Lord Preston's Secret Tutor (47 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 21
“Hmm.”
Jacqueline fell into silent thought as she walked slowly forward. There were times like this—moments when his former occupation would suddenly come to mind.
Those must have been days utterly unimaginable to Jacqueline—drifting across an endless, sightless ocean, locked in fierce battles against pirates.
Perhaps he still felt as if he were right in the middle of a battlefield—a battlefield where guns and swords felt more familiar than a cane and gloves.
“It’s rather fortunate for you, Lord Preston, that I happen to be quite attentive.”
To keep pace with him, Jacqueline quickened her steps slightly more than usual. Unlike a child, Windsor walked rather briskly.
“I tend to notice when others lose something.”
Glance.
His gaze brushed against Jacqueline’s cheek.
At some point, her pace had slowed; she no longer needed to hurry. Yet the two of them remained side by side.
“Still, Lord Preston, you really ought to pay Benjamin a bit more attention. Of course, I know you’re already doing your best, but Benjamin seems quite fond of you.”
Windsor walked ahead toward the carriage parked in the distance, listening to her gentle scolding.
Though the murmurs surrounding them were no different from when they had first arrived at the department store, his ears registered nothing but Jacqueline’s words.
It wasn’t bad at all.
***
Miss Somerset really must be a fairy.
Benjamin kept sneaking glances at Windsor’s face, inwardly marveling. The boy simply couldn’t believe this situation—having tea together with his uncle.
Though he’d lived with his uncle for two years now, Benjamin had never once shared a meal or even a cup of tea with him.
So he pinched his own cheek lightly, wondering if perhaps he was dreaming.
Ouch.
Suppressing a whimper, the boy looked back at Windsor—or rather, never truly took his eyes off him to begin with.
Even as he sipped his lemonade, Benjamin kept glancing repeatedly at his uncle.
Every single gesture of his uncle’s tea-drinking was full of grace. Recalling an old newspaper clipping he’d once seen of his uncle, Benjamin imagined Windsor sipping tea aboard a ship.
Windsor sipping tea indifferently amid the ship’s violent swaying on rough seas—somehow, even that image suited him perfectly.
He must truly be the Devil of the Black Fleet. Just the sight of Uncle in the distance would surely send pirates fleeing with their tails between their legs.
“Before the banquet, I have something to discuss with both of you.”
At that moment, Jacqueline spoke in an unusually serious tone. Only then did Benjamin’s eyes, which had been constantly flickering toward Windsor, finally turn fully toward Jacqueline.
“A banquet isn’t merely a social gathering. It’s a battlefield without gunfire—a place where both those who adore me and those who despise me gather together.”
“Yes, Miss Somerset.”
Benjamin nodded eagerly, just as he would during a lesson. Windsor, who had by now mastered the art of drinking tea calmly, cast a quiet glance her way.
He had absolutely no idea what her purpose might be. Jacqueline was still the sort of woman who, like popcorn, might pop off in any direction at any moment.
“After Lord Jeffrey Preston passed away, the two of you… I’m sorry, Benjamin. I truly regret your father’s passing.”
“It’s alright, Miss Somerset.”
Benjamin answered with mature composure. Jacqueline looked at the boy with pity in her eyes, then gave a gentle nod, silently hoping that one day he would truly be alright.
“After that incident, you both stayed at your estate for a while. You likely had few chances to mingle with the capital’s nobles. Unlike provincial nobles, nobles from the capital… well, they’re rather particular.”
Carefully choosing her words, Jacqueline swallowed the sharp term “sinister” that had risen to her throat.
“Benjamin, you’ll be the guest of honor at this banquet. You’ll have opportunities to greet the attendees. I’ll now share a few important points for you to remember.”
“Yes, Miss Somerset.”
Benjamin looked at her with bright, intelligent eyes, then stole a quick glance at Windsor seated beside him, wondering why his uncle was even here.
Ah.
Benjamin nodded inwardly as memories of his recent etiquette lessons came rushing back. Windsor had attended Jacqueline’s lessons that time as well.
Uncle still doesn’t fully trust Miss Somerset. I’ll have to work hard to restore her honor.
Determined, Benjamin stared intently at Jacqueline, his eyes filled with resolve.
“Looking over the guest list, I noticed a few people you should be especially cautious about.”
As she said this, Jacqueline briefly glanced at Windsor. He sat relaxed in his chair, one leg crossed, holding a cup in one hand, listening attentively to her words.
“Yes, Miss Somerset!”
Her lips involuntarily curved into a small smile at Benjamin’s eager response. She much preferred enthusiastic students over those who pretended not to listen.
“Good, Benjamin. Remember my words carefully from now on.”
“Yes, Miss Somerset!”
“First, Baron and Baroness Lander. A few years ago, they lost their beloved youngest daughter in a tragic accident—she drowned while swimming in a river. So it’s best not to ask about children in their presence.”
“Yes, Miss Somerset. I’ll absolutely avoid mentioning children around them.”
Benjamin nodded sympathetically. As Jacqueline skimmed the guest list again with her eyes, she continued, “Next…”
“Baron Haines will also be attending. I heard his business investments from a few years ago have stalled badly, leaving him deeply disheartened. Avoid talking about business with him. However, he does love horse racing—he’ll go on for hours about horses if you bring them up. It might even be good to ask about his own horse… Ah yes, its name is Thunderbolt.”
“Yes, Miss Somerset. I’ll keep that in mind.”
“And, um…”
Jacqueline’s eyes paused mid-scroll down the list. Windsor, who had been gazing idly at the table, shifted his attention toward her.
Noticing the slight crease on the bridge of her nose, Windsor narrowed his eyes faintly.
“Count Saltrein… um…”
Jacqueline chose her words with unusual care. Finally, a single sentence slipped from between her teeth.
“It’s best to avoid entanglement with him if at all possible.”
“Yes, Miss Somerset.”
Ever the model student, Benjamin nodded obediently. But it was Windsor who interjected with a question.
“Why is that?”
Whoosh, whoosh.
Benjamin’s head whipped back and forth rapidly between Windsor and Jacqueline, surprised that Windsor—who he’d assumed was merely an observer—had spoken.
The boy’s face grew worried, fearing that Windsor might be pressuring Jacqueline.
“He’s simply not… the most admirable sort of person.”
Having given up on sugarcoating it, Jacqueline spoke plainly and immediately looked relieved.
“He’s constantly hunting for any excuse to trap someone. More than a few people have suffered misfortune at his hands. But of course, we can’t skip inviting him—he is a count, after all. If I had to put it in an analogy, he’s like a raisin in bread: you’d prefer it wasn’t there, yet somehow it always is.”
Benjamin nodded repeatedly at her words, silently resolving not to mention that he actually liked raisins—especially not to Miss Somerset. He didn’t want to disappoint her.
“It’s best to interact with him just enough to keep from spoiling the mood. There’s no need to turn a small enemy into a big one.”
“You’re wrong.”
In that instant, Windsor contradicted her. Benjamin’s eyes widened as he turned, his anxious gaze shuttling once again between Windsor and Jacqueline.
“You think I’m mistaken?”
Just as expected, Jacqueline’s voice took on a slightly sharper edge.
But Benjamin noticed something that Windsor didn’t. Only the boy fidgeted nervously, shifting in his seat.
Windsor slowly set his teacup down. A faint clink sounded.
He’s a bright student—once he learns something, he never forgets.
Jacqueline hastily caught the satisfied smile trying to form on her lips and instead shot Windsor a challenging look.
“Lord Preston, are you the type to magnify small enemies?”
“No.”
Windsor shook his head firmly. His steel-gray eyes gleamed coldly as an emotionless voice escaped his lips.
“I prefer to crush them thoroughly before they ever grow into a significant threat. Whether large or small, I never leave lingering trouble behind.”
“!”
Jacqueline looked caught off guard, while Benjamin’s eyes sparkled with admiration. The boy looked as though he wanted to cheer, “Indeed, the Devil of the Black Fleet!”
Seeing Benjamin’s expression, Jacqueline eventually sighed.
“This isn’t a question with a right answer, Benjamin. Whether you ignore small enemies to prevent escalation or eliminate them before they grow—that’s a choice only you can make.”
“Yes, Miss Somerset!”
Benjamin’s voice rang out louder than usual.
Jacqueline suddenly felt a vague unease—she had just pictured that sweet boy thoroughly crushing a small enemy underfoot.
“Hmm.”
She let out a short hum and shifted her gaze back to the guest list. Jacqueline’s lecture continued for some time afterward, and Windsor listened quietly to her every word.
***
Jacqueline paused as she descended the spiral staircase—the figure crossing the hallway looked quite familiar.
Goatee, prominent cheekbones—it was unmistakably James Hammington, his expression sour as he stomped along angrily.
Recalling the unfamiliar carriage that had arrived shortly before, Jacqueline’s brow furrowed slightly. That fellow must have come to see Windsor.
Only after Hammington disappeared entirely from view did she resume walking. As she reached the first floor, the drawing-room door opened just then, and Windsor stepped out.
“Good afternoon, Lord Preston.”
Instead of returning her greeting, Windsor merely gave a single nod. He began searching through his pockets as he headed toward the stairs, but apparently unable to find what he sought, his hand remained inside for a while.
“Could this be what you’re looking for?”
Jacqueline held out a handkerchief. Windsor arched one eyebrow slightly.
“I found it in Benjamin’s room.”
“He mentioned earlier that he’d gone up to check this week’s progress and must have left it behind.”
“So he said. But I believed Lord Preston had agreed to respect my authority as his tutor—could there have been some misunderstanding between us?”
Jacqueline asked with a gentle smile.
My Step-brother Is Obsessed With Me (Female-dominant)
A gentle female protagonist vs pitiful in the early stage, and a sick male protagonist in the later stage
Cheng Songer transmigrated into the body of a vicious cannon fodder female supporting character with the same name as her in a female-dominant novel.
In the original story, the cannon fodder female supporting character was inhumane, committing domestic violence, gambling excessively, being lustful, and even wanting to sell her stepbrother to a brothel for money.
As luck would have it, she just happened to transmigrate at this time.
Seeing Cheng Qingzhi biting his lip, enduring the tears in his eyes, looking pitiful, her heart softened.
She stuffed the money back into the Madam’s hand and reached out to him.
“Brother, come home with me.”
MANGA DISCUSSION
2 Comments
Chapter Comments (107)
Obviously, he dodged and run away to her question😌.. Maybe he didnt want to admit that he really done investigation on her..(๑•﹏•)
Obviously, he dodged and run away to her question😌.. Maybe he didnt want to admit that he really done investigation on her..(๑•﹏•)
That James Bstrd should be in prison🤬 … I feel heartbroken for our FL😭 and him Windsor doing justice for her family’s downfall
Inline Comments (1321)
“Of course, that’s possible. But the train running from Hamsworth—where the quar
Oooh. So he’s got a bit of Sherlock Holmes in him too. Impeccable deduction and an eye for detail. Bravo.
“Whether or not to press charges against James Hammington for fraud is entirely
Took matters into his own hands – and voilà. Classy. (◕ᴗ◕✿)
Suddenly, she felt glad that she had asked Jacqueline for help. Trust now filled
Yes, yes. You must trust your soon-to-be madam of the house 🙂↕️
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Asnia Macaombang
Him noticing her every little reaction id admirable,. 💯
Ashiel_26
Him noticing her every little reaction id admirable,. 💯