Chapter 13 – Should I Call You Naive?

“What’s the matter, dear?” 

Mrs. Bailey furrowed her brow.

Eloise had led her into the bedroom, saying she had something important to discuss, when she had been sipping tea at the dining table.

The lady had noticed that Eloise had been acting differently lately.

If the serious silence was coming from her eldest daughter Sarah, it wouldn’t be that surprising, but from her younger daughter Eloise…

“Oh, my dear. Stop stalling and just tell me. You’re making me anxious.”

The lovely face that usually shone like a polished apple looked pale today, suggesting she had trouble sleeping again last night.

The mother’s eyes were never wrong.

Given this was a time of important matters, she hoped it was nothing serious.

“Mother,” 

Eloise finally parted her lips then.

“Please know that what I’m about to say is not something I’m taking lightly.”

“Alright, I understand.”

“I actually wanted to speak about this with both of you present, but it seems Father has gone out again…”

“Oh, just go ahead and say it, dear. I won’t get angry.”

“I…”

Even if I say I love Sir Ansel?

Such a foolish thought briefly crossed her mind, but Eloise quickly shook it off.

“Mother, I want to leave home.”

“Leave home? What on earth…”

Mrs. Bailey’s thin eyebrows arched up sharply, only to settle back down again.

With a soft sigh, she continued.

“I was actually going to talk to you about that. I’ve already asked Sir Ansel to let us live in Fairmont House.”

“Pardon?”

“Honestly, who can stop your father? The wedding hasn’t even happened yet, and I’m worried we might seem too greedy.”

“…”

With her lips slightly parted in surprise, the frozen daughter was met with a few more words from Mrs. Bailey.

“The Earl said he would discuss it, so we should get an answer soon. According to Ansel, there’s no reason for them to oppose it, and even if they do, he said he would persuade them. There’s probably no more thoughtful young man in the world. Don’t you think?”

That’s when Eloise finally realized the meaning behind Ansel’s words from before.

‘Isn’t that expression too much? It’s all your family’s wish.’

Ah, so that’s why he said that.

But for such a considerate young man, Ansel Blaine seemed quite displeased when he said those words.

On that day, Ansel appeared to be angry, as if he was holding something back. The sharp gaze was still vividly etched in her mind.

‘It seems like we did come off as greedy…’

At that moment, her suspicion that his kindness toward the Bailey family was solely for Sarah became more certain.

A nobleman like him showing such devotion to people with neither status nor wealth, and even lacking shame, must mean his love for her sister was incredibly deep.

In any case, that was not what Eloise had intended to say.

“Yes, he is truly kind, but that’s not what I wanted to talk about…”

“Then what is it?”

“I want to leave Maybury.”

“My dear, what are you saying?”

Mrs. Bailey asked in bewilderment. In contrast to the flustered mother, Eloise’s face remained composed.

It was only natural, as she had imagined this scene countless times in her head.

“I want to go to the capital. Please allow me.”

“No…”

“Father will allow it. So if you just give me your permission, I’ll be off right away-“

“Eloise.”

At that moment, Mrs. Bailey’s sharp voice cut off Eloise’s words.

“There’s a major family event right around the corner, so I was holding off on telling you this, but I’ve noticed you’ve been acting strange lately. Your father, who’s usually so oblivious, even asked if you were having a second adolescence at twenty-two.”

“…”

“I know how close you and your sister are. But as you know, Longfield is close enough to reach quickly by carriage. Soon, we’ll be living together again. Everything will be alright.”

“…No. It’s not because of that.”

Eloise lowered her gaze momentarily, as if hesitating, but then lifted her head with a resolute expression.

“I just suddenly… feel everything is so dull. I’ve lived here my whole life, you know. I’ve never left even once until I turned twenty-two. I want to go out into the wider world before it’s too late.”

“What on earth are you saying, sounding just like your father?”

The lady responded with a perplexed expression, but Eloise calmly retorted.

“I guess I do take after Father. But Sarah takes more after you, Mother.”

“…”

“Aren’t you worried about me just moping around here anyway? I’m sure I’ll improve once I go to the capital. And there are plenty of men in Brightnum, too! Who knows, maybe I’ll find a dashing match like Sir Ansel? You’ve always said the eligible bachelors in Maybury have dried up.”

Eloise cheerfully rattled on, even though she didn’t really mean it. Her expression suggested she was confident of gaining her mother’s understanding.

“Elsie, that’s…”

But Mrs. Bailey had a serious look on her face.

It was only natural for her to be worried, as her daughter was saying things she had never said before.

“…Alright, let’s say you go to the capital. What money will you live on there? And you don’t even have a place to stay. The terrible idea that it’ll somehow work out-“

“The maids at Fairmont House said there are lots of big factories in the capital, so there are plenty of jobs. They said even women can earn enough to live on their own. As for a place to stay… Didn’t you say we have a relative living in the capital?”

Eloise calmly recited the thoughts she had organized overnight. Mrs. Bailey looked utterly bewildered, her eyes wide open.

“You mean Uncle Simon? We haven’t been in touch for ages, and I don’t even know how he’s doing. And you want to just go there and impose on him? Especially when the last time he saw you was when you were a baby!”

“You said he was the only one who understood when you told Father you wanted to marry him. You said he really adored you. He won’t turn me away.”

“I don’t know whether to call you naive or…”

It was a strange feeling. The daughter who seemed to have inherited only the bright aspects of her husband had also retained his recklessness.

Though speaking with a lady-like gentleness, the girl’s vivid eyes betrayed her desperate determination. 

For a moment, Mrs. Bailey saw not “Mrs. Bailey” but “Catherine” reflected in them.

She had also shocked her mother around this age.

At least her daughter wasn’t stubbornly bringing home a man her family disapproved of, so she supposed that was fortunate.

Though the situation was different, Eloise’s earnest feelings were conveyed to her vividly, as if their hearts were connected just by looking at each other.

It was a fervent feeling. She hadn’t imagined she would feel this way again after carrying the child in her womb.

“I don’t even remember when I said that.”

She has a good memory. Mrs. Bailey chuckled, as if she couldn’t stop Eloise.

Looking into Eloise’s heartfelt eyes, Mrs. Bailey easily sensed that she would not be able to break the girl’s stubbornness no matter what.

Above all, if she didn’t grant this request, it felt like her relationship with her daughter would become irreparably distant, just as it had been between Catherine Fairbain and her own mother.

“I think I have your Uncle’s address written down somewhere.”

Mrs. Bailey broke the brief silence. Her voice sounded like a sigh.

“But are you really serious about this? I wouldn’t mind if it was just a short trip, but… Your sister’s wedding is coming up in less than a month. Why don’t you go after that? If you’re curious about the capital, you could even ask Sir Ansel to show you around.”

Barely holding back the words ‘That must never happen,’ Eloise listened as Mrs. Bailey continued in a slightly lowered voice.

“You should stay by your sister’s side, Elsie. This sudden and confusing marriage isn’t just hard on you. Imagine how much harder it is for Sarah, the one getting married.”

At those words, Eloise suddenly felt a lump in her throat.

It was as if she had just gulped down boiling onion soup.

Eloise, with a trembling hand on her neck, tried to wipe away her sorrowful expression as she replied.

“That’s true, but if I stay by her side in this state, she’ll just try to take care of me like a baby. I can’t burden the new bride with that. I’d like to just wait excitedly until the wedding, if possible.”

“…”

“I’ll come back soon, Mom. Of course, I’ll attend the wedding.”

Eloise smiled brightly as she said this.

Her eyes were reddened, making her look like a small rabbit.

After a brief silence, the lady let out a light sigh and responded.

“…I’ll write a letter to your uncle.”

Fortunately, her voice had softened considerably.

“Thank you, Mother.”

“This is all assuming your father approves. If he says no, then I’ll oppose it too. Understand?”

“Yes.”

The voice was intentionally stern, but Eloise smiled brightly. Persuading her most reliable supporter, her father, would be the easiest thing.

Still not entirely at ease, the lady asked with a stern look.

“So when do you plan to depart?”

“As soon as I pack my things and figure out the carriage schedule. Probably in about two days?”

Mrs. Bailey put her hand to her forehead at Eloise’s carefree answer.

“What’s the rush? To avoid the letter arriving before you, let’s delay it by a few days. Have you spoken to Sarah yet?”

“No. I told you first, Mother. I was planning to tell my sister tonight.”

Eloise muttered weakly.

Her expression was like that of a child who had to reluctantly deal with a difficult and awkward task that had been put off.

“…Sarah will be upset.”

“Yes. But my sister will never show it, will she?”

Her eyes, like blue gems, trembled with a somber light. The lady could not help but tightly embrace her daughter.

“She is your sister, after all.”

It seemed that tonight would be a somewhat sad night for the two daughters.

Thinking that, Mrs. Bailey hoped that this brief separation would strengthen the bond between her precious children.

No, she truly believed it would.