Translator: Nox

8

Your Ryan

<Episode 8>

The next day, from morning, people visited Sir Burton's house as if they had very important business.

Contrary to their expressions, their business was quite trivial.

Asking to borrow the Bible, returning the pen they had borrowed last time, or asking to check if one of their ducks had gone missing and might have come to this house.

However, anyone could guess their real purpose, considering that all the visitors were mothers with daughters, or the daughters themselves looking for a marriage partner.

From noon, they peeked at the table Emily was busily preparing, noting which tableware was set out and where the guests would be seated.

Then, they called the errand boy and even inquired about what kind of meat Sir Burton had ordered for his guest.

"He ordered a lamb."

"He ordered a lamb! He must be welcoming the guest with genuine pleasure."

People realized from this fact that the new manager had completely won Sir Burton's favor.

"Sir Burton is a gentleman to everyone. So, he might just be showing courtesy to his next manager."

"Still, when a professor from Feltham visited last time, he didn't order a lamb. So, he must really like this manager."

"Did you see the silverware Emily brought out? It was so shiny, it was dazzling."

Tonight, Sir Burton's dinner was already becoming a delightful topic of conversation for everyone in Feltham.

While everyone was excited about the arrival of the new manager, Eloise was dying inside.

"...What happened?"

Yesterday, her father's expression was calm after visiting Blissbury. As if he hadn't heard anything from Thornton.

Her father seemed to think he had just left a landscape painting in the Painting Room, and he didn't ask any more about the painting being returned.

'Did he decide to bury it?'

Well, it would be embarrassing to hand it over, saying, 'Your daughter was drawing pictures like this.'

So, maybe he's trying to return it quietly without saying anything to my father.

'If that's the case, it's a relief, but...'

To return it. What kind of nasty trick is this?

If he was going to pretend not to know, he could have burned it, or he could have returned it quietly. The fact that he specifically asked to have the painting returned to my father somehow made me feel his subtle, twisted personality.

Moreover, that wasn't the only strange thing.

<He was a very cultured young man. You could tell from his speech and manners that he was well-educated. As expected, Stanford Baron was right to trust him.>

What part of that man with the dirty appearance was?

...I couldn't bring myself to ask. Because then I would have to explain what happened between him and me.

After that, Sir Burton didn't stop praising Thornton.

They had only talked for a few hours, but he seemed to like him very much.

Considering how careful he is about meeting people, the fact that he invited him to dinner so quickly meant he must be very pleased.

Anyway, the sun was setting, and the smell of well-roasted lamb was wafting from the kitchen.

Eloise sat on a chair in the living room, looking outside.

'But what exactly did he look like?'

I remembered he had black hair and blue eyes. The problem was that I was so flustered that I couldn't remember anything else properly.

Besides, his appearance was terrible. He looked no different from a cow that had rolled in the mud.

He must have washed and changed his clothes when he met my father, but considering his forceful demeanor when he grabbed me and yelled at me, I couldn't imagine the well-mannered young man my father was talking about, no matter how hard I tried.

Because it was still early spring, the sunset was gradually descending on the hill.

Eloise took a shawl and went outside.

Emily, who would normally have nagged me to come inside quickly because the air was cold, was busy cooking, and my mother was also busy instructing the other maids and servants to make sure there were no problems with the meal preparation.

When I went outside, the sky was dyed as if it were on fire.

Eloise faced the setting sun, looking at the barley field in front of the house.

When I was cooped up in the house all day, worrying about what to do, I felt like the sky was falling, but as I stood in the sunset, feeling the breeze and looking at the wide field, the worries I had just been having felt so futile.

'If he wants to tell, let him tell.'

It's not like my father and mother will abandon me because of it. I drew as much as I could from the books, so what can they do?

'Of course, it's a bit embarrassing that I drew Lieutenant Colonel Ryan on top of it.'

Now, the only painting left in the world is the one the man says he will return.

'I have to burn it as soon as I get it.'

The fireplace in the living room is burning brightly today as well. If I throw it in there as soon as I receive it, there will be no more evidence of my shame left in the world.

Eloise was smiling contentedly as she thought that.

"Seeing you here, I guess I came to the right place."

"...!"

Eloise was startled and turned her head at the sudden voice from beside her.

A man she had never seen before was standing there.

A clean shirt and jacket, and well-tailored pants.

It was a gentleman's suit so neat that it seemed like it had been taken straight from the clothing store in Cambon.

There are only a handful of people in Feltham who dress like this. Almost none if they are young men.

So, it must be a face I know, but the man was someone Eloise had never seen before.

But unlike her puzzled expression, the man acted as if he already knew her.

"Excuse me, but have we met before?"

I know that asking this is very rude if I had been introduced to him somewhere else. But I can say with certainty that this man was someone Eloise had never seen before.

That's because the man had a face that would be impossible to forget once introduced.

First of all, he was tall enough that you had to tilt your head slightly to look at him.

In Feltham, this alone would be enough to impress others. Among young men, he must be the tallest.

But if you could see him up close like now, his face would be remembered even more vividly than his height.

First, the most striking features on the man's face were his dark black hair and the contrasting clear blue eyes.

It was a color that the nymphs in famous paintings might possess, but his rugged yet sharp jawline and nose clearly revealed his masculinity.

The face, with its completely contrasting charms, was surprisingly harmonious, making people let out a small exclamation.

'Who is he?'

It had been a long time since she had left the marriage market, but that didn't mean she had left her ability to judge men on the floor.

So, she could never forget a man with such handsome features.

Eloise, who had been looking at the man in confusion, belatedly realized that she had been staring at him rudely and turned her head.

Then, she suddenly realized that she had met his gaze somewhere before.

It was definitely recently. When exactly...?

At that moment, the man smiled cynically and opened his mouth again.

"I didn't think you wouldn't recognize me just because I changed my clothes."

It was a hateful voice.

A tone that dripped with contempt for the other person... The moment Eloise heard that voice, she finally realized the man's identity.

"Ah! The manager of Blissbury!"

Who was it, it was that man. That rude man who grabbed my arm and accused me of being a maid stealing things!

"Ryan... Thornton."

The man bowed slightly. Then, he rummaged through his coat and handed her a piece of paper.

"I'm glad I met you before going in. I was wondering how to return this embarrassing thing."

Eloise, realizing what he was handing her, grabbed the painting in his hand as quickly as a hawk snatches a chick, horrified.

She hurriedly pushed it under her shawl, afraid someone would see it, and looked around.

Was it heaven's help?

Because it was dinner time, the people who had been loitering around all day had returned home for a while, and her family was also busy welcoming guests, so no one was paying attention outside.

Confirming that no one knew she had received something from Thornton before her eyes, Eloise cleared her throat and put on an expression as if nothing had happened.

"Oh, um... Thank you for bringing it."

"Don't mention it. I would be very uncomfortable thinking that such an unhealthy thing was circulating in the house where I am staying."

Eloise felt a surge of anger at the man's tone, as if he truly found it disgusting.

I admit that I drew a picture that a proper lady would never draw.

If he despises me for that, I have nothing to say.

But why is this man acting as if I have been insulted?

His attitude made it seem like he was Lieutenant Colonel Ryan Wilgrave.

At that moment, he opened his mouth.

"Sir Burton is a wonderful gentleman."

Eloise cast a questioning glance at his sudden praise of her father. He continued without paying attention.

"From the moment I met him, I realized that I would receive a lot of help from him during my stay in Blissbury. So, I thought it would be good to have a smooth relationship with his family as well. Even with Sir Burton's daughter, who has an unnecessarily voyeuristic view of the opposite sex."

"...!"

Eloise looked at him, but he continued to speak, meeting her gaze without any change in expression.

"So, I hope we can pretend that what happened in Blissbury never happened, Miss Serverton."

He said it in a voice as if he was bestowing a great favor, then turned his body.

It was an action as if Eloise was no longer worth talking to, but Eloise could not say anything, clutching the painting hidden in her shawl.

And Eloise was certain.

That there would never be a smooth relationship between her and him until this man left Blissbury.