Chapter : 14
Only after speaking did Windsor inwardly click his tongue. That wasn’t what he’d meant to say—it had slipped out before he could think. Uncharacteristically hasty of him.
Jacqueline’s eyes widened slightly, and a faint smile touched her lips.
“Lord Preston likely didn’t want to reveal his unfamiliarity with noble etiquette. Already, he faces cold stares for entering aristocratic society so late—surely he wouldn’t wish to invite further gossip. Nor would he want the Preston name tarnished. Thus, he couldn’t tell anyone. I understand completely.”
Having said that, Jacqueline met his gaze. Her eyes were filled with empathy for his inner turmoil, as if offering warm consolation.
Instead of replying, Windsor merely gave a slight nod, urging her to continue.
“It’s exceedingly difficult to admit what one hasn’t learned. An awkward imitation would invite immediate ridicule—just look at how nobles treat businessmen. Fortunately, however, I’m quite well-versed in noble etiquette, and even more fortunately, I’ve been hired as the Preston family’s governess. In other words, there’s no one better suited than I.”
Jacqueline lowered her eyelids slightly, her smile deepening.
“Moreover, though you may find it hard to believe, I’m rather discreet. I have the honor to take secrets to the grave.”
Windsor said nothing. He couldn’t simply reach for her hand. The moment he admitted the truth, the Preston family’s honor would fall to the ground.
Even now, Windsor remained cautious and deliberate.
And yet, he couldn’t leave the room and abandon her.
The King.
Windsor thought of him. Up until now, he’d avoided meeting the King by claiming he needed to stay on his domain. Eventually, the King, unable to tolerate it any longer, had begun preparations for a trial to strip Windsor of Benjamin’s custody.
Windsor knew this—but still couldn’t hastily request an audience. If the King discovered his ignorance, it would certainly disadvantage him in court.
The King would argue that Windsor, of lowborn origin, offered Benjamin no benefit—perhaps even caused him harm.
It wasn’t entirely untrue. And that was precisely why Windsor cared so deeply about Benjamin’s education.
At that moment, Jacqueline leaned forward slightly and whispered softly—secretive and sweet, just as when coaxing Benjamin.
“I’ll teach you noble etiquette, Lord Preston. Without anyone knowing.”
“You mean those pointlessly complicated and bothersome customs?”
He lifted his eyes slowly, testing her with his retort. But it was useless against Jacqueline—she wasn’t naive enough to be taken in by his words.
“You didn’t even want the household servants to find out—not even Benjamin. That’s why you dined alone, isn’t it? Ironically, sometimes complicated rules grant freedom. How much longer will you avoid dancing at balls or skip social gatherings with excuses of illness? Isn’t it time you fulfilled your role as Marquess of Preston?”
Every word was perfectly reasonable. Windsor himself had begun sensing his limits—it felt as though a great wall stood squarely before him.
But now, a door had appeared. All he needed to do was open it and step through.
Yet nothing in this world came free—he’d learned that lesson earlier than most.
“What would Miss Somerset gain from this?”
Windsor asked bluntly. He didn’t believe she made the offer out of pure goodwill—she certainly wanted something in return.
For instance…
Right, since the Somerset earldom had fallen, perhaps a substantial sum of money.
His indifferent gaze lingered on her face. Jacqueline’s expression betrayed a flicker of discomfort, as if caught in her intentions. She subtly turned her head, avoiding his eyes.
Heh.
A quiet chuckle escaped through his teeth. Only then did he realize he’d been disappointed in Jacqueline.
Why? What had he expected from her?
Every noble he’d met thus far had been two-faced. The noble he met in the military posed as a patriot to his face, yet cowered in fear behind the lines.
Those in high society smiled warmly outwardly, yet mocked him inwardly. She was likely no different.
“Speak freely.”
“Yes, then…”
Jacqueline, who had hesitated, now lifted her chin resolutely. With a determined look, she met his eyes squarely.
“Please respect my teaching principles.”
“….”
This time, Windsor truly was at a loss for words—the proposal was utterly unexpected. He unconsciously furrowed his brows.
He couldn’t fathom what Jacqueline was thinking. Though that was often the case, he’d never felt so baffled before.
“You asked me to respect your teaching principles?”
Uncharacteristically, he found himself repeating her words. Jacqueline nodded vigorously, as if confirming exactly that.
“It won’t be a proposal to your disadvantage, Lord Preston. Though House Somerset has lost its former glory, I was born a countess. I received an excellent education and graduated from Bristol Girls’ Boarding School with outstanding marks. I assure you, I’ll be a fine governess—not just for Benjamin, but for you as well.”
Her voice rang with quiet confidence. Windsor, resting one hand on the table, tapped his index finger thoughtfully.
Jacqueline smiled gently but spoke with unmistakable firmness.
“Tapping the table with your fingers is improper, Lord Preston—it breaches etiquette. And please keep your elbows below the table.”
He froze.
His long fingers halted midair. Slowly, Windsor’s gaze shifted toward her.
Jacqueline beamed, as if convinced there could be no better offer.
“I can shape you into a gentleman so admired in society that no one dares criticize you—a flawless Marquess of Preston.”
Her tone was as subtly enticing as when she’d offered Benjamin the cicada.
“Why go to such lengths?”
But Windsor was far less susceptible to temptation than Benjamin. Before accepting her proposal, he first doubted it.
She claimed she hadn’t contacted the King—but could he trust her? Or was she trying to exploit his weakness?
“A reason…”
Jacqueline lowered her eyes slightly, repeating his words. Then, quietly, she tugged at the corner of her lips. Her sudden shift in demeanor caught Windsor’s attention.
“Because I want to see Benjamin smile.”
“….”
“I’ve never seen that child smile genuinely.”
Windsor said nothing. Instead, his sharp eyes scanned every inch of Jacqueline’s face, as if trying to uncover her hidden motives.
Slowly, Jacqueline lifted her head and met his gaze directly. It was her sincerity.
She genuinely liked Benjamin and wished to see him smile. Perhaps because she knew the boy wouldn’t have many chances to do so.
After all, as Windsor himself knew, being Marquess of Preston was no easy position. So, at the very least now—
“Very well, Miss Somerset. The agreement is made.”
After a pause, Windsor nodded. Though he still couldn’t decipher her thoughts, he ultimately took the hand she offered.
It was far too tempting to refuse, and Windsor was backed into a corner. If she turned out to be the King’s pawn, he’d simply make her pay an adequate price.
Unaware of the terrifying thoughts running through his mind, Jacqueline replied with a smile.
“You’ve made the right choice, Lord Preston… William.”
At her call, the dining room door opened, and the butler entered. Standing as rigid as a rod, he awaited their instructions.
“Please prepare dinner. Lord Preston must be terribly hungry—I’ve just wasted twenty-three minutes of his dinner time.”
“…Yes, Miss Somerset.”
William glanced briefly between them before quietly withdrawing. As if everything had been prepared in advance, dishes soon began arriving one after another without delay.
Jacqueline turned her gaze to William again, her voice carrying a more authoritative tone than usual.
“You may step out for a moment, William.”
“Yes.”
William didn’t know why Jacqueline was seated before Windsor, who always dined alone.
But it wasn’t his place to ask questions—it was a butler’s duty to obey, not inquire.
Once the door closed, Jacqueline placed both hands gently on her thighs and spoke softly.
“Please eat comfortably, Lord Preston.”
Windsor narrowed his eyes, as if trying to decipher her intentions. Jacqueline, however, looked back at him with childlike innocence, as though she harbored not even a sliver of hidden agenda.
“I must observe how Lord Preston eats to give proper guidance. I’ll prove to you through results just how helpful I can be.”
Reluctantly, Windsor unfolded his napkin. Jacqueline immediately spoke up.
“A gentler motion would be better. That movement just now looked like you were planting a flag on a warship. Good—once you’ve folded the napkin in half, simply place it on your lap.”
“I already know how to use a napkin.”
Windsor replied flatly. Jacqueline suppressed a smile and maintained her dignified expression with effort.
“Serving all dishes at once like this is the Lencia style. Nowadays, the Northean style—where dishes are brought out one by one—is more fashionable. Next time, we’ll practice Northean dining etiquette. Oh, and when you set down your knife, always turn the blade inward.”
“Why must the blade always face inward?”
Windsor flipped the knife over and asked indifferently.
“Hmm.”
Jacqueline rolled her green eyes. She didn’t actually know the reason. Faced with a difficult question, she simply adopted a stern expression instead of answering.
“Be careful not to scrape the bottom of your bowl with your spoon. If the soup bowl has handles on both sides, it’s acceptable to lift and drink directly.”
“So it’s wrong to scrape the bottom, yet acceptable to hold the bowl and drink? What’s the reason for that?”
“Hmm.”
Once again, Jacqueline rolled her eyes. She didn’t know this reason either—she’d simply been taught to do it this way.
This student has remarkable curiosity.
She smoothly changed the subject.
“Oh, you mustn’t flip the fish like that, Lord Preston.”
He froze.
At Jacqueline’s firm correction, his hands, which had been moving leisurely, stopped midair. Windsor lifted only his eyes to look at her.
Dissatisfaction flickered in his stormy gray eyes. Jacqueline continued nonchalantly.
