Chapter 30
Meanwhile, after Evelyn went out, Dyffrin felt an unusual stillness in the house and looked around.
Even though they spent most of their time in separate spaces under the same roof, it felt strange to him that the large mansion seemed so quiet just because Evelyn was out far away.
In the past, Dyffrin had hoped that Evelyn would make friends and not bother him.
Yet, seeing Evelyn excited to meet her friend didn’t sit well with him.
Perhaps it was because one of Evelyn’s remarks had stuck with him.
“But I do sometimes miss the warmth of human contact. As you know… I have no family left.”
It was something Evelyn had said on their wedding day. Looking back, the word “warmth” particularly bothered him.
Warmth was a physical and emotional stimulus that could be felt with anyone when they became close.
He was indeed displeased.
Maybe it was because Evelyn’s new source of warmth was a woman who laughed heartily like a man, or perhaps because the place she was visiting was the main office of a trading company filled with men.
Dyffrin tried to clear his thoughts of Evelyn as he finished up his work in the study. As usual, time flew by.
Immersed in his work, he realized that the sun had already set when he finally looked up. He had a simple dinner and resumed his work. As the time for Evelyn’s return approached, it seemed as if time slowed down.
Just then, a maid knocked on the door.
‘Had Evelyn returned?’
He looked up from his documents and told the maid to come in. She approached and bowed her head.
“Master, you have a guest.”
“A guest?”
Dyffrin looked at the clock. The hands pointed to 8 o’clock. There was no one scheduled to visit at this late hour.
“It’s Lady Rachel from the Pinford Marquisate.”
Dyffrin wiped his face in exasperation at the unwelcome name.
However, he couldn’t refuse to meet a noble lady who had come at such a late hour, so Dyffrin went downstairs to greet the unexpected visitor.
Under the porch light, platinum blonde hair gleamed brightly.
“Good evening, Dyffrin.”
Rachel slightly curtsied as she greeted him.
“What brings you here at this late hour?”
“Apologies. I came because I urgently need to speak with you, despite the hour.”
“With you, my lady?”
“The Duchess Amelia sent a letter.”
Dyffrin barely suppressed a sigh.
‘Mother still hasn’t given up on having the Marquis Pinford as in-laws, it seems.’
Otherwise, she wouldn’t have sent a letter to Rachel to convey the news.
“It looks like this will be a long conversation….”
Rachel cast her gaze inside the mansion, signaling her desire to be let in.
Dyffrin reluctantly stepped aside and said.
“Please, come in.”
“Thank you.”
Rachel entered with a doll-like, pretty smile.
In contrast, Dyffrin pressed his temples. He had taken headache medicine just an hour ago, but his head was starting to throb again.
He wasn’t keen on letting Rachel into the house at this late hour, even if there was a reason. Evelyn would be back soon.
As Rachel looked around the house, she asked,
“The lady of the house is away, I assume?”
“She’s out. She should be back soon.”
Although it implied that she should leave before Evelyn returned, the well-bred lady either didn’t care about others’ words or didn’t understand them, as she replied with an innocent face.
“Then it might be best to wait and see her before I leave.”
“There’s no need for that.”
Dyffrin replied firmly.
Rachel’s face fell, but Dyffrin just looked tired.
“Let’s go to the reception room.”
Rachel seemed briefly downcast but quickly recovered her spirits, engaging Dyffrin in various small talk once seated on the reception room sofa.
Although it was late, Dyffrin, out of courtesy, answered Rachel’s questions succinctly, without being rude.
Rachel elegantly sipped her tea and then, testing the waters, said,
“The Duchess Amelia seems to have many concerns lately. Forgive my boldness, but are you and your wife getting along well these days?”
“I’d say it’s nothing to worry about.”
Dyffrin wanted to end the prelude there. Dealing with Rachel was far more exhausting than wrestling with documents.
He knew why Rachel brought up his mother and inquired about Evelyn.
Rachel had been one of the ladies who had long expressed her feelings for him.
She looked at him as if he were a rare diamond necklace she couldn’t have. Even after his marriage, the desire in her crimson eyes hadn’t disappeared.
Thus, facing Rachel was as troublesome as facing Evelyn in the past.
“…That’s a relief.”
Rachel couldn’t hide her gloomy expression.
“I suppose it’s time to hear what my mother asked you to convey.”
Unable to hold back any longer, Dyffrin urged, and Rachel looked up.
“Oh, my apologies. I came to relay a message from the Duchess.”
As Rachel was about to continue, a maid knocked, bringing unwelcome news.
“Um… Master. The lady of the house has returned.”
* * *
The transaction with Oakley concluded successfully.
Since there was no money to put down as a deposit right away, it was agreed that the payment for the Kashiyak Bramble seeds would be made upon their arrival. And that payment would later be covered by the Duke of Liwonoc.
Thanks to the Duke’s credit, Oakley readily agreed. Evelyn could return to the mansion with a lighter heart.
That is, until she saw the Marquis of Pinford’s carriage in front of the mansion.
As Evelyn stepped inside, the maids seemed to be on edge. An awkward atmosphere hung in the air.
The maids looked as if they were witnessing the lady of the house walk in on an illicit rendezvous.
“Do we have a guest?”
Evelyn asked the maid who was taking her coat and gloves. The maid, looking uncomfortable, replied,
“…Yes. Lady Rachel Pinford arrived a little while ago.”
‘At this late hour, no less.’
Evelyn felt a bit resentful that Dyffrin had let Rachel in while she was away, but rationally she knew that he couldn’t have turned away a guest from a marquisate.
“Master and Lady Rachel are in the reception room.”
“Since we have a guest, it’s only proper for I, the mistress of the house, to greet them.”
Rachel had come at this hour to throw down the gauntlet, and Evelyn was ready to meet the challenge.
Evelyn headed to the reception room. When she opened the door, she saw Dyffrin with a stern expression and Rachel looking surprised.
Rachel slowly stood up and greeted Evelyn first.
“Hello, Madam. I heard you were out, but you’re back now.”
“Yes. I was surprised to find a guest at such a late hour.”
Evelyn spoke calmly, implying criticism for Rachel’s late visit.
Rachel undoubtedly understood the hidden meaning. However, she adeptly put on a suitably apologetic face.
“I’m sorry about that. I had something urgent to convey, so I had to come now.”
“It would have been better to send someone. It’s too dangerous for a delicate young lady like you to be out late at night.”
Feigning concern, Evelyn subtly scolded her. For once, Rachel couldn’t come up with a retort.
Rachel, momentarily opening and closing her mouth like a fish, managed to compose herself.
“You’re right. I wasn’t thinking clearly. I just felt it was important to deliver the message from the Duchess Amelia myself.”
Rachel smiled with an innocent, girlish expression.
Of course, the underlying message was clear: Amelia had sent the letter to Rachel, not Evelyn.
“The letter stated that the Duke of Liwonoc left for the capital the day before yesterday. Judging by the time, he should arrive tomorrow morning. The Duchess asked me to relay this message as there won’t be a separate letter sent to the mansion.”
“…”
“That’s why I had to visit at this hour. I didn’t want everyone to be startled by the Duke’s sudden arrival tomorrow morning.”
Rachel added that the letter would have arrived earlier if not for road construction delays.
Evelyn’s brows furrowed slightly.
She knew the Duke of Liwonoc would be coming to the capital for the horse riding competition soon, but she hadn’t expected to be informed this way.
Perhaps the future was changing little by little due to causality. Evelyn felt a bit unpleasant.
Rachel continued with a voice as smooth as rolling pearls.
“The Duchess also asked me to take good care of the Duke when he arrives. She knows how busy Dyffrin is.”
Amelia had specifically asked Rachel, not her daughter-in-law Evelyn, to look after the Duke. It was blatant disrespect.
In the original story, this had also happened, and Evelyn had spent several nights crying over it.
“Oh, Madam. Just to put your mind at ease, I have always had a close personal relationship with the Duchess, and we often exchange such personal requests. This time is no different, so please don’t feel bad.”
Rachel spoke kindly, trying to console Evelyn, though her intention was to fan the flames.
“Of course, someone as kind-hearted as Evelyn wouldn’t be upset over something like this.”
Just as Rachel finished with a pretty smile, Dyffrin interjected.
“Still, I think my mother overstepped this time. There was no need to have someone else deliver this news.”
Rachel’s smile faltered. She looked confused, as if wondering why Dyffrin was intervening.
“And the same goes for you, Lady Rachel. If you have urgent news to convey late at night, please send someone next time. This could tarnish your honor.”
Though his words expressed concern for Rachel, Dyffrin’s tone was cold.
The atmosphere in the room turned chilly. Rachel’s long eyelashes quivered slightly.
At that moment, another knock came at the door, breaking the tense silence.
“Master, Lord Rykal has come with an urgent message.”
It seemed it was a night of urgent messages. Dyffrin stood up, looking at Rachel.
“I think it would be best for you to leave now, Lady Rachel.”
“No, it’s okay. You spoke too harshly and startled Lady Rachel. I’ll comfort her.”
Surprisingly, it was Evelyn who stopped Rachel from leaving.
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the blatant disrespect amelia shows evelyn is unbecoming of her, seriously. and rachel isn’t better for coveting someone who’s already married. :(( love love to see dyffrin standing up for evelyn tho!