Ian lifted his head. He moved, meeting Miss Pendleton’s gray eyes. He was able to navigate the stage quite naturally. The tension gradually eased from Mr. Dalton’s expression.
“Mr. Dalton, you have excellent athletic ability. Aside from a bit of nervousness, you’re very natural. Why did you stubbornly refuse dance lessons during your Eton days?”
“The thought of embracing and making eye contact with the boys who competed against each other during cricket and rowing hours rather turned my stomach.”
Miss Pendleton chuckled softly.
“I can certainly understand that. But a gentleman who cannot dance in society faces his own kind of embarrassment, doesn’t he?”
“As a result, I became a rude gentleman who ignored ladies at balls.”
“That must have been frustrating for you.”
He shook his head.
“Indeed, I think so too. Unable to engage in pleasant conversation with ladies, unable to dance. No matter how you look at it, I’m far from a proper gentleman.”
“I think we may have different views on the qualities of a gentleman. I believe things like dancing and conversation skills can simply be learned.”
“Then, Miss Pendleton, what do you consider to be the qualities of a gentleman?”
“An attitude of respect towards ladies, no, towards all others including ladies. If one has that, the rest doesn’t matter.”
“Oh dear. It seems I’m disqualified as a gentleman in that respect as well. I respect people, but I’m not polite. Especially when it comes to social etiquette. I’ve lived cut off from the world because I found the rules one must follow within it troublesome. The evening air I drink alone on the terrace of my mansion tastes sweeter to me than the wine at crowded formal dinners. Ah, Miss Pendleton, you probably can’t understand this.”
Miss Pendleton smiled.
“I’ve been part of society, attending countless formal dinners and balls. Sometimes dancing with someone, sometimes becoming a wallflower watching others dance – I’ve spent twelve years like that. It would be a lie to say there wasn’t a single moment during all that time when I wished I could drink the evening air alone. Sometimes, I too wanted to throw off my gloves and run out onto the streets of London.”
Mr. Dalton’s eyebrows rose slightly at this unexpected frankness. Miss Pendleton continued:
“However, for a lady, social activities are something that can’t be avoided, nor should they be avoided, just as humans must learn to walk and fish must learn to swim. That could be said to be the difference between ladies and gentlemen.”
“In that case, it seems ladies are in quite a frustrating situation.”
Miss Pendleton laughed softly.
“Even so, Mr. Dalton, please don’t pity us ladies. We have our own ways of living and finding happiness. Like lace woven thread by thread, we create our happiness quietly and elegantly. I hope a lady appears who can share that happiness with you, Mr. Dalton.”
“I’m not sure if the happiness of men and women is something that can be shared. The men around me are constantly out, absorbed in work and hunting after marriage, while the women stay at home, raising children and devoted to household affairs. This has been the way of life since ancient times. In that respect, men and women are so different.”
“There are many such couples around me as well. But I believe that if they are truly harmonious partners, even if they divide work and household duties, they would spend as much time together as possible. Not because they try to, but because their hearts naturally desire it. After all, a soulmate means a constant, mutual attraction to each other.”
Mr. Dalton lowered his eyes for a moment, lost in thought.
“A soulmate. Do you believe such a thing exists, Miss Pendleton?”
“Yes.”
“Such a concept that can’t be seen or touched?”
“I believe in it as much as I believe in God’s existence.”
Mr. Dalton chuckled.
“You have quite a romantic view of marriage.”
Miss Pendleton shrugged.
“Perhaps that’s why I’m living a life far from marriage.”
Mr. Dalton chose not to laugh at this joke, though he was not one to be mindful of etiquette.
“I can see why William introduced you to me. You’re confirming what I always think about but quickly doubt.”
“Do you share similar views, Mr. Dalton?”
Mr. Dalton gazed quietly into Miss Pendleton’s gray eyes.
“I do.”
He added softly, almost to himself:
“I believe in it so strongly that I think there’s no meaning if it’s not that kind of marriage.”
Miss Pendleton looked at the person she was dancing with more warmly. Meeting someone who shared the same opinion, and moreover, someone who held such a firm belief, made her feel close to him even though it hadn’t been an hour since they first greeted each other. Like old friends.
Meanwhile, a different light began to glow in his black eyes, which had been fixed on Miss Pendleton all along. A radiance like blue flames. Something hot that was quietly beginning to burn.
Miss Pendleton looked into his eyes and pondered what new emotion had taken root in him. Had her words just now sparked a desire in him to seek love? Or had he simply empathized with her words?
Either way, it was enough for her to develop a new fondness for Mr. Dalton. At least it meant he was a young man who took a lady’s words seriously.
Miss Pendleton was more pleased about this than his good looks and favorable conditions. After all, she could neither keep as a friend nor introduce to her friends a gentleman who didn’t take a lady’s thoughts seriously.
The music ended. The two bowed politely to each other, and Mr. Dalton took Miss Pendleton’s hand and returned to where they had been originally. Mr. Fairfax, who had been watching the two dance, applauded as they returned, expressing his gratitude to Miss Pendleton for helping his inadequate friend. And he scolded Mr. Dalton, saying he had tired Miss Pendleton because of him.
But Mr. Dalton stared intently at one place, as if he couldn’t hear his friend’s reproach. At Miss Pendleton, who was unaware that the gentleman’s gaze was fixed on her as she checked the positions of her friends.
Miss Pendleton introduced her friends to Mr. Dalton one by one.
The two daughters of Viscount Rates, Miss Kate Rates and Miss Eva Rates. They were twenty and twenty-one years old respectively, excellent at piano and embroidery, and kind young ladies.
And Judge Hayton’s second daughter, Miss Catherine Hayton. She was twenty-two years old, excellent at harp playing and French, with an adorable smile.
But the most beautiful among them was twenty-year-old Miss Dora Lance, the only daughter of the Lance baronet family.
She was talented in music, embroidery, and art in general, and her intelligence was by far the best among her peers. These days, she was wielding power as the next star of society, following Miss Elizabeth Dyer, who had recently changed her surname.
Mr. Dalton greeted each lady politely as they were introduced and answered even trivial questions sincerely. Miss Pendleton, watching from the side, noticed that the crooked attitude he had when meeting her had disappeared.
She guessed that Mr. Dalton had decided to act enthusiastically about love through the conversation they had while dancing, and she was genuinely happy about it.
As the conversation continued, the ladies surrounding him gradually realized that Miss Dora Lance was eager for this competition. To have to compete with Miss Lance, the star of society. Moreover, Mrs. Lance, famous for her overzealousness, was beside her, desperate to invite Mr. Dalton to dinner.
The ladies gave up on this game and went to dance with other gentlemen or retreated to the lounge with dejected faces.
When Mr. Dalton accepted Mrs. Lance’s invitation, Miss Pendleton whispered to Mr. Fairfax, who was standing nearby.
“Well then, I’ll be going now.”
“Already?”
“I’ve done my part in securing a lady for Mr. Dalton to enjoy the party with, so my job is done.”
“Don’t you want to enjoy more? Another waltz will start soon.”
“I’d rather give Grandmother a goodnight kiss than waltz. It’s almost ten o’clock, so if I leave now, I can help her to bed.”
“Ah, if that’s the case, let me arrange a carriage for you.”
“No need. I told the coachman I’d be leaving around this time. He’s probably already waiting out front.”
Mr. Fairfax nodded.
“Thank you for today, Miss Pendleton. Please return safely.”
“Yes. It was a pleasure, Mr. Fairfax. Do come visit with Mr. Dalton sometime. I think Grandmother would quite enjoy getting to know Mr. Dalton as well.”
“Haha, I’m sure she would. Well then.”
Mr. Fairfax kissed the back of her hand.
Miss Pendleton covered her shoulders with the shawl she had been carrying on her arm and quickly descended the stairs. As she stepped out, the cool night air refreshingly cooled her body, which had been warm from the heat of the hall.
Miss Pendleton boarded the Pendleton family carriage waiting in front of the hall. Behind her, the beautiful waltz music could be heard.
Did Mr. Dalton ask Miss Lance to dance? He surely must have. How could he remain still when such a beautiful lady was showing such keen interest in him?
Sitting in the carriage, Miss Pendleton imagined the scene of them dancing. They were a perfect couple. If they were to marry, it seemed they would make an even more splendid couple than the Mortons. Well, it was too early to jump to conclusions, but still.
While she was lost in these thoughts, the coachman took his seat, grabbed the reins, and set the horses in motion.
The carriage moved with a jolt.
But then, as Miss Pendleton was deep in thought, she heard a man’s shout.
“Miss Pendleton!”
Miss Pendleton was startled and had the carriage stopped. Mr. Dalton had approached the carriage window. He was breathing heavily as if he had rushed out, and his hair was slightly disheveled. Bewildered, Miss Pendleton opened her eyes wide and exclaimed:
“Mr. Dalton, what brings you here!”
“I couldn’t let you go without saying goodbye. You were so kind to me today, yet you’re leaving like a stranger without a word.”
His voice was low and subdued. Miss Pendleton, who had no intention of disappointing him, was flustered.
“I’m sorry if it came across that way. I thought greetings weren’t necessary since we would likely see each other again soon.”
“Soon?”
Miss Pendleton smiled and explained.
“I mentioned to Mr. Fairfax that we would be delighted if you both could visit our home sometime. We often host tea parties or small music recitals for young gentlemen and ladies at our house. It’s a casual gathering, and I’m sure Mr. Dalton would find it enjoyable as well.”
Mr. Dalton remained silent. With his back to the light, Miss Pendleton couldn’t see his face clearly, but she could sense that he wasn’t particularly pleased.
Miss Pendleton quickly added:
“I don’t mean to pressure you. If you’re busy…”
“Is it an event hosted by you, Miss Pendleton?”
Ex-husband Wants Reconciliation
One-line summary: Chasing the wife to the crematorium (making an effort to attract someone who has become indifferent), the female lead doesn’t look back, the second male lead takes the position.
Intro:
To repay the kindness of the older generation, Su Mu crossed into a female-dominated world and became a live-in daughter-in-law of the Yan family, single-handedly saving the Yan family from fire and water.
But her husband, Yan Jiyue, the eldest son of the Yan family, treated her with sarcasm and never showed her a good face.
It wasn’t until after Su Mu’s death that this pampered and arrogant young master shed a few fake tears and pretended to want to die for love.
This life’s kindness was enough. If there was a next life, she would definitely kick Yan Jiyue away.
Who knew that the heavens would be so kind as to allow her to be reborn, returning to the time when she had just married into the Yan family.
Su Mu glanced at the Yan eldest son, who still spoke coldly to her, and threw a divorce letter in front of him.
“Let’s divorce!”
***
Yan Jiyue never imagined that he would be reborn. He happily went to find Su Mu, wanting to make up for the mistakes he had made in his ignorant youth.
Wasn’t the reason the heavens allowed him to be reborn to let him reconcile with Su Mu?
But when he pushed open the door to Su Mu’s room, the person lying on the bed was another man.
Su Mu’s personal attendant, Xie Yi.
Yan Jiyue hated him so much that his teeth itched. In front of Su Mu, Xie Yi was a gentle and considerate whisperer of sweet nothings, but in reality, he was vicious-hearted and deliberately sabotaged their husband and wife relationship.
In the previous life, it was he who secretly hid in Su Mu’s coffin and committed suicide, stealing a step ahead of him to be buried with Su Mu.
Yan Jiyue’s eyes were filled with hatred as he cursed, “What kind of thing are you? Your background is lowly, what right do you have to occupy Su Mu?”
Xie Yi looked at the sleeping Su Mu and no longer pretended to be a whisperer of sweet nothings.
He proudly stuck out his belly, “I have the right because my belly is capable of giving the Wife-master a daughter.”
***
Yan Jiyue was consumed with jealousy. He spread rumors that Xie Yi had once been branded with the mark of a “harlot” on his chest.
But on the night Xie Yi cut off the flesh bearing that mark, Su Mu suddenly realized something was amiss.
“How did you know the exact moment I was poisoned? And why did you show up a month early?”
Xie Yi remained silent, blood from his wound soaking through his robes. His sapphire eyes brimmed with anguish – or was it just a flawless act?
Between a once-arrogant husband now seeking redemption, and a gentle soul willing to die for her – who truly held the darkest secrets? And could it be that Su Mu and Yan Jiyue weren’t the only ones given a second chance at life…?
[Reading Guide]
1. True divorce, chasing the wife to the crematorium, the female lead doesn’t look back, the male lead is Xie Yi.
2. The ex-husband did not cheat, he just realized too late and didn’t realize that he liked the female lead.
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