Lord Preston's Secret Tutor (47 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 23
Suddenly, she felt glad that she had asked Jacqueline for help. Trust now filled Madam Ritz’s eyes as she gazed at Jacqueline’s back.
Jacqueline looked at the room beside the entrance and asked,
“Is this the cloakroom, Madam?”
“Yes. On the day of the banquet, John will take and store the gentlemen’s coats and hats. Amy will be in the ladies’ room.”
“We’d better prepare two more mirrors for the ladies. If many of them need to touch up their appearance at once, the waiting time will be long. Judging by the guest list, there are quite a few invitees.”
“Understood, miss. John, bring two more mirrors into this room.”
“Yes, Madam.”
The two moved in sequence from the entrance to the cloakroom, then through the drawing room and smoking room, all the way to the banquet hall, just like nobles attending a grand reception.
Drawing on her experience attending countless banquets, Jacqueline pointed out shortcomings with a sharp eye, and Madam Ritz immediately accepted her suggestions.
“Strongly colored flowers won’t suit this place. People will say we’re trying too hard to stand out. In high society, whether you’re overly extravagant or overly plain, there will always be gossip—there’s always someone eager to find fault. It would be better to replace them with flowers in softer hues.”
“I’ll inform the gardener. We should prepare a few more peach-colored carnations.”
“An excellent idea, Madam Ritz. Ah, this tablecloth is clearly exquisite at first glance. Was it made from fabric recently imported? It looks familiar from a catalog.”
“That’s correct, Miss Jacqueline.”
“A superb choice. I imagine several noble ladies will show interest in this tablecloth—they’re quite attentive to fashion trends.”
Madam Ritz subtly revealed her quiet pride at Jacqueline’s praise of her taste. As Jacqueline moved toward the dining room, she asked,
“How will the meal be served?”
“There will be plenty of refreshments like sandwiches and biscuits. However, a select few important guests will dine separately with His Lordship. Only a handful of individuals whom we absolutely cannot neglect.”
The maids were inwardly surprised to see Madam Ritz consulting Jacqueline so seriously. Though Jacqueline herself was unaware, at that moment her status within Preston Manor had risen another notch—
No longer merely a governess, but someone whose advice was sought in banquet preparations. It was the beginning of an unexpected change.
***
Windsor skimmed his eyes over the guest list. At that moment, a knock sounded and the door opened. From the footsteps in the hallway alone, he already knew who the visitor was.
“What about what I asked you to prepare?”
Roman, who had just stepped into the room, froze. Windsor hadn’t even lifted his head, yet his question was unmistakably directed at him.
After a moment of flustered expression, Roman’s face shifted to one that said, “Ah, right—this is the Devil of the Black Fleet,” and he resumed walking. Standing before the desk, he answered Windsor’s question.
“He’ll be here soon.”
“Soon?”
Only then did Windsor slowly set down his pen and finally look up at him. Roman, who had been scratching his cheek, straightened his back, freshly recalling Windsor Preston’s dislike of vagueness.
“He’ll arrive within fifteen minutes.”
“Good.”
Only after that pressure of Windsor’s gaze lifted did Roman allow himself to relax his stiff posture slightly. Though Windsor had been discharged from the navy several years ago, he still occasionally resembled a soldier fresh from the front lines.
After checking his pocket watch, Windsor lowered his eyes back to the guest list.
“My Lord.”
Roman cautiously spoke up. Windsor gave no reply, but it was clear he was listening.
After all, wasn’t he the Devil of the Black Fleet—someone who remained fully aware of everything around him even while asleep?
“Are you truly not going to send an invitation to His Majesty the King? It may already be somewhat late, but even now….”
“Roman Miller.”
“Yes!”
At the sound of his full name, Roman stiffened once more. It wasn’t fear—it was instinct etched into his bones.
Anyone who had witnessed Windsor calmly and ruthlessly slaughter enemies amid a storm of bullets would surely react the same way.
Roman was certain: the day he could ever feel completely at ease around Windsor would never come. That had nothing to do with trust or respect. Windsor Preston was simply not a man to be taken lightly.
Right now, he was like a shark that had dropped into a thicket, hiding its teeth—but Roman firmly believed that if Windsor found a deep enough pool, he would devour every creature within it.
“Don’t speak another word on that matter. Understood?”
“Yes, understood.”
Just then, another knock sounded. As Roman turned his head, William entered the room.
“Viscount James Hammington has arrived.”
“I’ll go now.”
“Yes, he’s waiting in the drawing room.”
Windsor rose from his seat and left the study. Following behind, Roman asked with a doubtful expression,
“Viscount James Hammington?”
Windsor gave no answer. With a familiar shrug, Roman followed him down the stairs.
“Oh.”
Windsor suddenly remembered something and turned back.
“Would you please fetch Miss Somerset for me?”
“Miss Somerset… you mean the governess?”
Windsor took out his pocket watch. With a soft click, he opened the lid and continued in an indifferent tone,
“There are eight minutes left until her lesson ends. Wait outside the door, and once class is over, bring her to me.”
“…Yes.”
Not five minutes, not ten minutes—but precisely eight.
Roman shook his head at that exact figure.
The nobility were famously lax with time. Arriving thirty minutes late to a banquet was practically considered polite, and it often took days of waiting just to secure an appointment.
Thus, Windsor still seemed more like a soldier than a nobleman. Or perhaps—would the day ever truly come when he grew as carefree as a true aristocrat?
Scratching his head, Roman headed toward Benjamin’s room.
Only then did Windsor resume his steps. Upon entering the drawing room, James Hammington, who had been nervously rubbing his palms together, sprang to his feet.
He greeted Windsor with an overly friendly smile.
“I’m grateful you responded within a day, Lord Preston. I was growing anxious—it’s quite urgent.”
Instead of replying, Windsor simply took the seat opposite him. Right on cue, William served tea. Windsor poured himself a cup with composure and brought it to his lips.
James, who had been repeatedly licking his lips, fiddled with his own teacup before finally breaking the silence.
“Hahaha! If you miss this opportunity, you’ll never acquire this mine at such a price again. It’s a perfect chance for you, Lord Preston—I guarantee you won’t regret it.”
“Did you bring the documents?”
“Of course, Lord Preston.”
Seeing Windsor’s interest, James finally relaxed. He placed several sheets of paper on the table—
A land deed and a report analyzing the mineral composition of the mine.
“As I’ve said before, I wouldn’t be selling this land if my wife hadn’t fallen ill. Once you begin mining, you’ll earn at least five times your investment. No—I mean, why stop at five? Ten or even twenty times is possible.”
Just then, a knock interrupted James’s impassioned speech. He stopped mid-sentence and turned his head, his small eyes twisting in annoyance at the unexpected intruder.
“Come in.”
With Windsor’s permission, James swallowed his next words and leaned back, casting a sideways glance toward the door.
The door opened, and Roman and Jacqueline entered one after the other.
“You called for me…?”
Jacqueline began casually, but froze the moment she saw the visitor. She was startled twice—first to recognize Windsor’s guest as James Hammington, and again at the documents lying on the table.
James quietly shifted his eyes between the two strangers, unsure of their identities. Not that it mattered—he just wanted to finish this conversation quickly.
A fortune was about to fall straight into his hands; his patience was running thin.
“Lord Preston!”
Jacqueline cried out urgently. Windsor slowly raised one hand to silence her. Through the quiet that settled over the room, the faint sound of an approaching carriage could be heard.
Windsor handed the documents to Roman.
“This is supposedly the land deed and a report analyzing the mineral resources buried in the mine.”
“Hmm.”
Roman took the papers and examined them closely. Jacqueline bit her lower lip, clearly having much she wanted to say.
Walking over to the window, Roman held the papers up to the sunlight and spoke dismissively,
“Far too crude, my Lord.”
At those words, James’s eyes widened. “What do you…?” he started to protest, but Roman was faster.
“The deed is dated a hundred years ago, yet paper back then was handmade entirely from cotton fiber. This paper, however, is a factory-made product. Paper mills only began operating fifty years ago—so the dates don’t add up.”
Stunned by this unexpected remark, James was speechless. Only after a beat did he regain his composure and stammered out an excuse,
“Well, that’s…!”
But once again, Roman cut him off, his voice firm and leaving no room for argument.
“This is a forgery.”
“No, it’s not!”
James turned to Windsor with a look of injured innocence, moistened his dry lips, and hurriedly spoke,
“I don’t know what’s going on, but this has been passed down through my family for generations….”
“Miss Jacqueline Somerset.”
“…Yes, Lord Preston.”
Jacqueline nodded as she met his gaze.
“Somerset?” James murmured, turning to look at her. Realization dawned on him belatedly, and his face fell in dismay.
Outside the open window, the sound of a carriage stopping at the front entrance drifted in. Faintly carried by the breeze was William’s voice speaking with someone.
Windsor listened to all of it, then calmly spoke, his eyes still fixed on Jacqueline.
“The police have just arrived at the house.”
“!”
But it wasn’t Jacqueline who reacted in shock—it was James. He leapt to his feet without thinking and took hesitant steps backward.
Through the window, a carriage bearing the Metropolitan Police insignia came into view. Beside it stood three police horses.
Jacqueline looked at Windsor with quiet, steady eyes as he continued in his usual composed tone,
“Whether or not to press charges against James Hammington for fraud is entirely your choice, Miss Somerset.”
Jacqueline thought about what would happen if she filed charges. Her name would appear in the newspapers again, and her late father’s name would inevitably be dragged into the scandal.
The aristocracy being duped by a mere conman would become a subject of ridicule, and the already deceased Baron Somerset’s honor would be trampled into the ground.
The Male lead Always Seduces Her with His Beauty (Matriarchy)
Xin Jiao Zhou is the leader of the world’s premier sect. She has just experienced betrayal from all sides, was poisoned in an assassination attempt, and faced death squad attacks while the poison was taking effect. After finally clearing out the scum from her sect, she was drugged again while trying to detoxify.
After waking up from a night of unconsciousness, she gained a “beautiful and kind-hearted” husband.
Xin Jiao Zhou: “???”
He fell ill.
She came to see him, bringing breakfast.
As she put down the breakfast and was about to leave, his hand slipped while holding the spoon. “Clank!”
She turned around upon hearing the noise.
He looked up at her, his eyebrows drooping: “My hand… has no strength.”
“Shall I… feed you?” she asked tentatively.
He opened his mouth cheerfully: “Ah—”
Thinking she was drowning, he jumped in without hesitation to save her, but nearly drowned himself. In the end, it was she who swam over to rescue him, giving him air underwater.
After emerging from the water, his ear tips turned red. He lightly brushed his cheek, tucking his sideburns behind his ear, revealing delicate, pink-tinged ear tips. He lowered his gaze, too embarrassed to look at her.
Xin Jiao Zhou: He’s truly beautiful, kind-hearted, and adorable.
A certain someone when disciplining subordinates behind the scenes: “If they don’t obey, just kill them.”
What’s that? She might already have someone she cares about in her heart? A certain someone: Find out who it is, kill them, and then there won’t be anyone.
What? She met a man by the riverside? What? That man even hurt her? A certain someone: Whichever hand hurt her, chop off his entire arm.
Love at first sight without realizing it, gradually falling in love, slowly getting closer…
Family and national grudges, schemes and desires, good and evil, crime and punishment, she and he face the future together, seeking justice with passion!
A naturally dark female lead who could accidentally destroy the world but is actually an honest person VS a weak, pitiful, and helpless but skilled fighter, beautiful white-cut black male lead
My heart is not of stone, how steadfast is your love? — Tao Yuanming “Imitating the Ancients (No. 3)”
— Reading Guide —
Cold female lead & dramatic black lotus with hidden yandere traits male lead
MANGA DISCUSSION
5 Comments
Chapter Comments (100)
Why did she suddenly gave Collin to him?🤧 .. I wanted colling to stay with her (٥↼_↼)
Ohh ~ I think he’s starting to get worried for our FL😌 .. A worthy of governess
Nice one FL😆… But still it hurts me reading it as they mocked her as the impoverish noble girl.. I felt the range of windsor😭
Inline Comments (1316)
Even when officers caught the culprit and requested testimony, nobles refused. O
There’s so much retro detective fiction around now… I never even suspected such a thing existed
Gale remembered a remark once made by a subordinate. He fully agreed with that s
I also agreed. What’s rhe use of being a police officer anyway, if not for that?
Calmly and silently.
This man is absolutely perfect. So worthy of respect and admiration.
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Asnia Macaombang
That James Bstrd should be in prison🤬 … I feel heartbroken for our FL😭 and him Windsor doing justice for her family’s downfall
Ashiel_26
That James Bstrd should be in prison🤬 … I feel heartbroken for our FL😭 and him Windsor doing justice for her family’s downfall
lamlam
i know romance in this novel is going to burn slowly, but i hope it happens soon
lamlam
really enjoying reading this story so far.. can’t wait to read more
lamlam
very interesting novel.. it’s perfectly the genre that i prefer