“That’s it now. You can go to the ball like this.”
Miss Jensen quickly went to the dressing room and looked in the mirror. There stood a lady she had never seen before. It was the image of a dignified and extremely beautiful lady. Miss Jensen clapped her hands so hard that the dressing room resounded.
“It’s solved! The dress problem is solved. Thank you, Miss Pendleton. Thank you so much.”
Miss Pendleton sat on the sofa, feeling satisfied. Mrs. Nicely, who was beside her, looked at Miss Pendleton as if she were looking at a goddess. To handle everything so excellently. Indeed, a lady from a count’s family was different.
Mrs. Nicely sat next to Miss Pendleton. And clasping her hands together, she pleaded.
“Miss Pendleton, if it’s alright with you, please stay for dinner this evening.”
Miss Pendleton politely declined. She was hesitant about possibly encountering Mr. Price. Luckily, he was out of town now, but they could run into each other anytime during dinner.
Hearing the conversation between the two, Miss Jensen ran out of the dressing room.
“Why, Miss Pendleton! Please stay for dinner. Please?”
“No. I need to check on my grandmother, and I also need to prepare for tomorrow’s ball…”
“Oh, don’t say that. You’ve worked so hard for me, you should give me a chance to repay you.”
“Yes, Miss Pendleton. Please do stay. Our family’s formal dinner might be somewhat lacking, but it still includes high-class dishes recognized by the people in this neighborhood. Don’t hesitate thinking it might be below your standards.”
“Mrs. Nicely, I don’t think that at all. It’s just…”
Miss Pendleton fell silent, running out of poor excuses. Then the two ladies each grabbed her arms and started to insist. Have dinner and go. Have dinner and go. The two women chirped like birds on either side.
Miss Pendleton refused several times, but the two women were adamant. In the end, as always, she had to choose the latter between uneasiness and etiquette.
“…Alright, I’ll stay for dinner.”
Miss Jensen exclaimed “Wow!” and shook Miss Pendleton’s hand. Mrs. Nicely immediately ran to the kitchen. It was to urge the cook to prepare dishes that wouldn’t embarrass them in front of Miss Pendleton.
Shortly after, Miss Pendleton ended up having a formal dinner with them.
Miss Pendleton received the most gracious treatment in recent memory. It was just dinner for three ladies, but there was a lavish goose dish, turtle soup, and even premium wine. Not only that, but Mrs. Nicely asked Miss Pendleton every five minutes if she needed anything else, and Miss Jensen kept her eyes on Miss Pendleton, giving her full attention.
Miss Pendleton had dinner amidst their consideration. Although the overflowing reception was burdensome, the food was delicious and Miss Jensen’s jokes were pleasant. Having been faithful to the role of hostess for a while, such guest treatment was quite rare for her.
After dinner, Miss Jensen pulled Miss Pendleton into the reception room. Saying that today she was treating Miss Pendleton, she sat her on the sofa and took a seat on the piano bench herself. Then she asked Miss Pendleton to tell her a favorite piece.
Miss Pendleton requested a sonata by Franz Liszt that she usually liked. Miss Jensen began to play the piece, moving her fingers elegantly.
Miss Pendleton enjoyed Miss Jensen’s piano performance while drinking tea offered by Mrs. Nicely.
Miss Pendleton felt fond not only of Mrs. Nicely but especially of Miss Jensen.
After the rowing competition, Miss Jensen had quickly become close with Miss Lance’s group. She often showed her face at her tea parties, and she became a welcomed lady at Miss Lance’s tea parties.
That meant that now she wasn’t such a necessary person for Miss Jensen anymore. It would be more beneficial for her to mingle with young ladies who were young and highly valued in society rather than with someone like herself who would soon leave the social scene.
However, Miss Jensen visited the townhouse from time to time to spend time with Miss Pendleton. Sometimes she would open boxes of candy brought from America, or suggest going for a walk in Hyde Park together. It was, in every way, a gesture of pure friendship.
The presence of the cheerful Miss Jensen was a comfort to Miss Pendleton, who had been under a lot of stress lately.
Her grandmother’s condition worsening every day, and her uncle who tormented her with silent contempt whenever they bumped into each other at home. Charles, who was busy roaming all over London every day, but still kept an eye on the maids in the house.
In a situation where everyone in the house was giving her extreme fatigue, today’s treatment could be a momentary respite for her.
Miss Pendleton, sitting on the sofa in the reception room, found this situation quite comfortable, enjoying Miss Jensen’s elegant piano performance and receiving cookies and frivolous compliments occasionally offered by Mrs. Nicely.
Until Mrs. Nicely said these words.
“By the way, Miss Pendleton.”
Mrs. Nicely glanced at Miss Jensen, then tilted her head slightly and called to Miss Pendleton.
“Yes, Mrs. Nicely?”
“When do you plan to accept my brother’s proposal?”
Miss Pendleton couldn’t believe her ears.
“Pardon?”
“I’m asking when you’re going to accept my brother’s proposal.”
Mrs. Nicely asked again, enunciating clearly. Miss Pendleton froze on the spot.
“I heard from my brother. He said he’s been courting you for a long time. And that you’re not entirely indifferent, Miss Pendleton?”
Miss Pendleton felt dizzy from the sudden question. She quickly put down the teacup she was holding.
“Excuse me, Mrs. Nicely, I don’t quite understand what you mean…”
“Oh my, is this not something we should talk about? But Miss Pendleton. My brother is already in his mid-fifties. He’s at an age where he could die any time and it would be considered a good death. If you drag it out for too long…”
“Auntie!”
The two turned towards the piano at the sudden sound. Miss Jensen had stopped playing the piano and was looking at Mrs. Nicely with a surprised expression.
“Didn’t I tell you to be careful with your words in front of Miss Pendleton? How proper a person she is!”
Mrs. Nicely belatedly realized her mistake.
“S-sorry, Joan.”
“Oh, I can’t bear this. How embarrassed Miss Pendleton must be! How can you be so careless?”
Being scolded by a maiden young enough to be her daughter, Mrs. Nicely’s face reddened with embarrassment.
“But Joan, you’re young so you don’t know. And Miss Pendleton is still unmarried so she wouldn’t know either. Where else is there someone who has been married as long as I have? I just wanted to let you know that if you’re going to get married anyway, it’s better to get it over with quickly rather than dragging it out.”
“Excuse me, just a moment.”
Miss Pendleton interjected. Both of their gazes turned to Miss Pendleton.
“I think you two are misunderstanding something, so let me clarify. It’s true that I received a proposal from Mr. Price. But I refused. I don’t know how Mr. Price conveyed this to you, but my feelings are clear.”
Mrs. Nicely laughed awkwardly.
“Miss Pendleton. I know. I do. That it can be embarrassing to marry a man old enough to be your father. But we are all grateful to Miss Pendleton, right, Joan?”
Miss Jensen erased the awkward expression from her face and looked at Miss Pendleton softly.
“Of course. Although we didn’t show it because Miss Pendleton might be embarrassed, everyone in this house has great affection for Miss Pendleton. You’re saving our aging godfather’s later years, aren’t you? How noble and warm-hearted you are. It’s such a grateful thing for someone like Miss Pendleton to become our godfather’s wife.”
Miss Pendleton quietly listened to the two of them taking turns speaking. They firmly believed that she would marry Mr. Price. From her perspective, it was nothing short of absurd. It wouldn’t be strange to fly into a rage in this situation.
But as always when faced with an absurd and nonsensical situation, her heart turned cold.
“Mrs. Nicely, Miss Jensen. I’m sorry to say this despite your generous hospitality today. I have never viewed Mr. Price as a man. And regarding Mr. Price’s courtship, I feel nothing but bewilderment. I…”
“Miss Pendleton, so…”
“Mrs. Nicely. Please listen to what I have to say first. If he had proposed that I be a caretaker, or perhaps a tutor for his children, I might have accepted. But I will never be his wife. This is exactly the kind of marriage I’ve avoided all my life. Marrying Mr. Price would be completely betraying my nature and beliefs. If you mention his and my marriage any further, I will feel insulted.”
Silence fell over the reception room. Mrs. Nicely and Miss Jensen quietly looked at Miss Pendleton. Miss Pendleton firmly closed her mouth and received their gaze. They soon read her sincerity in Miss Pendleton’s face.
A rather long silence followed. Soon, Mrs. Nicely called a servant to clear the refreshment table in the reception room. Then she left the reception room with slumped shoulders, without a word.
Meanwhile, Miss Jensen remained seated at the piano, looking down at the keys. She seemed to be deep in thought.
From what had just happened, Miss Pendleton could guess the reason for Miss Jensen’s kindness towards her so far. It must have been kindness towards the woman who would become the new wife of her beloved godfather.
Miss Pendleton began to feel resentment towards Mr. Price. Why on earth did he misinterpret her clear refusal and give false hope to the women around him?
Anyway, she could no longer stay in this mansion. Miss Pendleton stood up.
“I should be getting back home now. Please forgive me for leaving. And… please convey my apologies to Mrs. Nicely for leaving without saying goodbye. Well then.”
“Wait a moment, Miss Pendleton!”
Miss Jensen jumped up and stopped Miss Pendleton as she was leaving the reception room.
“Please take our carriage. I’ll escort you.”
“Don’t worry about it. I can go alone.”
“No. I want to talk with you on the way. It might be uncomfortable for you to do it at home. Please wait a moment. I’ll put on my coat and come out.”
Miss Jensen ordered a servant to prepare the carriage and quickly went upstairs, threw on a light cape, and came back down.
The two ladies boarded the carriage together. As they settled into their seats, the carriage shook once greatly and then slowly began to move.
My Ex-Girlfriend Is The Regent In The Female-dominant World (Male lead transmigrates to the matriarchal world)
Two years ago, Gu Sui picked up a homeless woman in ancient costume from the street.
Apart from occasionally claiming to be a princess from a female-dominant country due to illness, her figure, appearance, intelligence, and martial arts skills were impeccable.
Naturally evolving from roommates to girlfriends, as time went on, Gu Sui found it increasingly difficult to tolerate her queen syndrome.
“Mu Jiulu, can you stop controlling me inside and out? Let’s break up.”
Gu Sui made a breakup call, and since then, he couldn’t find any trace of her.
A year later, Gu Sui, who was planning to move, woke up the next day and found himself in a different place.
“Young Master, today is the day you choose your Wife-master through martial arts competition at Jade Dew Pavilion. Please get up quickly.”
Gu Sui: Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?
As the only son of a general’s mansion in a female-dominant dynasty, the young empress personally issued a decree allowing Gu Sui to select his Wife-master through martial arts competition. Whoever could defeat him could marry him.
Gu Sui: “……”
He didn’t inherit the original owner’s martial prowess, so anyone could defeat him! And what the hell is a Wife-master?
Forced to come to Jade Dew Pavilion, the densely packed women below made Gu Sui’s agoraphobia act up, and his face was full of resistance.
Until he saw the Regent sitting on the second floor, with a smile on the corner of her lips, her eyes wicked and nonchalant.
Hmm… she looked a little familiar.
It turned out that the Regent also found him a little familiar.
Mu Jiulu fiddled with her bone clasp, her deep gaze locked on the man who was out of place in this world.
“Finally, I found you.”
Male transmigrates into female-dominant world
One-sentence summary: What goes around comes around, taking turns in the crematorium
