Chapter : 03
Jacqueline saw a child in her field of vision who, like herself, was relaxing their shoulders. Benjamin, who had been seated and opening a book, felt her gaze and lifted his head.
Jacqueline gently curved her lips into a smile and spoke kindly.
“If it’s not too much trouble, could I ask you to give me a tour of the mansion, Master Benjamin?”
“…….”
Benjamin hesitated for a moment. It seemed the suggestion had caught him completely off guard. The boy remained silent, hesitating for a long while before responding.
Worried he might refuse, Jacqueline put on an especially pitiful expression.
“I’ve only just arrived at the Preston mansion and don’t know anyone here yet. Would you help me, Benjamin?”
“…….”
At length, Benjamin slowly nodded. Closing his book, the boy stood up and took the lead.
Jacqueline gave a small smile and walked beside him.
From their very first meeting, she found this little boy quite to her liking—after all, she had nothing against kind-hearted people who knew how to help others.
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Jacqueline didn’t have much time left. She’d already spent a considerable amount on the mansion tour.
Though her heart grew impatient for no good reason, she knew she needed to stay calm precisely at times like this. Haste was the chief culprit behind ruined plans.
Knock knock.
“Come in.”
“I’ve brought the pen and paper you requested.”
The maid who approached the desk set down a tray holding ink and paper. Jacqueline spoke to her warmly.
“Thank you. And your name is…?”
“Betty.”
The maid answered with posture as rigid as if measured by a ruler. There wasn’t the slightest opening for Jacqueline’s friendliness to seep through.
“Alright, Betty. There’s something I need for tomorrow’s lesson—who should I speak to about it?”
“If you tell me what you need, I’ll pass the message along to Madam Ritz.”
“Thank you, Betty.”
“You’re very welcome, Miss Somerset. I’ve only done what was required.”
Betty bowed with a blank expression and left the room. Jacqueline suspected it might take longer than expected to adjust to this austere mansion.
“Sigh…”
Unconsciously, she let out a sigh and turned her gaze toward the desk. Though she had much to do, the most urgent task at hand was drafting the curriculum.
Dipping the nib into ink, Jacqueline began writing swiftly. Having already planned it out in advance, her hand moved faster and more precisely than ever.
“Hmm… Ah… Good. Excellent. Hmm… Perfect.”
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After repeatedly muttering to herself in both contemplation and admiration, Jacqueline finally rose from her seat. After double-checking what she’d written, she strode confidently out the door.
Confidence radiated unmistakably in her steps, and her twitching lips betrayed evident satisfaction.
She paused briefly to steady her breath before the study where she’d first met Windsor Preston, then gave a crisp knock.
“It’s Jacqueline Somerset, Lord Preston.”
“Please come in.”
At the sound of his permission, Jacqueline lifted her chin slightly and walked in gracefully—just as she would under the watchful eyes of a dormitory supervisor in the hallway.
It was strange—she always grew nervous in front of Lord Preston.
Hiding her fluttering heart, she walked straight to the desk. Windsor set down the pen he’d been holding and turned his gaze toward her.
“I’ve drafted this month’s curriculum, Lord Preston.”
Windsor pulled out his pocket watch, opened the lid to check the time. Dinner was at seven, and it was now 6:46.
“You finished it by the skin of your teeth.”
His tone was calm, merely stating a fact, yet carried a peculiar knack for sounding like a reprimand.
Jacqueline straightened her slumping shoulders and stood up tall. She placed the sheet of paper she’d been holding onto the desk.
She likely hadn’t even felt this nervous when submitting her graduation exam answers. Yet she was quite confident now, deliberately wearing a composed smile.
Windsor picked up the paper from the desk with one hand. His eyes, devoid of emotion, moved slowly.
In that moment, he looked like an actor on stage. No matter how she thought about it, his dazzling appearance suited an actor far better than a soldier.
So stunning that one’s soul might slip away if distracted even for a moment.
“…….”
Only when she saw his brow slowly furrow between his eyes did Jacqueline snap back to her senses. She quickly lifted her chin again and tautened her lips.
Windsor set the paper down and cast his slate-gray eyes toward her. A deep crease marked his brow, strikingly clear.
Even that expression was intensely sensual. Indeed, this man was surely a demon—if not, how else could he bewitch people so thoroughly with his gaze?
“Miss Jacqueline Somerset.”
“Yes, Lord Preston?”
“I believe I instructed you to prepare Benjamin’s educational curriculum. Might there have been some misunderstanding in our previous conversation?”
“No, I understood precisely.”
“So you’re telling me this is the educational curriculum for this month?”
“Yes, that’s correct, Lord Preston.”
Windsor’s eyes fell back onto the paper. His straight eyebrows twitched slightly.
Jacqueline met his heavy gaze squarely. Though his phrasing was courteous, his voice carried not a trace of warmth.
“Let me ask once more. So you’re claiming that ‘self-introductions,’ ‘creating a comfortable hideaway for Benjamin,’ ‘strengthening bonds through a picnic,’ ‘discovering Benjamin’s favorite subjects,’ ‘sharing stories about each other’s families,’ and ‘finding out Benjamin’s dreams’ constitute this month’s educational curriculum?”
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His question still lacked any rising intonation. Though subtly oppressive, Jacqueline merely smiled faintly and nodded.
“Yes, Lord Preston. Right now, building trust and closeness between Benjamin and me is more important than reading even one more line of a book…”
“Do not disappoint me, Miss Somerset.”
Windsor’s eyes took on the coldness of a winter sky. His chilling beauty was mesmerizing enough to enchant anyone who looked upon it.
Jacqueline didn’t even notice her own words had been abruptly cut off—she simply closed her mouth quietly. Even when angry, beautiful people exuded overwhelming presence.
Though calling it anger was excessive—he appeared far too composed.
Windsor neither raised his voice nor accused her. He simply stated the facts in a tone utterly devoid of emotion.
Yet her shoulders still involuntarily hunched—undoubtedly due to his commanding presence.
“Benjamin is set to enroll at Yorkshire Boarding School next year. There’s much he needs to learn before then.”
“He’ll study continental history and foreign languages to the point of exhaustion once he’s enrolled—they’re required subjects, after all.”
“Don’t forget, Miss Somerset. Benjamin is the future Marquess of Preston. It will be too late to start learning after enrollment. The Preston heir must surpass others.”
Jacqueline acknowledged there was a slight difference in perspective between Windsor and herself. Their educational philosophies didn’t align—and in such cases, the employer’s opinion took precedence.
“Even considering this is your first time, I cannot approve this curriculum. If you’re not yet prepared to work as a governess…”
She quickly revised her strategy and placed another sheet of paper firmly on the desk. Windsor paused mid-sentence and cast a questioning glance her way.
“I was worried you might not like it, so I prepared a second curriculum as well. Would you mind reviewing it, Lord Preston?”
His eyes flicked swiftly to the desk. After scanning the tightly packed schedule—from morning lessons straight through the afternoon—he nodded.
“This is far more beneficial than your first curriculum.”
Having narrowly avoided dismissal, Jacqueline deliberately wore a relaxed smile, quietly admiring her own thorough preparation.
“I’ll consider the earlier matter a trial-and-error. You may proceed with lessons according to this plan starting tomorrow, Miss Somerset.”
“I will, Lord Preston.”
Seeing a slight warmth return to his eyes, Jacqueline smiled more brightly. Windsor immediately picked up his pen and began flipping through the documents on his desk.
“You may go now, Miss Somerset.”
“If it’s not too much trouble, may I ask you one question?”
At her inquiry, Windsor set his pen down once more. He urged her to continue with his gaze alone.
“Might I ask why your previous governesses resigned? Knowing what to avoid would be helpful—for my sake, for Benjamin’s, and for yours as well.”
It seemed an entirely unexpected question. Instead of answering, Windsor fixed her with a steady stare—different, somehow, from his earlier impassive gaze.
If asked how it differed, she couldn’t say—it was an imperceptibly subtle shift, as if he were scrutinizing her thoroughly all over again.
After watching her silently for a while, he picked up his pen once more.
“You’ll find out soon enough, even if you don’t wish to.”
Jacqueline stood there for a moment, her expression puzzled. But no further answer came.
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Gracefully conceding, she lifted her dress slightly and gave a perfectly courteous bow.
“Then I’ll take my leave.”
Jacqueline stepped out of the room, her footsteps light on the carpet. As she reached for the door, she paused—the butler stood right outside.
William, who had been raising a fist to knock, slowly lowered his arm as the door swung open abruptly.
“So Miss Somerset was here.”
“I’ve just finished my business and am on my way out. Please feel free to go in.”
Jacqueline gave an elegant nod and stepped aside. William, who had been about to offer her precedence, simply said, “Thank you,” and entered the room.
Only then did Jacqueline close the door behind her. Through the narrowing gap, she faintly heard their voices:
“The Earl of Easthill has sent an invitation to his formal dinner.”
“Please inform him I won’t be attending.”
“This is the third refusal already. If I may be so bold, wouldn’t it be wise to attend at least once? According to the servant who delivered the invitation, the Earl of Easthill is rather displeased by your repeated refusals.”
“Tell him I’m busy with important matters. Or better yet—say I’m unwell.”
Click.
The door shut behind her. Only then did Jacqueline exhale the breath she’d been holding. Tension drained from her stiff shoulders.
She turned slightly and looked back at the heavy mahogany door. Her green eyes, lost in thought, soon drifted away from it.
“Well, a curriculum is just a curriculum, after all.”
Changes to curricula due to school circumstances were exceedingly common. With lighter steps, Jacqueline left the corridor.
“Oh, Miss Somerset.”
Betty, who had been standing in front of Jacqueline’s room, spotted her approaching and gave a slight bow.
“Dinner is ready.”
“Oh, thank you. I’ll come right away.”
Jacqueline turned immediately toward the dining hall. As she entered, she found Benjamin had arrived first.
