Chapter 32

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Mr. Price (1)
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An invitation to a formal dinner at the Pendleton residence was delivered to Mrs. Nisely’s house, where Mr. Price was staying. Soon after, a reply written in a dashing, flourishing hand, stating he would gladly accept, returned to the Pendleton home.

Miss Pendleton consulted with Mr. Germain about the dinner menu and, while arranging the table setting for the dining room, considered other guests who might entertain him. Her grandmother would likely be unable to attend, and she felt she alone would not be enough to provide him with the pleasures of society.

Mr. Price, the guest of honor, was rumored to be informal, good-natured, and quite the talker. She sought out friends who would suit him. The Fairfax siblings, who were excellent listeners, and Miss Hyde, who was interested in any new story, came to mind.

Following that, a few open-minded couples from the new gentry also occurred to her. She sent invitations to all of them, and they gladly accepted.

On the day of the dinner, as expected, her grandmother remained in her bedroom, and only Miss Pendleton, impeccably dressed, awaited the guests in the drawing room.

The first to arrive that day was Miss Hyde.

She entered the drawing room in a simple white blouse, a black jacket, and an unadorned maroon skirt. A neat attire, devoid of the flashy jewelry one was forced to wear in society. She looked like a typical female office worker.

She had recently found employment at a publishing house. Today marked exactly a fortnight since she had started work.

She set down the briefcase in her hand, forwent the customary curtsy of society, and immediately threw her arms around Miss Pendleton’s neck. Miss Pendleton gladly accepted the fervent display of affection. It was proof that her life these days was a happy one.

Miss Hyde began to recount in detail the things she had experienced over the past few days at the office. Her roles in the office, which she had learned through the handover process.

She was a junior typist in the editorial department. Her official duties were to draft written contracts, greet authors who came with commissions, and serve tea. But within a week, she realized what her true job was. It was to listen to the cheerful, avid smoker of an editor gossip about authors and join in on mocking their writing.

It was a rather funny and strange workplace, Miss Hyde said. But as she said it, Miss Hyde’s face was glowing.
Miss Pendleton had never before seen Miss Hyde’s face look so delighted. She was clearly pleased with the new life she had begun. Miss Pendleton looked at Miss Hyde with pride, for she had started her new life much earlier than herself.

Mr. Price arrived precisely on time. Dressed in a neatly pressed tailcoat, he entered the drawing room whistling, led by a servant. He then bowed deeply to the two women in the drawing room and offered a polite greeting.

“A pleasure to make your acquaintance. I am Tom Price.”

The two women rose gracefully and curtsied. Miss Pendleton greeted him warmly.

“Thank you so much for coming. I am Laura Pendleton, Uncle Gerald’s niece. And this is Miss Jane Hyde, the second daughter of the Hyde family.”

Mr. Price bowed his head once more, then affably approached the ladies and kissed each of their hands.

“I’ve heard a great deal from Gerald. That is to say, I’ve heard a great deal through the Earl of Pendleton. You live in a truly magnificent house. And Miss Hyde, you are as dazzlingly beautiful as a London lady ought to be! My, I wonder if I’ll be able to swallow a single bite of dinner tonight, having to dine across from such radiant ladies. But your style of dress is rather unique. Very practical and neat, I must say.”

Miss Pendleton told him that Miss Hyde was a typist working in an office. At this, he laughed heartily and clapped his hands.

“In America, too, many women are entering the workforce. But I’ve heard their numbers are fewer in England. And here I am, meeting a fine career woman in this very room! Any plans for marriage, by chance?”

“None at all. I chose this path to avoid marriage.”

“Astounding discernment!”

Miss Hyde, taking a liking to his boisterous nature, asked.

“Where did you see such a quality in me, Mr. Price? All my life, I have only heard the opposite. More so as I grow older.”

“That is because you, Miss Hyde, have discovered a secret that people never teach young ladies. They all conspire to deceive ladies of marriageable age, yourself included.”

“And what is this secret, Mr. Price?”

“That to a woman, a husband is a millstone around her neck!”

Miss Pendleton smiled.

“It may be rude of me to say, but I understand you were married for a long time, Mr. Price.”

“Indeed, Miss Pendleton. This is a self-reflection born from my own long experience. Every man I know was nothing but a millstone to his wife. Good husbands, bad husbands—it made no difference.”

He let out an exaggerated sigh.

“I loved my wife so dearly that I was terrified of becoming a worthless man to her. So I spent my entire life striving to be a good husband. If she asked for the stars, I brought her the stars, and if she asked for the moon, I brought her the moon. Of course, you all have seen the stars and the moon each night. That’s because I made sure to put them back in their place before nightfall. But as she was leaving this world, as I held her hand and wept, she said this to me! ‘Oh, Lord! Please take me quickly so I can be free of this millstone!’”

Miss Hyde couldn’t contain herself and burst out laughing, clutching her stomach. Miss Pendleton could only offer a strained smile at his self-deprecating sense of humor.

Soon, the Fairfax siblings and the other distinguished guests arrived, and the dinner began in earnest.

The atmosphere was excellent. From the appetizer to the dessert, Mr. Price played the part of a charming raconteur to perfection. He had lived as a businessman in American society for over thirty years, accumulating a wealth of experiences and, consequently, a rich supply of stories.

In particular, he knew New York society inside and out. It was his own stomping ground, a place he and his wife had frequented for twenty years. The topic was well-suited for a dinner party, and his stories captivated everyone present.

Throughout the meal, he recounted in vivid detail how the descendants of merchants and manufacturers, who pretended to be American aristocrats, were feverishly trying to imitate European high society.

He was a man of keen observation and also a master of satire. Through his words, the customs of American society were mercilessly laid bare.

Mr. Price scoffed that in their efforts to copy European culture, they mimicked everything from interior design, servants’ livery, and dresses to societal manners and even their methods of adultery. His stories frequently crossed the line, but due to Mr. Price’s nonchalant and cheerful tone, no one felt uncomfortable.

Even if his stories had been uncomfortable, no one would have stopped him. For his tales were satisfying their pride as Europeans.

After the meal, they moved to the drawing room. Miss Janet and Miss Pendleton took turns playing the piano, while the others spent their time listening to the performance or playing cards.

Miss Hyde, in particular, had become completely charmed by Mr. Price during dinner and constantly tried to hear more stories about America from him. Mr. Price, not at all displeased by the lady’s interest, spent the entire time in the drawing room telling her about Atlanta and New York, where he had lived.

The dinner party that day was a success. All the guests were satisfied, and the guest of honor, Mr. Price, was especially impressed by the Pendleton family’s cuisine, their cordial hospitality, and the charming company. Just before leaving, with a look of immense satisfaction, he kissed Miss Pendleton’s hand, declaring that he had never attended such a dinner, not even in America.

Miss Pendleton was greatly relieved to have satisfied the guest of honor. Though his loud manner of speaking and exaggerated sense of humor had grated on her nerves, giving her a migraine by the end of the evening.

From that day on, Miss Pendleton often invited Mr. Price to dinner. Those occasions were always filled with a boisterous and pleasant atmosphere, and upon his departure, he would always kiss Miss Pendleton’s hand and praise the dinner lavishly, calling it the best he’d ever had.

She felt that Mr. Price was satisfied with her hospitality, and she believed that was the full extent of his feelings. But as their interactions continued, Miss Pendleton began to sense that something was amiss.

The first inkling came on the day he attended his fourth dinner at the Pendleton residence. On that day, her grandmother’s condition was better than usual, so she attended the dinner for the first time in a while. Her grandmother took quite a liking to his cheerful disposition, and Mr. Price, in turn, used all his wit and humor to liven up the atmosphere and entertain the ailing lady.

By the time the main course was served, her grandmother and Mr. Price had grown close enough to speak frankly and open their hearts to one another.

“Miss Pendleton must be a great comfort to you, Lady Abigail. It will be very sad for you when Miss Pendleton marries.”

“That is an unavoidable part of life. If that child sets out to find her own happiness, how could I possibly stop her?”

“Indeed. Parting is an unavoidable fate for a daughter and her parents. As much as a parent loves their daughter, they must always be preparing inwardly for the sorrow of that parting. Otherwise, when the time comes, they will find themselves clinging to their daughter, begging her to give up her own happiness. I was exactly the same. When my daughter wore her wedding dress, I wanted to hold on to her and plead with her to remain my daughter for just one more year.”

“As someone who has married off a daughter, you understand that feeling well. If Laura were to leave, I would feel as if a piece of my heart had been torn out.”

“But you must endure that pain. Ah, for the daughter's happiness is bought with the parent's pain.”

Miss Pendleton listened to their conversation in silence. She was pleased that Mr. Price was proving to be a good companion for her grandmother. But a short while later, Lady Abigail felt dizzy again and ended up being helped upstairs by the servants.

That evening, Miss Pendleton had to entertain Mr. Price alone. She listened diligently to his stories and smiled until the meal was over. He was, after all, an honored guest of the house.

After dinner, at his request, she went to the drawing room and played a piece on the piano. Mr. Price remained seated, staring intently at Miss Pendleton as she played. Miss Pendleton found his gaze unsettling, but she did not let it show and continued to move her fingers across the keys.

“When I first entered London society, I sought you out, Miss Pendleton.”

“Did you hear about me from my uncle?”

“I did. That fellow—no, forgive me, the dear Earl of Pendleton—boasted about you nonstop. How beautiful and virtuous a lady his niece is. More of an English lady than anyone, he said. Wouldn’t trade you for a dozen American ladies, or so he claimed.”

To think her uncle had been boasting about her. How could he know if a niece he hadn’t seen since she was ten was beautiful or virtuous? More than that, she could not feel that her Uncle Gerald’s praise came from a pure place.