Chapter 47

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 47
Chapter Title: The Fallen Veil (2)
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“There, it's done. You can go to the ball just like this.”

Miss Jensen hurried to the dressing room to look in the mirror. A lady she had never seen before stood there. She was not only respectable but also exquisitely beautiful. Miss Jensen clapped so hard the room seemed to ring with the sound.

“It's fixed! The dress problem is fixed. Miss Pendleton, thank you. Thank you so much.”

Miss Pendleton sat on the sofa, feeling a sense of satisfaction. Beside her, Mrs. Knighley gazed at her as if she were a goddess. To handle everything so magnificently... A lady from an earl's family was truly different.

Mrs. Knighley sat down next to Miss Pendleton. She clasped her hands together and made a request.

“Miss Pendleton, if you don't mind, please stay for dinner this evening.”

Miss Pendleton politely declined. She was hesitant for fear of running into Mr. Price. Though he was fortunately out at the moment, she could run into him at any time during dinner.

Hearing their conversation, Miss Jensen rushed out of the dressing room.

“Why not, Miss Pendleton! Please stay for dinner. Won't you?”

“No, I really can't. I must check on my grandmother, and I also need to prepare for tomorrow's ball...”

“Oh, please don't say that. You've gone to such trouble for me; you must give me a chance to repay you.”

“That's right, Miss Pendleton. Please do stay. Our formal dinner may be somewhat lacking, but we serve fine dishes that are well-regarded in this neighborhood. Please don't worry that it might be beneath your station.”

“Mrs. Knighley, I don't think that at all. It's just that...”

Miss Pendleton fell silent, her excuses exhausted. The two ladies then began to cling to her arms. *Stay and eat. Please stay and eat.* The two women chirped like birds on either side of her.

Miss Pendleton refused several times, but the two women were insistent. In the end, as always, she had to choose etiquette over her own misgivings.

“...Very well, I will stay for dinner.”

Miss Jensen exclaimed, “Hooray!” and shook Miss Pendleton's hand. Mrs. Knighley immediately rushed to the kitchen to harry the cook into preparing a meal that would not be found wanting by Miss Pendleton.

A short while later, Miss Pendleton sat down to a formal dinner with them.

Miss Pendleton received the most lavish treatment she had experienced in a long time. Though it was only three ladies dining, a sumptuous goose dish, turtle soup, and fine wine were served. Not only that, but Mrs. Knighley asked every five minutes if Miss Pendleton needed anything else, while Miss Jensen kept her eyes fixed on her, showering her with attention.

Miss Pendleton ate amidst their constant consideration. The flood of hospitality was a bit overwhelming, but the food was delicious and Miss Jensen's jokes were delightful. Having been dedicated to her role as hostess for some time, it had been a while since she had been treated as a guest like this.

After dinner, Miss Jensen led Miss Pendleton to the drawing room. Declaring that it was her turn to entertain Miss Pendleton, she seated her on the sofa and took her place at the piano bench. Then she asked Miss Pendleton to name her favorite piece.

Miss Pendleton requested a sonata by Franz Liszt, a long-time favorite of hers. Miss Jensen's fingers danced elegantly over the keys as she began to play.

Miss Pendleton listened to Miss Jensen's piano performance while sipping the tea Mrs. Knighley offered her.

Miss Pendleton was fond of Mrs. Knighley, but she felt a particular liking for Miss Jensen.

Since the regatta, Miss Jensen had quickly grown close with Miss Lance's circle. She often made appearances at their afternoon teas and had become a welcome lady at Miss Lance's tea parties.

This meant that she was no longer an essential person to Miss Jensen. It would surely be more advantageous for Miss Jensen to associate with young, popular ladies than with a has-been like herself, who would soon be leaving the social scene.

But Miss Jensen still found time to visit the townhouse and spend time with Miss Pendleton. She would open a box of candies brought from America, or suggest they go for a walk in Hyde Park together. By all accounts, these were gestures of pure friendship.

The presence of the cheerful Miss Jensen was a source of comfort for Miss Pendleton, who had been under a great deal of stress lately.

Her grandmother's daily worsening condition, and her uncle, who tormented her with silent contempt whenever they crossed paths in the house. And Charles, who, despite being busy roaming all over London every day, still found time to leer at the maids.

With everyone in her household causing her extreme fatigue, today's reception was a welcome respite.

Sitting on the drawing room sofa, enjoying Miss Jensen's elegant piano performance while receiving the occasional cookie and frivolous compliment from Mrs. Knighley, Miss Pendleton felt quite comfortable.

Until Mrs. Knighley said these words.

“By the way, Miss Pendleton.”

Mrs. Knighley glanced furtively at Miss Jensen, then tilted her head slightly and addressed Miss Pendleton.

“Yes, Mrs. Knighley?”

“When are you thinking of accepting my brother's proposal?”

Miss Pendleton couldn't believe her ears.

“Pardon?”

“I asked when you're going to accept my brother's proposal.”

Mrs. Knighley repeated, enunciating each word. Miss Pendleton froze.

“I heard from my brother. He said he's been courting you devotedly for a long time. And that you, Miss Pendleton, are not entirely indifferent?”

Miss Pendleton felt her mind reel at the sudden question. She quickly set down the teacup she was holding.

“Excuse me, Mrs. Knighley, but I'm not quite sure what you mean...”

“Oh, am I not supposed to talk about this? But Miss Pendleton, my brother is nearly in his mid-fifties. He's at an age where dying would be considered a peaceful end. If you drag it out for too long...”

“Aunt!”

At the sudden cry, both women looked toward the piano. Miss Jensen had stopped playing and was staring at Mrs. Knighley with a flustered expression.

“I told you to watch what you say in front of Miss Pendleton, didn't I? She's such a proper lady!”

Mrs. Knighley belatedly realized her mistake.

“I-I'm sorry, Joan.”

“Honestly, I can't with you. How embarrassing must this be for Miss Pendleton? How can you be so thoughtless?”

Being chided by a young woman who could be her daughter, Mrs. Knighley's face flushed with embarrassment.

“But Joan, you're too young to understand. And Miss Pendleton wouldn't know either, being unmarried. Who here has been married as long as I have? I just wanted to let her know that if you're going to get married anyway, it's better to get it over with quickly rather than dawdling.”

“Excuse me, just a moment.”

Miss Pendleton interjected. Both women's gazes turned to her.

“I feel I must say something, as you both seem to be under a misunderstanding. It is true that I received a proposal from Mr. Price. But I refused him. I don't know what Mr. Price may have told you, but my feelings are quite clear.”

Mrs. Knighley gave an awkward laugh.

“Miss Pendleton. I know. I do. It must be embarrassing to marry a man old enough to be your father. But we are all so grateful to you. Isn't that right, Joan?”

Miss Jensen wiped the troubled look from her face and looked gently at Miss Pendleton.

“Of course. We haven't shown it because we know it might be awkward for you, but everyone in this house holds you in high regard. You're saving our aging godfather in his final years, after all. What a noble and warm-hearted person you are. For someone like you to become our godfather's wife is something to be truly thankful for.”

Miss Pendleton quietly listened as the two spoke one after the other. They firmly believed she was going to marry Mr. Price. From her perspective, it was nothing short of absurd. It was a situation where flying into a rage would not have been out of place.

But, as always when faced with a preposterous and unbelievable situation, her heart grew cold.

“Mrs. Knighley, Miss Jensen. I am sorry to say this, especially after you have treated me so generously today. I have never once thought of Mr. Price as a man. And as for his courtship, I have felt nothing but bewilderment. If I...”

“Miss Pendleton, so you're saying...”

“Mrs. Knighley. Please hear me out. Had he offered me a position as a nurse, or a governess for his children, I might have accepted. But I will never be his wife. This is precisely the kind of marriage I have avoided my entire life. To marry Mr. Price would be to completely abandon my own nature and convictions. If you mention a marriage between him and myself any further, I will consider it an insult.”

Silence fell over the drawing room. Mrs. Knighley and Miss Jensen stared quietly at Miss Pendleton. Miss Pendleton met their gazes, her lips pressed firmly together. They soon read the sincerity in her face.

A rather long silence followed. Soon, Mrs. Knighley summoned a servant to clear the tea table in the drawing room. Then, with her shoulders slumped, she left the room without a word.

Meanwhile, Miss Jensen remained seated at the piano, her eyes cast down at the keyboard. She seemed to be lost in deep thought.

From what had just transpired, Miss Pendleton could now surmise the nature of the kindness Miss Jensen had shown her until now. It must have been goodwill toward the woman who was to become her beloved godfather's new wife.

Resentment toward Mr. Price began to well up inside Miss Pendleton. Why on earth had he willfully misinterpreted her clear refusal and filled the women around him with such false hope?

In any case, she could not remain in this house any longer. Miss Pendleton rose from her seat.

“I must be returning home now. Please forgive me for taking my leave. And... please tell Mrs. Knighley that I am sorry I could not say goodbye. Farewell.”

“Wait, Miss Pendleton!”

Miss Jensen shot up from her seat and stopped Miss Pendleton as she was leaving the drawing room.

“Please take our carriage. I'll see you home.”

“Please don't trouble yourself. I can get home on my own.”

“No. It's because I'd like to talk on the way. I imagine it wouldn't be comfortable for you to speak in the house. Please wait just a moment. I'll get my coat.”

Miss Jensen ordered a servant to have the carriage brought around and hurried upstairs, returning with a light cape draped over her shoulders.

The two of them boarded the carriage together. As the two ladies settled onto their seats, the carriage gave a great lurch and then began to move slowly.