Chapter 4
It wasn’t until well past lunchtime the next day that Eleanor officially met Olivia, the girl she would be tutoring. Cindy had summoned her at that exact time.
“Nice to meet you, Miss Hudson.”
“Please feel free to call me Eleanor, Lady Clavern.”
At Eleanor’s response, Cindy tilted her head slightly and gave a gentle smile. The butterfly ornament on her head quivered with the movement.
“I heard you spent some time with Logan yesterday.”
“Yes. I happened to run into him while taking a walk.”
“And I hear you’ve already heard about Olivia.”
Eleanor simply smiled at the murmured comment. She neither confirmed nor denied it, but Cindy seemed satisfied with that answer.
“The Count of Bilwood recommended someone suitable.”
The qualities Cindy wanted in Olivia’s tutor were simple: someone who could correct Olivia’s behavior—and keep their mouth shut. Though Eleanor came with a letter of introduction from the Count of Bilwood, her humble background was why she’d truly been hired.
A noblewoman with a decent education but in need of money, and someone unlikely to gossip or speak out of turn—that was Eleanor.
“I’m not expecting too much from you, Eleanor. Olivia herself is already…”
As soon as Cindy spoke Olivia’s name, her face twisted slightly in displeasure. Even at a glance, she didn’t seem like a mother who loved her daughter.
“At the very least, make her presentable until she turns sixteen and marries out of this house. Teach her basic etiquette and social graces.”
“……”
“I don’t mind if you resort to punishment. I just don’t want to see her constantly running around, screaming like a mad thing, covered in dirt like some unruly animal.”
Cindy clicked her tongue in disgust. Her face showed not just frustration, but contempt. Her attitude went beyond strict parenting—she clearly loathed her daughter. Eleanor couldn’t see a trace of motherly affection.
“I’ll do my best.”
“I trust the Count of Bilwood’s judgment.”
Cindy offered her encouragement with a smile.
“Where is Olivia?”
“She’s resting in her room, madam.”
“Take Eleanor to Olivia. If that girl acts up, give her a smack on the rear.”
Cindy ordered the maid coldly. Eleanor stood up without reacting and followed the maid. Even if Cindy disliked the child so much, it seemed Logan’s influence had ensured Olivia’s room was decently placed.
“Miss Olivia, your tutor is here.”
The maid knocked a couple of times before abruptly opening the door, even though no response came from inside. Eleanor looked at the maid in surprise, then glanced around the seemingly empty room.
“Oh dear. She’s gone out again?”
The maid murmured, her face going pale.
“I—I’ll go look for her.”
Always like a ghost, she grumbled, clearly annoyed. The maid hurriedly ran downstairs in search of Olivia before Eleanor could stop her. Eleanor followed suit, descending the stairs to help look for the girl.
“Miss!”
“Miss Olivia!”
All the servants were frantically searching for Olivia. Judging by how they combed the bushes, it seemed this wasn’t the first time she’d hidden herself like that.
“Olivia, are you here?”
Eleanor called gently as she looked around the grounds. Suddenly, she heard giggling from somewhere above, and a white sheet fluttered down, draping over her like a wide net. Blinking in surprise, Eleanor found herself caught under the sheet.
“Olive, did you play a prank again?”
A man’s voice followed. Eleanor widened her eyes. It wasn’t Logan’s cold voice—this one was lighter, cheerful even. The laugh that followed confirmed it was a prank by Olivia.
Now that she understood what was going on, Eleanor quickly calmed herself. She reached to remove the sheet from her head, but before she could, someone else pulled it off for her with a rustle.
“Huh…?”
The first thing she saw was a shade of violet she didn’t recognize. But the face revealed against the backdrop of the green garden wasn’t unfamiliar. Time seemed to stop as Eleanor forgot even to blink, looking up at the man.
“We meet again.”
Usher smiled brightly, his violet eyes gleaming kindly.
“So the place you ended up working is the Clavern estate?”
“…Yes.”
As he pulled the rest of the sheet off her head, Usher chuckled. Eleanor shivered slightly at the gentle brush of his hand through her hair.
“I didn’t expect to find you so easily. I was hoping to talk to you again after getting off the train, but you disappeared so quickly.”
Usher clicked his tongue, as if still disappointed.
“You were looking for me? Why…?”
Aside from their brief conversation, they had no real connection. Eleanor racked her brain trying to recall if she had done something wrong.
“I didn’t ask your name the first time we met, afraid it might come off rude.”
Why would he want her name when they had no reason to meet again? That’s what Eleanor had thought—until she realized what Usher was after. She had never even been in a relationship, let alone engaged, but it was obvious Usher was interested in her.
“Eleanor Hudson. I’m working as Olivia Clavern’s tutor.”
But once he learned how busy she was making a living, Usher would probably back off. Giving him her name wasn’t much of a loss. Eleanor offered it easily.
“Eleanor. It suits you well.”
Usher complimented her kindly. Eleanor gave an awkward smile at the transparent praise.
“Olivia Clavern!”
Suddenly, a shrill voice shouted from beyond the window. It was Cindy, furious. Olivia screamed in fright, startled by her mother’s wrath. Eleanor forgot she’d been talking to Usher and ran back inside the house. She had a terrible feeling Cindy wouldn’t let Olivia off easily.
“Is staying put in your room really that hard?”
“H-huuh… uuh…”
The sounds were coming from Olivia’s room. When Eleanor arrived, Cindy was harshly scolding her daughter.
“Where’d you get all this dirt on you? Are you a beggar? What kind of disgraceful state is this?!”
Cindy gripped Olivia’s small shoulders so hard they shook helplessly. Olivia was overwhelmed with fear. Her pajama hem was soaked.
“You crazy little—!”
She had wet herself out of terror. But instead of compassion, it only inflamed Cindy’s rage. She raised her hand to strike Olivia’s cheek—only for Eleanor to burst in.
You wretched girl, you were born just to shame me!
Eleanor didn’t want to see another child beaten like she had been, quivering at the mere shadow of her father.
“Lady Clavern!”
At Eleanor’s sharp voice, Cindy stopped, snapping out of her fury. If it had just been servants around, she would’ve hit Olivia without hesitation, but she couldn’t show such ugliness in front of Eleanor on their first meeting.
“Please calm down.”
Cindy bit her lower lip and lowered her hand.
“I made a scene, didn’t I?”
“Miss Olivia is quite shaken. This isn’t something a noble lady should be witnessing—I’ll handle it.”
Eleanor said as she gently embraced Olivia. Cindy still looked at the sobbing child with eyes full of disgust.
“Lady Clavern.”
“Ah, Sir Usher.”
Cindy’s expression changed the moment she heard Usher’s voice from behind. She smiled as if nothing had happened. Gone was the furious mother; in her place was the perfectly polished socialite.
“What happened to Olive?”
“She played a prank and got scolded a little. She still gets frightened too easily.”
It was hard to believe she had just been screaming. Cindy acted as though Olivia had simply overreacted to a scolding. Eleanor, wiping Olivia’s wet legs and the floor with a dry cloth brought by a maid, half-listened to the conversation behind her.
“I hope she learns a lot from her new tutor. What brings you here?”
“I needed to discuss something with Logan after returning from Dove.”
“Logan hasn’t returned yet. Would you like to wait and have tea with me?”
Cindy offered sweetly.
“If I can enjoy the company of such a gracious lady, I’d be honored.”
Usher accepted without hesitation. He was a man of good manners.
“Eleanor, I’ll leave Olivia in your care then.”
“Don’t worry, Lady Clavern.”
Cindy’s indoor heels clicked as she left the room. Before Eleanor took off Olivia’s pajamas, she turned to look behind her. Though Olivia was only eight, she didn’t want the girl to feel ashamed in front of a grown man.
“Lady Clavern grows more beautiful by the day.”
“Sir Usher, you always know just what to say.”
As Cindy stepped onto the main staircase, Usher turned back and met Eleanor’s gaze. He winked and followed Cindy down.
“Did that scare you, Olivia?”
At last, Eleanor realized why Usher had appeared and accepted the tea invitation. His presence had been deliberate—to separate Olivia from her mother so she could calm down. Cindy wouldn’t dare raise her voice with Usher around.
It wasn’t just kindness—it was strategic care.
The sunlight pouring in through the window lit up the path Usher had taken. His warmth remained in that light.
“It’s okay. Let’s clean you up first.”
Downstairs, Cindy rang for a servant. The chime of the bell echoed like the one Eleanor had heard at the station platform. The sound inevitably brought Usher back to her mind once again.
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