Chapter #6
“The Pond of Memories and the Girls’ Chatter Time”
I was flustered by Arthur suddenly disappearing. Just then, there was a knock at the door.
I stayed where I was and tugged the rope to signal him to come in. The person who entered the study was none other than the vanished Arthur.
‘What… did he come because I looked out? Why?’
“Hello, Miss.”
“Yes. What is it?”
Arthur had just come in after meeting my gaze and was still sweating from exertion. His bronzed muscles rippled under the rolled-up sleeves of his shirt.
‘His forearms are now twice the size of mine…’
Arthur looked down at his own body with a puzzled expression.
‘Did I stare too much…?’
I quickly rolled my eyes and looked elsewhere. But only then did Arthur seem to realize just how much he had been sweating. He stopped at the door, not taking another step, and spoke.
“I’m sorry. It’s a bit hot, so I… um… broke into a sweat.”
“That’s fine. But why are you here?”
“I thought… since you were looking, maybe you had something for me to do.”
With an innocent expression, he said it as if it were obvious. I couldn’t help but smile slightly.
“If I had something to give you to do, I would’ve gestured. I was just looking at the view outside. You can go on with your work.”
I thought he would leave, but Arthur fidgeted with the hat in his hands and spoke again.
“Ah… I want to make a small pond where it’s easy for you to see from the study. The house steward approved it as well.”
“I didn’t hear about this. Isn’t making a pond really difficult? You already have the garden… why bother?”
“Ah… I actually wanted it to be a surprise. But everyone said you’ve been spending a lot of time in the study lately… and I thought you might like a pond. Would you not like it?”
My heart sank. “Likes a pond” was something “Pieni,” not “Adeline,” used to enjoy. I remembered what I had said as a child while looking at the fountain in the square.
“I like ponds more than fountains.”
“Why?”
“Just… it feels calming.”
“Someday, I’ll take you to see one.”
Arthur hadn’t forgotten that conversation.
As I stayed lost in thought and didn’t speak, Arthur, wiping the sweat from his brow, began to babble nervously. His gently drooping eyes almost looked like they were about to cry.
“Y-You’ve become the head of the house and have been studying a lot… when you study a lot, your mind gets busy… so looking at a pond makes you feel calm.”
“To think you’ve considered that much… I really did choose someone well. Thank you. Don’t overdo it. I’ll look forward to the pond.”
I barely managed to speak, suppressing the lump in my throat. It seemed I was still alive in Arthur’s heart.
Hearing my praise, Arthur’s face lit up. If he were a dog, his ears would’ve perked up. He bowed his head slightly, then went back outside.
I sat down, pressing my tears down and feeling the hollow ache in my chest.
Thanks to Arthur’s effort, the pond was beautifully completed. It wasn’t large, but small lotus flowers floated on the water, giving it a refined charm. On cooler days, one could bring a chair and table and enjoy the view of the pond.
A few days after the pond’s completion, it was the day Lady Sophia and Lady Lorienne were scheduled to visit the estate. We had been building our friendship through letters since the debutante season.
From morning, Lenore and Mary were busy helping me get ready. Lenore was practically screaming.
“Black alone has limits! Every day a black dress with pearls! It’s too boring! The other clothes in the wardrobe are crying, Miss!”
Lenore had ignored my protests and ordered even more colorful dresses. The wardrobe was bursting with dresses I might never even wear.
“It’s a period of mourning. Do you remember how many materials you bought because you got bored with black? It’s not a party, just meeting friends, so keep it simple.”
Mary, the newly arrived maid, was still standing in front of the wardrobe, unable to move.
“Since it’s just meeting friends, it’s fine to wear other colors, isn’t it? No one will see. This sky-blue dress would look really good on you…”
I found Mary adorable, reminding me of my first days at the Drayton estate—everything was new and confusing back then.
“Even if you try to dress me, I won’t wear it, right? Miss, today it’s this buttoned dress. We’ll puff the back and add lace. And your hair will be half braided and tied. Mary! Style her hair! Include this jeweled chain in the braid. At least her hair should be splendid!”
‘Wouldn’t you be better suited to working at Madame Glina’s fashion shop?’
I left everything to Lenore. She was excessively meticulous in styling me. She probably thought I avoided dressing up because of my scars. She wasn’t wrong, and seeing her frustrated over my face made me comply quietly.
A two-horse carriage stopped in front of the house. The steward went to greet the two ladies.
I stood at the entrance and lifted my skirt slightly to greet them.
“Lady Lorienne, Lady Sophia, welcome to the Drayton estate. It’s humble, but I hope you enjoy it.”
“Oh, Lady Adeline, we agreed no formalities when it’s just the three of us, remember?”
“Exactly… we promised!”
Through letters, we had become very close, and Sophia suggested that next time, we should relax and leave all the formalities behind.
“Even so, it’s your first visit to the estate, so come in quickly. Sophia, Lorienne, I really wanted to see you.”
“Me too, Adeline!”
Blushing, Lorienne hugged me tightly. She was the youngest daughter of a duke and had been frail, rarely leaving her home, so she had no childhood friends.
‘Sophia and Adeline are my first friends. They’re so precious I don’t know what to do.’
Sophia wanted to give me a gift from her southern hunting lodge—a rabbit fur scarf and a fox tail shawl—but I politely declined.
The three of us headed to the tea room. Since the time had been arranged in advance, refreshments were ready. Sophia’s skin was tanned.
“Did you go hunting, Sophia? Your skin is really dark!”
“Yes, now I almost look like a shadow next to Lorienne!”
“You look healthy, though…”
“So, have the two of you met at other parties?”
“Yes. It was fun~ At the last party, Sophia got drunk on champagne and almost dueled a baron’s son!”
I watched the two chatter with delight. Since it was a mourning period, I usually avoided parties, so meeting them like this was the first time since the debutante season.
Mourning lasts three to six months for acquaintances, up to a year for family, and up to three years for close relatives. Attending a party is generally avoided, and if one does, black dresses are worn. Hosting a party is seen as scandalous.
Their visit was because I had missed major parties, and also to personally invite me to Lady Lorienne’s 18th birthday party. Sophia had repeatedly promised to attend, but still came to ensure it in person.
“Did you hear the rumor? I didn’t even write it in a letter…” Sophia teased. She had a knack for storytelling, and we leaned in eagerly.
“Do you remember the three rude young ladies at the debutante party?”
I couldn’t forget them. I had sworn I’d repay them someday. I nodded.
“What about them?”
“They cracked their shallow friendship. Want to know why?”
“What? Oh Sophia, don’t tease, tell me quickly!”
Lorienne stomped impatiently while Sophia leaned back gracefully on the sofa, smiling teasingly.
“Your fiancé, Sir Lawrence Ridenhart, caused it.”
I was startled at the sudden mention of Lawrence.
“Lawrence? Why?”
“It’s awkward, but you haven’t had a formal engagement yet, right? And since you’re in mourning, the engagement is postponed until next year.”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Sophia hid behind her fan and whispered, “You probably didn’t know, but there were rumors that Sir Lawrence didn’t like you, so the value of a popular count’s heir shot up.”
Lorienne gasped, covering her mouth.
“Really? I had no idea! Was it because you didn’t dance at the debutante ball?”
I remained quiet. Lorienne pressed Sophia for more details.
“So, did the three flirt with Sir Lawrence?”
Hearing “flirt” from tiny, cute Lorienne made Sophia and me burst into laughter. Lorienne, undeterred, pouted like it was her personal grievance.
“Hurry, tell me! I’m dying of curiosity!”
While Lorienne nearly gasped from curiosity, Sophia remained composed, waving her fan teasingly.
“Hmm~ Should I tell this story or not?”
Lorienne gave me a look as if she had lost the world. I found it amusing, but I was curious too, so I urged Sophia.
“Lorienne might faint from curiosity if you delay. Tell us now.”
