be much easier if you were by my side. But I'll do well. Have a good Christmas, and stay healthy until the day we meet again. Forever your loving sister, Mrs. Morton. P.S. When will the book you translated be released? My husband and I are eagerly waiting for it!"
Laura smiled bashfully. Elizabeth's loveliness dripped from the entire letter. And she would name her daughter Laura if she had one. Although it had been more than half a year since they had been apart, Bess still loved her with a steadfast heart.
'If she knew I was sick in bed, she wouldn't be comfortable.'
Laura thought it was fortunate that she had not told her friends that she was ill.
Following that, letters from friends scattered throughout England continued. They were warm letters wishing her a happy Christmas.
Among them, there was also a letter containing very surprising news. It was a letter from Miss Joan Jenson.
Laura knew about Miss Jenson's recent situation through several exchanges of letters. She had currently broken off her engagement with Charles Pendleton (as expected), and was dating a man named Jacob Channing.
He was 11 years older than Miss Jenson and had an ordinary appearance. However, he was the eldest son of a Count family with a reputation for being a good and honest person. He was wealthy enough that there was no suspicion that he was after Miss Jenson's fortune. He had fallen in love with Miss Jenson at first sight at the Lance family's Ball and courted her passionately, winning her heart over many competitors.
Miss Jenson told her about an amazing recent development in this letter. She had successfully bid on both the Pendleton family's townhouse and Country house that had been put up for auction. In the case of general real estate sales, a guarantee of status was required to buy a building of such a historically deep family, but this was an exception in the case of a forced sale due to debt.
She was overjoyed, but also worried about Miss Pendleton's sense of loss. She recognized Miss Pendleton as the 'original owner of the Pendleton mansion' and asked her to visit at any time and give her advice on managing the mansion.
Laura was grateful for Miss Jenson's concern. As for Laura, who had no lingering feelings about the Pendleton family, she wouldn't have batted an eye even if the Pendleton family's building had been burned to ashes.
Laura thought that there could be no better news than the fact that Miss Jenson, who had wanted the Pendleton family's building so much, had become happy.
After reading the fifth letter, Miss Hyde poured a glass of water from the water jug that Mrs. Rover had left behind to moisten her dry mouth. And she picked up the letter opener to open the next letter.
"Huh?"
Miss Hyde's eyes widened as soon as she checked the envelope. Laura was puzzled and looked at the envelope of the letter that Miss Hyde was holding. It was a turquoise invitation with gold leaf on the edges.
"Who's it from?"
Miss Hyde opened the letter without a word. A glossy, high-quality ivory paper came out of the envelope.
"Oh my! Oh my!"
Miss Hyde covered her mouth and muttered repeatedly.
"Why? What is it?"
Miss Hyde handed over the letter. It was a wedding invitation, and the contents written in elegant cursive were as follows.
'You are invited to the engagement ceremony. William Fairfax & Dora Lance.'
"Oh my!"
Laura couldn't help but exclaim the same exclamation as Miss Hyde. Really, it was an event that could not be expressed except by saying 'Oh my!'
"Miss Pendleton, did I see that right? It says that Mr. Fairfax is engaged to Miss Lance, right?"
"Yes… that's how it looks to me too."
"How did the two of them fall in love? Mr. Fairfax wasn't very close to Miss Lance."
"They started to get close slowly since Miss Hyde was preparing for independence."
"Oh, I see."
Miss Hyde thought for a moment.
"…Then it's not impossible. Miss Lance is beautiful and has a decent personality, so they must have naturally fallen in love while interacting. Mr. Fairfax is very lucky."
"…That's right."
Miss Hyde soon began to laugh heartily.
"Oh my, how grateful Mr. Fairfax must be that he rejected my proposal half a year ago. He almost missed out on a star in society because he married a withered potato as his wife. He can't thank me enough!"
Knowing that Miss Hyde's words were entirely a joke, Laura laughed along. But her feelings hidden beneath her expression were extremely complicated.
It wasn't because she thought the union was inappropriate. Mr. Fairfax was a wonderful gentleman, and he was fully qualified to marry the daughter of a Baronet, both in terms of wealth and family. He would be able to embrace Miss Lance with a generous heart and continue their married life smoothly.
'But, what about Miss Lance?'
