***

Sally Cornell had been keeping a close eye on her youngest sister, who had recently become uncharacteristically sociable. Though she didn’t know what wind had blown over Olivia, who had seemed born to be at odds with things like ‘marriage’ and ‘family’, it was certainly a welcome decision. However, she couldn’t help thinking it would have been better if such resolve had come a little earlier.

Twenty-six. Looking at her sister, who was a bit mature to catch men’s attention among the young ladies in their prime, she couldn’t help feeling regret.

According to their mother’s theory that if one wasn’t notably pretty and couldn’t promise a large dowry, one should find a match while sparkling with youth, the two older sisters among the three had found partners and held their ceremonies in their debut year. And their mother’s expectation that her youngest daughter would also follow that path was spectacularly disappointed.

Mrs. Jennings had tried to persuade Olivia by even mobilizing her two daughters who had already formed families, but had achieved no results so far. Recently, the lady had been trying to accept that her youngest daughter might perhaps live a different life from her other two daughters. Of course, Sally’s thoughts, having watched the long tug-of-war between her mother and younger sister, weren’t much different.

For such a Sally to welcome Olivia, who was suddenly showing her face at all sorts of events, while also viewing her with suspicion, was an entirely natural reaction.

Well, even if she couldn’t know all the detailed circumstances, putting Olivia’s name on the invitation list for parties her husband hosted wasn’t such a difficult thing.

Unlike Olivia, Sally, who had diligently continued social activities, didn’t forget to spread word about her sister to people around her. Sally’s concern about her younger sister who had yet to find a good match quickly became a problem shared by other ladies, and Olivia naturally came to be included on their invitation lists as well.

Since it might be a wind that would blow and pass briefly, or might end without achieving any results, Sally hadn’t sent any news to their parents in the Cotswolds yet. Above all, since Olivia hadn’t directly brought up words like ‘I should get married’ or ‘I want to’, she couldn’t be certain of anything. Was it regret for what she hadn’t been able to enjoy that was belatedly rushing in?

In any case, Olivia was diligently going back and forth to ballrooms. Seeing how she earnestly responded even to dancing, which she had said she had neither talent nor interest in, it seemed she wasn’t without interest in the gentlemen attending the parties.

“Drink moderately. Whose feet do you want to step on more.”

Sally, who had taken away Olivia’s glass of rum punch, lightly scolded her. A sweet and sour scent wafted from Olivia, who shrugged her shoulders.

“There’s no one asking me for more dances anyway. It seems the rumors have already spread?”

Olivia’s dancing skills, which couldn’t be called very good to begin with, became even more of a spectacle when alcohol took effect.

The gentlemen who couldn’t handle her messily tangled feet would quickly let go of her hand as soon as they barely finished one song. The backs of the men who greeted her and turned away all showed the same relief. Though she thought this kind of thing really didn’t suit her temperament, Olivia’s eyes didn’t stop moving from this gentleman to the next.

Olivia’s plan, which had only been temporarily suspended due to the intrusion of an unwelcome guest, was being newly executed with a modified direction. What had ignited Olivia’s fighting spirit was, of course, Richard Dalton and his letter.

Even if she made a hundred concessions and endured all criticism of her writing, she absolutely couldn’t bear that condescending gaze that looked down as if he knew why she was so obsessed with such experiences, as if he knew well what kind of woman she was. That was a problem she couldn’t tolerate even if it was Richard Dalton’s grandfather coming instead of Richard Dalton.

Richard Dalton’s letter, far from stopping Olivia Jennings, ended up contributing to confirming Olivia’s resolve to definitely find someone plausible to share a bed with. Whether he knew this fact or not.

“Won’t you tell me what wind has really blown to make you act like this?”

“Is dancing really necessary in the process of men and women getting to know each other?”

At least it seemed to have settled like a custom for men and women in London society. In natural approach and reconnaissance, was dancing the only medium? If so, it was too disadvantageous a condition for her. Olivia brought up a question she had long harbored while snatching back the glass Sally had taken.

“Are you going to keep changing the subject?”

“I’m tired.”

“Liv.”

“Last night’s opera at least was something to see, but today’s party is truly terribly boring.”

Sally picked up a new glass with a sigh. It seemed she needed the alcohol more.

“You must not have met any decent men.”

“Do such things even exist?”

“If only you wouldn’t act so cynical.”

“If one has to put on airs to become a decent man, then they’re not really decent.”

Good Lord, Liv.

Sally put down her glass and grabbed Olivia’s shoulders to turn her around. The freckles embedded in her flushed cheeks from the alcohol looked particularly prominent.

“That’s just basic courtesy needed when dealing with others. It’s not telling them to become someone other than themself.”

But what if the other person doesn’t treat me with the same courtesy? Olivia didn’t bother to elaborate on what the men who had spoken with her at this gathering today had been like. Though she might lack talent for dancing, she wasn’t foolish enough not to know that would be self-deprecating.

“I understand, so don’t make that face. Anyone watching would think I danced n*ked or something.”

“Liv!”

Sally quickly scanned the surroundings. Fortunately, no one seemed to be listening intently to the sisters’ conversation.

“Don’t worry. I’ll behave properly until it’s over.”

“Really?”

“I said so.”

Olivia removed Sally’s arm from her shoulder and placed her hand on it.

“Then prove it.”

“What?”

“The gentleman approaching this way seems interested in you.”

Sally turned Olivia’s shoulders as they were and moved her body near the alcove. Olivia looked back at Sally, who didn’t forget to take her glass with her to the end, then felt a large shadow approach in front of her and raised her head.

“It’s been a while, Miss Bennett.”

Richard Dalton. With an annoyingly splendid smile, he approached. Olivia felt the remaining intoxication flee all at once. Above all, ‘Miss Bennett’. It was a name that should never be heard outside the publishing house.

“It’s Jennings.”

Olivia, who hurriedly corrected him, glared with cold eyes. Unlike when she first met as Vivian Bennett and the meddlesome gentleman, she wanted to throw a punch at his face that was incomparably relaxed, but she held back remembering her promise with Sally. Richard nodded lightly with eyes as if he had gained enlightenment.

“Ah, then O is……”

“Olivia.”

“Olivia—what else could it be if not that.”

Richard, who had been rolling the name around like someone tasting wine, smiled with languid eyes.

“Did you come all the way here just to ask my name?”

Olivia, who had decided to show ‘basic courtesy needed when dealing with others’ starting from the next gentleman after Richard, asked in a thorny tone. She focused her gaze on his cravat instead of his face because she didn’t want to look up at him any longer. It would be better if she could stand at a distance, but Richard Dalton seemed to know well the distance that easily gave others a sense of intimidation.

“Would you dance one song with me as well?”

The orchestra, which had been checking the condition of their instruments during a brief break, was already preparing for the next piece. Richard extended one arm toward Olivia. Olivia, with an incredulous expression, looked back and forth between his arm and face, then slowly parted her lips.

“Fine, it’s not my feet anyway.”

The rumors seemed not to have reached him yet. To so boldly ask Olivia Jennings to dance. But against Richard Dalton, her lacking dance skills wouldn’t be a flaw. In fact, thinking this might be the perfect response to his last letter, she almost let out a laugh.

He would probably need quite some time to find his next partner. Olivia pointlessly put strength into the tip of her shoes once and grabbed his arm.

“Have you finally decided to look for a man through normal methods?”

Richard skillfully pulled along Olivia, who was flustered by the first line that flew in as soon as the music started, as if he had already anticipated it. Olivia Jennings, whom he glanced down at, was glaring at him with a face red up to the nape of her neck.

“Unfortunately, no.”

“Then what are you doing here? It doesn’t seem like you’ve been leaving strange letters at bookstores lately either.”

And whose fault is that? Olivia aimed for his instep and pressed her body close, but Richard didn’t allow it. This was the first man to lead her so skillfully, so the one who became flustered was rather Olivia.

“What are you doing here yourself, Mr. Dalton? I heard you rarely attend such events.”

“Miss Bennett bears great responsibility for me showing my face at parties I don’t even want to attend.”

“It’s Jennings.”

“Yes, Miss Jennings’ other self, that is.”