Chapter 7
<7> A New Gentleman Appears in Society
The news that Ian Dalton of Whitefield had arrived in London spread through the city in an instant.
The heir to vast lands passed down through hundreds of years, the owner of immense forests and mines. A young landowner with all these titles at the age of thirty. And yet, ‘unmarried’ Ian Dalton.
Parents with daughters couldn't help but be on high alert for him in London. Moreover, thanks to Miss Janet Fairfax, the lark of society, rumors that Ian Dalton was exceptionally handsome had spread among the ladies of London, and Ian Dalton's stock price soared without his knowledge.
However, he never showed his face at social gatherings, which most of London's upper class attended. He only returned polite refusal letters to formal dinner invitations, which someone else had clearly written for him, and he didn't even show his face at smaller events like balls or concerts.
If a young man from an ordinary family acted this way, he would be branded as rude and forgotten in society, but he was never forgotten. London society was a place that never forgot young men from wealthy and prestigious families.
His indifference created an air of mystery, further fueling the curiosity of many.
There were those whose stock prices rose along with Ian Dalton's semi-seclusion: the Fairfax siblings. In particular, Miss Janet Fairfax received a rush of tea party invitations she had never experienced before, all because she lived in the same house as Ian Dalton, and she went to numerous tea parties.
She was surrounded by the curious interest of ladies who wondered what Ian Dalton was doing and when he would show his face in society, and she squealed with delight. At seventeen, she was at an age when she was thrilled by the attention of ladies as much as the attention of men.
However, Miss Fairfax could not provide them with the answers they wanted. She did not know what plans Ian Dalton had for socializing.
Ian Dalton was shrugging his shoulders and burying himself in books in response to the questions from his cousin-in-law, who blushed and stammered whenever she saw him, asking what he was going to do next.
In the meantime, the Morton couple returned from their honeymoon. They first visited the home of Countess Abigail Pendleton, Mrs. Morton's godmother, and then gradually visited their neighbors. The happy appearance of the handsome and beautiful couple and the gifts in their hands briefly shifted the topic of conversation at the tea parties to the Morton couple.
But then, Miss Janet Fairfax, who had been biting her nails while counting the reduced number of invitations with the anxiety of being pushed out of the spotlight, got a chance to make a comeback.
She learned that Ian Dalton would be attending the first ball hosted by the Morton couple next week.
After that, the homes with unmarried ladies were in an uproar. Unmarried sisters fought to claim the best dresses in the house, plump girls went on fasts, and ladies of marriageable age fawned and whined in front of their parents to get new clothes made by tailors.
Parents were not free from this chaos either. Fathers downed whiskey to lower their rising blood pressure after seeing the clothing bills, and mothers even endured the humiliation of writing letters to friends who were better off than themselves, asking to borrow jewelry for their daughters to wear.
Amidst all the commotion, Miss Pendleton was as calm as the eye of a storm. Fortunately, she was already past the age to join such competitions.
Since the rumor that Dalton could be introduced through Miss Pendleton had not yet spread, Miss Pendleton did not experience any particular trouble.
The day before the ball, Miss Pendleton quietly sent letters to a few of the marriageable ladies she knew, urging them to attend the Morton couple's ball. In keeping with the subtle communication style of London ladies, who were accustomed to indirect expressions, she included subtle hints.
And so, the evening of the ball arrived.
Around the time the clock struck seven, Miss Pendleton was sitting at her dressing table, having her hair styled by her maid, Ann. Her reflection in the mirror, wearing a ball gown that exposed her shoulders, felt quite unfamiliar.
It had been a long time since she had attended a ball, especially one of this scale.
She fiddled with her hands, which were covered with long ball gloves that reached her elbows.
Ann, who was styling Miss Pendleton's hair, asked,
"Many people will be coming today, Miss."
"Indeed. It's the Morton couple's first ball, after all."
"I heard that Ian Dalton will be there too?"
"Yes. Mr. Fairfax promised to bring him without fail."
Ann looked down at Miss Pendleton's reddish-blond hair, which was braided and hanging down.
Long strands of hair shimmering under the light. Ann, who had grown up among seven sisters, had seen enough women's hair to last a lifetime, but she had never seen anything as luscious as the hair of Miss Pendleton, whom she served. Miss Pendleton's hair was so beautiful that it was a shame to keep it to herself, so frustrating to confine it in a hairnet.
Ann put her arms around Miss Pendleton's shoulders.
"Then, why don't you try a different hairstyle today?"
"Why?"
"I heard from the maids next door that the gentleman is really handsome? And incredibly rich."
"That's right. He's a good match. It would be even better if his character was just as good. But why are you suggesting I change my hairstyle, Ann?"
"It would be nice if you looked prettier than usual, wouldn't it? Who knows? Maybe he'll fall for you among all the ladies?"
Miss Pendleton burst out laughing.
"Don't be ridiculous. He can marry any young lady he wants. Now, hurry up and put on the hairnet, Ann. The carriage will be waiting outside."
Ann pouted and twisted Miss Pendleton's hair, tying it up and securing it with a lavender hairnet that matched the color of her dress. As always, Miss Pendleton's head tilted back slightly, unable to bear the weight of her voluminous hair.
Miss Pendleton straightened her neck, and soon Ann placed a pearl pendant around her neck.
The two looked in the mirror. Miss Pendleton's face, with not a single strand of hair left uncovered, was illuminated by the lamplight. Ann looked at her mistress's elegant and beautiful face and then muttered to herself.
"Miss, it's been almost ten years since I started serving you, hasn't it?"
"Has it?"
"You're the same now as you were then."
Miss Pendleton smiled gently.
"That's nice to hear?"
"I mean it. There's no trace of time on your face. No matter how plainly you dress, you look like a Queen."
"I'm afraid someone will hear you. Her Majesty the Queen is still alive and well, and you're saying such things."
Miss Pendleton always escaped with such bland jokes whenever someone praised her beauty.
"Miss, my sister says that when a woman meets a man, she should forget about her conditions and trust only in her charm. Then she can marry any man."
"Is that how you met your fiancé?"
"Of course. How else could a mere maid be engaged to a lawyer?"
"Hmm, if I were one of your seven sisters, I would have changed my surname already?"
Ann groaned and brought a lace shawl that had recently been given as a gift from the Morton couple and draped it over Miss Pendleton's shoulders.
Miss Pendleton got up from her seat, checked her appearance one last time in the full-length mirror, and nodded as if satisfied.
"Thank you, Ann. You're perfect as always. If I get a proposal from a prince from a neighboring country tonight, it's all thanks to Ann."
At Miss Pendleton's frivolous words, Ann retorted sullenly.
"What do you mean? I just polished a diamond diligently."
Miss Pendleton chuckled and left the room.
* * *
Arriving at the ballroom, Miss Pendleton greeted the Morton couple, who were standing at the entrance to welcome guests, and then entered the hall. The stage was already in full swing with a lively Quadrille tune. Miss Pendleton stood on one side of the hall and watched the dancers.
Ladies with their hair adorned with beautiful May flowers and wearing beautiful dresses with their waists tightly cinched in corsets, and gentlemen in black tuxedos were tapping their feet on the smooth marble floor in time with the music.
Miss Pendleton looked around. Men and women dancing, and men and women waiting for the next dance. There must have been at least 200 people. There were a lot of people for just the beginning of the social season. Miss Pendleton moved to a spot next to the terrace, as the indoor air was already getting warmer, and watched the dance stage.
Just then, the song ended and the people on the stage began to leave. One of them, Mr. Fairfax, spotted Miss Pendleton and safely took the lady he had been dancing with to her group, then approached her.
"Hello, Miss Pendleton!"
Miss Pendleton smiled and extended her hand to him. He kissed the back of her hand.
"This year's social season is crowded from the start."
"Indeed. Isn't Miss Janet Fairfax with you?"
"She's with her friends. She's over there, accepting that scoundrel George Orson's dance request?"
"Is Mr. Orson's personality that bad?"
"Didn't you know, Miss Pendleton?"
"He doesn't have a bad reputation among the ladies. He's polite and dances well."
"It's a mask he wears in front of the ladies. You have no idea how terrible he is in the gentlemen's club. He's the only one who cheats in card games where there's no money at stake."
"Still, nothing much will happen with just one dance."
"Hmm, that's true. Janet knows how to judge things."
Even as he said that, Mr. Fairfax couldn't take his worried eyes off his sister. Miss Pendleton smiled slightly at Mr. Fairfax.
It was the first time she had seen him since he was rejected by Miss Hyde. Fortunately, Mr. Fairfax was the same as usual. He had lost a little weight, but his complexion wasn't bad, so she could just assume that he had been hunting a little harder. It seemed that he had recovered from the blow to some extent.
Mr. Fairfax clicked his tongue as he watched his sister go out onto the dance stage with Mr. Orson, then turned to Miss Pendleton.
"Well, I'll let her dance one song. So, Miss Pendleton, do you have anyone you've promised this song to?"
"No. I just arrived."
Mr. Fairfax extended his hand to her.
"Then, how about a song with me?"
Miss Pendleton smiled and took his hand without hesitation.
As they went out onto the stage, the Cotillion dance soon began with an elegant melody. Men and women standing wide apart stepped in time, holding hands and spinning around.
Mr. Fairfax, who usually had a good sense of rhythm, and Miss Pendleton, who was skilled in social dancing, gracefully glided across the stage.
Mr. Fairfax held Miss Pendleton's waist and led her, asking,
"Miss Hyde didn't come today."
Miss Pendleton averted her gaze.
"She said she was... not feeling well."
"Miss Hyde?"
"Yes. She has a cold."
Mr. Fairfax looked at Miss Pendleton with disbelief. Well, considering Miss Hyde, who was usually as healthy as a pony, it was a terrible excuse.
