Chapter 53

On the second day at Marquis Lancaster’s villa, the men headed out to hunt from early morning. Today it wasn’t pheasants but reindeer, and perhaps because the level of game had risen, everyone looked excited.

“Honey, today you must bring back a reindeer even bigger and plumper than Lord Libert’s.”

Mrs. Hoffman, who was said to be closer to her husband than anyone thanks to their honeymoon, clung to her husband’s side as she spoke. Sir Hoffman, a man with thick whiskers even down his sideburns and a long rifle slung over his shoulder, grinned at his wife before quickly losing confidence.

“That’s not as easy as it sounds. Lord Libert hits every target he aims at. And it’s like he’s in cahoots with the hunting grounds. He only ever brings down the most magnificent one.”

A few steps away, Edmund, who was putting on his gear, overheard the conversation and let out a quiet chuckle. Blair watched with an awkward expression as he fastened the black leather belt crossing his chest.

“Anyway, honey, I’ll be waiting with high expectations, so bring back a splendid reindeer. And if it’s impressive enough to satisfy me….”

Mrs. Hoffman leaned in close and whispered something to her husband. Whatever promise he heard, Lord Hoffman’s earlobes flushed bright red. Seeing how his earlier deflation turned into renewed vigor, there was no need to hear the rest.

“I’ll be off, then.”

Now it was Blair’s turn to see Edmund off. Like the other ladies, she had come out to bid farewell to her husband as he departed for the hunt, but she couldn’t act coy like Mrs. Hoffman. In the end, she couldn’t offer any seductive promises, only a simple farewell that suited her.

“Be careful. Don’t get hurt, and don’t push yourself too hard.”

“I will.”

“And even if you spot a plump-looking reindeer, don’t chase it to the end. There could be cliffs. Safety always comes first.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

Nodding, Edmund tilted one shoulder and lowered himself slightly to roughly match her eye level. Unsure what he was about to do, Blair blinked, and he added an explanation.

“What about a good-luck kiss?”

“…Is that really necessary?”

“Words alone don’t feel sincere enough.”

Asking for a kiss without even changing his expression. Edmund was truly a genius at playing the role of a husband. Stunned, Blair parted her lips, then felt curious gazes flickering toward them from all around. With a silent sigh, she reached out, grabbed his face, rose onto her toes, and lightly pressed her lips to his cheek before pulling away.

A satisfied smile spread across Edmund’s face as he moved away. It was the expression he wore when things went exactly as he wanted, and Blair narrowed her eyes.

“Anyway, take care.”

“Thank you. You should take it easy too.”

The men, long rifles slung over their shoulders, set off for the hunting grounds in a group. Now, the only ones left at the villa were the ladies, including Blair.

***

“I hear the Hoffman couple had quite a passionate night.”

“I heard it too. They say the sounds from their bedroom were positively scandalous.”

The women sitting around the tea table giggled as they freely exchanged bawdy talk. Mrs. Hoffman put on a shy expression for appearances’ sake, then began to recount the events of the previous night without much restraint.

“Do you know what my husband likes most? It’s….”

“…Oh my.”

Blair pretended not to notice and took a sip of her black tea. When only women gathered, it was only natural for such intimate stories to be shared, but she couldn’t blend in easily. She had no shared history with them, and on top of that, her marriage was a sham. There was no way she could sympathize with or join in on such topics.

“What about you, Lady Libert?”

The mischievous voice of a noblewoman asked slyly from beside her. She was one of the playful women who had been encouraging everyone to boast about their husbands the night before.

“I was so tired yesterday that I fell asleep early.”

“Oh, come on. You can tell us. I won’t tell anyone.”

“It’s true. After spending the… night with Lord Libert, you really have to rest for a full day. He was considerate of me.”

“Oh my!”

She had blurted it out recklessly, thinking it didn’t matter anymore, and it seemed to have landed perfectly. No, perhaps it was taken even further than she intended, because the women began whispering excitedly right in front of Blair.

“I can’t even imagine how intense it must be.”

“If he’s that passionate every night, wouldn’t it be thrilling and scary at the same time?”

“Tonight, I don’t think I want to leave my husband alone either….”

At that moment, the Viscountess Feinberg’s eyes lit up as she casually made a suggestion.

“It feels like a waste to talk only about our husbands. Why don’t we make a little wager?”

“A wager?”

“We’ll bring these lucky charms to our beloved husbands who are hard at work shooting in the hunting grounds. The lady who finds her husband first and gives him the charm wins.”

As she spoke, the viscountess picked up a pure white handkerchief, her eyes shining with anticipation. Blair found it hard to believe how many people responded enthusiastically. She truly hated that kind of wager. Besides, walking into a forest where bullets were flying on her own seemed far too dangerous.

“How would we confirm who finds her husband first?”

“There are signal fireworks the men use at the hunting grounds. If we fire fireworks of different colors, we can announce our positions. Why don’t we use those?”

The women, except for Blair, brightened and agreed. Soon, they split into two groups. Either remain at the villa and continue the bawdy chatter, or go into the forest, enjoy the scenery, and prove their love for their husbands through the wager. There seemed to be no other option.

“What will you do, Lady Libert?”

“I….”

After hesitating, Blair had no choice but to pick up a handkerchief as well. A sigh slipped out of her.

“I suppose it’s better to prove my love for my husband.”

“That’s a good idea.”

“Then, how about we each bring a servant with us? It would be safer in case of any accidents.”

Still deeply worried, Blair added another condition.

“And anyone wearing dark or green dresses should change into something bright. It’ll be safer that way.”

“How thoughtful of you, Lady Libert. Then let’s all meet in the hall in ten minutes.”

Fortunately, the women accepted Blair’s suggestion and began rising from their seats one after another. There was excitement in their steps as they scattered in all directions, skirts fluttering.

***

When the colorfully dressed women arrived at the edge of the forest, each accompanied by a servant, the gamekeeper looked slightly startled. Still, with so many high-ranking noblewomen gathered, he didn’t dare object and simply let them pass inside.

“Since we don’t see the gentlemen at all, it seems they’ve gone deep into the forest.”

The slightly plump Viscountess Feinberg was already panting after just a few steps.

“At this rate, will we even be able to find our husbands?”

“We can’t back out now. Shall we start looking for them?”

“Alright.”

They began to scatter in different directions, each trailed by a servant carrying fireworks. Blair also started walking with a servant who looked rather inexperienced.

She felt a bit at a loss. Did she really need to take this wager seriously to preserve Edmund’s dignity? She had told him to put safety above all else, yet here she was stepping into a dangerous hunting ground herself. She’d changed into a bright dress just in case, but still.

“Ha….”

Letting out a sigh, she pushed through the bushes. Perhaps because the hunting grounds were well maintained, the weeds weren’t very thick, and the oak trees visible in the distance were lush and beautiful. Breathing in the fresh air and walking across the grass, she found, strangely enough, that the tightness in her chest eased a little.