Chapter 11
“Th-that’s…”
Just as Eleanor opened her pale lips to speak, Usher stepped forward and blocked Cindy’s view of her. At the same time, Cindy’s brows faintly furrowed, and she couldn’t hide the anger on her face.
“I took Olivia out for a walk with Logan’s permission, but due to my carelessness, I lost her.”
“You were careless?”
Cindy sneered as she spoke.
“You took a governess with you, and yet you lost the child because you were careless? That’s ridiculous.”
Because there were so many people around, she couldn’t lash out or raise her voice. That was why her tone sounded deceptively kind — but it was sharp as a blade.
“Today is Eleanor’s day off, so…”
“Oh? You’re close enough to call her by her first name now?”
“…”
“Even so, trying to hide your mistake behind a man’s back won’t do, Eleanor Hudson.”
Cindy’s expression turned cold and icy.
“Come see me before Olivia’s condition becomes something the rest of the world gossips about beyond the duke’s estate walls.”
When her husband died and Logan inherited the dukedom, Cindy became the former duchess. But since Logan was unmarried, she still acted as the mistress of the Claven estate. As such, there were always women trying to align themselves with Logan for marriage.
So Olivia’s lack of development was a source of deep shame for her. She worked hard to hide the fact that she had given birth to a “flawed” child. And now, the fact that this vulnerability could be exposed by a mere governess’s mistake was something she could not tolerate.
“Immediately!”
Cindy spat the command like venom. Though she hadn’t raised her voice, Eleanor nodded repeatedly and dashed off. Usher looked back at Cindy several times as though wanting to say something but eventually followed Eleanor.
“Olivia!”
Eleanor weaved through the crowd, calling Olivia’s name. Usher was doing the same.
It was harder than they thought to spot a small child — no taller than half an adult — among the swarm of people. Even her shadow was hard to spot in the bustling street.
“What should I do? It’s my fault. I wasn’t paying attention…”
“Don’t worry, Eleanor. She was just here, so she couldn’t have gone far.”
Usher reassured the pale-faced Eleanor. But Eleanor kept muttering about how she’d forgotten her responsibilities in the excitement of an outing, on the verge of tears.
“It’s also my fault for not paying attention to Olivia.”
Usher had failed to notice Olivia’s disappearance, too, so this wasn’t solely Eleanor’s responsibility.
“Let’s focus on finding her first.”
Eleanor nodded firmly, determination replacing her fear. If she didn’t find Olivia, she wouldn’t be able to face Logan. She had to find her. Tears could come later.
“Olivia!”
She wouldn’t have gone too far since she didn’t know the area. But as time passed, the chances of finding her diminished.
Eleanor scanned the area, breath quick and shallow from anxiety. As the sun blazed overhead and sweat soaked her back, her eyes settled on a shadowed alleyway cast by slanted buildings.
If Olivia had gone off to play, she wouldn’t be in a place like that. But if she had been hiding, this was likely where she’d be. Eleanor walked into the alley without hesitation.
“Oh, God…”
It was almost unbelievable. But there was Olivia — crouched on the dirty ground, weeping quietly, not caring that her clothes were soiled. Eleanor clasped her hands in a prayer of thanks.
“Olivia, why are you here?”
“E-Ellie…”
Olivia shrank back, stammering, afraid of being scolded. Eleanor approached gently and knelt to meet her eye to eye.
“Mom… Mom was there…”
“…I wasn’t supposed to come out…”
It seemed Olivia had spotted Cindy before Eleanor and Usher had. Remembering how her mother would scold her, she must have run away and hidden in the alley without knowing where she was going.
“Stay still. Lock yourself in your room. Don’t loiter around me. I don’t want to hear that stupid voice!”
That was all Cindy ever said to her. Just seeing her shameful daughter was enough to ignite her fury. So, the moment Olivia spotted Cindy, all she could think to do was hide in a dark, out-of-sight place.
“But… but I don’t know… I’m scared…”
But now that she’d run off, the unfamiliar place must have terrified her. A strange street, a shadowy corner behind a bright city, with no one to guide her back. Olivia had no choice but to cry.
“It’s okay. I’m here now.”
Eleanor gently embraced the child. She was relieved — so grateful that she had found Olivia. Unlike her younger sibling, whom she had lost and could never meet again, she had found Olivia. She pressed kiss after kiss to Olivia’s damp forehead, holding her tightly.
“It’s okay now. Let’s go home.”
Eleanor’s comforting voice soothed Olivia, who gradually calmed down. Eleanor wiped the tear-streaked face with her sleeve and helped her up, brushing off the dust from her skirt as best as she could.
“Eleanor! Olivia!”
Just as they stepped out of the alleyway, Usher came running toward them. Though Eleanor’s fingers were still cold and her heart trembling with leftover anxiety, the moment she saw Usher, a strange sense of relief washed over her. Her fear melted, and her tension eased as though she could collapse on the spot.
It felt like the sound of a wall she had painstakingly built, brick by brick, finally crumbling down.
The ride back was heavy with silence. Usher and Eleanor, both exhausted, didn’t speak a word. Olivia, sensing the mood, rolled her eyes nervously, knowing she’d done something wrong.
In truth, losing a child in a busy place and then finding them again wasn’t that uncommon — the real problem was that it had happened in front of Cindy. Cindy would never let this go. Her disgrace had nearly been exposed.
“Let’s get out, Olivia.”
She was scared — that was true — but it had been her mistake, and she needed to face it. As soon as the carriage stopped in front of the Claven mansion, Eleanor stepped out and helped Olivia down. The parasol they’d brought was long lost, so her hands were free to assist her.
“Thank you and sorry again for today, Lord Usher. Please go home safely.”
But instead of saying goodbye, Usher stepped out of the carriage. Eleanor looked at him with a puzzled expression, and he offered a tired smile.
“We made the mistake together, so we should take responsibility together.”
“No, this was entirely my fault—”
Usher shook his head wordlessly and lifted Olivia into his arms. He strode ahead without giving Eleanor the chance to stop him, and she had no choice but to follow quickly.
“You’re here.”
“Where is the lady of the house?”
“She’s waiting for Miss Hudson.”
Eleanor’s heart sank. She clenched her fists, and Usher noticed.
“Lead the way.”
How could he walk away and leave a woman who looked like this to bear the blame alone? That was unacceptable. The butler, George, hesitated for a moment, then bowed and turned around. Even he agreed that Cindy might ease her temper if Usher was present.
“My lady, Miss Hudson is here.”
“Send her in.”
The voice was cold. Eleanor imagined the worst possible scenario as she stepped into the drawing room.
“I didn’t expect you to come all the way here, Lord Usher.”
“As I said, I was also at fault.”
Cindy, who had been waiting to scold Eleanor, spoke with a sharp tone upon seeing Usher enter the room carrying Olivia. Her eyes grew even colder, as if Eleanor were hiding behind him.
“You didn’t do what you were told. Instead, you seduced a man to cover for your own mistakes. Isn’t that just pathetic?”
“…”
“Logan.”
Cindy wasn’t the only one in the drawing room. Logan was leaning casually near the table, and he let out a small sigh. But to Eleanor, it sounded like thunder. She squeezed her eyes shut, feeling sorry for having dragged Logan — who had been so kind — into such a mess.
“I’m sorry. I was careless and didn’t watch over Olivia — I mean, the young lady — properly. It’s my fault, and I will accept whatever punishment you deem fit.”
Eleanor bowed and sincerely apologized, her hands clasped tightly. She was prepared to accept even lightning from above.
“No, I failed to watch her too—”
“No excuses, Usher. Olivia Claven, get down.”
Instead of yelling at Eleanor, Logan spoke in his usual calm tone, directing his words to Olivia. Olivia, who had been quietly nestled in Usher’s arms, wriggled her feet. Usher set her down.
“You were the one who did wrong, so you shouldn’t hide.”
“Logan!”
Cindy’s eyes widened with fury.
“It’s the governess who neglected her duty! She even took Olivia out without permission!”
“I gave permission for the outing, and today is Miss Hudson’s rightful day off.”
Logan raised a hand, cutting Cindy off and explaining clearly. He ignored her incredulous expression.
“But I cannot deny that, even as her guardian, I was careless.”
Yeah. Crowded places with kids are the worst.