Chapter 57

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 57
Chapter Title: Lady Abigail (1)
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After her conversation with Miss Lance, Miss Pendleton returned straight home.

Her mind had been in turmoil over Miss Lance and Mr. Dalton the entire way, but as the carriage turned onto Grosvenor Street, she soon forgot the matter. A much larger problem now lay before her.

Her uncle would surely summon her to his study the moment she arrived and demand answers about the marriage, and she would have no choice but to tell him the truth. What would he say when he heard what she had done today? How would he react?

‘Things might become even worse than yesterday.’

At the thought, a throb of pain shot through the fingers of her right hand. Miss Pendleton gently touched her gloved hand and gazed out the window.

‘If it comes to that, I won't just stand by and take it. I can't fight him—I'd be sure to lose. But I can at least throw things and run. In any case, I will not let what happened yesterday happen again.’

The carriage stopped in front of the townhouse. Miss Pendleton alighted and entered the house. The atmosphere inside, however, was markedly different from when she had left. A gloomy air hung over the place, and all the servants greeted her with somber faces.

Miss Pendleton asked a maid.

“Did something happen while I was out?”

“Mr. Webster is here.”

“Why would he come so suddenly… Oh, don't tell me that while I was out, Grandmother…!”

“No, miss. She only lost consciousness. Mr. Webster is waiting for you.”

Miss Pendleton hurried upstairs at once. Inside her grandmother’s room, Mr. Webster and three maids, including Anne, were keeping watch by the bedside. Mr. Webster rose from his seat as soon as Miss Pendleton entered.

“Miss Pendleton…”

Forgetting even to greet him, Miss Pendleton rushed to her grandmother’s side. Lying there with a face as pale as death, her grandmother looked like a corpse.

Miss Pendleton pressed her ear close to her grandmother's nose. A faint breath could be heard. Only then did she let out a sigh of relief.

“Doctor, my grandmother… she’s going to be all right, isn’t she?”

He moved his lips, a troubled expression on his face.

“It would be best to prepare yourself. In my opinion… she will not last more than four days.”

Miss Pendleton stared blankly at her grandmother. Beside her, Mr. Webster said something more, but she heard nothing.

After giving the servants a few meaningless prescriptions, the doctor picked up his medical bag and left the room. All the while, Miss Pendleton simply watched her unconscious grandmother. She was in such shock that tears would not even come.

The servants could not bring themselves to leave the dying matriarch and the dazed young lady. They loved them both.

Among them, the one feeling the most distress was Anne Steele. But she was also a clever woman, sharp enough to know that for her mistress’s sake, she could not afford to be lost in emotion.

Anne decided there was no need to add the servants’ sentiments to the already heavy atmosphere of the bedroom.

She dispatched them with various tasks—one to the apothecary to fetch the medicine, another to inform the other servants in the kitchen—and then stepped out herself, giving Miss Pendleton a few moments alone to compose herself.

Ten minutes later, Anne returned to the room with a glass of wine. Miss Pendleton was sitting on the edge of her grandmother’s bed. Anne approached her.

“Miss.”

Miss Pendleton did not stir. Her face was as white as a sheet. Anne offered her the glass of wine.

“Take a sip of this. It will give you strength.”

Miss Pendleton looked up at Anne. Anne wordlessly brought the wine glass to Miss Pendleton’s lips. Miss Pendleton took a sip, then pushed it away.

“…She was fine just yesterday when I came to see her. She looked so healthy. Why?”

Anne watched Miss Pendleton for a moment. Her intelligent, chestnut eyes studied her mistress with concern.

“Anne. Where is my uncle? I must call for him.”

Anne swallowed a sigh.

“The master is out.”

“Did he not say where he was going? She could pass at any moment within these four days. If she regains consciousness, even for a moment, he must be here to see her at the end. Ask one of the servants outside if he mentioned his destination. Oh, perhaps he’s with Mr. Price. At Mrs. Knighsley’s…”

“Miss.”

Anne shook her head at Miss Pendleton, who looked back at her with a puzzled expression.

“Her Ladyship will not wish to see him.”

“What… Do you know something?”

“Miss. First, take another sip of wine. You haven't had your dinner either. I’m worried you might collapse. I will tell you everything once you’ve finished.”

Miss Pendleton did as Anne said and drank all the wine. Meanwhile, Anne dragged a plush rocking chair from beside the hearth and placed it next to the bed. She took the empty glass from Miss Pendleton and helped her into the chair.

“Now, tell me. What on earth happened?”

Anne placed a small cushion at Miss Pendleton’s feet and sat upon it. Taking Miss Pendleton’s hand, she began to speak.

“Her Ladyship collapsed because of Mr. Pendleton.”

Miss Pendleton’s eyes widened. Anne recounted everything she had seen and heard just a short while ago.

***

Anne was on her way upstairs, carrying Her Ladyship’s bowl of soup. She was in a foul mood. Each time she entered the lady’s room, she had to see Gerald Pendleton, who was always stuck to his mother’s side like a leech. *After what he did to my lady’s hand, he’s probably in there now, fawning all over Her Ladyship with that sickening charm of his.*

Anne had not forgotten the sight of her mistress’s right hand when she had helped her with her gloves before she left for the ball that afternoon. Four of her fingers were bruised as black as if they had been dipped in ink. She stood before Her Ladyship’s door, imagining pouring the steaming soup right on Gerald Pendleton's face.

The low murmur of the mother and son’s conversation could be heard from inside the room—Her Ladyship’s gentle, affectionate voice and the master’s, laced with false kindness.

Anne sighed. *Her Ladyship couldn't possibly know what he had done to her granddaughter.* The young miss had made her swear to secrecy, so she couldn't say a word.

She felt like she would burst with frustration. It was one thing to long for one’s son when facing death, but this was too much. To spend time with a son who had callously ignored his aging mother until now, and in doing so, to all but ignore the granddaughter who had served her with such devotion.

Anne’s anger simmered, but she quickly shook her head and steadied the tray with one hand. With the other, she reached for the door to knock.
But just as she was about to, she heard it.

“Gerald!”

At Her Ladyship’s sharp cry, Anne froze. Instead of knocking, she pressed her ear to the door.

Muffled sounds, angry and sputtering, came from within. Anne leaned in closer.

“Why must I do that?”

The master’s voice, filled with indignation, came through.

“Laura has stood by my side and given her all. To turn that child out with nothing is too cruel. Therefore, it is only right that she be given that much money. I thought that since you have forgiven me, your old grudge against Laura would be gone as well.”

“Yes, it is. Gone completely.”

Gerald Pendleton said with a growl. Anne felt his words and his tone were in complete opposition.

“The estate I will leave to Charles is worth over three hundred thousand pounds in cash. Surely, we can spare five thousand for Laura.”

Anne’s eyes widened. Five thousand pounds might be a trifle to an aristocratic family, but for an ordinary person, it was a life-changing sum.

“That child will be penniless when I die. You have a heart, don’t you? Wouldn’t that trouble you? I don’t expect you to take her in, nor do I think she would expect it of you. So why not leave her just five thousand pounds, so she can have a new start? It would show your compassion as the head of the family.”

Her Ladyship tried to coax him gently.

“Mother, do not worry. I do think of Laura, of course. That is why I have found a husband for her. A husband who is far too good for her, I might add.”

“And who might that be?”

“Mother, you once said that Tom was a very fine gentleman, did you not? You saw him clearly. Tom is a very good friend. He is bold and responsible. And so, while I was in America, I decided he would be the one for Laura.”

Silence fell in the room. Anne held her breath, listening intently.

“…Tom Price and Laura Pendleton. Your friend and my granddaughter. I did not mishear you, did I?”

“No, you did not. Your hearing is still sharp, Mother. Tom loves Laura. He courted her quite ardently. But the foolish girl keeps rejecting his advances. Tonight, at the ball, she will receive his proposal once more. If she takes Tom’s hand, her future will be secure. She will be the wife of a rich man. So, you can put your worries about Laura to rest.”

*Secure? More like a pit of despair!*

Anne gritted her teeth. She wondered how Her Ladyship would react. Soon, her voice came, the gentle, coaxing tone completely gone.

“I will give you one warning. If you allow that doddering old fool to continue hovering around Laura, I will see to it that every last penny of Charles's inheritance is thrown into the Thames.”

Not a sound came from inside. Anne, chewing on her lip, let out a silent cheer.

“Mother. How can you say such a thing…!”

“And how can you do such a thing to your own niece? Tom Price is your contemporary, twenty-four years older than Laura. You would try to marry your niece to a man who will be fitting himself for a coffin before long? Have you lost your mind?”

Silence reigned in the room again. Unable to restrain herself, Anne carefully set down the tray and peered through the keyhole. Gerald Pendleton had his hand to his forehead, looking utterly dumbfounded and seething with rage.

“I was only concerned for Laura’s future. Frankly, she is an old maid. To remain unsold at twenty-nine is a great shame for a maiden. And then there is her bloodline, her fortune… Ha, there is no need to elaborate. I introduced her to a suitable husband. The foolish girl keeps making a fuss, not knowing her place, but she will accept his proposal tonight. You just wait and see.”