Chapter 8
Eleanor was in the middle of teaching Olivia as usual. But the trouble began when Olivia, excited that she had gotten the math right, flung the door open to brag. Right outside the door stood Usher.
In itself, this wouldn’t have been such a big deal. Olivia was always like that. The problem was that Eleanor had been using the buttons on her blouse to teach Olivia math.
As proof, four of her blouse buttons were scattered boldly across the table.
“I-I’m sorry.”
Usher quickly apologized. His purple eyes wandered aimlessly in the air, unsure where to look—toward the person, or toward the table.
“Here, take this at least.”
With his head turned completely away, Usher took off his jacket and handed it to Eleanor. Eleanor couldn’t even manage a “It’s fine” and simply used his jacket to cover herself. Her heart was pounding like crazy.
“I didn’t mean to—really—I didn’t mean to see anything…”
Usher began to stammer an explanation, then instinctively looked at the person he was speaking to. The moment his gaze met Eleanor’s, who had briefly glanced at him, he jumped as if he’d been kicked.
“I’m sorry!”
Usher apologized again for something that wasn’t even his fault and turned to face the wall. Eleanor took that moment to dash out of Olivia’s room, intending to return to her own and change clothes.
But her steps stumbled. The unexpected event left her mind blank, and she moved clumsily. She reminded herself that next time she must firmly teach Olivia not to leave the room in the middle of lessons. That was all she could think about.
“Miss Hudson?”
Hearing someone call her, Eleanor lifted her head from where it had been hanging. At the top of the stairs, her gaze met Logan’s. Seeing her pale, already fair face, Logan tilted his head with concern.
“What… happened to you?”
That was when Logan finally noticed Eleanor’s disheveled appearance—her unbuttoned blouse, her ghostly white hands clutching the jacket as if it were a lifeline, and the men’s jacket draped over her shoulders.
It didn’t take long to realize that jacket had just been worn by Usher, who had been meticulously adjusting it like a proud peacock only moments ago. Logan’s hand gripped the railing tightly, producing a sharp creak.
“…Usher Fitzmon.”
His voice was calm, but the anger was more like a thunderclap, burning cold like ice.
“I’m sorry.”
Eleanor carefully sat down next to Usher and apologized. Usher, who had been sighing with his face buried in his hands, slowly lifted his head.
The mansion had been thrown into chaos over the misunderstanding. The servants had flinched at Logan’s angry voice, and Usher had been wrongly accused. Their eyes now viewed him as some kind of shameless scoundrel.
Oh my. I thought he was a decent young man, but he’s just a creep?
It’s not Sir Usher’s fault!
Eleanor was thankful she had at least explained the situation to Logan right away, even before changing. If she hadn’t, Usher surely would’ve been kicked out and banned from ever coming near the Claven estate again.
“It wasn’t Eleanor’s fault.”
Usher carefully turned his head in Eleanor’s direction. But as soon as their eyes met, he dropped his gaze again. For a moment, Eleanor wondered if he was angry with her.
“I tried to get clever, hoping we’d run into each other by chance, and ended up being punished.”
“…”
“Honestly, I wasn’t there for Olivia—I was hoping to see you.”
So the real offense, he said, was interrupting her lesson. He scratched the back of his neck, looking sheepish.
Eleanor’s eyes drifted slowly over the flushed ears, the nape of his neck, even the red tongue nervously flicking out before retreating. At that point, it became obvious—Usher wasn’t mad about being misunderstood. He was embarrassed because he had accidentally seen Eleanor’s bare skin.
“I see.”
If he was the same age as Logan, then Usher must be twenty-four this year. He wasn’t some naive, innocent boy. At that age, he’d probably dated at least one woman, maybe even had physical intimacy.
“It’s not something worth saying you were punished for, is it?”
“…”
“It’s probably not even your first time seeing a woman’s body.”
Yet despite that, Usher sat before Eleanor looking as anxious and awkward as a teenager. For a moment, Eleanor felt oddly guilty, as if she’d seduced some innocent boy by undressing in front of him.
“Eleanor…”
Usher looked at her in disbelief, eyes wide. Seeing his expression, Eleanor felt like she was the shameless one who had taken advantage of him.
“How could you say something like that…?”
Usher buried his face in his hands again and rubbed it dry.
“Pfft…”
Eleanor couldn’t help but laugh behind her hand. Her clear laughter spilled into the darkening summer sky. Even knowing Usher was blinking at her in confusion, she couldn’t stop giggling.
“Look at the situation. It’s like I peeked at your body, not the other way around.”
Usher’s lips parted as if to speak, flustered. Apparently, even he thought it sounded that way. His handsome face looked adorably clueless.
Watching him, Eleanor recalled her coming-of-age ceremony four years ago, where she also debuted in high society. Her mother’s hand-me-down shoes didn’t fit and left her heels bleeding, and her borrowed dress was out of fashion. Still, Eleanor had tried desperately to please her father, Charles.
In the end, all she received in return was the shameful nickname “the wallflower.”
“What kind of comparison is that…”
Usher sighed, unable to believe what he was hearing.
“Ah, seriously…”
He closed his eyes and let out a helpless chuckle. Eleanor said it was fine—so what reason did he have to keep being embarrassed?
“I’m the only one acting like a weirdo…”
Laughter tinged Usher’s muttering. Eleanor had successfully turned him into a fool, and she couldn’t stop laughing even though she knew it. Usher stared at her in disbelief, and their eyes met squarely.
“Just laugh. You’ll feel better.”
At Eleanor’s suggestion, Usher finally gave up and let out a defeated laugh, covering his forehead with both hands. Eleanor laughed along with him. The mood was light, like a refreshing summer night.
“I feel like I corrupted a pure soul.”
“Eleanor, if you say it like that…”
Usher started to object but then trailed off. His gray eyes, usually dull like lifeless ash, now carried a hint of his warmth.
“Makes me want to punish you.”
Punish? Eleanor blinked slowly.
“For destroying young Usher Fitzmon’s innocence and turning him into a man.”
“…”
“You’ll have to take responsibility.”
Now it was Eleanor who was at a loss for words. Take responsibility—someone might think she had assaulted him.
“I won’t ask you to take care of me forever.”
Usher winked. The mischief in his face gave Eleanor a glimpse of what he must’ve been like as a child—surely a little rascal even his nanny couldn’t control. She was certain of it.
“Just one day. It’s the weekend, after all.”
Though phrased casually, it was clearly a date proposal. Eleanor hesitated, unable to answer right away.
“I have to teach Olivia. I’m still her tutor…”
The world they lived in still had rules.
Four years ago, a commoner had confessed to the newly-adult Eleanor, presenting a clumsy bouquet he’d made himself. Her father Charles had crushed it underfoot. Even though Eleanor wouldn’t have accepted him anyway, the man’s sincere feelings were disregarded simply because he had nothing.
“How dare a lowborn like you reach above your station?”
Eleanor understood reality. This wasn’t the time to indulge in romance. Even if she wanted to, the circumstances wouldn’t allow Usher to have her.
“Isn’t Sunday a holiday?”
But Usher left her no escape. He pressed forward without hesitation.
“Just one day.”
“…”
“If Logan says no, I’ll throw a tantrum until I get my freedom.”
Eleanor fell silent, her eyes wavering.
“Just spend one day with me. I won’t ask again.”
Eleanor was captivated by Usher’s gaze, which no longer avoided hers. A warm breeze brushed past. She tucked her fluttering hair behind her ear and listened to the distant sounds of the world.
It felt the same as always.
“Eleanor.”
She wasn’t in love. Her heart wasn’t pounding in her ears, her cheeks weren’t flushed, and the rest of the world hadn’t faded away, leaving only Usher behind.
“Aren’t you going to answer?”
But even if the breeze was only lukewarm, it felt this pleasant. Even if it was just for a day—because the night sky was this breathtaking—it might be okay, just like he said.
“…Just one day.”
After all, this was just a moment of impulse. Nothing more.
Why did she take off the buttons from her shirt to teach arithmetic?! There are so many other objects she could use!!! O_O