Miss Pendleton returned straight home after her conversation with Miss Lance.

On her way home, she was troubled by the issue of Miss Lance and Mr. Dalton, but soon forgot about it as the carriage entered Grosvenor Street. There was now a bigger problem ahead of her.

Her uncle would surely summon her to his study as soon as she arrived and interrogate her about the marriage matter, and she would have no choice but to tell the truth. What would her uncle say when he heard what she had done today? How would he react?

‘Things might get even worse than yesterday.’

At that thought, her right fingers throbbed. Miss Pendleton stroked her gloved hand and looked out the window.

‘If that happens, I shouldn’t just sit still either. I can’t fight back. I’m sure to lose. But at least I can throw things and run away. Anyway, I won’t be suffering the same thing as yesterday again.’

The carriage stopped in front of the townhouse. Miss Pendleton got out and entered the house. However, the atmosphere inside was quite different from when she had left earlier. The mood was gloomy, and all the servants greeted her with dark faces.

Miss Pendleton asked the maid:

“Did something happen while I was gone?”

“Dr. Webster came, miss.”

“Why did he suddenly… Oh, don’t tell me grandmother…”

“No, miss. She just lost consciousness. Dr. Webster is waiting for you.”

Miss Pendleton hurried upstairs. Inside her grandmother’s room, Dr. Webster and three maids, including Anne, were by her grandmother’s side. Dr. Webster stood up as Miss Pendleton entered.

“Miss Pendleton…”

Miss Pendleton forgot to greet him and examined her grandmother. Her grandmother’s pale face, lying there like a corpse, looked almost like a dead body.

Miss Pendleton put her ear close to her grandmother’s nose. She could hear faint breathing. Only then did Miss Pendleton let out a sigh of relief.

“Doctor, is my grandmother… alright?”

He moved his lips with a troubled expression.

“It’s best to prepare yourself. In my opinion… she won’t last more than four days.”

Miss Pendleton stared blankly at her grandmother. Dr. Webster said something more beside her, but she couldn’t hear anything.

The doctor gave some meaningless prescriptions to the servants and then left the room with his medical bag. Meanwhile, Miss Pendleton just kept looking at her unconscious grandmother. Due to the shock, she couldn’t even cry.

The servants couldn’t bear to leave the dying madam and the dazed young miss. They loved both the madam and the young miss.

And among them, the servant who felt the most distressing emotions was Anne Steel. But she was also smart enough to know that she couldn’t just be overwhelmed by emotions, for the sake of her mistress.

Anne thought there was no need to add the servants’ emotions to the already heavy atmosphere in the bedroom.

So she assigned tasks to the servants, sending them out to get medicine from the apothecary or to inform the other servants in the kitchen. And she herself went outside to give Miss Pendleton some time alone to collect herself.

10 minutes later, Anne re-entered the room with a glass of wine. Miss Pendleton was sitting by her grandmother’s bedside. Anne approached Miss Pendleton.

“Miss.”

Miss Pendleton didn’t move. Her face was as white as a sheet. Anne offered the glass of wine to Miss Pendleton.

“Please take just a sip of this. It will give you strength.”

Miss Pendleton looked up at Anne. Anne silently brought the wine glass to Miss Pendleton’s lips. Miss Pendleton took a sip and then pushed it away.

“…She was fine when I paid my respects yesterday. She looked healthy. Why.”

Anne looked at Miss Pendleton for a moment. Her intelligent brown eyes were examining her mistress with concern.

“Anne. Where is uncle? I need to call him.”

Anne swallowed a sigh.

“The master is away, miss.”

“Didn’t he say where he was going? Grandmother could pass away any time within four days. If she regains consciousness even for a moment, we need to let him see her. Ask the servants outside. See if he mentioned his destination when he left. Oh, he might be with Mr. Price at Mrs. Knightley’s…”

“Miss.”

Anne shook her head at Miss Pendleton. Miss Pendleton looked at her with a puzzled expression.

“Madam wouldn’t want to see the master.”

“What… do you know something?”

“Miss. First, have another sip of wine. You didn’t even have dinner before going out. I’m worried you might collapse. I’ll tell you after you finish it.”

Miss Pendleton drank all the wine as Anne said. Meanwhile, Anne pulled over a comfortable rocking chair from beside the fireplace and placed it next to the bed. Then she took the empty wine glass from Miss Pendleton and helped her sit in the chair.

“Now tell me. What on earth happened?”

Anne placed a small cushion at Miss Pendleton’s feet and sat on it. Then she took Miss Pendleton’s hand and began to speak.

“Madam collapsed because of Master Pendleton.”

Miss Pendleton’s eyes widened. Anne told her everything she had seen and heard earlier.

Anne was going upstairs with Madam’s soup bowl. She was in a very bad mood. Every time she entered Madam’s room, she would have to see Gerald Pendleton sticking to her like glue. He’d probably be sucking up to Madam again, after doing that to our young miss’s hand.

Anne hadn’t forgotten the right hand she saw when she put gloves on the young miss before she left for the ball this afternoon. Four fingers were bruised black as if ink had been spilled on them. She imagined pouring the steaming hot soup on Gerald Pendleton’s face as she stood in front of Madam’s room.

The soft voices of the mother and son could be heard from inside Madam’s room. Madam’s gentle and soft voice, and the master’s voice laced with fake kindness.

Anne sighed. Madam wouldn’t know. The things the master had done to her granddaughter. She couldn’t say anything because the young miss had earnestly asked her to keep it a secret.

She felt like she was going to burst. Even if she was facing death and missed her son, how could she. After living estranged from his mother all this time, he comes back late and stays with her, ignoring the granddaughter who has been taking care of her with all her heart until now.

Anne’s insides were boiling, but she shook her head and supported the bottom of the tray with her hand. With her other hand, she was about to knock on the door.

But, just as she was about to knock.

“Gerald!”

Anne stopped breathing at Madam’s shout. Instead of knocking, she put her ear close to the door.

Some mumbling sounds. Heavy breathing could be heard from inside. Anne put her ear even closer to the door.

“Why should I do that?”

The master’s angry voice could be heard.

“Laura has stayed by my side and done her best until now. Sending her away empty-handed would be too cruel. So, giving her that much money is perhaps only natural. I thought that since you had forgiven me, you would have no lingering resentment towards Laura.”

“Yes, I don’t. Of course I don’t.”

Gerald Pendleton said, almost growling. Anne felt that his answer and tone were completely at odds.

“The estate I’m going to leave to Charles is worth over 300,000 pounds in cash value. So, there’s no reason why we can’t spare 5,000 pounds for Laura.”

Anne’s eyes widened. While 5,000 pounds might not be much for a noble family, it was a life-changing amount for ordinary people.

“She’ll be penniless when I die. Wouldn’t that make you uncomfortable, being the compassionate person you are? I don’t expect you to take her in, and I don’t think she expects anything from you either. So why not leave her just 5,000 pounds so she can make a new start? It’s showing kindness as the head of the family.”

Madam coaxed gently.

“Mother, don’t worry. Of course I think of Laura. That’s why I’ve found a husband for her. A husband too good for her.”

“Who on earth are you talking about?”

“Mother, you said the other day that Tom was a very decent man, didn’t you? You saw well. Tom is a very good friend. He’s generous and responsible. So, while I was in America, I decided on him as Laura’s match.”

There was no sound from inside. Anne listened intently.

“…Tom Price and Laura Pendleton. Your friend and my granddaughter. I hope I didn’t hear wrong?”

“Yes, that’s right. Mother, your hearing is still sharp. Tom loves Laura. He’s been courting her very earnestly. But the immature Laura keeps rejecting his advances. Today, she’ll receive another proposal at the ball. If she takes Tom’s hand, Laura’s future will be secure. She’ll become a rich man’s wife. So, you can put aside your worries about Laura now.”

‘Secure future, my foot! It’ll be a pit of darkness!’

Anne gritted her teeth. She was curious how Madam would react. Soon, Madam’s voice was heard. The gentle, coaxing tone from before was completely gone.

“Let me warn you one thing. If you let that senile old fool keep hanging around Laura, I’ll throw every penny of the inheritance I’ve set aside for Charles into the Thames River.”

There was no sound from inside. Anne, who had been biting her lips, let out a silent exclamation.

“Mother. How could you say such a thing…!”

“How could you do such a thing to your niece? Tom Price is the same age as you. He’s twenty-four years older than Laura. Are you trying to match your niece with a man who’s not far from being fitted for a coffin? Are you in your right mind?”

Silence fell inside again. Anne couldn’t resist and carefully put down the tray before peeping through the keyhole. Gerald Pendleton was holding his forehead as if in disbelief. Breathing heavily.

“I was only concerned about Laura’s future. Frankly, Laura is an old maid. Not being taken by anyone until twenty-nine is a tremendous disgrace for a maiden. Not to mention her bloodline and fortune. Ha, there’s no need to elaborate on this. I introduced her to a suitable husband. That foolish girl keeps making a fuss without knowing her place, but she will accept the proposal today. You’ll see.”