Chapter 51
Miss Pendleton found Miss Lance endearing. Despite being constantly surrounded by praise, she would always react to each compliment with childlike joy. In society, one had to temper their emotions by half to avoid gossip, but Miss Lance couldn't contain her happiness when she felt it.
'It's a sign she's unspoiled.'
Miss Pendleton reflected on her own lost innocence, a trait worn away by the grind of social life.
"Miss Pendleton,"
Miss Susan Donovan, one of the ladies who had been whispering behind her, stepped forward and called to Miss Pendleton.
"Yes?"
"Aren't your legs tired? Why don't you go and sit in the ladies' lounge over there?"
Miss Pendleton politely declined the offer.
"No, I just arrived."
"Yes, but the Ball hasn't really gotten into full swing yet. It's better to come out when it's at its most fun."
Miss Lance looked at her friend with wide eyes. Miss Susan Donovan, who had stepped forward, was sweating profusely, and Miss Wilkes and Miss Orson behind her were clenching their fists, watching Miss Donovan as if cheering her on.
What are they doing? Miss Lance tilted her head.
On the other hand, Miss Pendleton roughly understood their intentions. For some reason, they seemed to be bothered by her and wanted to get rid of her by sending her to the lounge. Miss Pendleton was so used to being ignored in society that she could understand their intentions just by their expressions.
Normally, she would have complied. She had lived her life telling herself that losing was winning. But not today. She had something she needed to do.
Miss Pendleton politely refused without losing her composure.
"Thank you very much. But I have something to discuss with Miss Jenson, who is attending today."
"I'll tell Miss Jenson to go to the lounge when she arrives. I'm really! Really! worried about Miss Pendleton. You might get dizzy from standing for too long. You're not getting any younger, so you shouldn't overdo it."
A snort was heard from behind. Miss Wilkes couldn't help but laugh at the rude slip of the tongue that Miss Donovan had made in her haste.
"Thank you for your concern, Miss Donovan."
Miss Pendleton responded to the ladies, who were much younger than her, making a fool of her with a dignified smile. It was best to act as if she didn't know anything in situations like this.
But not Miss Lance. She frowned openly. She didn't know what her friends' intentions were, but she had a feeling that they were conspiring to be rude to Miss Pendleton.
She took Miss Pendleton's arm.
"Susan, stop it. It would be a loss to me if Miss Pendleton, who came so beautifully dressed, went to the lounge. She has to stay in the hall and brighten up my Ball."
Miss Donovan flinched and looked at her friends. Miss Wilkes and Miss Orson stared at Miss Lance with wide eyes.
Regardless, Miss Lance said to Miss Pendleton,
"Miss Pendleton, all my friends are engaged with gentlemen for the next dance. I'm the only one who doesn't have a partner and will be alone. Please stay by my side and keep me company. Okay?"
Miss Pendleton was grateful for Miss Lance's kindness.
"With pleasure, Miss Lance."
For the next few minutes, Miss Lance only talked to Miss Pendleton. The three ladies who had stepped up for their Queen suddenly became outcasts. The ladies read the rebuke towards them in Miss Lance's neglect and stood there feeling embarrassed and dejected.
The music ended, and the people who had been dancing on the stage scattered. The Cotillion was about to begin. The gentlemen approached the ladies they had promised to dance with and led them to the stage.
Miss Lance's ostracized friends hid their upset feelings and left for the stage with the gentlemen.
Only Miss Lance and Miss Pendleton remained. The two chatted about the people who had come to the Ball today. But their conversation was constantly interrupted by gentlemen asking them to dance.
Miss Pendleton was receiving more requests than usual. But of course, it was no match for Miss Lance. As today's protagonist and the most beautiful maiden in London, she was flooded with requests from gentlemen. But she repeatedly refused the gentlemen's requests.
Miss Pendleton could understand Miss Lance's intention to keep refusing dance requests. She was often looking at the entrance of the ballroom while talking. It was clear that she was waiting for someone.
Miss Pendleton could easily predict who that person was. And as if to confirm that prediction, Miss Lance asked,
"By the way, is it true that you have a Whitefield painting hanging in your drawing room, Miss Pendleton?"
Miss Pendleton replied gently.
"Yes, Miss Lance."
"I'm so jealous. How did you get such a precious painting?"
"Mr. Dalton knew there was an empty space in the drawing room and gifted it to me."
"Oh, how thoughtful."
"Yes. He is a very considerate person."
Miss Lance's eyes lit up at Miss Pendleton's compliment.
"You think so too, Miss Pendleton? That he's a kind gentleman. He really shows what English gentlemanliness is all about. Kind, upright, witty, and kind... Oh, did I say kind? Anyway, he's perfect. I'm so grateful to Miss Pendleton for introducing me to Mr. Dalton."
Miss Pendleton chimed in appropriately.
"He looked so wonderful rowing the boat when we were together on the picnic last time. The way his hair flew in the wind was like a painting. He looks like such a nobleman, but he's also very sturdy. I've never seen anyone as handsome as him in my life."
Praise for Mr. Dalton poured out of Miss Lance's mouth without a break. Throughout her speech, her beautiful eyes sparkled as if stars were shining in them. She seemed to be completely in love.
'Mr. Dalton is certainly a lucky man. He has so completely captured the heart of such a beautiful lady as Miss Lance.'
Miss Pendleton thought calmly.
"Oh, that's right. Speaking of picnics, I remember when Miss Pendleton suddenly left. Mr. Dalton followed you to look for you then. Was something wrong?"
Miss Pendleton was momentarily surprised and couldn't say anything. That question was like stabbing Miss Pendleton in her vital spot. She blushed at the memory of that time.
"...Oh, it was nothing. We just took a walk together."
"Really? But Mr. Dalton's expression when he was looking for Miss Pendleton didn't seem normal..."
"Well, I don't know. We just walked without anything happening. We talked about Whitefield, and then I had an urgent matter at home... Oh, that's right, it must have been because I left my handkerchief there. I just remembered."
Miss Lance stared at Miss Pendleton. It was the first time she had seen Miss Pendleton so flustered. Miss Pendleton's gaze was wandering around, avoiding her eyes.
Miss Lance quickly changed the subject for Miss Pendleton, who was in trouble. The two had a conversation about this social season that they were not very interested in. Miss Pendleton soon erased her agitation and returned to her usual gentle self.
But even while talking, Miss Lance kept thinking about what had just happened.
Why did she look so strange? Was there something between them? Is Miss Pendleton lying now?
If it were someone else's story, she would pretend not to know for Miss Pendleton's sake, but because it was related to Mr. Dalton, Miss Lance couldn't just let it go.
Mr. Dalton and Miss Pendleton were clearly friends. They were of opposite sexes, but no one in London suspected their relationship. As the in-law of Mr. Fairfax, Miss Pendleton's closest gentleman friend, it was not strange that Mr. Dalton was close to her.
And above all, Mr. Dalton was the head of the most prestigious family in England and a wealthy man who multiplied his vast fortune day by day.
On the other hand, Miss Pendleton was a twenty-nine-year-old spinster with no dowry and a problem with her lineage. It was absurd to suspect their relationship. Realistically, there was no possibility that the two would be together, and such speculation would be an insult to Mr. Dalton.
"Good evening, Miss Lance."
"Hello, Miss Lance."
Miss Lance, who had been lost in thought, was startled. She hadn't noticed that the Fairfax siblings had come to her side because she was so worried.
The arrival of the Fairfax siblings meant that Ian Dalton, whom she had been waiting for so eagerly, must have arrived as well. Sure enough, Mr. Dalton, dressed in a Tailcoat and as handsome as ever, was standing next to Mr. Fairfax. Miss Lance quickly came to her senses and paid her respects.
"Hello, Mr. Fairfax. Miss Fairfax. Oh, and Mr. Dalton has come too!"
Mr. Dalton bowed politely to her.
Mr. Fairfax spoke to Miss Lance kindly as usual, but Miss Lance didn't hear him.
Miss Lance's attention was focused solely on Mr. Dalton. He was smiling at her as usual. She felt that Mr. Dalton was much more handsome than usual. Beautiful ivory skin under neatly combed black hair. Flowing features. He was like a Greek god.
He had a beauty that never got old, no matter how many times you looked at him. Inner values such as dignity, sublimity, and goodness seemed to emanate from his face. She looked at him as if she were looking at something sacred.
Mr. Dalton smiled at her and then turned his gaze to Miss Pendleton. Miss Lance sadly watched his gaze move away from her.
"Good evening, Miss Pend..."
He, who had been greeting her gently, suddenly stopped speaking. He stared intently at Miss Pendleton's face. Soon, his expression hardened as if it had never been soft. And his gaze became very sharp.
Miss Lance, who was looking at him questioningly, was shocked. It was the first time she had seen such a scary expression on him.
Until now, she had only seen polite and gentlemanly expressions from Mr. Dalton. Mr. Dalton with that expression looked like a different person than before. It was a scary expression.
Miss Lance turned to look at Miss Pendleton, who was receiving his gaze. Miss Pendleton was looking at the entrance of the hall. Just then, Miss Jenson and Mr. Price were entering arm in arm at the entrance.
Miss Pendleton excused herself to the people gathered, saying that she had something to discuss with Miss Jenson, and left her seat.
Miss Lance was surprised once again. Mr. Dalton continued to watch her leave. With a very fierce gaze.
Miss Lance, who had become very sensitive due to her conversation with Miss Pendleton just now, read an unusual aura from Mr. Dalton.
'What is it? Why is he making such a scary expression at Miss Pendleton, with whom he was so close that he even gifted her a Whitefield painting that he didn't even make public? Could there have been some kind of fight between them? What kind of fight?'
There could be no fight between a gentleman and a lady. A gentleman should always be polite to a lady and make her feel good. That was the etiquette of society and gentlemanliness. If a fight were to break out between a man and a woman, there could only be one reason.
Affection.
