Chapter 15

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Who is the Woman of Destiny? (1)
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Miss Pendleton walked alongside Mr. Dalton, lost in thought for a moment. Just then, she heard a voice call her from behind.

“Miss Pendleton!”

Miss Pendleton and Mr. Dalton turned to see a splendid, gleaming four-wheeled carriage stopped on the bridle path. The carriage door soon opened, and Miss Dora Lance slowly alighted.

Miss Lance’s attire was dazzling. A veil from her fine promenade hat cast a faint shadow over her lovely face, which glowed with a peachy complexion. The striped dress she wore perfectly accentuated her slender figure.

Miss Pendleton offered a silent tribute to Miss Lance’s beauty.

‘My, Miss Lance is especially beautiful today. She looks just like Botticelli’s Venus.’

Miss Lance tripped lightly over to them and offered a curtsy. Miss Pendleton and Mr. Dalton returned the greeting in their respective manners.

“Goodness, isn’t the weather just lovely? I imagine you were both drawn out by this beautiful day.”

For some reason, Miss Lance seemed more excited than usual. The two of them offered agreeable replies.

“As was I. On a day like this, I simply couldn’t bear to stay home and tap away at the piano. Shall we walk together?”

“By all means, Miss Lance.”

Miss Pendleton readily welcomed her to join them.

The three of them walked side-by-side along the path. Miss Dora Lance was now positioned between Mr. Dalton and Miss Pendleton. She naturally took Mr. Dalton’s arm.

“The weather is so wonderful, Mr. Dalton. And since the social season is just before its peak, it’s not too crowded.”

“Ah, yes.”

“It will be the height of the season soon. All my friends who are still at resorts or their country estates will be back in London within a month. I’ve planned all sorts of things with them—balls, tea parties, picnics. It’s going to be so much fun. Mr. Dalton, if you’re in London for the season, would you like to join us for a picnic? We can go boating and pack a basket full of delicious food. What do you say?”

“We shall see.”

Miss Lance, who had been directing all her attention to Mr. Dalton, turned her head to Miss Pendleton.

“You’ll come too, won’t you, Miss Pendleton?”

“I would be delighted, if you’ll have me.”

“You must have plenty of fun with us this summer, Miss Pendleton. We’ll swim, go boating, and eat lots of cookies. I’m sure many other gentlemen will join us as well.”

Miss Pendleton smiled quietly.

“You’ll come too, won’t you, Mr. Dalton? Right? Right?”

At Miss Lance’s insistence, Mr. Dalton nodded.

“Very well. I will.”

Miss Lance clapped her hands in delight.

After that, Miss Lance chattered on about her plans for the summer. Most of her words were directed at Mr. Dalton. He seemed a bit taken aback at first but soon listened to her calmly and responded with polite courtesy.

Thanks to this, Miss Pendleton had an opportunity to observe them.

Miss Lance was far more ardent and excited than the woman she knew. To Miss Pendleton, it was quite puzzling.

She had been introduced to Miss Lance through Beth, and they had occasionally shared tea at the viscount’s gatherings before Beth’s marriage. They had also built a friendship, not deep but certainly closer than mere acquaintances, through small acts of kindness, like mending a torn dress hem at a ball or lending a pair of gloves.

It was this familiarity that made Miss Pendleton find Miss Lance’s current behavior all the more strange.

From the moment she made her debut, Miss Lance had been treated like a star in high society. Every word she spoke, every action she took, was met with praise. Not only men, but even women were her admirers.

And why wouldn’t they be? She was beautiful and intelligent. She was elegant and overflowing with talent. And she was well aware of these facts herself. As a result, she tended to be aloof to others’ attention, and her pride was so great it bordered on arrogance.

In short, she was not the kind of lady who would cling to a gentleman who showed her no interest, as if desperate for a man.

So what was this behavior now? Had some sort of emotional exchange occurred between Mr. Dalton and Miss Lance?

She knew they had dined together after their first meeting at the ball. Could they have shared their hearts enough in those two encounters to form a relationship nearing that of lovers? Or had there been some other, secret meeting afterward?

Without that, it made no sense. The great Dora Lance, chattering like a fool while practically clinging to a man who had no interest in her. Miss Pendleton looked at Mr. Dalton, her mind filled with bewilderment.

Mr. Dalton was reacting calmly to Miss Lance, who was clinging to him. To any observer, he appeared composed and dignified. From a distance, one might mistake them for a handsome couple, with him indulging the cute antics of his lover.

But having observed Mr. Dalton for the past fortnight, Miss Pendleton could not conclude that he had fallen in love with Miss Lance.

When he grumbled about how mischievous his young nephews were, his eyes held a glint of affection. But now, as he looked at Miss Lance, there was not a trace of anything similar in his eyes.

A short while later, Miss Lance remembered her mother’s instruction to return home early and hastily boarded her carriage, which had been following them. As if reluctant to leave, she made the two of them promise once more to attend the picnic before she zipped away toward home.

Mr. Dalton let out a sigh and asked Miss Pendleton if her legs were tired. As it happened, the long walk was beginning to make her calves ache.

Miss Pendleton told him so honestly, and he immediately decided they should turn back.

Miss Pendleton looked at Mr. Dalton. He was walking slowly, one hand in his pocket, matching her shorter stride. His expression was utterly unreadable.

Mr. Dalton broke the silence that had settled between them.

“Miss Lance is a lovely lady.”

“She is a lovely young woman. Talented and intelligent as well.”

“Beauty, talent, and intellect—a perfect lady. It would be difficult for any gentleman to refuse her. It’s a pity I was unable to dance with her last time.”

There was no warmth in Mr. Dalton’s voice, but his tone was serious. Miss Pendleton added a few more words of praise for Miss Lance, and Mr. Dalton agreed with each one, adding his own thoughts on her merits.

It was the first time she had heard him praise someone so earnestly.

“Having met your friends so far, Miss Pendleton, it seems the only person of little worth in your circle is William.”

Miss Pendleton burst out laughing.

“Mr. Fairfax is one of my most precious connections, Mr. Dalton.”

“Most precious?”

“Yes.”

“But why?”

His voice was one of genuine bewilderment.

“His disposition is gentler than any other gentleman in London. I respect a heart like that.”

“A soft and overly tender disposition, you mean. He’s the type who would get on all fours and bleat like a goat if his niece Olivia asked him to. He’s also leading the charge in spoiling his other nieces and nephews. I don’t understand how that man ever succeeded in business.”

Mr. Dalton used the same sarcastic tone he naturally adopted when speaking of people he liked. Miss Pendleton suppressed a smile.

“Don’t be so harsh on Mr. Fairfax. He was the one who pleaded with me, almost begging, to introduce you to a prospective bride.”

“...That was a kind gesture, I suppose.”

“By the way, aren’t you looking forward to the picnic with Miss Lance? I should ask her to invite Mr. Fairfax as well. I’m sure he would love to go boating.”

Mr. Dalton was a gentleman who never missed an opportunity for sarcasm.

“A fine idea. We can use William as a coachman for the journey and a boatman for the boating. He’s perfectly suited for such work.”

Miss Pendleton, unsure whether to laugh or not, simply laughed.

The conversation continued on the topic of the picnic all the way to the Pendleton residence. This provided many opportunities to bring up Miss Lance. Mr. Dalton earnestly shared Miss Pendleton’s sentiments in praising Miss Lance, building upon them with his own opinions as if constructing a tower of compliments.

Hearing a friend praised put Miss Pendleton in a good mood. One of her favorite things was to hear her friends being complimented. Just as Mr. Dalton had perceived.

When they arrived in front of Miss Pendleton’s house, Mr. Dalton politely declined her offer to come in for tea.

“Thank you, but I must be going. I am expecting a letter.”

“Is it urgent? You should hurry, then.”

“I shall.”

Mr. Dalton tipped his hat and gave a nod. He turned to leave, but then quickly turned back to Miss Pendleton.

“By any chance, has William Fairfax ever courted you?”

“Pardon?”

Miss Pendleton was horrified. Mr. Dalton waited seriously for her answer.

“Have you not heard the story of Miss Hyde and Mr. Fairfax?”

“I have.”

“And you recall that Miss Hyde is practicing her typing at our home?”

“Yes.”

“I’m astonished you would ask such a question despite that! If such a thing had happened, how could I possibly face Miss Hyde—no, the very thought is improper. Are you trying to ruin my friendship with Mr. Fairfax?”

Seeing Miss Pendleton’s agitated state, Mr. Dalton seemed to grow more pleased, a smile gracing his lips.

“A firm stance. I am relieved. Good day, then.”