Chapter 23
But the tragedy was his alone. Even if Logan’s world had tilted in an instant, the rest of the world remained unchanged.
“Did you sleep well last night?”
And it had to stay that way—because he didn’t want to show the pain of his first loss.
“Yes, thanks to Your Grace.”
Eleanor replied with a fresh, bright smile. Her expression was radiant. They say a woman in love is beautiful—whether it was because of that or because of the feelings he had finally recognized, he couldn’t tell. Perhaps Eleanor only looked more beautiful now because he was aware of his own heart.
“I’m sorry about the banquet. I didn’t mean to leave you alone.”
“Oh… it’s alright. Sir Usher was a great help.”
At the mention of Usher’s name, a faint blush rose on Eleanor’s cheeks. No doubt she was thinking of the confession and the kiss she had received from him the night before.
“…That’s a relief, then.”
His mouth tasted bitter. But if he wanted to bury these feelings silently, it was something he had to grow used to.
“Elli!”
The moment the carriage door opened, Olivia darted out like a bullet. Eleanor had only been away for about a day and a half, yet this was her greeting.
“Olivia. Have you been doing well?”
Considering Olivia only had Eleanor and Logan to rely on in this household, it wasn’t so surprising. Especially since Logan had stayed in the capital today due to work and hadn’t returned with Eleanor. She gently patted Olivia’s back as the girl clung tightly to her waist.
“Olive was quiet. Stayed still.”
“…You did?”
With Eleanor and Logan gone and only Cindy left at the estate, Olivia’s best option was to keep her head down and stay out of her mother’s sight. Even though she expected this, Eleanor still felt terribly guilty for leaving.
“Shall we draw tomorrow, then?”
“Yay!”
Olivia beamed. Ever since Eleanor started teaching her, she’d shown interest in numbers and gotten better at basic math. But nothing excited her like smudging and mixing colors while drawing.
“Now that the weather is cooler, it’d be nice to draw under the tree’s shade.”
Olivia grinned at the idea. One of her baby teeth had recently fallen out, making her look rather silly, but still adorably age-appropriate.
“What about today?”
“Today’s a rest day, remember?”
The driver, who had retrieved Eleanor’s luggage from the car, handed it over to a waiting attendant. Eleanor nodded in gratitude and answered Olivia kindly.
“Then we’re doing nothing?”
“Hmm, that’s right.”
“Then tell me about the party!”
Olivia stomped her feet in excitement and shouted. She was clearly curious about the event she hadn’t been able to attend.
“After I wash up. If you wait in your room, your teacher will be right there.”
“Okay!”
Olivia nodded several times and ran off into the mansion, clearly thinking that if she hurried, Eleanor would hurry too.
“Miss Hudson.”
“Yes?”
Just as Eleanor was about to walk off smiling, the driver called out to her.
“Sir Usher asked me to deliver this letter.”
Ah. Blinking blankly, Eleanor took the letter and smiled. It still felt surreal that Usher was now her lover. Lover. Love. Those embarrassingly sentimental words still didn’t quite feel real when applied to herself and Usher.
“Thank you.”
The driver gave a small smile and turned to return to the car. Eleanor watched him until he got in to park, then carefully unfolded the letter.
To my dearest lady, Eleanor.
From your lover, Usher.
I imagine you might be wondering why I’m writing a letter when we were just together last night. But even after lying down, I couldn’t sleep—my heart felt like it would burst, and I couldn’t stop thinking about you, so I had no choice but to pick up my pen.
To be honest, today’s confession was very impulsive. Though I had prepared the necklace in advance, I hadn’t intended to confess today. But when I saw you dancing with Logan, you looked so beautiful. Eleanor, you probably didn’t notice, but all the fools in that ballroom were staring at you as if they were bewitched.
So even though I thought you might reject me, I confessed on impulse. One of those men could have snatched you away. And I figured—maybe, just maybe, you had softened a little. I took a gamble on that chance.
But you accepted someone as lacking as me, and that made me the happiest man in the world.
Ah, Eleanor. Even as I write this, I’m reliving the joy of you crying in my arms and the thrill of our first kiss. Joy and happiness only you can give me.
I want to be with you now, and I’ll want to be with you after the sun rises. There’s nothing more frustrating than the fact that your body is on the other side of the Clavern Duke’s mansion walls, where I can’t see you as I wish. So, even if His Grace tires of me, I’ll visit often and shamelessly—to see you.
Please welcome me, my love.
From your devoted,
Usher Fitzmon
The letter crinkled slightly in her hands. As she read his overflowing words of love, Eleanor’s heart pounded like crazy and her cheeks flushed as pink as peach blossoms.
“How can someone be so natural about this…”
All she could do in that moment was lightly complain about how confidently he confessed. She murmured softly to herself as she gently folded the letter.
“Miss Hudson, you’re back?”
Just as she stepped into the mansion, the head butler, George, greeted her from the lobby. Eleanor gave a brief bow in response.
“It seems something good happened at the party.”
“Pardon?”
“You look a little excited, somehow.”
George was about her father’s age. And as a butler, he was naturally sensitive to the feelings of those around him.
“A-ah, no. Nothing special happened.”
Eleanor instinctively denied it. But George looked like he could guess the general situation at a glance. He chuckled knowingly as if he’d decided to pretend not to know.
“You must be tired from your journey. Please rest.”
“…Thank you.”
She felt like a child who’d been caught telling a transparent lie. Lowering her head, Eleanor hurried up the stairs. Whether George had caught on or not, she wanted to wash up and get ready quickly—because Usher could show up at any moment. And she didn’t want him to see her in a mess, now that they were officially lovers.
Besides, it really did feel like Usher would show up soon. His letter had sounded like a declaration of war.
“Ah…”
But after her bath, Eleanor faced an unexpected dilemma. Her wardrobe was filled with dark olive, dull black, and navy dresses. The best she had was a white blouse and a navy skirt. There was nothing wrong with having lived a practical, frugal life, yet somehow she felt embarrassed. Almost as if she didn’t quite believe that Usher could have truly fallen in love with her.
“Well, I have no choice.”
With a sigh, Eleanor pulled out the white blouse and navy skirt. Still, Usher had fallen in love with her even when she dressed plainly. He wouldn’t mind.
“Don’t marry a man unless he truly loves you, Eleanor.”
“What are you talking about, Mother?”
She suddenly recalled her mother’s advice—spoken from her sickbed. Eleanor had scoffed back then, saying such men didn’t exist. She smiled ruefully now as she tidied her clothes and met her own gaze in the mirror. Still, something felt lacking in color.
She picked up an old jeweled hairpin from the vanity and clipped it near her right ear. She wanted to look even a little more radiant.
“Eleanor.”
A few soft knocks were followed by a smooth, creamy voice. He’d arrived already? Eleanor rushed to open the door, surprised.
“You’re here already?”
“I never left. I wanted to say goodbye before I went.”
Usher replied with a chuckle. Eleanor couldn’t help but smile softly in return.
“I got Logan’s permission.”
“That’s a relief.”
At her coy reply, Usher bumped his forehead against hers, a show of affection. Eleanor smiled contentedly at the warmth that touched her brow.
“Find a man who says he loves you no matter how you look. Prince Charmings only exist in fairy tales.”
She recalled once arguing with her mother, firmly insisting such men didn’t exist—while remembering her own father.
“I promised Olivia I’d tell her about the party.”
“Tell her to lend you to me for a while. I’m sure she’ll understand.”
Then, saying he didn’t want to be apart just yet, Usher stole a short kiss.
“What do you think you’re doing, in someone else’s house?”
Eleanor scolded him and gently pushed him away, frowning a little.
“Eleanor, are you upset?”
Usher bent slightly, trying to read her expression from below. With both palms on his chest, Eleanor couldn’t hide her smile and giggled.
“If only you weren’t so handsome.”
Usher sighed and nuzzled her cheek with his. The gentle hug that followed was warm.
Just a few days ago, Eleanor wouldn’t have believed it. She thought it was ridiculous to imagine there was a man out there who would love her just as she was. But now, somehow—she felt like she’d met one.
Usher Fitzmon.
This sweet man, who endlessly poured out his heart to her.
Have to enjoy the cute fuzzies before the train wreck hits