Miss Pendleton (Update to C.222 END) - Chapter 32

The invitation to the Pendleton family’s formal dinner flew to Mrs. Nigel’s house, where Mr. Price was staying. Soon after, a reply written in elegantly scrawled handwriting, gladly accepting the invitation, returned to the Pendleton house.

Miss Pendleton consulted with Mr. Germain about the dinner menu and thought about other guests who might entertain him while setting the dining room table. Her grandmother would likely be unable to attend, and she felt she alone would not be enough to provide him with the pleasures of social interaction.

According to rumors, the main guest, Mr. Price, was said to be informal, good-natured, and talkative. She sought out friends to match him. The Fairfax siblings, masters of listening, and Miss Hyde, who was interested in any new story, came to mind.

Following that, she thought of several open-minded newly wealthy gentry couples. She sent invitations to all of them as well, and they gladly accepted.

On the day of the dinner, as expected, her grandmother remained in her bedroom, and only Miss Pendleton, neatly dressed, waited for the guests in the drawing room.

The first to arrive that day was Miss Hyde.

She entered the drawing room wearing a simple white blouse, a black jacket, and a plain brown skirt. It was a clean outfit without any of the flashy accessories that one inevitably had to wear in social circles. She looked like an ordinary female office worker.

She had recently been employed at a publishing house. Today marked exactly two weeks since she had started work.

She put down the briefcase she was holding, discarded the social custom of curtsying, and immediately hugged Miss Pendleton tightly around the neck. Miss Pendleton gladly accepted this intense display of affection. It was evidence that her recent life had been happy.

Miss Hyde began to recount in detail the events she had experienced during her days of going to the office. The roles she had learned through the handover process.

She was a junior typist in the editorial department. Writing written contracts, greeting writers who came to make requests, and making tea were her superficial duties. But within a week, she realized what her real job was. It was to listen to the cheerful, smoking editor gossip about the writers and join in criticizing their writing.

Miss Hyde said it was a bit funny and strange workplace. But Miss Hyde’s face was beaming as she said so.

Miss Pendleton had never seen Miss Hyde’s face look so delighted before. Clearly, she was enjoying the new life she had just begun. Miss Pendleton looked admiringly at Miss Hyde, who had started a new life much earlier than herself.

Mr. Price arrived on time. He entered the drawing room, whistling, wearing a neatly pressed evening coat, following the servant’s guidance. He bowed politely to the two women in the drawing room.

“Pleased to meet you. I am Tom Price.”

Read full content of this chapter on r e d c a t t y . c o m