However, Miss Pendleton did not lose her hospitable smile. Like a doll, like a sculpture. Like a taxidermied animal frozen in a smiling state.

High society had taught her to conceal emotional turmoil behind the mask of a smile.

Charles turned his body towards the carriage as soon as he stepped off the footboard and extended his hand. Soon after, a hand wrapped in beige gloves emerged from inside the carriage and grasped Charles’s hand. Then a slender woman in a pearl-colored dress stepped down onto the footboard.

As she fully descended and stood on the ground, her appearance became clearly visible. Dark red hair and large green eyes, with a small face that was slim and pointed at the chin. She was a beautiful woman with a striking impression. Moreover, she had a glamorous figure and was almost as tall as her fiancé.

Miss Pendleton recognized her as Charles Pendleton’s fiancée, Joan Jensen, just as quickly as she had recognized Charles. It wasn’t simply because of her confident demeanor as she received Charles’s escort. Nor was it because she was wearing a dress that was completely different from the British style.

It was because she thought that no one else could have an appearance more befitting the title of ‘American heiress who will inherit a great fortune’. Every single item, from her hat to her dress, shoes, and accessories, sparkled brilliantly.

Her entire expression and gestures were imbued with vibrant confidence. She was a beauty with a dazzling presence rarely seen in England.

Arm in arm with her fiancé, she lifted her head and swept her gaze over the exterior of the Pendleton townhouse. Then she nodded to her fiancé with a subtle smile.

Charles began to grin. He seemed so engrossed in watching his fiancée’s satisfied expression as she looked at the townhouse that he didn’t even notice the stooped elderly gentleman alighting behind them.

With the help of a servant, the elderly gentleman safely set foot on the ground and, like the couple standing beside him, looked up at the townhouse. This allowed Miss Pendleton to see his face directly.

An angular, rugged impression. His hair and eyebrows were a mix of black and white, but his cold and rigid expression remained the same as in his youth.

Miss Pendleton struggled to focus on his hunched back and the wrinkles on his face while enduring her rapidly beating heart and the tension weighing down on her stomach.

To remember how long it had been since she last saw him. To remind herself how much he had aged, and how much she had matured into an adult in that time.

The two were no longer in the positions of a homeless young niece and a young head of household burdening an extra mouth to feed. Laura was now a mature lady of twenty-nine, and he was an elderly man with frost in his eyebrows. The Pendleton townhouse was now her home, and they were guests. Miss Pendleton tried to remember this.

Miss Pendleton took three steps towards them.

“Welcome, everyone.”

The gazes of the three guests fixed simultaneously on Miss Pendleton. Miss Pendleton smiled broadly and curtsied slightly. The line of servants behind her all bowed in unison.

“Please forgive me for greeting you in place of the mistress, Lady Abigail Pendleton. I will be attending to you during your stay.”

The three looked surprised at her. And for good reason, as Miss Pendleton was impeccable. Her hairstyle, attire, demeanor, and expression were those of a refined lady and hostess.

In that fleeting moment, Miss Pendleton discerned each of their thoughts through their expressions. Charles seemed awkward at the sight of his cousin whom he was seeing for the first time, while Miss Joan was smiling with a dimple on one cheek, appearing satisfied.

And Uncle Gerald Pendleton was glaring at her with a statue-like expression. Even after more than a decade, Miss Pendleton could read a familiar emotion in his eyes.

Contempt.

Soon, Miss Joan Jensen released her arm from Charles and stepped forward. She extended her hand to her.

“Hello. I’m Joan Jensen. Nice to meet you.”

Miss Pendleton did not show it, but she was inwardly surprised as she took her hand. In British etiquette, it was taboo for a lady to introduce herself to others without someone else’s introduction. Moreover, a handshake at first meeting. It was behavior rarely seen from a lady.

“I’m Laura Pendleton.”

Miss Jensen grasped Miss Pendleton’s small hand and shook it.

“I know. You’re Charles’s cousin and Mr. Gerald’s niece. Thank you for your hospitality, Miss Pendleton. I was really looking forward to visiting the Pendletons in London. According to Charles and Mr. Pendleton, it’s the best townhouse in London.”

Her voice was cheerful and forthright.

“I can’t easily agree with that statement. As it’s the living quarters for my grandmother and me, I should prioritize modesty over boasting. If Miss Jensen visits anytime, I’ll introduce you to every corner of the house. Please judge for yourself whether it’s truly the best townhouse as you look around.”

As Miss Pendleton spoke kindly, Miss Jensen’s dimples deepened and soon turned into a loud, giggling laughter. Miss Pendleton was so startled she almost flinched. It was truly a thunderous laugh.

But she wasn’t offended. Her laughter exuded pure joy without any trace of malice.

Soon, Miss Jensen calmed her laughter and began to shake Miss Pendleton’s hand firmly.

“Thank you. I really didn’t expect someone to be this kind. I like you. Miss Pendleton, won’t you give me a cup of tea now that we’re going in? I’d like to see the drawing room while we’re at it.”

“Certainly, Miss Jensen. Let’s go in.”

At that moment, Charles, who had been whispering with his father, grabbed Miss Jensen’s arm and shook it gently.

“Miss Jensen, it’s about time we left for Mrs. Knightley’s. Mr. Price, your godfather, will be waiting too.”

“No, Charles. My godfather already knows I’ll be late.”

“Still, you must be tired today. Wouldn’t it be better to go in and rest?”

“Oh, Charles. That’s you who spent the entire time on the ship hugging a bucket. I’m not tired at all.”

“No. It’s my duty to safely escort Mr. Price to England. So let’s go to Mrs. Knightley’s now.”

Miss Jensen’s smile began to fade with the continued urging.

“There’s no need to be so desperate about our godfather’s orders, Charles. Whether I’m late or early, my godfather doesn’t worry at all.”

“But…”

“Enough, Charles! Stop acting like our godfather’s attendant.”

He flinched slightly. But he was Gerald Pendleton’s son. To recover his pride, he spoke authoritatively in a trembling voice.

“It, it’s not just because Mr. Price ordered me to bring you quickly. I have the right to advise you on what’s best for you!”

“Who gave you that right? I don’t remember giving it to you. Did my father give it to you behind my back?”

“That’s not it, but… I don’t know about America, but in England, an engaged woman should follow her future husband’s words. That’s the tradition in England.”

“Hmm, is that so? Miss Pendleton, is that true?”

Miss Pendleton hesitated for a moment but decided to tell the truth.

“There isn’t exactly such a tradition, Miss Jensen.”

“See, Charles? There isn’t. So why don’t you let go of my arm?”

Charles seemed about to say something more but then closed his mouth tightly and stepped back. Miss Pendleton felt embarrassed by the overtly displayed power dynamic between the two.

Strictly speaking, Miss Jensen’s desire to enter the house upon first meeting was a violation of etiquette, and Charles’s attempt to stop her, though his intentions were unclear, wasn’t entirely wrong in that sense.

But Miss Jensen openly rebuked her fiancé in front of his cousin whom she was meeting for the first time. Moreover, Charles, far from getting angry at Miss Jensen’s rebuke, was sweating and obviously trying to appease her. Even more surprising was the behavior of her uncle, who had been standing like a sack of barley until now.

“Miss Jensen, let’s go back now. My niece Laura will surely entertain Miss Jensen as diligently as today on your next visit. If I tire Miss Jensen on your first day in England, what would I be to Tom who entrusted Miss Jensen to me?”

Gerald Pendleton said with an awkward smile. His expression and voice were only slightly better than his son Charles’s, but his intention to please her was evident.

When even Gerald Pendleton intervened, Miss Jensen released the hand she was holding as if she had no choice. She said she would come for dinner tonight with her godfather, Mr. Price, and then got into the carriage.

She blew kisses to the Pendleton father and son who were seeing her off waving their hands, and left for Mrs. Knightley’s house where her godfather, Mr. Price, was staying.

After the carriage disappeared, the two men turned towards Miss Pendleton. They reverted to their gruff and arrogant expressions as if nothing had happened.

“Are the guest rooms ready?”

“Yes, Uncle. I’ve prepared two rooms facing each other on the third floor. The servants will guide you…”

Without even listening to the end of her sentence, Gerald Pendleton strode into the house.

Charles, who remained behind, also headed towards the mansion following his father. However, he paused in his steps behind Miss Pendleton. He then looked up and down at one of the youngest maids, about sixteen years old, and whistled.

Miss Pendleton frowned at his behavior, but he just chuckled and followed his father into the house. She hadn’t particularly expected anything from him, but Charles’s manners were worse than his father’s.

As for the father and son’s dismissal, Miss Pendleton had anticipated it, so she just sighed once and entered the house. Then she consulted with Mr. Germain about the special dinner to be held this evening.

With the Pendleton father and son visiting the London townhouse after decades, and Miss Jensen accompanying them on her first visit to a noble house after coming from America, the most perfect dinner that the Pendleton household could provide needed to be prepared.

Miss Pendleton discussed with Mr. Germain for a while about the degree of barbecue cooking and the types of wine to be brought up from the cellar, then left the kitchen.

She then asked the servant assigned to attend to the Pendleton father and son if they had settled well in the guest rooms. However, the servant said that they had gone straight up to pay their respects to the Grand Madam without stopping by the guest rooms.

Miss Pendleton immediately went upstairs. Her footsteps were twice as fast as usual.

It was the first encounter between the mother and son who were like enemies. What if a fight broke out due to old emotions? Would she be able to protect her grandmother from her uncle? Miss Pendleton’s heart was beating ominously.