Chapter 82

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Translator: Harry Potta
Chapter: 82
Chapter Title: Dear Miss Laura
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"When I was a child, my father told me this story. And he always teared up when he did. He said that if he had been a little wiser, my mother wouldn't have passed away like that. And that he wouldn't have brought dishonor upon me. I think so too. The truth is, they were both too young, too foolish. A marriage like that is not right."

Olivia wanted to object to Laura's dispassionate assessment.

"But, Miss Pendleton, it must have been because they loved each other so much. It ended in tragedy, but still, you were born from it."

Laura merely smiled without a word.

"If only they had made it safely to Gretna Green. Then the three of them would have lived happily without any trouble."

"Thank you for seeing it that way, Miss Fairfax. I sometimes think that, too. If they had been a little wiser, my mother and father would still be with me. I don't deny that they loved each other. I sometimes look at my mother's portrait and think of the mother who might have been by my side. She met such a tragic end because she decided her own fate before she had matured. I once resented my mother, but I don't anymore. The same goes for my father."

"What happened to your father?"

"I don't know. He left me with the Pendletons when I was a child, and when I grew up, I tried to find him, but there was no painter with my father's name anywhere. He must have returned to his home country."

Laura calmly finished her story, closed the locket, and tucked it back inside her dress. Then, she gazed silently at the open riding path of Dunville Park. As serene as a wildflower. Olivia felt an indescribable emotion as she watched Laura.

*How can she speak of such things so frankly and plainly? And how can she be so peaceful after saying it all?* For the first time, Olivia felt a sense of awe toward her governess.

After that conversation, Olivia's attitude toward her governess gradually began to change. Until then, Olivia had pretended not to see her whenever they crossed paths outside of French lessons, only deigning to acknowledge her if Miss Pendleton greeted her first.

But now, Olivia would greet her first when they met, and she treated her with respect even outside of class. Not only that, but she also generously cut a piece of lace—a gift from a friend who had returned from a trip to the spa town of Bath—and gave it to her to decorate her bonnet.

Miss Pendleton was surprised by Olivia's change. Previously, Olivia had only been grudgingly obedient during lessons; in their daily life, she had all but treated her as if she were invisible. But she soon realized that Olivia had learned of her origins and now felt pity for her.

While being the object of a young student's pity was hardly a pleasant experience, Laura decided to be grateful that Olivia had finally opened her heart to her. And she gladly accepted Olivia's kindheartedness.

Laura used the lace Olivia had given her to beautifully adorn her plain black bonnet and a cotton handkerchief. In return, she spent the entire evening playing Olivia's favorite Mendelssohn pieces. Olivia sat beside Laura, turning the pages of the sheet music as she listened to her play.

Laura produced melodies of an elegance that could not compare to the clumsy notes that came from her own fingertips. Olivia did not feel the slightest bit of resentment. There was not even a hint of jealousy. She simply watched Laura's fingers flit over the keys like white butterflies, feeling only the desire to one day play the piano as wonderfully as she did.

From that day on, whenever Laura played the piano, Olivia would always sit beside her, watching her fingers or turning the pages for her.

It was only natural that a friendship would blossom between the two ladies as they sat side by side each day, engrossed in music. Laura began to find it endearing how Olivia watched her skills with eyes full of admiration, and she grew as fond of her as she was of the two boys who played in the woods every day.

Olivia's feelings, however, were deeper and more serious than Laura's. Until now, Olivia had coveted Laura's talents, wishing they were her own. But now, she had come to love her governess's outstanding qualities. Olivia no longer felt the need to suppress or ignore the love she felt for her object of admiration.

She wanted to know everything: what books she read, what dances she could perform, how many musical scores she had memorized, what poems she loved. Olivia asked her these things frankly. And Laura's answers, far from disappointing her, only deepened her admiration. Her level of knowledge surpassed that of any lady Olivia had ever met. Even among governesses, none possessed such a wealth of intellect and culture. Laura Pendleton was the perfect lady she had always aspired to be.

Olivia wanted to become a perfect lady like Laura. She had found the perfect role model she had always been searching for.

Olivia began to follow Miss Pendleton around everywhere. So much so that Mrs. Fairfax had to tell her to stop bothering her governess.

But Laura was not bothered at all. She was happy to have won Olivia's heart, and she was even more pleased that the reason Olivia liked her was due to her great desire for learning. After all, when Laura herself was a thirteen-year-old at boarding school, she had always followed her favorite teacher around, trying to learn even one more thing.

Laura began to pay close attention to Olivia's level and characteristics, and she soon discerned that Olivia struggled to study on her own, despite her enthusiasm. As a result, she was not achieving the results she desired in subjects without a dedicated tutor. A prime example of this was her reading.

Olivia had been trying to read on her own based on a book list her eldest brother at university had compiled for her. Laura asked to see the list, and Olivia quickly brought it to her.

Laura inwardly clicked her tongue as she looked at the titles. They were all far too difficult for Olivia to read. As expected, Olivia had given up on most of the books on the list after reading only the first few pages.

Laura created a new list for her, filled with books that were both interesting and enriching for a thirteen-year-old. They then made a promise to read one book a week and discuss it together.

* * *

As the two cultivated their friendship, autumn began to arrive at Dunville Park. The relationship between Laura and Olivia grew stronger by the day, becoming more like that of sisters than a governess and her student, or even friends.

Mrs. Fairfax watched this development with pleasure. She believed that the friendship between Olivia and Laura was precisely what her daughter needed. Although Olivia acted grown-up, she was still young and immature, and by interacting with a mature and wise lady like Laura, she could mature and overcome her shortcomings.

And Mrs. Fairfax was not the only one observing their friendship. Ian, too, was watching their growing bond with interest.

He made sure to visit Dunville Park at least once a week. Ostensibly, it was to inquire after the well-being of the Dunville Park family and to sketch. Those who were unaware of his true intentions were completely deceived. After all, he did not visit more frequently than usual, nor did he stay any longer, nor did he act any differently.

But Mrs. Fairfax and Olivia knew his intentions, and to Mrs. Fairfax's eyes, in particular, it was plain to see that Ian was inwardly burning with impatience, despite his pretense of calm.

Ian was trying his utmost to get closer to Laura, taking care not to set off any alarms within her quick-witted and cautious nature.

Thanks to his efforts, Laura and Ian were sharing a much closer friendship than they had in London. They came to know more about each other than before and became much more candid in sharing their thoughts and feelings.

But despite all this, an invisible line always existed between them. The line between a man and a woman. The line between a gentleman and a governess. The line between a landowner and a laborer. Both Laura and Ian were acutely aware of it. Laura, to maintain that line; Ian, to find a way to cross it.

Ian was exercising the utmost caution to achieve his goal. Another rejection would mean a final farewell to her forever.

In the midst of this, Laura and Olivia becoming friends presented him with an opportunity.

Ian looked down at Laura and Olivia sitting on a bench beneath a cedar tree, their heads bent together intently over a book, and spoke to his sister, who was seated on the sofa.

"I'll have to ask Olivia for a favor."

Mrs. Fairfax, who had put away her cards and taken up her embroidery in case Miss Pendleton should come upstairs unexpectedly, asked.

"What about?"

"To help me get closer to Miss Pendleton."

Mrs. Fairfax was startled.

"Are you serious?"

"I am."

"My dear, even if it was six years ago, she is the girl who once proposed to you."

"That was just a silly incident. Look at her now, reading poetry so affectionately with the woman I love. It would have been long forgotten by all of us if you didn't bring it up from time to time to tease Olivia."

"I don't think so, Ian. You don't know how foolishly long a woman's love can last. Besides, Olivia has a childish streak. If you ask her for such a favor and it sours her mood, she might just tattle on your little scheme to her governess, and then the situation will be impossible to salvage."

"I don't think Olivia is that immature. You have a habit of being too harsh on your only daughter."

"And you have a habit of being overly lenient with Olivia. If you showed even half that attitude to George and Daniel, they would be less afraid of you."

"And they would have become incorrigible little rascals by now. I was a reasonably kind uncle until those rascals started playing with fire in the woods four years ago."

"Ah, if that's the reason, I have nothing more to say. They nearly burned down half the Dunville Park forest... In any case, I'm a bit worried. No matter how fond Olivia has become of her governess, it's only because she thinks there's no chance of you and Miss Pendleton getting together."

Ian looked down below without a word. The two ladies had put their heads together again and were whispering about something, bursting into peals of laughter. Watching Olivia and Laura, who were now bent over with laughter, Ian said.

"Olivia will listen to me. I'm sure of it."