Miss Hyde smiled sadly.

“It’s foolish, isn’t it?”

Miss Pendleton shook her head.

“No. It is foolish. If my parents knew what I was thinking now, they would faint. I mentioned earlier, didn’t I? That my mother saw my letter. As always, she’s the type who can’t rest until she checks everything I write or read.”

Miss Hyde grimaced as if she had bitten into a sour lemon. It was the expression she always made when her mother came up in conversation.

“Mother is already putting her heads together with Sister Rosemary about when to set the wedding date. If I say I’m rejecting Mr. Fairfax’s proposal, she’ll faint right there. And after she comes to her senses, she’ll grab me and say this again: ‘Twenty-five is the last age you can be sold off without being labeled an old maid. If you become an old maid and end up as a burden to your brother and sister’s household, I won’t be able to rest in peace in the afterlife. There’s nothing left in our house for your share. All the remaining savings must be used to send Alex to university and for Emily’s marriage fund. So get your head on straight.'”

“Miss Hyde. Perhaps, are you trying to refuse because of resentment towards your mother…?”

Miss Hyde shook her head.

“No. In my heart, I only think about getting this damn marriage over with by closing my eyes tightly. But, in another part of my mind, there’s another me screaming that it can’t be done, that such a decision is not acceptable.”

Miss Hyde stared intently at Miss Pendleton.

“What do you think, Miss Pendleton? Do I seem to be making a decision I’ll regret?”

Miss Pendleton seemed to understand why Miss Hyde had confided in her about this issue. Perhaps she wanted to consult another potential old maid about her future that might lead to spinsterhood.

“Miss Hyde.”

Miss Pendleton twirled her teacup for a moment, thinking, before speaking.

“First of all, I’ve known you for a long time, and as a friend of your sister, I have a responsibility to give you honest advice. So, believe that you won’t think poorly of me even if I have to lose face, and I’ll tell you. …It’s better to avoid living as an old maid in England.”

Miss Pendleton saw Miss Hyde’s lips move a few times before closing. She wanted to ask, ‘Was it hard for you to live as an old maid, Miss Pendleton?’

But Miss Hyde ultimately didn’t ask, and Miss Pendleton was inwardly grateful to her. If she had asked, Miss Pendleton would have had to answer as detailed as possible, and while doing so, she would have felt a bitterness in her mouth.

“It’s difficult to live as an unmarried woman, both in relationships and economically. Let’s be careful since this is an important issue that concerns your future. Now, first, I want to tell you that Mr. Fairfax is a good person, but that’s irrelevant to whether you accept his proposal or not.”

Laura’s tone was gentle but firm.

“Accepting a proposal to avoid hurting someone is a deception towards the other person. So let’s set aside Mr. Fairfax’s feelings for now. Don’t think about your parents either. Just look at your own heart. How do you feel when you think about marrying Mr. Fairfax? What if you spent all day together in the same house?”

Miss Hyde stared into the black pool in her coffee cup for a moment.

“I would be completely free. Mr. Fairfax mentioned three times in his letter that he would never force anything after marriage. Well, of course, we could go horseback riding together occasionally and have conversations. Mr. Fairfax would always listen well to what I say. It would be like gaining a good friend.”

“Good, Miss Hyde. I agree with you up to this point. Mr. Fairfax is someone who would never break a promise he made. He will respect you for life and be a good friend. It wouldn’t be a bad marriage. Now, here’s the final question. Miss Hyde. You know what happens between married couples, don’t you?”

Miss Hyde stared at Miss Pendleton. Miss Pendleton looked around once, then sat closer to Miss Hyde and whispered.

“I mean what happens at night, not during the day.”

Suddenly, Miss Hyde’s face turned pale white. Miss Pendleton carefully observed Miss Hyde’s face. Soon, she realized that the answer had been eternally decided in her heart due to a certain expression that appeared on Miss Hyde’s face.

Yes, the deep-seated aversion in her heart was towards the intimate act that occurs between married couples. That which women who accept proposals from men they can never love try desperately to forget until their honeymoon. Miss Hyde, for better or worse, had come face to face with this before the proposal.

“Hello, Miss Hyde?”

Suddenly, Miss Pendleton and Miss Hyde were startled almost to the point of fainting. While the two were sitting close together whispering, Mr. Fairfax had somehow come to stand in front of their table.

The two sprang up like coiled springs. Fortunately, Mr. Fairfax seemed not to have heard what these ladies were discussing about him, as he wore his usual kind and affectionate smile.

Miss Pendleton quickly erased her surprised expression and put on a gentle smile gained from 12 years of social life, curtsying slightly.

But Miss Hyde, still lacking in social graces, had only managed to erase the uncomfortable emotion that had been on her face until just now. She showed uncharacteristic unsteadiness and even cold sweat as she barely stood, holding onto Miss Pendleton.

Mr. Fairfax looked at Miss Hyde with concern.

“Are you feeling unwell, Miss Hyde?”

“Oh, no.”

“Are you sure? You look pale.”

“Just… I think something didn’t agree with me. The food…”

“Oh dear. Shall I take you home in my carriage?”

“No! I’m fine!”

Miss Hyde screamed involuntarily, and then mumbled as if to excuse her oversensitive reaction.

“I think I’ll feel better if I just sit next to Miss Pendleton for a while. She’s so good at massaging hands…”

“I see. Please let me know if you need any help. Like if you need a doctor.”

“I’m really fine, truly…”

Nevertheless, Mr. Fairfax couldn’t take his eyes off Miss Hyde, looking worried. But soon realizing it was impolite to stare at an unmarried lady for too long, Mr. Fairfax turned his gaze to Miss Pendleton.

“You look beautiful today as well, Miss Pendleton.”

“You flatter me.”

“You lent Janet the original French version of Dumas’s novel last time, didn’t you? These days my sister has become quite studious, spending at least two hours a day on French studies. I would be grateful if you could visit sometime and help improve Janet’s conversation skills.”

“Of course, I’ll visit soon. Having tea with lovely Miss Janet is a great pleasure for me.”

Mr. Fairfax smiled contentedly, seemingly pleased by the praise for his younger sister.

“Ah, and there’s one more thing I’d like to ask of you.”

“Anything. What is it?”

Mr. Fairfax’s expression became quite serious as he began to speak.

“You remember that I have a young in-law about my age, don’t you?”

“Ah, yes. His name was Ian…”

“Ian Dalton. Ian Dalton of Whitefield.”

“Yes, I remember. He was the young gentleman with many nephews and nieces, right?”

Miss Pendleton was familiar with the name Ian Dalton. It was a name she had heard occasionally when talking with Mr. Fairfax or his sister.

A young landowner of a large estate called Whitefield in Yorkshire. A capable businessman who had quadrupled the fortune inherited from his father in just a few years.

And according to Miss Janet Fairfax, he was also the owner of outstanding features. She said that even her brother, who was quite handsome, was nothing compared to him. Even better looking than Mr. Edward Morton, she claimed.

Miss Pendleton, who had never seen a more handsome man than Mr. Morton in her life, couldn’t even begin to imagine what this Ian Dalton gentleman might look like.

“That’s right. We grew up together since childhood, and we both attended Eton School. Although we were separated for university, with him going to Cambridge and me to Oxford. He wrote that he plans to visit London in about a month. He asked if it would be alright to stay in my guest room instead of a hotel. I was just writing back to say he’s more than welcome to come.”

He continued calmly.

“But right after Ian’s letter, a letter arrived from Ian’s sister, that is, my sister-in-law, Mrs. Robert Fairfax. She said she would like her brother Ian to make many friends while staying in London. That is… many lady friends.”

Miss Pendleton realized what he was about to ask.

“But, I mainly spend my time smoking at gentlemen’s clubs, so I don’t know many ladies. That’s why I wanted to ask Miss Pendleton. If you could introduce some of your friends to my cousin Ian.”

“That wouldn’t be difficult, but… does Mr. Dalton welcome this idea?”

Mr. Fairfax shrugged his shoulders.

“To be honest, it’s my sister-in-law’s one-sided nagging. Thirty is a suitable age for marriage for a man, isn’t it? But that fellow is stuck in his estate with no intention of looking for a match.”

Miss Pendleton nodded. Indeed, thirty was not at all a pressing age for a gentleman.

Moreover, Ian Dalton was a gentleman of the landowning class with enormous wealth. For a man with wealth, even fifty would not be a pressing age.

Miss Pendleton had no ill feelings towards Mr. Fairfax or Mr. Dalton, but she didn’t feel comfortable letting a gentleman with no intention of marriage appraise her friends with indifferent eyes.

“Surely there are plenty of excellent ladies around his estate, I wonder if he needs to come all the way to London to meet ladies. Besides, I don’t think I need to step in particularly; London society will welcome him with open arms. If he wishes, that is.”

Miss Pendleton conveyed her refusal as indirectly as possible. But Mr. Fairfax didn’t back down.

“I understand. You probably don’t want to introduce your friends to someone who has no intention of marriage. Because you value friendship. But, couldn’t you consider accepting Ian Dalton as your new friend, Miss Pendleton?”

Mr. Fairfax continued in a fervent tone.

“That fellow is really a good chap. It’s not just about wealth or such matters, but he values his family and has a deep heart. He might have some eccentric sides… but I guarantee that it’s a negligible flaw compared to his merits.”

Miss Pendleton smiled without malice.

What a kind person, always. To be making such an earnest request for a friend who is merely his in-law’s younger brother.

Miss Pendleton thought for a moment before nodding.

“Alright. I’d be happy to be friends. Please introduce me when Mr. Ian Dalton arrives.”