Chapter 165
“Become indifferent to women?”
“That’s right. A woman becomes unable to read the mind of a man she thought was hers. She becomes anxious to turn the man's heart back to her. In the process, the woman feels the pleasure of becoming a slave to love. She becomes addicted to the sweet pain of being consumed with longing for the man.”
Ian felt a sense of déjà vu. He felt like he had heard something similar from someone before...
Soon, he was able to recall someone. It was Mrs. Fairfax of Dunville Park. Before his marriage, didn't she advise Ian, who had been rejected on his first proposal, to act indifferent by being friendly with other women?
Following that advice led to unnecessary rumors, causing Laura to reject him a second time, and he almost ended up separated from her forever.
Ian's interest in Noel's story rapidly waned.
“I respect your life, but I don’t think it will help my relationship with Mrs. Dalton. We are already each other's slaves and Monarchs. As much as I adore her, she loves me very much too.”
“Of course, of course. There is no doubt about the lady’s love.”
He wasn't tired of it, as he cut another large piece of tart and brought it to his plate.
“But based on my experience, a woman, no, a human being, will eventually get a little tired of someone who only gives love endlessly. One cannot feel the overwhelming charm felt from a King from someone who volunteers to be a slave.”
“...Is that so?”
“Yes. A hundred out of a hundred, all women were like that. In fact, I would be the same if I were a woman. What's so interesting about a man who only looks at me and sings 'I love you, I love you'? I can tell just by looking at his face that my heart is full of him.”
He felt a little stung at this point.
‘Come to think of it, I've been chasing Laura around all the time, both before and after the marriage. Singing, 'I love you, I love you, please love me too.' Even after hearing that she loved me, I didn't stop. How much do you love me? This much? This much? I might have been a little tired if I were Laura.’
Of course, Laura loved him deeply. There was no doubt about that love.
‘But, if I don't restrain myself, she might get a little tired of me someday.’
Ian felt a chill down his spine. It was a terrifying thought.
‘I can’t live without Laura.’
Noel, noticing that his employer's expression had worsened, quickly added.
“Of course, this is a technique limited to romantic games. The greatest virtue of married life is mutual trust and devotion. In that sense, you and the lady are having an ideal married life. I am always impressed.”
Ian shook his head.
“I don't think marital relationships are much different, Noel. It's just a relationship between a man and a woman anyway. I show my wife everything inside me and pour out love every day. She must be so burdened, a week ago that gentle person even hit me with a parasol.”
Noel rolled his eyes. The elegant lady he knew hit her husband?
“She's still young and she's a patient person, so she can accept it. But everyone has a limit. If she gets tired of my affection, there's no way to fix it even if I regret it then, is there?”
Ian rested his elbow on the sofa armrest and propped up his chin. Whew, he sighed.
“You're right. I need to reduce my expressions of affection for her a little. I should also pretend to be uninterested. Then Laura will have room to breathe, and she will be less tired of me. Don't you think?”
Noel didn't answer. If he agreed and later there were problems in the couple's life, he could be blamed for providing the cause.
At that moment, the sound of distant hooves was heard from outside the wide-open window. Ian unknowingly jumped up from his seat and walked to the window.
Outside the window, the carriage that Laura had taken was seen heading towards the Townhouse. He took out the pocket watch hanging from his vest and checked the time.
‘It's been 5 hours and 54 minutes since she left.’
Ian's heart pounded. He wanted to rush out immediately, lower the footrest of the carriage, and help her get out of the carriage by holding her hand. And he wanted to hug her waist and grumble about what she was buying that made her so late, and that he was dying to see her.
‘Damn it, I'm not a five-year-old waiting for his mom to come back from the market.’
He gritted his teeth and suppressed his pathetic desires.
Soon, the carriage stopped in front of the entrance. The coachman quickly got off the carriage, opened the door, and lowered the footrest. Laura slowly took the coachman's hand and got out of the carriage. The afternoon sunlight shone on her golden-red hair, sparkling like shimmering waves.
A head as pretty as a pearl. A fair, white neck. A slender and elegant figure. Everything captivated him.
Laura stood next to the carriage for a while, watching the servants unload the luggage from the carriage. Soon she began to instruct the servants on something.
The servants nodded diligently. To the servants, she was like a King. Her words and actions were gentle and her judgment was generous, but there was an undeniable strictness in her attitude. She had learned how to earn the respect of the servants without much noise while managing the household affairs back in their Townhouse days.
‘To be so beautiful and smart.’
A sense of pride spread through his heart. Whenever he confirmed how perfect his wife was, he became proud as if he had gained the whole world.
Laura had the servants bring a red box from among the luggage loaded on the carriage. She seemed to be pondering over it, then she raised her head and looked up at the upper floor.
The two people's eyes met.
Laura smiled brightly and waved her arm at Ian.
He raised his hand lightly. Trying not to look too flamboyant.
‘Restrain yourself. Restrain yourself.’
He quickly withdrew his hand. And he turned his back on Laura, who was still looking up at him with a welcoming expression, and went deep inside the office.
Noel had already returned to his desk and was opening the unread letters from the tenants. Ian also sat back at his desk and unfolded the newspaper he was reading.
It was strange. He couldn't see a single letter.
‘What did Laura buy? A book? A hairpin? Ribbon? Or gifts for the surrounding neighbors?’
It was rare for Laura to go out alone for such a long time. It was even more special if the purpose was shopping. She liked to stay at the Townhouse and focus on her work, and she preferred to ask someone else to buy things for her if she needed them.
He forced himself to read the unreadable newspaper. As he folded the newspaper and looked at the clock, about thirty minutes had passed since Laura arrived.
‘I've endured enough.’
Ian jumped up from his seat.
“Where are you going?”
He adjusted the tie around his neck.
“To Ramswick.”
Ian fastened the buttons of his suit jacket and left the office.
He thought as he walked down the hallway. Since the lady had brought back a mountain of shopping, Ramswick would surely be helping with the organization. He should ask Ramswick what Laura bought and if she was satisfied.
‘I hope it was a pleasant shopping trip.’
Ian turned the corner leading to the stairs with quick steps.
But.
Ian ran right into Laura at the corner.
Ian was surprised and looked down at Laura. She was wearing a lovely apricot-colored indoor dress and holding a small box in her arms.
“Oh, honey.”
Laura smiled brightly and looked up at Ian. Ian's face turned red in an instant. Laura was looking at him with such a welcoming expression.
As he always felt, Laura's smiling face was excessively pretty.
He cleared his throat and tried to make a stern expression.
“Well, was the outing enjoyable?”
“Yes. It was really fun.”
“Hmm, I see.”
He replied calmly and walked past Laura. As if he had no business with her. But, Laura grabbed his arm.
“Honey, just a moment.”
Ian slowly turned around.
“What business do you have?”
She blushed and held out the box in her arms.
“...What is it?”
“It's a gift, honey.”
He took the box with a bewildered face. It was a small box wrapped in red packaging.
It was the one she had been gazing at intently outside the window earlier.
“I was on my way to your office. I was going to give it to you later because it's work time, but I thought... you'd probably want to smoke a cigar the most when you're working...”
He couldn't understand the meaning of her words, but Ian couldn't pay attention to that fact.
‘Laura gave me a gift... to me...’
He had never received a gift from Laura except on his birthday.
“It will be helpful to you. I'll see you in the dining room at dinner time.”
Laura spoke kindly and took a step closer to Ian. And, she stood on tiptoe and gave Ian a peck on the cheek.
“I love you, honey.”
Laura, as if embarrassed by what she had done, avoided his eyes and ran down the stairs.
Ian staggered and leaned against the wall of the staircase. His face, as well as his ears, turned red.
“Calm down, Ian Dalton. Calm down...”
He muttered and unwrapped the box with trembling hands.
The identity of the gift was a small candy box. When he opened the lid, colorful fruit candies sparkled like jewels placed on velvet.
‘You'd probably want to smoke a cigar the most when you're working...’
Now he realized what Laura meant.
“...Ah, quitting smoking.”
It meant that he should eat candy and endure it because it would be hard to resist.
He carefully closed the case. And, he hugged the box tightly. He wondered if he could really eat these.
“Really, Laura, you are...”
He groaned.
“A woman I can't help but love...”
