The invitation to the Pendleton family’s formal dinner flew to Mrs. Nigel’s house, where Mr. Price was staying. Soon after, a reply written in elegantly scrawled handwriting, gladly accepting the invitation, returned to the Pendleton house.

Miss Pendleton consulted with Mr. Germain about the dinner menu and thought about other guests who might entertain him while setting the dining room table. Her grandmother would likely be unable to attend, and she felt she alone would not be enough to provide him with the pleasures of social interaction.

According to rumors, the main guest, Mr. Price, was said to be informal, good-natured, and talkative. She sought out friends to match him. The Fairfax siblings, masters of listening, and Miss Hyde, who was interested in any new story, came to mind.

Following that, she thought of several open-minded newly wealthy gentry couples. She sent invitations to all of them as well, and they gladly accepted.

On the day of the dinner, as expected, her grandmother remained in her bedroom, and only Miss Pendleton, neatly dressed, waited for the guests in the drawing room.

The first to arrive that day was Miss Hyde.

She entered the drawing room wearing a simple white blouse, a black jacket, and a plain brown skirt. It was a clean outfit without any of the flashy accessories that one inevitably had to wear in social circles. She looked like an ordinary female office worker.

She had recently been employed at a publishing house. Today marked exactly two weeks since she had started work.

She put down the briefcase she was holding, discarded the social custom of curtsying, and immediately hugged Miss Pendleton tightly around the neck. Miss Pendleton gladly accepted this intense display of affection. It was evidence that her recent life had been happy.

Miss Hyde began to recount in detail the events she had experienced during her days of going to the office. The roles she had learned through the handover process.

She was a junior typist in the editorial department. Writing written contracts, greeting writers who came to make requests, and making tea were her superficial duties. But within a week, she realized what her real job was. It was to listen to the cheerful, smoking editor gossip about the writers and join in criticizing their writing.

Miss Hyde said it was a bit funny and strange workplace. But Miss Hyde’s face was beaming as she said so.

Miss Pendleton had never seen Miss Hyde’s face look so delighted before. Clearly, she was enjoying the new life she had just begun. Miss Pendleton looked admiringly at Miss Hyde, who had started a new life much earlier than herself.

Mr. Price arrived on time. He entered the drawing room, whistling, wearing a neatly pressed evening coat, following the servant’s guidance. He bowed politely to the two women in the drawing room.

“Pleased to meet you. I am Tom Price.”

The two rose quietly and curtsied. Miss Pendleton greeted him warmly.

“Thank you for coming. I’m Laura Pendleton, Uncle Gerald’s niece. This is Jane Hyde, the second daughter of the Hyde family.”

Mr. Price bowed once more, then approached the ladies amiably and kissed each of their hands.

“I’ve heard a lot from Gerald. That is, I’ve heard a lot through Earl Pendleton. You truly live in a splendid house. And Miss Hyde, you are dazzlingly beautiful like a London lady! I wonder if I’ll be able to swallow my dinner today. Having to dine facing such radiant ladies, you see. But your style of dress is quite unique. Very practical and neat, isn’t it?”

Miss Pendleton told him that Miss Hyde was a typist working in an office. He laughed heartily at this and clapped his hands.

“Many women engaging in economic activities are appearing in America too. But I’ve heard their numbers are few in England. And here I am, meeting an excellent career woman! Any plans for marriage?”

“None at all. I entered this path to avoid marriage.”

“What remarkable discernment!”

Miss Hyde, feeling drawn to his boisterous nature, asked:

“Where did you see such a quality in me, Mr. Price? I’ve only ever heard the opposite throughout my life. Especially as I get older.”

“Then that’s because Miss Hyde has realized a secret that people never teach ladies. Everyone is conspiring to deceive Miss Hyde and other ladies of marriageable age.”

“What is this secret, Mr. Price?”

“That a husband is a nuisance to a woman!”

Miss Pendleton smiled.

“Forgive me if I’m being rude, but I believe you’ve been married for a long time, Mr. Price.”

“That’s correct, Miss Pendleton. This is self-reflection born from my long experience. Every man around me was nothing but a nuisance to his wife. Whether a good husband or a bad husband, all of them were the same.”

He sighed exaggeratedly.

“I loved my wife so much that I was terribly afraid of becoming a worthless man to her. So I spent my whole life trying to be a good husband to her. If she asked for a star, I would bring her a star, if she asked for the moon, I would bring her the moon. Of course, you all must have seen the stars and moon every night. Because I quickly put them back in place before nightfall. But at the moment my wife passed away, holding my hand as I cried, she said this! ‘Oh, God! Please take me away quickly so I can escape this nuisance!'”

Miss Hyde couldn’t help but burst into laughter, holding her stomach. Miss Pendleton could only give an awkward smile at his self-deprecating sense of humor.

Soon, distinguished guests including the Fairfax siblings arrived, and the formal dinner began in earnest.

The atmosphere was very good. Mr. Price played the role of a charming raconteur throughout all courses from appetizer to dessert. Having lived as a businessman in American society for over 30 years, he had numerous experiences and consequently possessed a wealth of stories to tell.

In particular, he knew New York’s social circles well. It was like his home base, which he had frequented with his wife for 20 years. This topic was also well-suited to the nature of a formal dinner, and his stories captivated everyone participating in the dinner.

Throughout the meal, he detailed how the descendants of American industrialists pretending to be aristocrats were enthusiastically trying to imitate European social circles.

He was a keen observer, and also a master of satire. Through his mouth, the customs of American social circles were mercilessly exposed.

Mr. Price ridiculed how they imitated European culture in interior design, servant uniforms, dresses, social manners, and even methods of adultery. His stories repeatedly crossed the line, but due to Mr. Price’s nonchalant and cheerful tone, no one felt uncomfortable.

Even if his stories had been uncomfortable, no one would have stopped him. Because his stories were satisfying their pride as Europeans.

After the meal, they moved to the drawing room. Miss Fairfax and Miss Pendleton took turns playing the piano, while the others spent time listening to the piano performances or playing cards.

Miss Hyde, in particular, had become completely smitten with Mr. Price during dinner and kept trying to hear more stories about America from him. Mr. Price, not disliking the lady’s interest, spent the entire time in the drawing room telling her about Atlanta and New York where he had stayed.

That day’s dinner was a success. All the guests were satisfied, and especially the guest of honor, Mr. Price, marveled at the Pendleton family’s cooking, gracious hospitality, and the charm of the guests. Just before leaving, with a very pleased expression, he kissed Miss Pendleton’s hand, saying that there had never been a dinner like this even in America.

Miss Pendleton was greatly relieved to have satisfied the guest of honor. Although his loud manner of speaking and exaggerated sense of humor had irritated her nerves, giving her a migraine by the end of the dinner.

After that day, Miss Pendleton often invited Mr. Price to dinner. Those times were always full of boisterous and jovial atmosphere, and he always kissed Miss Pendleton’s hand before leaving, praising it as the best dinner until his mouth ran dry.

She felt that Mr. Price was satisfied with her hospitality, and thought that was all there was to Mr. Price’s heart. However, as their interactions continued, Miss Pendleton began to sense something strange.

That first premonition came on the day of his fourth dinner at the Pendleton house. That day, her grandmother’s condition was better than usual, so she attended a dinner after a long time. Her grandmother quite liked his cheerful disposition, and Mr. Price used all of his wit and humor to liven up the atmosphere to please the ailing lady.

By the time the main course was served, her grandmother and Mr. Price had become close enough to have an open and sincere conversation.

“Miss Pendleton must be a great comfort to Lady Abigail. You must be very sad when Miss Pendleton gets married and leaves.”

“Well, that’s unavoidable. How could I stop her if she sets out to find her own happiness?”

“That’s right. Parting is an inevitable necessity between a daughter and her parents. Parents must always prepare for the sadness of parting inside, as much as they love their daughter. Otherwise, when the parting actually comes, they might end up begging their daughter to give up her own happiness by holding onto her. That’s exactly what I did. When my daughter wore her wedding dress, I wanted to hold onto her and beg her to remain my daughter for just one more year.”

“As expected of someone who has married off a daughter, you understand that feeling. If Laura were to leave, I would feel as if half of my heart had been torn out.”

“But you must endure that pain. Ah, as painful as it is for the parents, the daughter will be happy because of it.”

Miss Pendleton listened to their conversation silently. She felt good that Mr. Price was being a good conversational partner for her grandmother. But a little while later, Lady Abigail felt dizzy again, and eventually went upstairs with the support of the servants.

Miss Pendleton had to deal with Mr. Price alone that evening. She diligently listened to his stories and laughed until the end of the meal. After all, he was a precious guest of this house.

After the meal, at his request, she went to the drawing room and played a piece on the piano. Mr. Price sat there, staring intently at Miss Pendleton as she played the piano. Miss Pendleton felt uncomfortable under his gaze but didn’t show it and continued to move her fingers.

“When I first entered London society, I looked for Miss Pendleton.”

“Did you hear about me from my uncle?”

“Yes. That fellow, I mean, pardon me, the dear Earl Gerald Pendleton, kept boasting endlessly. About how beautiful and virtuous a lady his niece was. That she was the most English lady-like woman of all. He said he wouldn’t trade her for a dozen American ladies.”

Her uncle had boasted about her. How could he know if a niece he hadn’t seen since she was ten was beautiful or virtuous? More than that, Gerald uncle’s praise of her didn’t feel like it had pure intentions.