Chapter 139
#<Episode 139>
Could it be that, overwhelmed by the sorrow of heartbreak, she impulsively rushed into an engagement? Still loving Mr. Dalton, yet grateful for Mr. Fairfax's comfort, she decided to take his hand...?
That would be utterly reckless. Mr. Dalton and Mr. Fairfax were close friends who met frequently. If, after the marriage, Miss Lance couldn't settle her heart and still harbored feelings for Mr. Dalton, there was a risk of both friendship and marriage being destroyed.
While Laura was lost in thought, Miss Hyde rummaged through the unopened letters, wondering if there might be one from Mr. Fairfax.
"…Ah, here it is! A letter from Mr. Fairfax, Miss Pendleton!"
Startled, Laura snapped out of her reverie. Miss Hyde was opening the envelope with lightning speed. Laura suddenly felt uneasy.
'What if the letter mentions the embarrassing predicament Miss Lance was in during the last hunting gathering?'
Laura reached out her hand to Miss Hyde.
"Miss Hyde, I'll read the letter."
"Why?"
"…It's such surprising news, I want to see it with my own eyes."
Miss Hyde readily handed over the letter.
"Read it aloud, please? Okay?"
Laura nodded. And thinking that she would skip over any problematic parts, she slowly began to recite the letter.
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To the esteemed Miss Sheldon.
Miss Sheldon, I hope you have been well. Please forgive me for taking so long to pick up the pen. Also, I must apologize for surprising you with the sudden news of my engagement.
My future wife, Miss Lance, or rather Dora, has become the subject of unpleasant rumors in London and is receiving unfavorable public opinion. The news of our engagement will restore her reputation, so I had to rush out the engagement invitations first. I hope you will understand my haste with a generous heart.
I am engaged to Dora. A week ago, she made me the happiest man in the world. The wedding is planned for around May a year from now. The period between the engagement and the wedding must be long enough to prevent any further unpleasant rumors from surrounding Dora.
She will be the most beautiful bride in the world. I want to make her not only a beautiful bride but a happy one. I intend to do everything I can for her happiness.
Miss Sheldon, there is one more thing I want to tell you. In fact, the reason the letter was delayed was because I needed time to decide whether or not to share this news.
About two months ago, Ian Dalton came to the Lance residence in London.
No one at the Lance residence welcomed him. Mrs. Lance regards my friend as an enemy, and Dora is also in an awkward position to face him. I, too, was deeply disappointed in that friend.
To get straight to the point, Ian apologized to Dora, bowing his head. He apologized for his insensitivity that had hurt her feelings. He made no excuses. He simply said that he had been arrogant and selfish.
Dora was apologetic for his apology. She said that she was not qualified to forgive anyone, and that all the fault lay with her. The two of them argued for a long time, each insisting that the fault was their own. Eventually, I had to intervene. I said that everything was just a misunderstanding, and since there was no one here who resented each other, it would be good to shake hands and smile.
The two shook hands. And although they didn't laugh out loud, they smiled at each other.
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Having heard this far, Miss Hyde tilted her head.
"Miss Pendleton, what is all this about? Why is Mr. Dalton apologizing to Miss Lance? Why is Miss Lance embarrassed to see Mr. Dalton?"
Laura, relieved that Mr. Fairfax hadn't directly mentioned the incident at the time, fabricated a white lie.
"I told you there was a hunting gathering at Whitefield, right? They went on a picnic by the lake, and there was a stone skipping competition. Miss Lance was in the lead, surpassing all the gentlemen and ladies, but then Mr. Dalton skipped a stone twice as far as Miss Lance, snatching away the glory of first place. Miss Lance was so upset by that, she even cried. But Mr. Dalton just left, telling her to practice more instead of crying. Miss Lance was deeply hurt by that, and Mr. Fairfax was angry with Mr. Dalton."
It was a decent lie that fit together reasonably well and reflected Mr. Dalton's personality well.
Miss Hyde, who had great pride in her stone skipping skills, seemed convinced and folded her arms, nodding.
"I can see why she would be upset. I understand Miss Lance's feelings. By the way, I didn't know Miss Lance was interested in stone skipping. It would be nice to have a competition sometime."
"Are you trying to make Miss Lance cry again?"
The two burst out laughing.
Laura smiled and savored the contents of the letter. Then, she felt the anxiety she had felt a moment ago melt away and disappear. Moreover, she also put down the burden she had been carrying since leaving Bath.
After the incident at the hunting gathering, Miss Lance had become a source of worry for Laura. It was obvious that she was going through the same thing that she had once experienced.
Twenty years old was a young age to bear the whispers of the world. Having experienced similar things at a similar age, Laura had often wished for death. If it weren't for her grandmother, she might have made an extreme choice.
But Miss Lance, whom she had glimpsed through the letter, seemed to be navigating the situation better than expected. She handled Mr. Dalton's apology appropriately, and instead of resenting someone, she looked back on her own faults and became a more mature person than before.
From before, Miss Lance was a bright person compared to her peers. Sometimes vanity interfered with her judgment, but it would be strange if someone with that level of beauty didn't have vanity.
Perhaps she had discovered the shortcomings within herself and overcome them.
'Miss Lance is better than me. She's much wiser and more wonderful than I was at seventeen.'
Laura decided not to doubt Miss Lance's intentions in accepting the proposal. There was no way that the wise her would have chosen marriage, seized by impulse, while having another man in her heart.
She wholeheartedly blessed Mr. Fairfax and Miss Lance's future in her heart.
"Miss Pendleton, please continue reading."
Laura nodded and resumed reciting from where she had left off.
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Miss Sheldon, as you know, Dora had to pay a high price for her mistake. If it hadn't been for the instigation of those around her, she would never have made the mistake. But she humbly admits that she was also at fault and has become much more mature as a result.
She even asked Ian about you and said that she hoped the two of you would do well. Ah, how humble and generous she is. I am a lucky man to have found someone like her as my partner!
I have completely forgiven Ian. Moreover, I saw Ian again. That guy has a peculiar disposition that he never apologizes for something he doesn't consider to be his fault.
The bigger problem is that he doesn't consider anything to be his fault. Of course, he has never apologized in his life. At least, as far as I know.
That guy, confessing his arrogance and bowing his head. It was like seeing a different person. I escorted him to the door. And I asked him what on earth had happened in Bath.
"I just realized that I'm someone who can hurt someone. I have a bad temper."
"I'm glad you realized it now. But who gave you that precious lesson?"
Ian smiled sadly.
"Miss Greensleeves."
I was worried that Ian had gone crazy. But he left for Whitefield before I could stop him.
Miss Sheldon. I am worried about Ian.
I am not Ian's father, nor am I his guardian. I know that a man who is thirty years old should be left to solve his own problems.
But Ian has changed. There are good changes, but there are also bad changes. He looked sick. He had become terribly thin, and he coughed from time to time. Most of all, what worries me is that he seems depressed. Like a puppet who has lost its manipulator, he was slumped over and seemed to have no desire for life.
You must have noticed why I hesitated to write this letter. I can almost see the worried expression on Miss Sheldon's face. But I must know what has happened to my friend of twenty years, even if it means causing concern to my dearest lady. Why does he have such a… face that looks like he'd rather die?
Well, I'll be waiting for your reply. I hope you are well until the day we meet again.
Always praying for Miss Sheldon's happiness,
William Fairfax.
ps. If it's okay, would you please tell Miss Hyde about my engagement?
It would be inappropriate for a man about to be engaged to write a letter directly, and it would not be respectful to Dora.
Thank you.
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Miss Hyde clicked her tongue.
"I thought the coat he was wearing was too thin, and he ended up getting sick."
"……."
"It must be because he was overconfident in his health. Mr. Fairfax told me that Mr. Dalton inherited a physique like steel, and he received murderous rowing training throughout his teens, so his stamina is like that of a racehorse. That's why he has a habit of wearing clothes carelessly even in winter."
"…I see…"
Laura's voice lacked energy. Miss Hyde tilted her head.
"You look like you don't have any energy, should I get you some water?"
Laura nodded. Miss Hyde left her seat. Laura took the opportunity to review the contents of the letter again.
'Mr. Dalton, he looks sick?'
He is said to be pale and thin. He is even coughing.
'Could it be that I passed on the disease to him?'
Her eyes shook greatly. The shadow that had briefly lifted from Laura's heart fell again.
