Grace in Wonderland - Chapter 115

115. Fireworks

Elaine Spencer had no intention of sparing Grace or Viscount Lovelace. Killing Grace Gurton alone was no significant task for her, but there was a valid reason she endured the trouble of involving Viscount Lovelace in her scheme.

If Grace Gurton suddenly disappeared, Richard Spencer would first suspect the Countess and investigate the case’s mastermind. That was something she absolutely had to avoid. No one could ever know that she had orchestrated and deeply involved herself in this matter.

Thus, she decided to use Viscount Lovelace as a scapegoat. According to rumors, Viscount Lovelace had tried to sell Mary Montague’s ring, which Grace had been wearing, and ended up thoroughly humiliated. On top of that, he was drowning in debt.

This gave enough grounds to claim that Viscount Lovelace had approached Grace Gurton with malicious intent. After all, when people are cornered, they tend to act recklessly.

So, Elaine Spencer arranged for Viscount Lovelace to manipulate one of the servants at the Spencer estate. The viscount tearfully begged the servant, saying, “As a former family member, I have something I must say to the young lady. Please arrange a meeting for me.”

The servant ignored him entirely. When that failed, Viscount Lovelace threatened the servant by exposing the misdemeanors the Countess had whispered to him.

The servant panicked. He had no time to ponder how the viscount had learned of his past misdeeds. Richard Spencer was generally lenient with the household staff, but he was ruthless when it came to theft or lies.

If he were caught and expelled from the Spencer estate, his future would be bleak. It was obvious no noble family would hire someone with such a stain on their record.

Thus, the servant bribed a colleague who was supposed to accompany Grace to the masquerade and took his place instead. From that moment, he followed Grace and seized the chance to act when she was alone.

When he mentioned the Young Earl’s name, Grace naively believed him without question. The servant led her safely to the rear entrance of the Duke’s estate, where Viscount Lovelace was waiting.

However, Grace never boarded the carriage. In the midst of their hesitation, Viscount Lovelace, who had been waiting inside the carriage, jumped out, knocked the servant unconscious, and disappeared with Grace. This turn of events was something the servant hadn’t foreseen at all.

When the servant regained consciousness, he finally realized the gravity of the situation. Trusting Viscount Lovelace’s words that he only wanted to talk had been a mistake. If that were truly the case, he wouldn’t have struck the servant and fled with Grace.

Bloodied and disheveled, the servant ran into the Devonshire mansion and found Richard Spencer in the garden’s reserved seating area.

“Young Earl!”

The appearance of the Spencer household servant in such a pitiful state caused a commotion among the guests. Elegantly dressed ladies and young noblewomen began whispering behind their fans.

“What is it?”

Richard lowered his voice and asked.

He had already been anxious, as Grace had yet to appear even as the fireworks display was about to begin. Freya had left earlier, stating she would return to the Spencer mansion first, but she hadn’t mentioned taking Grace with her.

The servant looked as if he were about to kneel on the ground, but Richard stood before he could make such a disgraceful move.

“What’s the matter, Richard?”

Graham Harold, who had been sitting nearby, approached, his face reflecting his alarm.

“It’s nothing,” Richard replied indifferently as he surveyed the surroundings.

Then, after a brief exchange of greetings with the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, who were hosting the masquerade and fireworks event, he brushed off Graham Harold’s hand from his arm.

“Excuse me, but I must take my leave.”

Disregarding the many eyes upon him, Richard Spencer left the gathering. The servant, his face streaked with blood and tears, trailed after him.

“Explain yourself,” Richard growled as soon as they entered a private room within the Duke’s estate. The servant trembled violently and hesitated before beginning to speak haltingly.

“A-a few days ago, Viscount Lovelace approached me with a request.”

“Viscount Lovelace?”

“Y-yes, he said he wanted to speak briefly with the yung lady about her marriage to you…”

“…And?”

“I told him it was out of the question. But he begged so earnestly… I thought I’d give him a small window of time. I have a younger sister, so I could understand how desperate he felt…”

“Get to the point.”

As Richard listened to the servant’s words, a sense of foreboding crept over him. That foreboding solidified with the servant’s next admission.

“So I escorted the young lady to meet Viscount Lovelace.”

“Did Grace agree to this?”

“Y-yes. She hesitated for a while, but he is her blood relative…”

The servant exaggerated slightly, hoping to avoid immediate punishment. He feared Richard Spencer might snap his neck on the spot otherwise.

“And then?”

“And then… Viscount Lovelace suddenly struck me. When I regained consciousness, the young lady was gone, and so was the carriage.”

“……”

“I’ve committed an unforgivable crime. Please, I beg your mercy.”

The servant suddenly fell to his knees and crawled toward Richard, bowing repeatedly. Richard looked down at him coldly.

“You passed out, so you have no idea where the carriage went.”

“I’m deeply sorry.”

“Hah…”

“Young Earl, I beg you to show mercy…”

Richard Spencer stared at the tearful servant before redirecting his thoughts. He tried to deduce where Viscount Lovelace might have gone but couldn’t pinpoint a likely destination.

Viscount Lovelace had more than enough motive to kidnap Grace. He had been hounded relentlessly by creditors, living in a personal hell—a torment orchestrated by none other than Richard Spencer himself.

Rumors of Grace’s engagement to Richard had likely reached the viscount’s ears. Perhaps he had decided to use her to extort money. After all, hadn’t he already caused a scene outside the Montague mansion once before?

It wouldn’t be long before Viscount Lovelace contacted him. He’d surely use Grace as a bargaining chip. Richard felt his anger surge, heating him to the core.

“Prepare the carriage. We’re going back to Westminster immediately. Send Sebastian to meet me here.”

Richard snapped his orders at the servant, who scrambled out of the room as if his life depended on it. Alone now, Richard stared at the closed door, struggling to contain his fury.

This always happened. Just when he thought he could grasp happiness, misfortune would strike. What if Viscount Lovelace harmed Grace? For the first time, Richard regretted his decision to meddle in the viscount’s financial woes.

I should have thrown him into prison. Locked him in a sunless cell for the rest of his miserable life, wishing for death every day.

Richard recalled that Viscount Lovelace had been staying at an inn in East End. Reports indicated he had abandoned his estate and family, living off a mistress who worked in Whitechapel. The absurdity of the situation infuriated Richard further.

Should I deal with the mistress first? Or send the creditors to search every place Viscount Lovelace might be hiding?

“Would you like a cigar?”

A low, gentle voice interrupted his thoughts. Richard’s body tensed as he turned toward the sound. His eyes focused on a man partially obscured by the back of a couch.

“You’ve been holding your breath for some time now,” the man said.

He revealed himself, stepping into view. His pale face was framed by slightly long, golden hair that seemed to glow. A bright smile stretched across his crimson lips.

“Who are you?” Richard demanded, his tone commanding and sharp.

The man quickly tempered his smile, replying politely, “I should have introduced myself earlier. My apologies. My name is Eurus.”

Before Richard could respond, the sound of fireworks exploding outside filled the room. Cheers from the masquerade attendees followed.

Red, yellow, and blue sparks scattered across the night sky, their vivid colors illuminating the man’s face intermittently. The interplay of light and shadow played across his striking features, while his calm blue eyes remained unbothered by Richard’s probing gaze.

Then, cutting through the roar of the fireworks, Eurus spoke softly yet firmly.

“The Viscount must have left Lydon by now.”