Chapter 8
She had been staying at Baron Elwood’s estate for three days in preparation for this banquet. At her aunt’s insistence, she had bathed in milk and washed her face with tea water, and she had applied expensive Marencia Oil to make her smooth hair shine. After tightening her stiffest corset with all her might, she donned her finest evening gown. The water-colored dress she wore now was the most beautiful garment she owned.
‘You must look your absolute best. This is a banquet hosted by the Duke. When will you ever get another invitation to such an event?’
Even without her aunt’s nagging, Rosalyn would have done her best. She didn’t dare dream of the miracle of becoming the Duchess, but a ball at the ducal residence would be filled with the highest echelons of society. Who knew if she might form a precious connection with one of them?
‘Alfred likely wants you to leave Andover. He’s a soft-hearted man, so he just hasn’t been able to say it.’
Rosalyn was well aware of her future and the life she had to endure as a woman. She also knew she didn’t have much time left to find her place. If this was her fate—if she absolutely had to become someone’s wife—she wanted the best man as her husband.
Someone who would love her and whom she could love in return. Someone they could mutually respect and honor. The best man to build a comfortable home with.
Therefore, Rosalyn had to be at her best today. Even if it meant mobilizing every superior asset she possessed.
“At least so far, I haven’t seen a young lady more beautiful than you.”
“I can see how much you love me, Aunt.”
“It’s not empty flattery. In terms of features, grace, and even jewelry, there isn’t a lady here better than you.”
The Baroness looked at her niece-in-law with satisfied eyes. From the elegantly swept-up hair and the white curve of her shoulders to the necklace and earrings that highlighted it all. The pearl necklace and earrings, adorned with diamonds, were inherited from Rosalyn’s mother.
All the valuable jewelry Rosalyn owned had belonged to her mother, who in turn had inherited them from her own mother and grandmother. Most jewelry belonging to noblewomen was passed down in such a manner. In a sense, the pieces Rosalyn wore were not her personal property, but the property of her house.
“There is Count Lott’s cousin. Lady Adelaide.”
“Do you know the Southern nobles as well?”
“I know a few. We’ve interacted before.”
The Baroness, boasting of her connections with a proud face, continued.
“Oh, there is Lady Glan.”
“Glan?”
“Yes. Karina Glan. She is the aunt of the Duke of Windburg.”
Rosalyn was inwardly surprised and shifted her gaze to where her aunt gestured. Standing some distance away, the Duke’s aunt was a plump, pleasant-looking middle-aged woman, engaged in conversation with two women of her own age.
“Her nephew on her father’s side is a naval lieutenant; he’s rumored to be an excellent young man. Come here. I’ll introduce you.”
The Baroness of Elwood was faithful to her role as a chaperone. Her duties were to quickly scan the people filling this vast hall, find familiar faces, and introduce the maiden in her charge.
She, of course, hoped Rosalyn would seize a miracle-like stroke of luck and become the Duchess. However, she also knew the probability of that was extremely low. Thus, while praying to God for luck today, she also had to focus her efforts on securing more realistic candidates.
“Hello, Lady Glan.”
The Baroness approached naturally and struck up a conversation. Karina Glan looked over with her fair, fleshy face, hesitating for a moment as if she couldn’t recall who it was.
“I am the Baroness of Elwood. We met last year at the art gallery sponsorship banquet held at the Mayor’s Residence.”
“Oh, Baroness! How rude of me. Of course I remember you.”
Karina finally broke into a wide smile and acknowledged her. To Rosalyn, both women’s smiles seemed a bit exaggerated, but regardless, the two noblewomen introduced their companions with highly sociable attitudes. Thanks to that, Rosalyn was able to exchange greetings with them naturally.
“I am truly sorry. Perhaps it’s my age, but my memory isn’t what it used to be.”
“I completely understand. I am much the same.”
“Have you been well? And is your husband doing well?”
“I suppose so. It’s been over three years since he went to the afterlife, so I imagine he’s doing just fine.”
“Oh, dear. What is wrong with me today?”
“Don’t give it a thought, Lady Glan. Reminding a widow that her husband is dead can bring joy to some.”
The noblewomen gathered there burst into laughter. Rosalyn joined in with a polite, slight smile. It wasn’t the most dignified remark, but if it was a calculated move to smooth over the other’s mistake by self-deprecation, it was a response quite likely to win favor.
“You are truly generous, Baroness. But how can I apologize for such a discourtesy…?”
Lady Glan waved her hand with a troubled expression. A large sapphire sparkled on her fair, plump finger.
“I know. How about this? What if I introduce your niece to the Duke? Would you be willing to forget my rudeness then?”
Karina Glan looked at Rosalyn with a broad smile.
“Goodness, Lady Glan. If you would do that, it would be an honor for us.”
“Don’t mention it, Baroness. It’s my pleasure to show my nephew such a lovely young lady. Let’s see…. Ah! He happens to be coming out now.”
As Karina pointed that way with delight, everyone with her turned their heads. In the midst of the sudden turn of events, Rosalyn’s heart finally began to race. The corset tightening her waist felt even more stifling.
To be introduced to the Duke.
One of the most important aspects of social etiquette is the art of introduction. Two people meeting for the first time can only exchange names if introduced by a mutual acquaintance. Even if one attended by the Duke’s invitation, there was no way to engage him in conversation without a mutual acquaintance.
Consequently, many of the women here had to wait for the Duke to notice them and speak first. Rosalyn, who could not possibly have a mutual acquaintance with the Duke, was no different. Therefore, the Baroness’s strategy of approaching the Duke’s aunt was a result of clever tactics combined with exquisite luck.
“Come this way, everyone. This way.”
Surprised by this sudden stroke of luck, Rosalyn followed behind Lady Glan, led by her aunt’s hand in a bit of a daze. Then, she looked at the man drawing closer.
The Duke of Windburg was dressed formally in a black swallowtail coat and bowtie. The partner he escorted was a middle-aged woman. Rosalyn knew instantly that she was the Duke’s mother, Dowager Duchess Diane. Her green eyes, identical to her son’s, and her elegantly styled platinum-blonde hair were far too striking to miss.
It was her first time seeing platinum-blonde hair, which was almost like moonlight, in person. It was a legendary symbol of the Imperial Family. Dowager Duchess Diane was a cousin of the late Emperor and a paternal aunt to the current Emperor, Ruben VIII.
“It’s the Duke of Windburg.”
“The Duke has come out.”
“Where? Where is he?”
The crowd began to buzz. Those wishing to introduce their daughters, sisters, and nieces watched with shining eyes. Who would be the first to reach the Duke? Or would it be more advantageous to wait and approach him calmly? Amidst the intense flurry of calculating gazes,
“Jared!”
Karina Glan suddenly raised her voice.
Almost simultaneously, the Duke and the Dowager Duchess turned their heads toward them. Rosalyn stepped toward the Duke, tucked among her party, but the Duke did not spare a glance for her or the others. His gaze remained fixed only on the woman standing at the very front.
“Aunt Karina.”
“It’s a truly magnificent banquet. I must give my compliments to whoever thought of this.”
“Thank you. Where is my uncle?”
“He’s around somewhere. I couldn’t care less.”
Karina Glan, giving a jovial laugh, bowed her head slightly to the Dowager Duchess.
“You look beautiful, sister-in-law.”
“Thank you, sister.”
“How long has it been since I saw you at a ball? It’s so wonderful to have you out like this. You brighten the whole room.”
Unlike her sister-in-law’s affectionate attitude, the Dowager Duchess wore an ambiguous expression that sat somewhere between a smile and a frown. That cool complexion made Rosalyn a bit uneasy, but Karina herself didn’t seem to mind at all.
“There is a young lady I would like to introduce to you both. She is the daughter of Viscount Andover. The noblewoman with her is the Baroness of Elwood, the young lady’s aunt.”
Only after Karina Glan began her introduction did the Duke of Windburg shift his gaze to look at the woman he was meeting for the first time.
