The gala, which had begun with an elegant quadrille, grew increasingly lively as time passed, with more boisterous music filling the air.

Now, in the center of the hall, it was not the young men and women but the older guests, pleasantly tipsy from the beer they had just drunk, who moved joyfully to the rhythm.

At this moment, even those not yet eighteen, and even children, joined in, dancing to the music together.

Some children paired up and mimicked the adults they had seen earlier, while others, not knowing how to move their bodies, stumbled through chaotic steps.

But during this time, no one minded such things; everyone simply laughed and danced happily.

Eloise wiped the sweat from her brow as she listened to the commotion drifting upstairs.

“You don’t need to help any longer, Miss Eloise. Go on upstairs.”

“But…”

“If even a drop more of sauce gets on that white dress, I’ll be worried to death. Go on, now. Quickly.”

Mrs. Parker, truly meaning it, gently pushed Eloise’s back, so Eloise had no choice but to set down the dish she was holding.

Looking around the kitchen, it was certainly much calmer than an hour ago.

“There seemed to be much more food prepared than last year—why is it so quiet so soon?”

Mrs. Parker laughed at the question and pointed to Emily, who was still busy stirring a huge pan.

“It’s thanks to Emily. She’s even faster than last year. Finishes things neatly, too.”

Emily, unaware of the praise, continued to focus on her cooking.

Mrs. Parker took Eloise’s hand and led her into the kitchen corridor.

After checking that they were far enough from Emily not to be overheard, she spoke in a low voice.

“…So, if you’re agreeable, Miss, what do you think about having Emily handle all the preparations for next year’s Blissbury summer banquet and gala from the beginning?”

“What? All of it, from the start?”

Eloise’s voice rose in surprise. Mrs. Parker put a finger to her lips and glanced at the kitchen, but fortunately Emily was still absorbed in her work and hadn’t heard.

Relieved, Mrs. Parker spoke again.

“Yes, actually, my shoulder hasn’t been well this year, so I couldn’t cook as quickly as before. Emily noticed and volunteered to take over, asking questions and handling everything herself. She managed not only the desserts but most of the main dishes this year. Did you notice?”

“No…”

Eloise truly hadn’t realized. The food was as excellent as ever, and everyone was satisfied.

She had thought Mrs. Parker had simply worked hard again this year, but it turned out Emily had done almost everything.

“She’s clever and kind. I think she worried that if I couldn’t work, I’d have to leave here. She didn’t say a word to you, either.”

Mrs. Parker had been personally hired by Baron Stanford.

Her husband was one of the Baron’s aides and, at the start of the war, died shielding a grenade with his own body.

The military paid a pension and compensation, but it was nowhere near enough for his wife to live on for the rest of her life.

To make matters worse, the aide’s wife had no relatives, so she had nowhere to go.

Upon hearing this, Baron Stanford himself hired her to work at his manor and promised she could stay for life. That was Mrs. Parker. So even if she could no longer work in the kitchen, Mrs. Parker could remain here.

“Thanks to this, we know what kind of person Emily is. It’ll be rewarding to teach a girl like her. The only problem is…”

“We’ll need to hire a new maid.”

Eloise smiled wryly.

Emily was truly the best maid in Feltham. She was quick, efficient, and excelled at everything from cooking to cleaning.

She even thought ahead about what needed to be done next, and sometimes pestered Eloise about why she hadn’t started something yet.

Whenever that happened, the whole Surberton family thought the same thing:

She was far too talented to remain just a country maid.

That was why she came to Blissbury with them every year. Her wishes mattered most, but they hoped Emily would set her sights higher and pursue bigger goals.

“Don’t worry too much about our household. I’ll ask Emily about it myself, discreetly.”

“Yes, please do, Miss.”

Mrs. Parker bowed her head and returned to the kitchen.

Soon, Eloise heard Mrs. Parker’s voice by Emily’s side, telling her what to add next.

Feeling complicated, Eloise went down to the first floor.

Mrs. Parker had watched over Blissbury even before Eloise came to Feltham.

So Eloise had always thought Mrs. Parker would be in the kitchen.

But soon, Emily would probably take her place.

The same was true for Blissbury. The place she thought her father would manage for life—Ryan had come, hadn’t he?

Eloise looked out at the noisy banquet hall.

When she first came to Blissbury, those who naturally took the center and danced energetically had, over time, grown gray-haired and wrinkled, and now stood at the back, watching the vigorous young people.

Someday, she too would stand there, watching others. Who would be the master of Blissbury then?

Baron Stanford was already quite elderly. Before long, he would pass this place on to one of his children.

Would they continue the Blissbury summer festivity as it was?

It was a joyful festival day, yet Eloise felt strangely melancholy.

She stood in the hallway, feeling the cool summer night air, watching people enjoy themselves.

Then she saw someone sitting on a chair placed in the corridor for tired guests to rest.

It was Abigail and Lieutenant Osborne.

As they talked, both flinched and moved apart when they saw Eloise, as if they hadn’t realized how close they’d been before she arrived.

Eloise considered greeting them and passing by, but Lieutenant Osborne stood up and said to them,

“I’ll fetch some drinks.”

He then entered the banquet hall. Abigail called out to Eloise.

“Sit here.”

“But Lieutenant Osborne will be back soon…”

Abigail giggled.

“Do you know what we were just talking about before you came? That when you want to tactfully give someone space, it’s best to say you’re going to get drinks and then disappear.”

Eloise laughed out loud at that.

Sitting comfortably beside Abigail, Eloise gazed at the lively banquet hall.

Though they weren’t talking much, they had been friends since childhood, so there was no awkwardness.

After a long silence, Abigail spoke first.

“It’s fun.”

She murmured, and Eloise looked at her in surprise.

Abigail liked the summer gala, but she had never really enjoyed it.

Because of her leg, she always sat alone, far away, just watching people.

Even though Eloise often came by to talk, Abigail’s eyes always showed longing for what she couldn’t have.

But today, Abigail was different. She hadn’t danced or mingled, but her face was full of contentment.

“Eloise, I wasn’t really sick.”

“Huh?”

Eloise’s eyes widened at the sudden words.

“What do you mean? I heard you couldn’t come out because you were ill… Was it something else?”

Abigail just smiled at the mention of another problem.

She couldn’t bring herself to say it—that she had resented Eloise for leaving her and going to Blissbury with Sergeant Thornton.

But after talking with Philip, Abigail thought she understood Eloise’s feelings.

Why were stories from people who grew up in different worlds so fascinating and fun?

Laughing at Philip’s words and then catching her reflection in the mirror, Abigail was reminded of the look of longing that used to linger on Eloise’s face.

Now, she herself looked just like Eloise had back then.

Thanks to that, she realized that Eloise, too, enjoyed meeting new people and embracing new experiences.

And just as Abigail still considered Eloise her best friend, Eloise’s enjoyment of new things didn’t mean she neglected the old.

“Abigail?”

Abigail felt both satisfaction and guilt at her friend’s concern.

She shook her head and smiled.

“Sorry, that’s a secret. I’m not telling.”

She didn’t yet have the courage to share her once-twisted feelings.

Just then, Philip brought over glasses of cool drinks for the two of them, then left again to fetch his own.

He must have sensed that something was unresolved between the two.

The two friends looked at each other, glasses in hand.

They had thought this year would be just like the last, but so much had happened in just a few months.

Abigail spoke first.

“I hope we’ll be together next year, too.”

Since they met, they had spent this time together every year.

And they would continue to be friends. Eloise smiled and clinked her glass.

“May next year be as joyful as today.”

Amid the increasingly boisterous banquet, Eloise and Abigail shared a toast of their own.