Chapter 56

Brooke’s extremely troubled expression was something rarely seen among those called ladies.

Calvino wanted to see her even more troubled.

However, as a gentleman, he couldn’t just watch a lady in distress.

“Miss Brooke, you seem to have some insights into a gentleman’s humility. I should hear about that separately. It seems the others here might not be as interested. What do you think, Miss Brooke?”

In truth, Brooke, who had only been thinking about Calvino, had nothing to say.

So she gratefully accepted Calvino’s proposal.

For the first time, Brooke placed her hand on her chest and nodded politely to Calvino.

It was a very brief moment, but Calvino saw Brooke’s straight neckline and was captivated by it.

They exchanged quite a few conversations after that.

However, what remained in Calvino’s mind was Brooke’s expression of gratitude and her neckline.

“I’m really grateful you’re helping with the party at my house. It was difficult to ask Madame Eliona directly.”

Until Catherine thanked Calvino once more while seeing him off, Calvino hadn’t realized what he had promised Catherine.

“Oh, you mean to Aunt Eliona.”

“Yes, you promised to introduce the orchestra to Madame Eliona.”

“I did. Of course. I will definitely keep that promise.”

“I had a great time today, Sir Calvino.”

With that farewell, Calvino boarded the carriage.

He felt as if he were under a spell. Surely, he was enchanted by something.

Otherwise, there was no way he wouldn’t remember his afternoon feeling so empty.

It felt as if someone had stolen his time.

In that empty space was Brooke.

***

“Brooke, can we talk?”

On the way back from seeing Calvino off, Catherine singled out Brooke among the ladies who were killing time in the drawing room.

“I have to write a letter to Baron Dictron.”

“Should I try writing to Brian too?”

Riena and Lillie made way.

It was a promised action with Catherine.

Before coming to the drawing room, Riena and Lillie had heard from Catherine that she was watching Calvino and Brooke closely.

So, they observed the two while drinking tea and quickly concluded.

Brooke is interested in Calvino!

Until now, Brooke, who had consistently ignored any courting men regardless of what they did, reacted with a shiver at Calvino’s slightest gesture.

Reactions stem from interest, and interest starts from attraction.

Whether she admits it or not.

“Brooke, you don’t have anything urgent, right?”

After Riena and Lillie quickly left the drawing room, Catherine sat down in front of Brooke and asked.

“No. I have to prepare a speech on a gentleman’s humility, but that’s not urgent.”

“Right. Brooke, you’re someone who knows how to prioritize tasks accurately.”

“Thank you for the compliment, Lady Catherine.”

“You’ll need more tea, right?”

Brooke was tense, wondering what Catherine wanted to discuss with fresh tea.

‘Is she upset because I was too rude? Or because I seemed uninterested in marriage?’

Brooke knew well how much effort Catherine put into ensuring the residents of Catherine House had happy marriages.

And when Brooke applied to live at Catherine House, she also expressed her intention to do her best to find a lifelong partner.

Back then, Brooke believed that unlike her hometown, the capital would have many sophisticated men she could communicate with.

But upon arrival, the situation was different, and Brooke’s interest in marriage rapidly waned.

From Catherine’s perspective, it might seem like Brooke lied to join Catherine House.

Even if Catherine decided to expel Brooke from Catherine House, Brooke had no excuse.

But she didn’t want Catherine to misunderstand her as having lied.

“Thank you for the tea, Elbert. Would you move the flowers Sir Calvino brought to Brooke’s room?”

Catherine even sent Elbert out of the drawing room.

“Brooke, you don’t like sugar or milk, right?”

Brooke nodded. Catherine only poured milk into her own cup.

“Brooke.”

Sometimes when Catherine calls, it feels like being stripped bare. This was one of those times.

With a tone that seemed to allow no lies, Brooke involuntarily shrank her shoulders.

“Brooke, I promised to find you the best partner, right?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“But so far, I haven’t fulfilled my role properly. I apologize for that.”

“Lady Catherine! You don’t need to apologize. It’s because I’m not interested.”

“That’s right, Brooke. Until now, you weren’t interested. So I watched. But now you’re interested. In Sir Calvino.”

Brooke was so surprised she almost jumped out of her seat.

“Brooke, there’s no need to be embarrassed about having interest. There’s no need to avoid it either.”

“It’s not out of embarrassment. Yes, I’ll admit it. He’s very interesting. But that’s not romantic attraction.”

“Brooke, is that true?”

Catherine tilted her head to the left and narrowed her eyes. Brooke flinched.

“Are you trying to deceive even me, Brooke?”

At words that stirred guilt, Brooke confessed.

“I’ll be honest, Lady Catherine.”

“Honest Brooke, that’s the Brooke I like.”

Catherine laughed heartily. In contrast, Brooke’s face was dark.

“Sir Calvino is the first person I’ve found fun to talk to.”

“Brooke, you wanted to meet someone you could communicate with.”

“I’ve developed an interest.”

“To what extent?”

“Enough to think I wouldn’t be bored with him, and to be curious about what we’ll talk about next time.”

“Next and next becomes a lifetime.”

Catherine added that expecting a lifetime of conversation with someone means having a willingness to marry.

Brooke realized she couldn’t leave this place without explaining everything to Catherine.

“Lady Catherine, he doesn’t seem to have any thoughts about marriage, and he seemed to dislike me very much.”

Brooke was afraid of being rejected. So she didn’t even want to start.

She acknowledged that Calvino was the most sophisticated man she’d met.

On the other hand, she wasn’t sophisticated.

She was unnecessarily tall, her skin was excessively dark. She didn’t have the soft personality or gentle speech most gentlemen wanted, and she bickered with Calvino every time they met.

Love is said to enrich people, but Brooke felt increasingly shabby.

So this can’t be love.

Brooke reached the wrong conclusion.

“Brooke, do you really think so? You’re someone who can see many aspects. You also have the ability to discover the truth within. So Brooke, seriously look into Sir Calvino’s inner self.”

“Do you think Sir Calvino likes me, Lady Catherine?”

Catherine doesn’t like to provide answers.

But she gives hints.

“Brooke, think carefully about why I’m hosting a banquet. For reference, it’s the first banquet at Catherine House. After you think about it and seriously learn about Sir Calvino, if you still dislike him, I’ll find an even more wonderful man for you.”

Catherine had the ability to do that.

“So Brooke, don’t avoid it and face it. And while you’re pondering, also think about why you’re particularly sensitive to Sir Calvino. You’re smart, so you’ll find the answer quickly.”

Catherine left, leaving Brooke with a lot of pressure and assignments.

Left alone in the drawing room, Brooke grabbed her head.

Catherine believed that only answers found by oneself would change Brooke.

She saw Brooke’s distress through the closing door but turned away very calmly.

It was true that it was the first time a banquet was being held at Catherine House, and Catherine was going to be very busy preparing for it.

***

“Here’s the invitation list, Elbert. And Yuri, shouldn’t we buy more tablecloths?”

“I’ll go to the market with Head Maid Joanna.”

“And what else do we need to prepare?”

For several days, Catherine was engrossed in preparing the first banquet at Catherine House.

The preparations were going smoothly.

The food was to be handled by the chef of Catherine House.

Yesterday afternoon, the chef brought a menu to Catherine, and she gave a thumbs up.

Music, one of the important elements of the banquet, was entrusted to Calvino.

And this morning, she received a message from him.

The orchestra owned by Eliona agreed to take charge of the music for Catherine House’s first banquet.

Thanks to Calvino’s efforts, Catherine wrote his name at the top of the invitation list.

Other minor decisions were left to Elbert and Joanna, and Catherine only needed to check a few things.

“Don’t spare any expense, Joanna.”

And one of Catherine’s important roles was to open her wallet generously.

“Understood.”

Joanna walked out with a bag full of checks slung over her shoulder.

Catherine burst into laughter at her bold stride.

“It looks like she’s heading to a battlefield.”

“The preparation mindset is probably no different.”

Catherine, who was shuffling papers, looked up at Elbert.

Sensing her curious gaze, Elbert gave a kind smile.

“Wasn’t there a reason you didn’t hold banquets at Catherine House?”

He asked with his eyes if all those reasons had disappeared.