Miss Pendleton found Miss Lance adorable. Always surrounded by praise, she would rejoice like a child at every compliment. In high society, one had to restrain their emotions to avoid gossip. But she couldn’t contain her joy when happy.

‘It must be proof of her untainted nature.’

Miss Pendleton reflected on her own purity. It was a trait that had been worn away in the social world.

“Excuse me, Miss Pendleton.”

Susan Donovan, one of the ladies whispering among themselves behind her, stepped forward to address Miss Pendleton.

“Yes?”

“Aren’t your legs tired? Why don’t you go sit in the ladies’ lounge over there?”

Miss Pendleton politely declined the suggestion.

“No, thank you. I just arrived.”

“I see, but the ball has barely started. Wouldn’t it be better to come out when it gets more lively?”

Miss Lance looked at her friend with wide eyes. Susan Donovan, who had stepped forward, was sweating profusely, while Miss Wilkes and Miss Orson behind her were clenching their fists as if cheering her on.

What are they up to? Miss Lance tilted her head in confusion.

On the other hand, Miss Pendleton had grasped their intention. For some reason, they seemed to want to get rid of her by sending her to the lounge. Being accustomed to social ostracism, Miss Pendleton could read their intentions from their expressions alone.

Normally, she would have complied obediently. She had lived by the motto that losing is winning. But today was different. She had something to do.

Miss Pendleton declined gracefully without losing her dignity.

“Thank you very much. But I have some business with Miss Jensen who’s attending today.”

“When Miss Jensen arrives, I’ll tell her to meet you in the lounge. I’m really! Really! Worried about you, Miss Pendleton. I’m afraid you might get dizzy from standing too long. You’re not that young anymore, so you shouldn’t overexert yourself.”

A snicker was heard from behind. Miss Wilkes couldn’t help but laugh at Miss Donovan’s rude slip of the tongue as she rambled on.

“Thank you for your concern, Miss Donovan.”

Miss Pendleton responded with a dignified smile to the young ladies trying to make a fool of her. In such situations, pretending to be oblivious was the best course of action.

But not for Miss Lance. She openly frowned. Though unsure of her friends’ intentions, she sensed they were ganging up and being rude to Miss Pendleton.

She linked arms with Miss Pendleton.

“Susan, stop it. It would be my loss if Miss Pendleton, who’s so beautifully dressed, goes to the lounge. She should stay in the ballroom and grace my ball with her presence.”

Miss Donovan flinched and looked at her friends. Miss Wilkes and Miss Orson stared at Miss Lance with round eyes.

Regardless, Miss Lance addressed Miss Pendleton.

“Miss Pendleton, all my friends have appointments with gentlemen for the next dance. I’m the only one without a partner. Please stay by my side and keep me company. Will you?”

Miss Pendleton was grateful for Miss Lance’s kindness.

“Gladly, Miss Lance.”

For the next few minutes, Miss Lance conversed only with Miss Pendleton. The three ladies who had stepped up for their queen suddenly found themselves left out. They read Miss Lance’s dismissal as a rebuke and stood there feeling awkward and deflated.

As the music ended, the dancers on the stage dispersed. The cotillion was about to begin. Gentlemen approached the ladies they had promised dances to and led them to the stage.

The friends who had been shunned by Miss Lance hid their hurt feelings and left for the stage with the gentlemen.

Only Miss Lance and Miss Pendleton remained. The two chatted about the people who had come to the ball today. But their conversation was constantly interrupted by gentlemen coming to request dances.

Miss Pendleton was receiving many more requests than usual. But of course, it was nothing compared to Miss Lance. As today’s hostess and the most beautiful maiden in London, she was inundated with requests from gentlemen. But she declined them all.

Miss Pendleton could guess Miss Lance’s intention in continually refusing dance requests. She was frequently glancing at the ballroom entrance while talking. She was clearly waiting for someone.

Miss Pendleton could easily predict who that person might be. And as if to confirm her prediction, Miss Lance asked:

“By the way, is there really a Whitefield painting hanging in your drawing room, Miss Pendleton?”

Miss Pendleton answered gently.

“Yes, Miss Lance.”

“I’m envious. How did you acquire such a rare painting?”

“Mr. Dalton noticed there was an empty space in the drawing room and gifted it to me.”

“My, how thoughtful.”

“Yes. He’s a very considerate person.”

Miss Lance’s eyes sparkled at Miss Pendleton’s praise.

“Do you think so too, Miss Pendleton? That he’s a gentleman with great compassion? He truly exemplifies what it means to be an English gentleman, doesn’t he? Kind, upright, witty, kind… Oh, did I already say kind? Anyway, he’s perfect. I’m so grateful to you for introducing me to Mr. Dalton.”

Miss Pendleton played along appropriately.

“When we went on that picnic last time, his rowing was so splendid. The way his hair fluttered in the wind was just like a painting. To think someone so princely-looking could also be so physically strong. I’ve never seen anyone as handsome as him in my life.”

Praise for Mr. Dalton poured endlessly from Miss Lance’s lips. Throughout her speech, Miss Lance’s beautiful eyes sparkled like stars. She seemed to have fallen completely in love.

‘Mr. Dalton is certainly a lucky man. To have so decisively won the heart of a beautiful lady like Miss Lance.’

Miss Pendleton thought calmly.

“Oh, right. Speaking of the picnic, I just remembered. When you left in a hurry, Miss Pendleton. Mr. Dalton followed after you to look for you, didn’t he? Did something happen?”

Miss Pendleton was momentarily stunned into silence. The question struck at her weak point. She blushed as she recalled the incident.

“…Oh, nothing at all. We just went for a walk together.”

“Really? But Mr. Dalton’s expression as he searched for you seemed quite serious…”

“Well, I’m not sure. We just walked without incident. We talked about Whitefield, and then I had to leave urgently due to some business at home… Oh, I must have left my handkerchief behind then. I just remembered.”

Miss Lance stared intently at Miss Pendleton. It was the first time she had seen Miss Pendleton so flustered. Miss Pendleton’s gaze wandered here and there, avoiding her eyes.

Miss Lance quickly changed the subject for the sake of the troubled Miss Pendleton. The two engaged in disinterested conversation about this social season. Miss Pendleton soon erased her agitation and returned to her usual gentle self.

But while Miss Lance chatted, her mind continued to ponder the recent incident.

Why did she show such a strange reaction? Did something happen between the two of them? Is Miss Pendleton lying now?

If it were someone else’s story, she would have pretended not to notice for Miss Pendleton’s sake, but because it involved Mr. Dalton, Miss Lance couldn’t let it go.

Mr. Dalton and Miss Pendleton were clearly friends. Though they were of opposite sexes, no one in London doubted their relationship. As Mr. Dalton was the in-law of Mr. Fairfax, Miss Pendleton’s closest male friend, it wasn’t strange for him to be close to her.

Moreover, Mr. Dalton was the head of one of England’s most prestigious families and a wealthy man who daily multiplied his vast fortune.

In contrast, Miss Pendleton was a twenty-nine-year-old spinster with no dowry and issues with her bloodline. It was absurd to suspect a relationship between them. Realistically, there was no possibility of the two being together, and such speculation would be an insult to Mr. Dalton.

“Good evening, Miss Lance.”

“Hello, Miss Lance.”

Miss Lance, lost in thought, was startled. She had been so preoccupied that she hadn’t noticed the Fairfax siblings approaching her.

The arrival of the Fairfax siblings meant that Ian Dalton, whom she had been eagerly awaiting, must have arrived as well. Sure enough, beside Mr. Fairfax stood Mr. Dalton, looking as handsome as ever in his tailcoat. Miss Lance quickly composed herself and greeted them.

“Hello, Mr. Fairfax. Miss Fairfax. Oh, and Mr. Dalton, you’ve come too!”

Mr. Dalton bowed politely towards her.

Mr. Fairfax spoke to Miss Lance kindly as usual, but his words fell on deaf ears.

Miss Lance’s attention was entirely focused on Mr. Dalton. He was smiling at her as always. She found him even more handsome than usual. His smooth black hair, neatly combed back, above his beautiful tanned skin. His elegant features. He was like a Greek god.

He possessed a beauty that never tired, no matter how often one saw it. Inner values like dignity, nobility, and kindness seemed to radiate from his face. She gazed at him as if beholding something sacred.

Mr. Dalton smiled at her and then turned his gaze to Miss Pendleton. Miss Lance watched his departing gaze with regret.

“Good evening, Miss Pendl…”

He suddenly stopped mid-greeting, his voice gentle. He stared intently at Miss Pendleton’s face. Soon, his expression hardened as if it had never been otherwise. And his gaze became incredibly sharp.

Miss Lance, who had been looking at him curiously, was shocked. It was the first time she had seen such a frightening expression on his face.

Until now, she had only seen polite and gentlemanly expressions from Mr. Dalton. Mr. Dalton wearing such an expression seemed like a different person from moments ago. It was a terrifying look.

Miss Lance turned to look at Miss Pendleton, who was receiving his gaze. Miss Pendleton was looking at the entrance to the hall. Just then, Miss Jensen and Mr. Price were entering arm in arm.

Miss Pendleton excused herself, saying she had business with Miss Jensen, and left the group.

Miss Lance was surprised once again. Mr. Dalton continued to stare at her retreating figure. With an extremely fierce gaze.

Miss Lance, her intuition already heightened by her earlier conversation with Miss Pendleton, sensed an ominous air about Mr. Dalton.

‘What on earth is going on? Why is he making such a scary face at Miss Pendleton, whom he’s been close enough to gift a Whitefield painting that hasn’t been publicly displayed? Could there have been some kind of quarrel between them? What kind of quarrel?’

There couldn’t be a quarrel between a gentleman and a lady. A gentleman must always be courteous to a lady and accommodate her feelings. That was the etiquette and chivalry of high society. If a fight were to occur between a man and a woman, there could only be one reason.

Love.