Translator: Nox

Chapter 66

<Chapter 66> An Offer You Can't Refuse (3)

Mr. Dalton nodded with an expressionless face.

"However, I have a condition before that."

"Tell me."

"I want your sister to know about my connection to the Pendleton Estate. I've been hiding my background in the job market. But I don't want to deceive your sister."

"As a matter of fact, I was planning to go straight to my sister after hearing your confirmation. I want to explain Miss Pendleton to her directly. I will tell her everything about how you became a governess."

Miss Pendleton nodded.

"If, by any chance, your sister is reluctant after knowing my background, please don't try to persuade her. The bond between siblings is more important than my job."

"My sister won't change her decision because of that fact. Doesn't she have a daughter who will soon debut into society? She will highly value Miss Pendleton's experience in society. I also think you are the person Olivia needs. I hope you will become a good friend to my niece, Olivia."

"Yes, of course."

"Then, I will go down to Yorkshire right away today. I'll send you a letter within a week."

The two walked in silence. Miss Pendleton felt at ease after making her decision. Now the die was cast. Unless there was a major upset, she would become the governess of the two boys at Dunville Park. She would teach them the Latin and Greek she had honed so far.

Dunville Park. The place where she might be a governess for ten years. What kind of place would it be? Anxiety and excitement took turns shaking her.

"You explained Dunville Park to me before. You said it's a place with a wide, open view and well-maintained gardens. I tried to picture it in my head, but I can't."

"It's a typical English manor. Don't bother trying to picture it. Whatever you imagine, you'll be disappointed."

Laura chuckled.

"You're still cynical. But I'm going to imagine it all week. It's impossible not to imagine. It's the workplace where I'll be spending several seasons."

Ian looked at Laura standing next to him.

"Are you nervous?"

"A little. I want to do well. Because it's your sister's house. And it's also a matter of your precious nephews' education."

"They're not that precious. Just a bunch of troublemakers."

"Even if you say that, Mr. Dalton, you love your nephews deeply."

Ian didn't answer. He seemed embarrassed to be found out. Laura smiled inwardly at Ian's appearance.

It wasn't the kind of feeling a lady should have for a gentleman, but Mr. Dalton was cute whenever he was like this.

He changed the subject.

"It's amazing how unpredictable the future is. It feels like only yesterday that I invited you to Whitefield as a guest. I'm glad that I'll soon be able to invite you to my Estate."

"Are you going to invite me?"

"Of course. My nephews often come to my Estate to play. Come with them then. It's a bachelor's mansion, but it's okay if my nephews are there."

"So, this is what Whitefield looks like in real life. I wonder if it's as beautiful as your painting."

Laura said this, but in fact, she was planning to avoid visiting his mansion. It was important to maintain distance between platonic friends, and even more so now that the difference in their status was clear. It was a sensible thing to keep her distance from him in the future.

"Look forward to it. Even if Dunville Park isn't, Whitefield is worth looking forward to. And..."

Ian added quietly.

"While you're at Dunville Park, try to think of yourself as a guest. No matter what the situation, the fact that I think of you as a special friend doesn't change. As long as you're my friend, you're always a valued guest at Dunville Park and Whitefield, Miss Pendleton."

His warm words seeped into Laura's heart.

His kindness sometimes shook the lid of emotions she had been forcibly closing. She sometimes felt that Mr. Dalton's kindness was cruel. He probably didn't know how much his kindness was shaking and testing his precious friend in front of him.

The four of them took a light stroll around the park and returned to the carriage. Mr. Fairfax was overjoyed to hear that Laura had accepted the governess position.

"That's a relief. You've really thought it through. Make yourself comfortable at my brother's house. I'll always ask how you are in letters. Please visit before you leave. Janet will miss you a lot too."

They arrived in front of the ladies' house. Mr. Fairfax and Mr. Dalton got off first, and Mr. Fairfax took the hands of Miss Hyde and Miss Pendleton, who were getting off in turn. The two ladies curtsied slightly to the two gentlemen and went into the house.

Mr. Fairfax smiled as he watched the backs of the two.

As the carriage departed, Mr. Fairfax looked at Ian, who was sitting across from him. Ian was resting his chin on his hand, looking at the boarding house that was getting farther and farther away.

Soon, the carriage completely left the street, and he finally turned his head away from the window.

"Ian, you can stop managing your expression now."

"What are you talking about?"

"Laugh all you want. Miss Pendleton will now be living within spitting distance of your Estate."

At those words, Ian snorted, but his expression was much more relaxed than before. In fact, while he was in the carriage with her, he had been struggling to keep his gaze, which kept trying to turn to her, fixed on the outside of the window.

"I didn't know you could use your head like this. Hiring Miss Pendleton as a governess. But, did your sister-in-law even want to hire a governess in the first place?"

Ian shook his head. Mr. Fairfax looked at him as if he was dumbfounded.

"Your sister-in-law will be surprised. A new person is coming into her house without her even knowing. And she's a noble lady you're in love with, you should at least notify her in advance."

"She's not the type to be surprised by something like this."

Mr. Fairfax clicked his tongue.

"Then, as soon as Miss Pendleton goes down, you'll cut ties with London immediately, right? What else?"

"Of course. Why would I continue to waste time in this town that has nothing of substance?"

Mr. Fairfax smiled at his friend, who casually disparaged his beloved city of London.

"Well, I hope you make a good decision. A wedding announcement would be the best, but frankly, I don't care if you die of a broken heart from unrequited love. Anyway, Miss Pendleton will become the governess of Dunville Park and live on the good salary you provide."

"Curse me all you want."

"Anyway, I'm really glad that she's settled down safely. It's always unsettling to see a lady who has only lived in society enter the world for the first time. If it weren't for you, I would have stepped in to arrange a position for her, but she got a better position than I could have gotten for her, so I'm relieved."

Ian stared intently at Mr. Fairfax across from him.

"Why are you looking at me so scary?"

"Tell me honestly. Have you never had any ulterior motives towards her?"

Mr. Fairfax ran his hand through his hair as if he was tired of it.

"I didn't. I didn't. How many times have you asked me that question?"

But Ian didn't remove the suspicious look in his eyes towards Mr. Fairfax. Mr. Fairfax waved his hand.

"Don't say ridiculous things, and make sure you say goodbye to Miss Lance before you leave London. Don't just leave without saying goodbye like last time."

Ian turned his gaze back to the window as if he was annoyed.

"You do it for me. I'm sick of the Lance family's drawing room now."

"Still, would it have been possible to restore your relationship with Miss Pendleton without Miss Lance? It's because she associated with you and shared friendship with you."

"I've run out of patience for pleasing ladies. You're better than a boring gentleman like me. You're well-versed in etiquette and sweet talk, so you'll be able to create a more touching farewell speech for Miss Lance than I can."

Ian sneered. Mr. Fairfax smiled at Ian.

"Janet says that Miss Lance thinks highly of you, so you must have been having a hard time doing things that didn't suit you throughout your stay in London?"

"It was the most boring time I've ever spent in my life. The young ladies gathered there only talked about useless things. Is it because they're young?"

"Still, Miss Lance is one of the wiser young ladies compared to her peers. Her heart isn't bad either. She's a little gullible, but well, that's natural at that age. She'll gradually improve as she gains experience. Not everyone is born with a perfect character like Miss Pendleton."

"Let Miss Lance's growth be watched over by you staying in London. I'll also pray at Whitefield that she becomes a wonderful Lady."

"Brother Robert's words are perfect for times like this. You little prig."

Ian snorted once more and turned his gaze to the window.

If Mr. Fairfax was an ordinary man, he would have been disgusted by his friend who dumped annoying work on him with an unpleasant tone, but he only looked at Ian across from him with a sense of relief.

He was naturally kind and generous, so he was relieved that his friend had shed his worries and returned to his usual prickly self. Miss Pendleton would never know and shouldn't know, but Ian had been living in hell from the day she disappeared until today.

A week ago, Lady Abigail's funeral was held at the church. All the famous figures of society turned out, but the granddaughter whom the deceased loved the most was nowhere to be seen. There was only the gray-haired head of the Pendleton Estate and Charles Pendleton, who didn't know etiquette and yawned loudly.

Charles Pendleton was especially frowned upon among the people. A man preparing for ordination as a pastor was found at the racetracks and gambling houses in London every Sunday, and his reputation had plummeted.

Everyone gathered was aware of Miss Pendleton's absence. Everyone there knew that Lady Abigail and her son had been fighting like animals in court over Miss Pendleton's issues for a long time.

They whispered that Gerald Pendleton had locked his niece in a closet or something to prevent her from attending the funeral.

Ian stood expressionlessly throughout the funeral amidst the whispers. But Mr. Fairfax confirmed the faintly raised veins on his temples. He couldn't relax throughout the funeral because he was worried that he might rush at Gerald Pendleton at any moment.

But Ian didn't say anything until Lady Abigail was buried and the people scattered. He immediately took a carriage to the Pendleton Estate, and there he called a maid of the Pendleton Estate, whom he didn't know when he had lined up, and talked to her.

William, who was in the carriage with him, watched Ian talking to the maid inside the carriage. The maid repeated crying and getting angry, and sometimes even stomped her feet and talked about something diligently.

Ian, who returned to the carriage, had a pale face as if all the blood had drained from him. He bit his lip and only looked out the window.

"What the hell happened? Is Miss Pendleton inside?"