Of course. She had known all along that other intentions were hidden behind that dark smile. Olivia clenched her hands gathered on her knees and put strength in her eyes.

“Are you worried about me?”

“It’s the opposite. I’m worried about myself. Considering that I’m still suffering from the fame of your previous work, I thought I should at least prepare my heart this time.”

“I value Lord Dalton’s confidence highly, but—”

Richard watched Olivia’s lips and waited for her next words. Those lips that still seemed to carry the scent of rum punch, the surely sharp words they would pour out.

“Unfortunately, you’re not quite an inspiring enough figure. You don’t really match my artistic vision either…… Ah, in times like these, ‘Issue Daily’ might show interest, so how about looking into that? Well, I’m busy. Could you please close the door now?”

Olivia, who had casually thrown out mention of a gossip magazine that could hardly be called an honor to be featured in, sat upright and met his eyes. Richard, who even recalled the face of ‘Viscount K’ who had suffered from scandal caused by articles digging into his vulgar private life, bit his lips with a strange expression.

Far from being angry at words clearly meant to insult, he felt like bursting into laughter. Richard, who barely managed not to laugh and closed the door, watched the rear of the carriage moving away, raising clouds of dust. The light sound of hoofbeats, so much like the carriage’s passenger, echoed for a long time.

***

The exceptional splendor of the party hosted by Viscount and Viscountess Wickham was for their daughter, Mary Ann Wickham, who had just debuted this year.

The desire for one’s daughter to find a good marriage prospect was not much different regardless of status, so many on the guest list were carefully selected unmarried noble children. The traces of careful consideration to invite all possible unmarried men without harming the gender ratio could be glimpsed in the faces of the visitors.

In such cases, unmarried female guests were naturally selected by even stricter and more demanding standards, and probably the most important criterion the Wickham couple considered was how much they could make Mary Ann Wickham’s appearance stand out.

While observing the hall filled mostly with young ladies of ordinary level or those who, despite having sufficiently lovely appearances, had fashion sense that didn’t know how to make them shine, Olivia felt once again confirmed that she was fully qualified to be invited here.

Poor Miss Jennings, who couldn’t find a marriage prospect despite being old enough.

Olivia didn’t doubt that she would have been invited to this party even without Sally Cornell’s influence. Since that was a natural fact, Olivia, who didn’t need to be newly hurt by it, decided to focus only on her purpose for attending today’s party—alcohol.

She hadn’t given up her aspiration to find a decent man, but it seemed she shouldn’t act more conspicuously than Mary Ann Wickham, who was today’s protagonist. Of course, her struggle with the new work that wasn’t progressing well was also one of the factors calling for alcohol.

Olivia, who had been following the smooth footwork transitioning from quadrille to polka only with her eyes, brought the glass containing sherry to her lips. And across the dance hall, she saw Sally being released from the viscountess who hosted today’s party and coming this way.

Since the last party, Sally had been persistently asking what had happened between Olivia and Richard. When she asked why only the waltz with him had perfect coordination, she told only the truth that it was because his dancing skills were excellent, but she couldn’t be equally honest about the question of whether she had met him before.

No one, absolutely no one, should know about matters related to her other name. Even if it was her second sister, the closest among her blood relatives.

Sally had stepped back only after pursuing the matter to a tiresome degree, but whenever Olivia perked up, she would repeat the same cycle of pestering her with the same topic. Judging by those eyes, if she got caught again, she would surely suffer similar questioning attacks, so she had to get as far away from Sally as possible now. Before shedding hot tears of regret.

Olivia took the hand of Ronald Collins, who happened to approach and ask her to dance, and headed toward the center of the dance hall. At least she would be free until this song ended, so she decided to find a corner to escape to before exchanging final greetings.

Ronald Collins was a wealthy man whose father had made considerable money in trade, and he himself had inherited and expanded part of his father’s business, establishing his position in London. He had a background worth inviting for show, so she had encountered him several times at other parties. However, this was the first time he had asked Olivia to dance.

There were rumors that Ronald Collins had become even more arrogant after his father received a baronet title, and Olivia could feel during the very brief time with him that those rumors weren’t just exaggerations by envious people.

To think that the result of running away from Sally was this.

Ronald Collins didn’t let Olivia go even through the next song that followed without pause. Olivia was gauging how long she would have to continue the task of responding to his stories and laughing with soulless eyes. Since her partner wasn’t Richard Dalton, his feet became victims several times, but for some reason he wasn’t running away like other gentlemen.

Just when she was wondering whether he had good stamina or whether her tired feet weren’t performing at their usual level, he suggested taking a brief rest. Thinking anything would be better than dancing, Olivia nodded and withdrew her hand that had been reaching for a punch glass and came out to the terrace. The cool, damp night air cooled the heat that had risen to her cheeks.

Ronald, who had been listing his own stories by category without being asked, perhaps conscious of Olivia’s clouded eyes, began asking questions he rarely did, becoming an even more tiresome type of person than before in that he demanded reactions beyond light responses.

“Ah, yes. It just happened that way. I didn’t have as much luck as my sisters.”

“I heard you used to avoid such occasions. I don’t think I’ve encountered Miss Jennings before either. If I had, my name would surely have been on your dance card.”

“Oh my, thank you. Though I know you’re just being polite.”

Olivia tried her best to be courteous while not giving room for the conversation to continue, bringing the punch glass to her lips.

She thought she wanted to put the same thing in that man’s mouth and make him focus only on eating and drinking, but Ronald Collins continued talking like someone who never got tired. Around that time, Olivia became seriously curious whether Viscount and Viscountess Wickham had put this man on their guest list knowing this aspect of him.

“I heard this estate has a particularly beautiful greenhouse. Have you seen it by any chance?”

When Olivia couldn’t hide her indifference, Ronald Collins quickly changed the subject and took a step closer.

“No.”

“Then that’s perfect. How about taking a brief look with me?”

“Pardon? But……”

Olivia looked at Ronald Collins, who was acting as if he were the owner of this mansion, with troubled eyes.

Before she could find appropriate words of refusal, Ronald lightly pulled Olivia along. Though she had wanted to get some fresh air to chase away the effects of alcohol, Olivia hadn’t intended to take on uncomfortable company, so she followed him while unable to hide her troubled expression. It was because the subtle force coming through was definitely that of a man, and she couldn’t possibly shake it off with strength.

Olivia, who had decided to leave at an appropriate time, entered the greenhouse with him. Inside the carefully tended greenhouse, rare flowers were blooming abundantly.

While briefly admiring the beauty that couldn’t be achieved without human touch, Olivia naturally understood that the viscountess’s refined hobby came from deep affection. Just having such a greenhouse in a place that wasn’t even a rural estate showed as much. Even though this mansion was located away from central London.

“Miss Jennings.”

“Yes?”

Olivia, awakened from her solitary thoughts, turned her head to look at the man. The fact that Olivia had not even a speck of interest in him didn’t seem to register with him.

“I’ve never said this to anyone before…… but I have quite an eye for recognizing special things. Half of my business success is thanks to this aesthetic sense.”

“Ah, yes…… I see.”

Isn’t your success thanks to your father, no matter what anyone says? The question rose to the tip of her tongue, but Olivia barely swallowed it and replied with an awkward voice. Fortunately, Ronald Collins didn’t seem to notice the unpleasant light that appeared in Olivia’s eyes.

Ronald Collins slowly approached Olivia, who was only offering empty admiration about the greenhouse and flowers to avoid the uncomfortable atmosphere. His hands gripping her shoulders to face him were disgustingly hateful, but she couldn’t bring herself to scream.

“In those eyes of mine—Miss Jennings, you caught my attention.”

Ronald’s finger, which lightly brushed Olivia’s cheek, slowly slid down along her white neckline. Only then did Olivia realize she had missed her chance to escape.

The woman wasn’t foolish enough not to understand what the man’s murky gaze meant. Feeling goosebumps rise along her spine, Olivia stepped back.

“Mr. Collins, you’re putting me in a difficult position.”

“There’s nothing to hide. I could tell at a glance that we’re looking for the same thing.”