“Although I haven’t experienced it for long, it seems there’s no one better than you to help me fulfill my wish.”

Miss Jensen adjusted her posture.

“Miss Pendleton, with your kindness, I’ll continue my earlier request. Our godfather must have told you. My purpose for coming to England. For an American lady, becoming a member of a British noble family is an opportunity money can’t buy. Thanks to England’s economic downturn, I’ve seized this chance. I intend to dominate London’s social scene within 3 years. I’ll make everyone want to attend my gatherings, and anyone will rush to accept my invitations. It’s impossible as Joan Jensen from America, but possible as Joan Pendleton, a member of the Pendleton family. If I become a celebrity in British society, it will naturally lead to invitations from European society. I will conquer Europe. Napoleon Bonaparte couldn’t, but I can.”

Miss Pendleton was surprised by her frankness. To so boldly declare marrying for the purpose of European aristocratic society.

Come to think of it, she had heard that there were often women like Joan Jensen these days. Wealthy American girls crossing the ocean to Europe in search of noble grooms.

European ladies despised them, calling them ‘pirates’, but anyone could sense the fear of competition embedded in the word.

Joan Jensen was a typical ‘pirate’.

However, Miss Pendleton didn’t dislike Joan Jensen as a person because of this. Having given up on marriage herself, she didn’t see Joan Jensen as a competitor, and although her marriage motives were impure, love marriages were even rarer in London’s aristocratic society. London’s social scene was a human market where people were bought and sold for money, connections, status, and appearance.

If anything, Miss Jensen was honest about her intentions, which could be seen as free from hypocrisy. Miss Pendleton even felt she was impressive. Miss Jensen was someone who unabashedly displayed the human qualities that she herself had suppressed and held back.

Miss Pendleton flashed the friendliest smile she could give to someone she liked.

“Please continue.”

“But I know that the Pendleton name alone won’t solve everything. I’d like Miss Pendleton to help me with that part.”

“How can I be of help?”

Miss Jensen smiled slyly.

“Be honest. My etiquette has a lot of problems, doesn’t it?”

Miss Pendleton answered honestly.

“Yes.”

“Tell me how I can become an elegant lady like you. Every detail of what British etiquette demands of a lady. I’ll do exactly as Miss Pendleton says. Then, introduce me to your friends. Once you introduce me, I’ll take care of the rest myself.”

“Alright. There’s a rowing competition between Cambridge and Oxford next week. Almost all the socialites gather there. I’ll introduce you to my friends there. As you said, after that, I won’t have much to do. Miss Jensen will enjoy the highest popularity in London.”

From then on, Miss Pendleton became Miss Jensen’s London society tutor. She called her over regularly to guide her meticulously on how society operates, what etiquette to maintain, and helped her shop for excellent picnic dresses, hats, shoes, and more at Harrods department store.

Fortunately, Miss Pendleton had plenty of time. Since her uncle’s arrival, he had been by grandmother’s side. Lying next to her, holding her hand, he whispered endlessly as if sharing old memories. When Miss Pendleton occasionally peeked in, her uncle would send her away, telling her to focus on helping Miss Jensen.

Miss Pendleton was worried, but grandmother also wanted to be with uncle, so she had no choice but to repeatedly turn away from grandmother’s bedside.

A week later, the day of the rowing competition dawned. The two of them headed towards the Thames River, where the competition was taking place, in the same carriage.

Near the finish line on the upper Thames, upper-class figures in fluttering dresses and picnic suits were already swarming. Each shielding themselves from the sun with hats and parasols, they walked on the grass engrossed in socializing or sat on long benches facing the Thames, holding small telescopes, waiting for the rowers to cross the finish line.

Miss Pendleton, arm in arm with Miss Jensen, headed towards where people were gathered.

Wherever the two ladies passed, people’s gazes converged. The identity of the beautiful lady beside Miss Pendleton as Miss Joan Jensen, Mr. Price’s goddaughter, was already widely rumored in society.

Everyone, especially the ladies, was more than curious about her. Being a beautiful heiress from America, it was impossible for her not to attract attention.

As she had already been spotted shopping with Miss Pendleton at Harrods department store, the talk of Miss Jensen was rampant at every mansion’s tea party.

But curiosity didn’t necessarily mean they were favorable towards her. No matter how rich she was and despite her engagement to the Pendleton family being set, she was American. Even if she became rich in America, her case was completely different from Mr. Price, who was British by nationality.

For Miss Jensen to be accepted as one of them, she needed a bridge to maintain friendships with everyone. Miss Pendleton was that bridge for her.

Miss Pendleton took Miss Jensen to introduce her to the most influential people she knew.

Miss Jensen, forgetting all the free-spiritedness she had when first setting foot on English soil, showed a proper and polite demeanor. However, the influential figures were still too proud to give much time to her, an American who wasn’t yet anyone’s wife.

Still, it wasn’t bad. Having made an impression, she now had the right to distribute invitations to these people after her marriage. Whether they would come depended on how attractively she promoted her gatherings.

After introducing Miss Jensen to the influential figures, Miss Pendleton approached a group that could be of immediate help to Miss Jensen. It was Miss Lance and her friends. They had been sitting in the VIP seats, holding binoculars, boredly waiting for the rowing competition to start, but when Miss Pendleton approached, they stood up and curtsied politely.

“Hello, Miss Pendleton.”

Miss Pendleton, curtsying just as properly as them, introduced Miss Jensen to them.

“Hello, everyone. This is Miss Joan Jensen, engaged to my cousin Charles Pendleton.”

Miss Jensen smiled at them. They were all delighted to actually see Miss Jensen, who had been the subject of massive rumors. Thinking it was perfect timing as they were bored, they even offered their seats to them.

The conversation flowed smoothly. They asked Miss Jensen about American society, and Miss Jensen satisfied their curiosity with eloquent and witty speech. Comparing American and British etiquette and talking about various happenings due to these etiquettes brought great pleasure.

Watching this, Miss Pendleton felt relieved. She had captured the ladies’ hearts at once by adding her own personality to the streamlined manners Miss Pendleton had taught her.

Having won over Miss Lance’s group, who had the highest value in London society, Miss Jensen would always be invited to all sorts of balls, dinners, parties, and outings. Given Miss Jensen’s competence, it would be no trouble for her to establish herself in society using these connections.

Just as Miss Pendleton had predicted, Miss Lance soon said to Miss Jensen,

“We’ll be hosting a ball at the Lance house in two weeks. Please come with your godfather then. Understood?”

Miss Jensen gladly accepted the invitation. A ball hosted by the Lance family. It was perfect.

Mrs. Lance, who had a daughter of marriageable age, was infinitely generous in situations where her daughter could be the main character. At least 500 people would gather. It was an excellent opportunity to promote Miss Jensen’s dazzling beauty to the people of London.

Miss Jensen might become a star even before her marriage.

Miss Pendleton looked towards the lower Thames with satisfaction. There was still no sign of boats carrying the athletes appearing.

But then Miss Pendleton’s eyes caught a familiar gentleman among the crowd.

Miss Pendleton took a deep breath. It was Ian Dalton.

At first, she thought she had seen wrong. Why on earth would he, who should be in Whitefield, be here?

But she soon shook her head. It was impossible to mistake him for someone else. Even though he was dressed in a clean ivory suit with a white hat, a perfectly ordinary picnic attire, his tall stature and delicate features were something that couldn’t be found in any other London gentleman.

Miss Pendleton wasn’t the only one who spotted Mr. Dalton. Miss Lance had also discovered him. She excused herself to those around her and hurried towards him.

Soon the two faced each other, and Miss Lance extended her hand to Mr. Dalton with familiarity. Mr. Dalton naturally put one arm behind his back and with the other took her hand and kissed the back of it. They stood there and began to chat.

Not only Miss Pendleton but also Miss Lance’s three friends naturally turned their gaze to them. Seeing all the ladies around her looking in one direction, Miss Jensen also looked towards Mr. Dalton and Miss Lance.

“Is that gentleman Miss Lance’s lover?”

At Miss Jensen’s question, Miss Daisy Orson exclaimed in surprise,

“No. No, he’s not. That gentleman is a friend to all of us. Just a friend.”

“That’s right. A friend. At least for now.”

Miss Victoria Wilkes added with a subtle implication. Miss Susan Donovan, who was nearby, poked Miss Wilkes in the side, but the faces of the three ladies were flushed with suspicious color.

Miss Jensen was not one to miss their expressions. She internally classified Mr. Dalton as Miss Lance’s potential fiancé.

Miss Pendleton, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, asked,

“By the way, how long has Mr. Dalton been in London?”

“Well, it’s been over two weeks,”

Miss Wilkes sighed.

“Oh my, has it been that long already? I didn’t realize it had been that long because we’ve seen Mr. Dalton so often.”

“Indeed. We saw him almost every day. He visited for tea so frequently. Oh, Miss Pendleton. You must have heard the rumor? The painting hanging in Miss Lance’s drawing room. Mr. Dalton painted Miss Fairfax and Miss Lance. I think that was the day Mr. Dalton had just arrived in London?”

“Yes, that’s right. He painted Miss Lance’s picture, forgetting his fatigue. Oh, how romantic!”

Miss Lance’s friends chattered excitedly. Miss Pendleton watched the two of them as she listened to the ladies’ conversation. Miss Lance was looking at Mr. Dalton with a face as bright as a fully bloomed flower. Mr. Dalton’s expression as he looked at Miss Lance was very friendly.

Miss Pendleton remembered Mr. Dalton she had seen in Hyde Park in the past. The image of Mr. Dalton stiffly dealing with Miss Lance who was clinging to him one-sidedly. Now it was completely different from then. Although the affection implied by Miss Lance’s friends wasn’t felt, he seemed quite friendly.