August arrived in Chatsworth.

After promising to return, Jayden went back to Orland.

However, the Countess of Rothermere and her daughter, Penelope, remained at the ducal estate.

They could not leave for one reason only: the young man and woman of marriageable age had yet to grow close enough to promise each other a future.

In other words, the moment everyone was waiting for — the gentleman kneeling and proposing to the lady — had not yet occurred.

Last May, Penelope had made her debut in society after paying her respects to Her Majesty at Burnham Palace.

In Ashton’s social circles, a highly desirable bride was expected to progress from debut to engagement within the same year.

Penelope was no exception.

The Duchess of Lester had subtly suggested to the Countess of Rothermere that Silas would soon propose to her daughter.

The Duke of Lester played the part of diligent suitor to perfection.

The problem was that his attitude towards Penelope was motivated purely by a sense of duty.

To the Duchess, this may have seemed a minor concern.

However, the Countess of Rothermere and Penelope grew increasingly uneasy with each passing day.

Did the Duke of Lester even realize why their stay in Chatsworth was dragging on?

Their hearts burned with quiet impatience.

In truth, Silas was well aware of what the three women were thinking as they watched him.

However, he had far more urgent and important matters to deal with.

In order to attend to one of these matters, Silas remained in his study, where he received a report from Martin Walgrave.

“How did the investigation I asked for turn out?”

Martin Walgrave had served as the Duke of Lester’s secretary since his father’s time. A former soldier, he was diligent, meticulous in his work, and above all, extremely discreet.

“Five years have passed since the death of Count Snowdon, and the staff of the Snowon estate have long since dispersed. They have proven difficult to track down. On the other hand, the Feilding household appears to have treated its servants well — most of those who once worked there are still in service.”

“That’s something, at least. So, what have you found?”

“Well, there are no accounts suggesting any particular conflict between Count Snowdon and Mr Andrew Feilding, nor any indication that their relationship deteriorated suddenly. After his marriage, Count Snowdon moved to his estate, and, as the countess’s health gradually deteriorated, the couple never returned to Ashton. It seems their relationship with Mr Feilding simply faded over time.”

He hesitated briefly.

“However…”

“However? What is it?”

When Martin Walgrave hesitated to continue, Silas lifted his gaze and looked at him, urging him to go on.

“It seems that, in her maiden days, the Countess of Snowdon had been acquainted with Mr. Andrew Feilding. Quite a number of the Feilding household staff remembered her. According to rumors…”

As Martin trailed off, Silas’s brows drew together.

“What rumors?”

“There were quite a few who expected that she would marry Mr. Andrew Feilding rather than Count Snowdon.”

“For what reason?”

“Well… it appears that, at the time, Mr. Andrew Feilding was deeply infatuated with her.”

Silas rubbed his furrowed brow. It was something that had happened before he was born, and he had never experienced it.

If the rumor had spread even among the servants, then perhaps his mother, who must have been active in society at the time, knew about it. However, he had no intention of asking her about Kyla.

“Then… are you saying the Countess of Snowdon and Mr. Andrew Feilding were lovers before her marriage?”

“I cannot say that much. Surely, it wasn’t to that extent.”

Yes. Perhaps they had not been that involved.

But it was entirely possible that some form of emotional bond had existed between them.

“What else?”

“There is nothing further.”

Ultimately, there were no certainties, only rumors.

The idea that Count Snowdon and Andrew Feilding had competed for Kyla’s affections before her marriage sounded like something straight out of a third-rate romance novel.

If true, this could explain why close friends had drifted apart, and why Mrs Feilding might harbor ill feelings towards Kyla.

“You’ve done well. You may go now. And if Mr. Norton is waiting outside, send him in.”

“Yes, understood.”

As Martin Walgrave bowed, Silas acknowledged him with a glance before turning his attention back to the ledger on his desk.

Soon after, the lawyer, Benedict Norton, entered.

“Mr. Norton.”

“Your Grace, I trust you’ve been well.”

Benedict bowed deeply.

“Have you prepared the report regarding Kryent Company?”

Silas went straight to the point.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Benedict smiled as he pulled documents from his bag. From his expression alone, it was clear he had brought the result Silas wanted.

Silas flipped through the papers, scanning each page.

“Your Grace, as you can see, there were no legal issues in the process of Kryent Company acquiring the mine in the Meissen Empire.”

“I see.”

Silas nodded.

“However, during the investigation, I came across something interesting. It seems Kryent Company is facing financial difficulties due to the excessive loans they took out to purchase the mine.”

“Is that so?”

Silas repeated the words with a faint, knowing smile.

“So Your Grace was already aware…”

Benedict looked at him in surprise. Silas answered only with a slight smile.

“Begin the legal procedures for the acquisition of Kryent Company. This is the perfect opportunity to acquire it at a low price. I’ll inform Mr. Howard in advance.”

“Yes, Your Grace. Understood. However…”

“What is it, Mr. Norton?”

Silas’s sharp gaze settled on him.

“The railway business isn’t as strong as it once was. Are you certain it’s wise to expand Lester & Howard Company by acquiring another steel firm under these conditions…?”

As Benedict trailed off, Silas let out a quiet chuckle.

“Of course, many small steel companies will continue to collapse and disappear. However, the steel industry itself will only continue to grow. It will generate enormous profits.”

He paused slightly.

“That is—if one succeeds in large-scale production based on more advanced refining technology.”

“Then… that would likely only be possible for a company with considerable capital… in other words, something like Lester & Howard.”

Benedict rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

“It seems things will become quite busy from here on.”

Silas merely smiled in response to his remark, offering no reply.

In truth, it was people like Benedict — or Louis Howard, a professional manager who had invested in the company — who would become busier.

Once Benedict had finished discussing all business matters, he bowed to Silas and took his leave.

The moment he stepped out of the study, Mrs Gerald invited him to stay for lunch as she always did. He accepted without hesitation, offering his thanks.

Taking out his pocket watch, he checked the time. The hands were nearing eleven.

There was more than enough time to speak with Kyla Feilding.

He stopped a passing maid and asked her where Miss Feilding was.

“I’m not entirely sure… but Miss Feilding is usually in the drawing room playing the piano at this hour.”

“Thank you.”

The maid blushed at his smile. She gave him a shy glance before hurrying away.

As he watched her retreating figure, Benedict allowed himself a small, satisfied smile. She couldn’t have been more than seventeen.

Girls like her, who were young and didn’t have much, were easily drawn to men with respectable professions, such as lawyers or doctors. Especially when the man was still young and not bad to look at, like himself.

He understood this well.

For maids, marriage to a man with a stable income was often the only way out of their circumstances.

But women like that were nothing more than passing amusements.

Now was not the time to waste his attention on a pretty maid.

He had to focus all his attention on the Feilding family’s adopted daughter.

Benedict’s father had been the third son of a baron and had inherited neither title nor land.

Intelligent, he had chosen a career in law. By marrying a merchant’s daughter who brought a generous dowry, he had managed to accumulate some wealth and secure a modest, comfortable life.

However, even that modest house and plot of land, acquired through years of legal work and a strategic marriage, were destined to pass almost entirely to Benedict’s eldest brother.

Kyla presented an opportunity that he could not afford to miss.

A slow, satisfied smile curved his lips.

Kyla Feilding was already well known in Ashton’s social circles, so he didn’t need to look far for information about her. A senior lawyer in his fifties, who was well connected within society, had shared a wealth of details with little prompting.

Through him, Benedict learned that she was the daughter of Count Snowdon.

Benedict knew a little about the Snowdon family himself, having handled matters relating to the recent sale of the Snowdon estate and manor, which had once belonged to the Duke of Lester.

The count’s bankruptcy had left Kyla with no inheritance.

However, had she possessed such wealth, she would never have come to the ducal house — and Benedict would never have had the chance to claim her.

Moreover, the rumors that Mrs Feilding had prepared an enormous dowry for Kyla were not without foundation.

Consequently, when she made her debut in society last year, a number of impoverished noblemen gathered around her.

Yet, for reasons of her own or because none of them suited her, she rejected every proposal — and now she stood before him.

This meant that, although he had a chance, winning her over would not be easy.

The fact that she was not easily won did nothing to lessen her appeal.

If anything, it only sharpened his desire.

She no longer attended social gatherings, instead being confined to the ducal estate. Without the opportunity to meet other men, she would simply grow older.

Under such circumstances, patience would surely prevail.

Someone willing to cast the line again and again.

Someone like him.