Lord Preston's Secret Tutor (47 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 20
Jacqueline, now changed into an outfit suitable for going out, opened the front door and stepped outside. A carriage awaited her—it bore the Preston family crest.
With William seeing her off, she boarded the carriage. The maids watching the scene exchanged puzzled glances, yet no one dared ask where she was going.
After Jacqueline sat down on the seat, William bowed slightly and said, “Have a good trip.” She responded with an elegant nod.
The carriage carrying Jacqueline immediately pulled away from the mansion. Inside, as the carriage gradually picked up speed, she rested her arms on the windowsill and gazed out at the scenery passing by.
Closing her eyes, she felt the breeze brush against her cheeks. The air carried a faint scent of orange.
Suddenly, an old memory surfaced. Along the private road leading to the Somerset estate, orange trees had been planted. Whenever the carriage approached the estate, the scent of oranges always filled the air.
Only upon catching that familiar fragrance had she ever truly felt she was home.
“I wonder if the new owners of the estate also like orange trees?”
Jacqueline softly sighed, recalling the elderly Viscount and his wife with white hair to whom she had handed over the property and house deeds. They had been genuinely delighted, saying it was the perfect home for their retirement.
At the very moment she passed them the keys to the estate, she had felt an odd sensation—an indescribable feeling stirred by the thought that the house she had lived in since birth now belonged to someone else.
It felt as though the ground beneath her roots trembled, or like the sudden snatch of a candy she had been savoring.
“It’s no longer my home. Don’t cling to it.”
While Jacqueline was lost in thought, the carriage stopped in front of an upscale department store. Windsor had just alighted from another carriage that had arrived moments earlier.
He walked toward Jacqueline’s carriage. Upon spotting him, she instinctively extended one hand. Windsor, who had been standing with his hands clasped behind his back waiting for her to step down, paused in surprise.
“Oh…”
An embarrassed sound slipped between Jacqueline’s teeth. Instantly, she sensed curious stares from all around.
“Hmm.”
Windsor gave a light cough, stepped forward to the carriage, and took her hand. Jacqueline exhaled in relief, narrowly avoiding embarrassment.
“Thank you, Lord Preston.”
Mindful of the onlookers, she gave a dignified nod. Only once both her feet touched the ground did Windsor release her hand.
Jacqueline, feeling the warmth through her glove as strangely intense, clenched her fist unconsciously.
Without needing to signal one another, Jacqueline and Windsor began walking side by side. Though both kept their eyes straight ahead, neither could ignore the whispers trailing behind them.
“Oh my, isn’t that Lord Preston? And who’s that young lady beside him? I’ve never seen Lord Preston out with a lady before.”
“It’s Miss Jacqueline Somerset.”
“Miss Jacqueline Somerset?”
“You know—the impoverished noble girl.”
“Ah! The one whose family went bankrupt overnight after her father’s business failed? But why are those two together…?”
“I heard Miss Somerset was hired as a governess at the Preston estate—looks like it’s true. But why are they at a department store together?”
“Could it be that the two of them…?”
Behind the noblewoman covering her mouth with a fan as she whispered, another lady approached and offered a plausible explanation.
“There’s a ball next week celebrating Master Benjamin Preston’s birthday. Couldn’t they just be shopping for a gift?”
“Oh, that makes perfect sense. Lord Preston is Master Benjamin’s uncle, and Miss Somerset is his governess, after all.”
“If they really were courting, who would pity whom? Lord Preston—rich but of humble birth—and Miss Somerset—noble-born but utterly penniless.”
“Hard to say. They’re so evenly matched it’s nearly impossible to choose. But if it’s true, it’ll surely become the biggest gossip in high society—ho ho ho.”
Jacqueline let out a faint, bitter smile unseen by anyone, and straightened her posture even further. Appearing composed in such moments was something she had long grown accustomed to.
She glanced sideways at Windsor. He must have noticed the murmurs about them, yet his expression remained entirely unchanged.
“Are you all right?”
At her unexpected question, Windsor raised one eyebrow slightly. Realizing belatedly what she meant, he nodded and replied, “Ah.”
“If I paid attention to rumors like that, I’d probably have suffered a nervous breakdown by now.”
“True enough. That’s exactly why my mother developed one—because of swarms of reporters like mosquitoes and people who changed their attitudes toward us overnight. These days, she can’t sleep at all without her medicine.”
Jacqueline answered lightly, as if it were nothing. Windsor’s gaze fixed on her cheek—a rare, troubled look in his eyes unlike his usual demeanor.
Quietly, Jacqueline curled the corners of her lips. She had sensed an unspoken kindness beneath his usual gruffness.
“You don’t have to look at me like that.”
“…How did I look at you?”
“With pity and admiration?”
At that, Windsor’s eyebrow twitched. Maintaining a haughty expression and looking straight ahead, Jacqueline continued with feigned innocence.
“Or perhaps like someone proud of a young lady who’s triumphed over adversity?”
“No, that wasn’t it at all.”
His voice was so firm that Jacqueline shot him a flustered glance.
Windsor strode confidently through the department store, as if he knew it well. Yet Jacqueline would have wagered her entire fortune he had never set foot in one before—after all, the direction he was heading led straight to the women’s clothing section.
“Lord Preston, that’s not the right way. We’re going to the second floor.”
He stopped abruptly.
Windsor halted and turned his gaze toward her, then calmly changed course without a word. Jacqueline suppressed an emerging smile and kept her face composedly aloof.
Upon reaching the second floor, Windsor frowned almost involuntarily. The floor was lined with shops for children—ranging from children’s clothing and infant shoes and hats to toys and miniature tableware.
Judging by his character, he had likely never visited such a place in his life. Jacqueline, who already had a destination in mind, started walking ahead first.
Windsor followed slowly behind her, his hesitant steps oddly reminiscent of a child reluctantly dragged to school by his mother.
“…”
The shop Jacqueline entered was the largest toy store in the capital. Windsor’s feet came to an abrupt halt at the entrance. He stared blankly into the bustling store filled with noblewomen, gentlemen, and children.
A little girl holding a doll in one hand passed by, clutching her maid’s hand. A gentleman with a finely groomed mustache stood before a pile of teddy bears, wearing a deeply serious expression.
A boy about Benjamin’s age lay sprawled on the floor, wailing loudly, while a woman—presumably his mother—shook her head sternly.
It felt as if he stood at the gates of hell, unable to take that first step inside.
“Come along, Lord Preston.”
Jacqueline urged him forward. Windsor followed her with a resigned air. After glancing around casually, he finally voiced his doubt.
“Are you certain Benjamin’s gift is truly in this place?”
“At the very least, it’ll be a much more exciting present than a history book of the kingdom.”
Onlookers parted like receding tides upon noticing the two. Jacqueline and Windsor passed through the gap as they spoke.
“Our mutual notoriety is useful sometimes—look, this chaotic place falls quiet around us.”
“It’s a gift I chose after much deliberation. As I’ve said before, every boy entering boarding school must read the kingdom’s history.”
“That’s a fine reason indeed. But as I’ve also said before, that’s the gift you want to give Benjamin—not the one he actually wants.”
“Then are you saying you know exactly what Benjamin wants just by looking at him? Isn’t that actually what you want, not Benjamin?”
At that moment, Jacqueline stopped walking. She turned to face Windsor with confident eyes, then spread both arms wide.
“I guarantee he’ll like this far more than any history book of the kingdom.”
Windsor’s gaze followed the line of her outstretched hands. A faint crease formed between his brows. He turned back to her, as if seeking confirmation.
“Are you absolutely certain this is right?”
Jacqueline nodded firmly, her smile brimming with confidence. Windsor’s eyes drifted once more over her shoulder.
The crease between his brows deepened slightly.
But before he could respond, Jacqueline had already called over a clerk. With noble grace, she gave her instruction.
“I’ll take one of these. Please wrap it nicely—it’s a gift.”
“Yes, miss. An excellent choice. It’s a handcrafted toy made by a master artisan—only ten were ever produced, and this is the very last one. I’ll wrap it for you right away.”
“Thank you.”
Having moved to the counter, she turned to look at Windsor, clearly wondering why he wasn’t hurrying to pay.
Eventually, Windsor walked over slowly. He removed his gloves and placed them on the counter, then took out his checkbook.
Jacqueline watched the clerk wrapping the gift with sparkling eyes, as if it were her own present.
“Thank you.”
The clerk, having received the check, handed the wrapped gift to Jacqueline. Upon seeing the large box, she glanced toward Windsor.
Her eyes spoke volumes—sometimes scolding him, sometimes angry with him, and on rare occasions, even praising him.
And now?
“Hand it here.”
“Yes, Lord Preston. Here you are.”
Having verified the name on the check, the clerk respectfully passed the gift over. Windsor, now regretting not having brought Roman along, took the yellow-wrapped present in one hand.
He felt as though eyes from every direction were fixed on him—though perhaps it was only his imagination. He simply kept his eyes forward and walked on.
“Oh?”
Noticing his gloves left alone on the counter, Jacqueline quickly grabbed them and hurried after Windsor.
“You forgot your gloves.”
Windsor, seeing the black leather gloves suddenly thrust before his eyes, raised an eyebrow. He took them in his free hand and kept walking.
“That’s surprising.”
At her unexpected remark, Windsor cast her a questioning look. Jacqueline, half-turning toward him while admiring her new dress, continued,
“For someone as precise as you, Lord Preston, to keep losing things—first your spectacles, then your cane, and now your gloves. What’s next?”
“It’s simply that those things aren’t important enough for me to pay attention to.”
“Not important?”
Jacqueline finally turned fully toward him. His expressionless face now reflected in her eyes, which moments before had been scanning new merchandise.
Spectacles, a cane, and gloves—these were the hallmarks of a gentleman. If these weren’t important, then what was?
“After all, not having them won’t kill me.”
My Ex-Girlfriend Is The Regent In The Female-dominant World (Male lead transmigrates to the matriarchal world)
Two years ago, Gu Sui picked up a homeless woman in ancient costume from the street.
Apart from occasionally claiming to be a princess from a female-dominant country due to illness, her figure, appearance, intelligence, and martial arts skills were impeccable.
Naturally evolving from roommates to girlfriends, as time went on, Gu Sui found it increasingly difficult to tolerate her queen syndrome.
“Mu Jiulu, can you stop controlling me inside and out? Let’s break up.”
Gu Sui made a breakup call, and since then, he couldn’t find any trace of her.
A year later, Gu Sui, who was planning to move, woke up the next day and found himself in a different place.
“Young Master, today is the day you choose your Wife-master through martial arts competition at Jade Dew Pavilion. Please get up quickly.”
Gu Sui: Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?
As the only son of a general’s mansion in a female-dominant dynasty, the young empress personally issued a decree allowing Gu Sui to select his Wife-master through martial arts competition. Whoever could defeat him could marry him.
Gu Sui: “……”
He didn’t inherit the original owner’s martial prowess, so anyone could defeat him! And what the hell is a Wife-master?
Forced to come to Jade Dew Pavilion, the densely packed women below made Gu Sui’s agoraphobia act up, and his face was full of resistance.
Until he saw the Regent sitting on the second floor, with a smile on the corner of her lips, her eyes wicked and nonchalant.
Hmm… she looked a little familiar.
It turned out that the Regent also found him a little familiar.
Mu Jiulu fiddled with her bone clasp, her deep gaze locked on the man who was out of place in this world.
“Finally, I found you.”
Male transmigrates into female-dominant world
One-sentence summary: What goes around comes around, taking turns in the crematorium
MANGA DISCUSSION
5 Comments
Chapter Comments (109)
Him noticing her every little reaction id admirable,. 💯
Him noticing her every little reaction id admirable,. 💯
Obviously, he dodged and run away to her question😌.. Maybe he didnt want to admit that he really done investigation on her..(๑•﹏•)
Inline Comments (1324)
“I prefer to crush them thoroughly before they ever grow into a significant thre
Wow. That’s a real man right there. I like him. (๑♡⌓♡๑)
Her lips involuntarily curved into a small smile at Benjamin’s eager response. S
Hahahaha, so that’s how my teachers see me. I’m usually a total Windsor….
Benjamin kept sneaking glances at Windsor’s face, inwardly marveling. The boy si
I love this scene. They already look like a family 🥹❤️
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Asnia Macaombang
AAACCK! I can feel it😆., both are starting to fall in love
Ashiel_26
AAACCK! I can feel it😆., both are starting to fall in love
lamlam
they really have a vibe of a couple going out on a date
Asnia Macaombang
It feels like a date though😌
Ashiel_26
It feels like a date though😌
lamlam
it does!! i can feel their chemistry is going to cause a storm