Chapter 3

<3> Miss Laura Pendleton (2)

Miss Hyde smiled sadly.

"I'm being silly, aren't I?"

Miss Pendleton shook her head.

"No. It is a silly thing. If my mother and father knew what I was thinking right now, they would faint. I told you earlier? That my mother saw my letter. As always, she can't stand not checking everything I write or read."

Miss Hyde grimaced as if she had bitten into a sour lemon. It was the expression she always made when her mother was the topic.

"Mother is already putting her head together with Rosemary to decide when to set the wedding date. If I refuse Mr. Fairfax's proposal, she'll faint on the spot. And after she comes to her senses, she'll grab me and say something like this: 'Twenty-five is the last age you can be sold off without being labeled an old maid. If you become an old maid and become a burden to your brother and sister's family, I won't be able to rest in peace in the afterlife. There's nothing in our house that will be your share. All the remaining savings have to be used to send Alex to university and for Emily's wedding fund. So, get your head on straight.'"

"Miss Hyde, are you perhaps trying to refuse him because of your resentment towards your mother...?"

Miss Hyde shook her head.

"No. In my heart, I just want to grit my teeth and get this marriage over with. But, in one corner of my heart, there's another me shouting that I can't, that I can't make such a decision."

Miss Hyde stared intently at Miss Pendleton.

"What do you think, Miss Pendleton? Do you think I'm making a decision I'll regret?"

Miss Pendleton felt like she knew why Miss Hyde was confiding in her about this issue. Perhaps she wanted to consult with another old maid about her own future, where she might become an old maid herself.

"Miss Hyde."

Miss Pendleton paused, twirling her teacup for a moment, before speaking.

"First of all, I've known Miss Hyde for a long time, and as a friend of your sister, I have a responsibility to give you honest advice. So, I'll say this believing that you won't think poorly of me, even if I tarnish my own image. ...Living as an old maid in England is best avoided."

Miss Pendleton saw Miss Hyde's lips twitch a few times before closing. She wanted to ask, 'Was it difficult for Miss Pendleton to live as an old maid?'

But Miss Hyde never asked, and Miss Pendleton was inwardly grateful to her. If she had asked, Miss Pendleton would have had no choice but to answer in as much detail as possible, and in the process, her mouth would have felt bitter.

"It's difficult both in terms of relationships and financially to live as an unmarried woman. This is an important issue for Miss Hyde's future, so let's be cautious. Now, what I want to say first is that Mr. Fairfax is a good man, but that has nothing to do with whether Miss Hyde accepts his proposal or not."

Laura's tone was gentle but firm.

"Accepting a proposal to avoid hurting him is a deception to the other person. So, let's put Mr. Fairfax's feelings aside for a moment. And your parents' thoughts too. Just look at Miss Hyde's own heart. How would you feel if you thought about marrying Mr. Fairfax? If you spent all day with him in the same house?"

Miss Hyde stared at the black puddle in her coffee cup for a moment.

"I'll be completely free. Mr. Fairfax mentioned three times in his letter that he would never force me to do anything after the marriage. Well, of course, we can ride horses together and talk sometimes. Mr. Fairfax will always listen to me. It would be like gaining a good friend."

"Good, Miss Hyde. I agree with you so far. Mr. Fairfax is a man who will never break his promise. He will respect you for the rest of his life and be a good friend. It wouldn't be a bad marriage. Now, here's the last question. Miss Hyde. You know what happens between a husband and wife, right?"

Miss Hyde stared intently at Miss Pendleton. Miss Pendleton looked around once, then sat a little closer to Miss Hyde and whispered.

"I'm not talking about what happens during the day, but what happens at night."

Instantly, Miss Hyde's face turned deathly white. Miss Pendleton quietly observed Miss Hyde's face. Soon, she realized that a certain expression that appeared on Miss Hyde's face had forever determined the answer in her heart.

Yes. The revulsion in her depths was the intimate act that takes place between a husband and wife. That which women who accept the proposal of a man they can never love desperately try to forget until their honeymoon. Miss Hyde, fortunately or unfortunately, had faced it head-on before the proposal.

"Are you alright, Miss Hyde?"

In an instant, Miss Pendleton and Miss Hyde were startled to death. While the two were sitting close together and whispering, Mr. Fairfax had come and stood in front of their table, without them knowing when he had arrived.

The two jumped up as if propelled by a spring. Fortunately, Mr. Fairfax was wearing his usual kind and considerate smile, as if he hadn't heard at all what the ladies had been talking about about him.

Miss Pendleton quickly erased her surprised expression and put on the affable smile she had acquired from twelve years of social life, bending her knees slightly.

But Miss Hyde, who still lacked social skills, had only barely managed to erase the uncomfortable feeling that had been on her face until just now. Showing a staggering and cold sweat that could not be seen in her usually, she barely stood, holding onto Miss Pendleton.

Mr. Fairfax looked at Miss Hyde with a worried expression.

"Are you feeling unwell, Miss Hyde?"

"Ah, no."

"Really? You look pale."

"I just... I think I have indigestion. The food..."

"Oh dear. Shall I take you home in my carriage?"

"No! I'm fine!"

Miss Hyde shouted without realizing it, and soon mumbled, adding as if to excuse her overreaction.

"I think I'll feel better if I just sit next to Miss Pendleton for a while. She's so good at massaging my hands..."

"I see. If you need my help, please tell me anytime. If you need a doctor or anything."

"I'm really fine, really..."

Nevertheless, Mr. Fairfax couldn't take his eyes off Miss Hyde, looking worried. But soon, realizing that it was not polite to stare at an unmarried lady for too long, Mr. Fairfax turned his gaze to Miss Pendleton.

"You look beautiful today too, Miss Pendleton."

"You flatter me."

"I heard you lent Janet the original edition of Dumas' novel last time? These days, my sister has become a scholar and spends two hours a day studying French. I would be grateful if you could visit sometime and help Janet improve her conversational skills."

"Of course, it would be a great pleasure for me to have tea with the lovely Miss Janet Fairfax soon."

Mr. Fairfax smiled contentedly, pleased with the compliment to his sister.

"Oh, and there's one more thing I'd like to ask of you."

"Anything. What is it?"

Mr. Fairfax opened his mouth with a serious expression.

"You remember that I have a young relative of my age, right?"

"Ah, yes. His name is Ian..."

"Ian Dalton. Ian Dalton of Whitefield."

"Yes, I remember. He was a young gentleman with many nephews, right?"

Miss Pendleton knew the name Ian Dalton well. It was a name she had occasionally heard when talking to Mr. Fairfax or his sister.

The young landowner of a large Estate called Whitefield in Yorkshire. A resourceful asset manager who had more than quadrupled the wealth he inherited from his father in just a few years.

And according to Miss Janet Fairfax, he was also a man of outstanding appearance. Even her handsome brother was nothing compared to him. Even better than Edward Morton.

Miss Pendleton, who had never seen a more handsome man than Mr. Morton in her life, couldn't even begin to imagine what this Mr. Ian Dalton looked like.

"That's right. We grew up together since we were kids, and we went to Eton School together. We ended up splitting up for university, with him going to Cambridge and me going to Oxford. He says he's visiting London in about a month. He sent me a letter asking if it would be okay if he stayed in my guest room instead of a hotel room. I immediately wrote back saying it was fine and told him to come."

He continued calmly.

"But immediately after Ian's letter, a letter arrived from Ian's sister, that is, my sister-in-law, Mrs. Robert Fairfax. She said that she wanted her younger brother Ian to make many friends while he was staying in London. That is... many ladies."

Miss Pendleton realized what he was about to ask.

"But, I mainly spend my time smoking in gentlemen's clubs, so I don't know many ladies. So, I'm going to ask Miss Pendleton for a favor. Could you introduce your friends to my cousin Ian?"

"That wouldn't be difficult, but... is Mr. Dalton happy about this?"

Mr. Fairfax shrugged.

"To be honest, it's my sister-in-law's one-sided enthusiasm. Isn't thirty the right age for a man to get married? But that guy is stuck in his Estate and has no intention of finding a match at all."

Miss Pendleton nodded. Well, thirty was not an urgent age for a gentleman at all.

Moreover, Ian Dalton was a gentleman of the landowning class with enormous wealth. For a man with property, even if he was fifty years old, there was no need to rush.

Miss Pendleton had no ill will towards Mr. Fairfax or Mr. Dalton, but she didn't want a gentleman who had no intention of marrying to casually evaluate her friends with indifferent eyes.

"There must be plenty of wonderful ladies around the Estate, so I wonder if he needs to come all the way to London to see ladies. Besides, even if I don't step in, London society will welcome him with open arms. If he wants to, that is."

Miss Pendleton conveyed her intention to refuse as indirectly as possible. But Mr. Fairfax did not back down.

"I understand. You wouldn't want to introduce your friends to a guy who has no intention of getting married. Because you value friendship. But, could you consider accepting Ian Dalton as a new friend of Miss Pendleton?"

Mr. Fairfax continued in an ardent tone.

"That guy is a really good guy. Not just because of his wealth or anything, but he values his family and is a deep friend. He has some eccentricities, but... I guarantee that it's a negligible flaw compared to his strengths."

Miss Pendleton smiled without malice.

He's such a kind person, no matter when I see him. To ask so earnestly for a friend who is only a relative of his in-laws.

Miss Pendleton thought for a moment and then nodded.

"Yes. I'm always happy to have friends. Please introduce me to Mr. Ian Dalton whenever he comes."