Translator: Nox

Chapter 52

Miss Lance couldn't calm her pounding heart after having that thought.

Could the two of them have been in love? And then something went wrong?

Miss Lance felt like her head was going crazy with anxiety. The thought that the person she was pouring her affection into might have shared some kind of affection with another woman shook her mind to no end.

She turned her gaze away from him, trying to regain her composure.

It was certain that the two of them were not in love now. She had never heard a rumor that Mr. Dalton had returned to London and visited Pendleton Estate. The only social gathering he had visited was her Tea party.

Once she firmly recognized that fact, the possibility that Mr. Dalton's heart was directed towards Miss Pendleton disappeared from her mind. Miss Lance's anxious heart calmed down. But the suspicion still lingered. Miss Pendleton was so embarrassed when she mentioned the incident at the picnic just now.

She reflected on what had happened at the picnic last time. Mr. Dalton disappeared into the forest, saying he had something to do while talking to her. Then, about an hour later, Miss Pendleton ran out, looking pale, and hurriedly returned in a carriage. And Mr. Dalton ran after her.

Why did Miss Pendleton rush home so quickly? Why did Mr. Dalton run out to find Miss Pendleton?

She soon recalled that she had told Mr. Dalton about Miss Pendleton's lineage by the lake. As Miss Lance pieced together her thoughts, a flash of insight struck her mind.

'Mr. Dalton found out about Miss Pendleton's lineage and abandoned her!'

Once Miss Lance thought that, she felt like she had solved all the mysteries within her. Because it all fit together logically in her own mind.

It was clear that the two of them had feelings for each other. Miss Pendleton must have liked Mr. Dalton. Because Mr. Dalton was a very handsome, wonderful, kind, gentlemanly, and amazing man. And Mr. Dalton must have had feelings for Miss Pendleton too. Even though she was older, Miss Pendleton was kind and pretty.

So Mr. Dalton gave her the Whitefield painting as a gift. As an expression of affection. But in the end, Mr. Dalton found out about Miss Pendleton's bloodline and confirmed the facts with her in the forest.

Miss Pendleton would have honestly confessed the truth... and as a result, Mr. Dalton declared that he was breaking up with her!

Thinking that way, the mysterious appearances of Miss Pendleton and Mr. Dalton, who had left the picnic early, were completely explained. Miss Pendleton left heartbroken by Mr. Dalton's declaration, and Mr. Dalton followed, feeling guilty about sending Miss Pendleton away like that. Because he was a gentlemanly and kind person.

If this was true, Mr. Dalton was a terrible man. Abandoning love because of a matter of bloodline. It was an ungentlemanly thing to do. Wasn't that something only villains did in typical melodramas?

If he was the villain, Miss Pendleton was the tragic heroine. Even though she could have formed a relationship with such a wonderful man, she was ultimately abandoned. Because of her parents' sins, not her own.

As an avid consumer of melodramas, she was briefly indignant at Mr. Dalton's actions and felt sorry for Miss Pendleton. But even while thinking that, Miss Lance's true feelings were that she couldn't completely hate Mr. Dalton or completely side with Miss Pendleton.

Because it was inevitable that Miss Pendleton would be abandoned.

There was no way a man like Mr. Dalton would decide to marry her even after knowing her bloodline. There was no way the head of the family, who was responsible for the family's prestige, would take a woman with a problematic bloodline as his wife and lower the family's authority. It was a outdated and unreasonable measure, but that was just the way the world worked.

Miss Lance felt sorry for her heartbreak. She thought she was a wise and prudent Lady, but had she become a fool in the face of love? Miss Pendleton, who was old enough to know better, didn't know the fact that even she, who was only twenty, knew.

Well, Miss Pendleton was the daughter of parents who had a reckless marriage, so it wouldn't be strange if she had inherited that kind of personality.

"Miss Lance, are you listening to me?"

Miss Lance, who had been lost in thought with her eyes lowered, came to her senses at Mr. Fairfax's words.

"Ah, I'm sorry, Mr. Fairfax. What did you say?"

Mr. Fairfax smiled at Miss Lance, who was clearly distracted.

"Who will today's protagonist dance the first Waltz with?"

At that question, Miss Lance smiled and looked at the spot where Mr. Dalton had been standing. But the spot where Mr. Dalton had been standing was empty. Miss Lance was flustered and looked around.

"Where did Mr. Dalton go?"

"That fellow left just a moment ago."

Miss Lance stared blankly at his empty spot. She was sure he would ask for the first Waltz.

Mr. Fairfax read the disappointment on Miss Lance's face.

"Oh dear, it seems Ian made a promise in advance and forgot about it. What a terrible fellow."

Miss Lance could only manage a hollow smile. He had never promised her anything. It was just her wish. That she would dance the first Waltz with him at the first Ball hosted by her family.

But she was sure he would ask her to dance. Considering the favor and attention he had shown her so far, it was reasonable to expect.

And maybe, just maybe, he would confess his love to her while dancing. That was the fantasy that made her endure the pain of having her hair pulled repeatedly and the corset tightened so much that she couldn't breathe without complaint while doing her hair.

Mr. Fairfax was flustered by Miss Lance's heartbroken face. She wasn't crying, but she was on the verge of tears.

He wondered if he should go find Ian right now. But the Cotillion was already over and people were leaving the stage. The Waltz would begin soon.

In a hurry, Mr. Fairfax reached out his hand to her.

"Thanks to Ian, I might become the lucky protagonist. Miss Lance, would you dance the next song with me?"

Miss Lance looked at the hand extended in front of her. She liked Mr. Fairfax, but he wasn't the person she had been expecting. She wanted Mr. Dalton to extend his hand like this.

But the protagonist of the Ball couldn't just stand there like a flower stuck to the wall without a gentleman to dance the first Waltz with. Her pride wouldn't allow it.

She responded to Mr. Fairfax's smile with an awkward smile and took his hand.

"With pleasure, Mr. Fairfax."

* * *

Miss Pendleton, who had left Miss Lance's group, slowly made her way through the crowd towards Miss Jenson and Mr. Price.

"Hello. Mr. Price. And Miss Jenson."

Miss Pendleton bowed politely to them. The two of them greeted her as politely as she did when they saw her.

"You're here early, Miss Pendleton."

"Yes. I finished getting ready earlier than I thought, so I was able to come quickly."

Miss Jenson chattered cheerfully.

"Your maid must have good skills. Our servants forgot to polish my uncle's shoes, so we were delayed by 30 minutes more than expected. I told my aunt to reprimand the servants and came out."

Miss Pendleton smiled at Miss Jenson's words and subtly looked at Mr. Price's expression. He was silent, completely detached from the conversation between the two Ladies. Usually, Mr. Price should be the one making this kind of small talk.

"Mr. Price?"

At Miss Pendleton's call, Mr. Price, who had been looking at the floor, raised his head. His unique, protruding, large eyes were fixed on her.

Miss Pendleton closed her mouth, which she had opened to ask if he was okay. His eyes were full of sadness. It was a look as if tears would fall soon.

Miss Pendleton looked at Miss Jenson. Miss Jenson sighed softly as she looked at her godfather. And she subtly gestured to Miss Pendleton to the other side. It meant whether she wanted her to leave. Miss Pendleton quietly nodded.

"Then I'll go to Miss Lance. I have to see how beautifully the protagonist of today has dressed up."

"Miss Jenson is prettier. That's how it looks in my eyes."

At Miss Pendleton's words, Miss Jenson burst into a refined laugh, covering her mouth with her hand instead of her usual thunderous laughter.

"Of course, who dressed me up!"

Miss Jenson fluttered her golden skirt and left them. Only Miss Pendleton and Mr. Price were left. Mr. Price asked in a voice that was one tone lower than usual.

"Would you like to go talk for a while?"

Miss Pendleton nodded. Mr. Price went out to the balcony with her.

Miss Pendleton looked around. The spacious balcony was connected to other balconies without boundaries. There were curtains used to divide the area, but they were tied with strings and completely open. Fortunately, there was no one there at all.

The two stood side by side and looked at the city of London. Gas lamps brightly lit, and fancy carriages rushing towards the Ball. The figures of busy porters coming and going.

"Thank you for helping Joan settle in London, Miss Pendleton. I am very grateful in many ways."

"Oh, Mr. Price. I just shared a pleasant friendship with Miss Jenson and didn't do anything particularly difficult."

"I have grasped both the American and British social circles. I know how different the two spaces are. Joan was born and raised in America, and she is an American Lady to the core. She is outgoing and active. Frankly, she doesn't have many qualities that would be welcomed in British society. But when I saw that child today, she had become a perfect London Lady. Like Miss Pendleton."

Mr. Price looked at Miss Pendleton.

"Joan must have been influenced by your actions and atmosphere while interacting with Miss Pendleton. Elegance. Humility. Gentleness, she was able to imitate the qualities of a perfect Lady thanks to Miss Pendleton."

Miss Pendleton silently looked at the night streets. She could feel Mr. Price staring intently at her face.

"Miss Pendleton, after hearing about my goddaughter, I had to make two choices. Whether to go to Gerald right away and confirm it, or to endure one night and hear the explanation directly from you. As you can see, I chose the second one. I want the truth."