High-society ladies were gathered for an enjoyable tea party.
Though every other woman present was dressed lavishly, one sat among them in simple clothes.
A woman with brownish-blonde hair pulled securely back at her shoulders raised her head and addressed the ladies.
The ladies burst into laughter.
At that, the hostess spoke up with an embarrassed look on her face.
Eleanora had maintained a quiet smile for a while, but beneath it she had been rather tense and pressed for time. Her shoulders finally relaxed a fraction.
Eleanora sat down on the chair the maid brought over and inspected the hostess's wrist.
The burns were faring better than they had a few days ago, though they still required treatment today.
As Eleanora opened her medical bag, the ladies resumed their idle chatter.
Eleanora's hands froze for a split second, but she promptly dipped a clean cotton swab into the medicine as if nothing had happened.
Blackwell.
( ‘Ah, what a fine name.’ )
It was said that all the wealth in the Kingdom of Britain gathered beneath that name.
The moment one lady asked with sparkling eyes, every gaze in the room fell upon Eleanora.
She gave a faint smile.
Julian was a handsome man with gentle blond hair and light blue eyes who inspired warmth and kindness in anyone who saw him.
Killian, on the other hand, with his dark brown hair and amber eyes edged in gold, was more like a predator brimming with raw power and majesty.
That was why she said they were different.
Objectively speaking, however, Killian’s looks were far beyond the ordinary.
Unless one possessed singularly peculiar tastes, nine out of ten people would say Killian was overwhelmingly handsomer.
Baroness Pemberton spoke in a dry tone, prompting Lady Beaumont to shield her mouth with her fan and chime in.
Which meant the noble young lady’s pride had likely been wounded over some trivial matter, and so she had turned her back on him.
They said that when he once bumped into a young noble lady by accident, he merely scowled and said,
Then he took off his coat and threw it aside on the spot.
Rumor had it he openly ignored her, turning instead to his attendants to ask,
One of the ladies lowered her voice and swallowed dryly.
They were shocking tales of sheer rudeness.
Then one lady spoke up, looking hesitant.
The other ladies nodded in agreement.
Eleanora smiled bitterly.
Such stories were hard to believe. And yet, that man…
A little startled by the sudden question, Eleanora managed a strained smile.
Wrapping the bandage briskly, she finished the treatment and rose from her seat.
The ladies bade her farewell with lingering regret.
The moment she stepped out of the drawing room, Eleanora picked up her pace, quickening into a stride the second she left the mansion.
( ‘I am terribly late.’ )
Eleanora hurried toward the bustling commercial district of Highbury.
She needed to deliver clothes sent by the brother of her childhood friend, Clara.
Yet there she caught sight of someone she had never expected to see.
( ‘Lord Blackwell?!’ )
He should have been at his manor, yet here he stood amidst the crowd.
What was more, Miss Beaumont was standing right before him.
Miss Beaumont said this with flushed cheeks.
Killian, who had not bothered to hide his irritation for some time, only scowled darker, his expression hardening.
Miss Beaumont lowered her gaze shyly and took another step closer to him.
At that exact moment, Killian parted his lips mercilessly.
Killian looked up in shock and stared at Eleanora. She fixed him with a solemn look.
In truth, Eleanora had never said any such thing to him. And of course, Killian knew perfectly well she hadn't.
At a loss for words, he merely worked his mouth in silence.
She asked him,
The moment he pointed toward the carriage, she hurried over and swung the door wide open.
Like a dog being dragged home against its will after a brief stroll, Killian watched Eleanora's expression warily and climbed into the carriage.
Then Eleanora turned back to Miss Beaumont, her expression full of genuine apology.
Because Miss Beaumont trusted Eleanora implicitly, she accepted the explanation without question.
Eleanora smiled in parting and climbed into the carriage.
Sitting down beside Killian, who seemed terribly tense, she spoke.
Killian answered, staring off into space with visible nervousness.
Even now, Eleanora could not hide her astonishment.
Killian, apologizing? Even the secretary who served under him would likely faint on the spot if he heard this.
( ‘Still, his complexion looks poor.’ )
Looking at him with concern, she asked,
“I came to see you.”
Besides, she had no recollection of ever telling him she would be visiting Highbury today.
While Eleanora was lost in confusion, Killian remained silent, scowling deeply.
How could he possibly tell her that he had heard she went to meet that bastard Julian, lost his mind, and came rushing after her?
( ‘What on earth has come over me?’ )
Things were happening to him that he never could have imagined before coming to Oakbridge.
A man who couldn't bear to stand before a woman for even a moment… A brute who had always driven women away with scathing words…
That very Killian Blackwell was now trailing behind a woman wherever she went.
Was unrequited love truly such a terrifying thing?!