Chapter 1.3
When Adrian finally stepped forward to greet her, Theodora was so nervous that it wouldn’t have been surprising if she fainted on the spot.
“Miss Theodora.”
Despite not having seen each other for the past five years, they had been friends for over ten years. Yet her heart trembled this much, which was a bit too much. Well, it was rare for any woman to remain unaffected in front of him, she consoled herself, cautiously extending her hand.
“It’s been a long time.”
Since Earl and Countess Hazel were present, Adrian greeted her formally. The mischievous smile he subtly showed, only noticeable to her, was so dazzling that she momentarily wanted to cover her eyes.
A kiss on the hand was a common manner, but the story changed if it was Adrian performing it. The smooth motion of naturally holding her hand and pressing his lips against it unfolded before her eyes as if in slow motion, like magic.
Theodora returned to reality only after the warm sensation through the gloves had faded away. In the next moment, she watched with a slightly dazed mind as Adrian greeted Eloise in the same manner as he had with her.
“Miss Eloise, I remember you being a little lady who came up to my waist last time we met. You’ve grown remarkably.”
When he last came to Melhem, Eloise was thirteen, so such admiration was not surprising. The girl who used to pout that the young master always played only with her sister had become a lady about to debut, so it was naturally astonishing.
However, Theodora could not comfortably watch Eloise burst into laughter like a blooming flower at Adrian’s joking greeting. Even when he kissed her younger sister’s hand as if it were a predetermined sequence, she just looked down at her skirt for no reason. Her heart stirred irregularly as if she had seen something she shouldn’t have.
‘It must be because of Father’s request.’
Theodora found the reason for her strange feelings there. A week ago, her father, who had warned her not to act overly familiar when the Marquis of Devon came, suddenly changed his attitude.
‘Wouldn’t it be less burdensome for the Marquis of Devon if you brought up the topic instead of me? You’ve been quite close since childhood, so try talking to him.’
‘The timing is perfect too. Think about it. If the Marquis would be Eloise’s partner, she would become the best bride this year.’
It wasn’t a very difficult request, after all. Since Adrian now had a territory in the south, he would have to enter the social scene here, and attending a banquet at the Earl of Hazel’s as a start was quite a natural picture.
Moreover, seeing the two of them in person today…
Even to Theodora’s eyes, Eloise’s beauty was more dazzling today. Needless to say, Adrian standing opposite her. Under the late spring sunlight, the two smiling at each other made a very well-matched pair. There seemed to be no reason for Adrian to refuse the request, even without mentioning their friendship.
‘I’ll have to find an opportunity to talk about it later.’
She thought with a somewhat gloomy heart. She fully understood that it was a happy ending for everyone. But the reason her heart was so uncomfortable, was it because she was so narrow-minded?
The good mood quietly subsided as if it had never been. While Theodora digested her uneasy feelings, the grand welcome greeting was also coming to an end.
* * *
After the conversation at the mansion’s entrance, there was a luncheon prepared with special care by Earl Hazel.
The meal went smoothly with a generally good atmosphere. Although Earl Hazel tried to criticize his eldest daughter a couple of times out of habit, it wasn’t severe, perhaps because of the guests.
“If the Marquis plans to settle in the south, may I boldly suggest investing in the railway business? Currently, the south feels somewhat underdeveloped due to its distance from the capital, but it has potential for development if transportation improves. This would surely benefit the newly acquired Devon estate.”
“Yes, I share a similar opinion. Steam locomotives will become essential, even beyond the estate. I predict that within ten years, tracks will be laid across all major cities in Beorn.”
The conversation was mostly led by the two men, and Earl Hazel seemed excited to discuss business matters he couldn’t usually share with the women of the house. His thoughts about needing a son, or at least a son-in-law, were almost palpable.
“You indeed have great insight! I’m already looking forward to how much Devon estate will develop. It’s not something to boast about, but I also run various businesses in Melhem, so I can’t help but be interested. Fortunately, the businesses are doing quite well, and the estate income isn’t bad either…”
Even though she was quietly focusing on her food, not wanting to interrupt Adrian and her father’s conversation, Theodora instinctively tensed when the topic suddenly took a foreboding turn.
“If there’s a concern, it’s that I have an unmarried daughter of age. My only wish these days is to see a strong son-in-law and adorable grandchildren, haha.”
Just as her mood was about to plummet at her father’s blatant lament targeting her, she saw Adrian’s lips, which had been wearing a gentle smile, twist for an instant. It was a fleeting moment. He quickly returned to his original smiling face, and Theodora thought she must have seen it wrong.
“Oh dear, it sounds to me like there are no worries. In fact, late marriages are becoming a trend in the capital these days. My brother, who turns thirty this year, hasn’t found a match yet, either.”
What was meant to scold Theodora inadvertently ended up mocking the head of the Bachelet family for not being married yet, leaving her father quite flustered.
A surge of satisfaction almost made her laugh. Compared to what she had heard from her father until now, it was a very minor revenge, but the childhood friend’s open support was deeply touching.
“Of course, having two wonderful daughters means it’s understandable to be concerned. From what I see, young gentlemen these days aren’t very impressive, after all.”
However, Adrian, being the polite young man he was, didn’t press Earl Hazel further. Instead, he crinkled his nose and made a self-deprecating joke, causing her father to burst into hearty laughter again.
For the rest of the time, Adrian continued to lead the conversation in that manner. Those around the table were so engrossed in his war stories and tales of foreign royal families that they lost track of time.
Yet, Theodora found herself feeling empty and bitter at times, even as she was captivated by his storytelling. The fact that he had experienced a much broader world while she had been stuck in the corner of Melhem made the distance between them feel even greater.
“I’ve arranged for tea time in the afternoon, but you might be tired from the long journey, so would you like to take a break?”
Earl Hazel made this suggestion as the welcome luncheon was drawing to a close.
“Oh, I was so enjoying the meal that I forgot I had come a long way. I’m not very tired, but a little personal time wouldn’t be bad.”
“Yes, please do so. Ah, if you have time, how about taking a walk? I recently refurbished the back garden, and it should be quite nice to see now.”
As her father said, the late spring in the south offered such good weather and scenery that it felt like a loss not to take a walk. Most noble families in the south boasted beautiful gardens, but among them, the landscape garden at Hazel’s, which Theodora had personally tended, was her pride.
The midday spring sun, the faintly rising haze, the profusion of blooms. Just imagining the secluded and peaceful garden seemed to ease her tense mind.
“I was just thinking of taking a walk, so that’s a welcome suggestion. Sitting in the carriage for so long has made me feel stiff.”
Adrian also seemed to find Earl Hazel’s suggestion agreeable, showing a cheerful smile. Folding his napkin and placing it on the table, he added a word.
“However, it would be nice to have someone to guide me.”
In that moment, Theodora and Adrian’s eyes met in the air. With a fleeting mischievous expression, she realized he was trying to call her to the garden. Just like in their childhood.
“I think Miss Theodora would be…”
“Then it seems better for Eloise to accompany you.”
A tall voice interjected between the two still-entangled gazes. It was the Countess Hazel.
“Theodora has tasks to help me with. Besides, she’s not very talkative, so you might get bored. Eloise, could you show the Marquis around the garden?”
She couldn’t openly refute her mother’s smiling words. Her heart was very disappointed to miss the chance to be with Adrian. However, the big picture the Countess Hazel had drawn was soon rendered useless.
“With all due respect, I shouldn’t go out to the garden since the debutante ball is a week away. I’m worried about getting freckles from too much sun.”
It seemed that her father and mother wanted Adrian and Eloise to spend time together for some reason, but they couldn’t force someone who didn’t want to.
“Instead, I’ll help my sister with her tasks. That should be fine, right, Mother?”
“Y-yes, of course.”
Earl Hazel just twirled his mustache due to the situation flowing in a completely different direction from his thoughts. Her mother also pursed her lips with a displeased expression, as if she was equally embarrassed. Theodora somehow felt like bursting into laughter.
“Well, I don’t want to trouble Miss Eloise either. If it’s alright, could Miss Theodora accompany me? Ah, Lucas will join us as a chaperone, so there’s no need to worry.”
Adrian smoothly extended his hand for an escort. The neat hand in gloves evoked a faint sense of déjà vu.
She had certainly received his escort in this way before. However, the size of the hand before her was quite different from before. It was the large and reliable hand of an adult man.
As Theodora tried to recall the last time she held his hand, she realized she was delaying unnecessarily and hastily placed her hand lightly on his. The warmth and firmness felt even through the gloves made her face flush for no reason. Even though it was a common gesture among noble men and women, the thought that the other person was Adrian made it impossible to calm down.
As Adrian’s long fingers lightly wrapped around her slightly trembling hand, a thrilling warmth spread through her body as if her long-cooled blood was warming again. Theodora had to compose herself to not let go of the unfamiliar feeling.
Unlike her, who was so agitated over just holding hands, Adrian was calm, natural, and also meticulous.
“Thank you for accompanying me, Miss Theodora. Well then, everyone, see you shortly.”
With a short farewell, he led her away without paying any mind to Earl Hazel’s reluctant expression. Theodora also avoided her parents’ gaze, buoyed by his momentum. She might get scolded for acting thoughtlessly after returning, but she decided to put such thoughts aside for now.
Leaving the mansion with her childhood friend, free from all worries, her steps were lighter than ever. It felt like returning to childhood, filling Theodora with boundless excitement.