Grace in Wonderland - Chapter 12

12. The Beginning of the Adventure

Grace sat quietly in her bedroom, located on the second floor of the Montague mansion in Chelsea. Every time her hands unconsciously clenched into fists, the yellow silk dress Mary Montague had provided rustled softly under her fingers. It was one of the many outfits prepared for her upon her arrival.

The room Grace occupied was designed solely for her. At first, she hadn’t noticed. But after hearing Lady Montague’s proposal and taking a closer look, it became clear that this bedroom was unlike any other in the house.

Grace’s room was the quintessential space for a young lady. A bed draped with thin white fabric on all sides, a small and dainty tea table, a brightly painted upright piano, and a wall clock adorned with rose motifs—it was the kind of room Grace imagined her noble friends would have.

The Montagues had no children, which meant the rest of the house was tailored to the tastes of adults, particularly middle-aged ones. The furniture and decor exuded a heavy and solemn atmosphere. Lady Mary Montague’s exotic decorations from her travels abroad added a unique and whimsical touch to the otherwise stately home.

To Grace, the house seemed to embody Lord Anthony Montague and Lady Mary Montague’s personalities. In her childhood memories, Lord Montague was a courteous and reserved gentleman, while Lady Montague was cheerful and lively.

Grace had once read somewhere that spaces often reflect the people who inhabit them. This house, which harmonized both individuals’ dispositions so perfectly, was a testament to that idea. Yet her bedroom felt like an outlier, a space entirely out of sync with the rest of the mansion.

At Grentabridge, Grace’s room was small and simple. It held only a bed and a large desk, the sole pieces of furniture in the space. She spent her days studying there and her nights sleeping. Her life was as simple as her room.

Despite its simplicity, her room at Grentabridge was a reflection of Grace Gurton’s life, thoughts, and way of living. Cozy, modest, and comfortable, it represented her essence. In contrast, the bedroom at the Montague residence felt completely alien.

Grace, hailing from such a different world, now found herself in this grand and luxurious mansion, occupying a room that didn’t match its surroundings. It was as if she had fallen into Wonderland.

And like the girl in Wonderland who drank tea and suddenly shrank, Grace found herself feeling diminished. Lady Montague’s proposal had left her more shocked than pleased, more intimidated than thrilled.

Ignorance diminishes people. The test presented to Grace wasn’t one of math or philosophy but of “adoption.” It was as though an inexperienced freshman was being handed a senior’s final exam.

“After long discussions, Anthony and I have decided to adopt you as our daughter.”

“We hope you’ll agree to it.”

Grace Gurton could swear she had never wished for such a thing. It would be more accurate to say she had never even imagined it.

A few days earlier, Grace had received a letter from Lady Mary Montague. The letter invited her to the Montague mansion in Lydon and expressed a desire to spend the upcoming autumn social season together.

When Professor Charles Dodgson read the letter, he remained silent for a long time. Even after Grace carefully retrieved the crumpled letter from his clenched hands, she hesitated for quite some time, watching him anxiously.

“…Grace.”

After a lengthy silence, Charles Dodgson finally spoke. His already gaunt face appeared even more haggard, like a tarnished brass plate melting away.

“I’d prefer it if you didn’t go to Lydon.”

His words were genuine, spoken from the heart. Charles truly cared for Grace.

Years ago, Charles Dodgson had briefly stepped into Lydon’s social scene. Though not a noble himself, he had studied at Grentabridge under the patronage of Lord Anthony Montague, which occasionally required him to visit Lydon at Anthony’s request.

Charles Dodgson did not like the nobility. To put it bluntly, he despised them. He detested their rigid social stratification, their pretentious airs, and the way they judged others while hiding their own ugliness behind elegant fans.

Lydon was such a place. It was like a volcano, seething with malice and exclusion but never erupting.

The volcano showed no signs of erupting, and so, those who were unaware of its dangers were drawn to it out of curiosity. However, the silent, bubbling lava would quickly engulf and reduce such individuals to ashes.

Grace Gurton was innocent and cheerful by nature. Despite the hardships she had faced, her view of the world remained warm and bright.

She marveled at the ever-changing sky, loved the round, budding fruits, and cherished the tender sprouts breaking through the soil. She couldn’t simply pass by a crying child or an elderly person struggling with heavy burdens. There was something undeniably endearing about her.

And Grace Gurton was unconventional. Though Charles Dodgson had raised her that way, even setting that fact aside, she stood apart from other girls her age.

She loved to study, possessed remarkable focus, and excelled at applying what she learned. However, whether such abilities were truly a blessing for a woman living in this era was not something that could be definitively affirmed.

Nevertheless, Charles Dodgson regarded them as undeniable strengths. Thus, he never neglected Grace’s education. He was one of the few men of the time who did not believe that knowledge should be the exclusive domain of men.

As a result, Grace had become more proficient in mathematics than most college students. It was not uncommon for Charles Dodgson to seek her assistance in his research.

Additionally, Grace Gurton…

She was the daughter of Annabel Gurton. And though it wasn’t overly pronounced, she had a stammer.

The qualities listed above were undoubtedly her strengths. Even if her kindness and intelligence didn’t align with the idealized image of women in Lydon’s social circles, they were undeniably bright aspects of her character.

However, her lineage and speech were glaring flaws—obvious, superficial shortcomings. Once someone learned of her background or spoke with her, it was easy to dismiss her as inferior.

In Lydon, the nobles Grace would meet were certain to ridicule her openly. Or perhaps they would feign sympathy while mocking her behind her back.

“What do you think?”

Charles Dodgson asked for Grace’s opinion.

“…S-shouldn’t I accept the proposal?”

“But Grace, Lady Montague wants to introduce you to Lydon’s social circles.”

Charles Dodgson sighed heavily as he spoke. Could it be that Grace secretly harbored dreams of living a glamorous life in Lydon? It wouldn’t be surprising; after all, many young women her age yearned for such experiences.

Even though he knew better, he couldn’t help but feel disheartened. Memories of Lydon’s social world—its ugliness and corruption—resurfaced in his mind.

“What I’m saying is, you’re likely to meet many people in Lydon. Some may not treat you kindly, and you might get hurt.”

“……”

“Are you prepared for that?”

“……”

Grace understood all too well. She had seen how people’s expressions changed upon hearing about her past, how their gazes shifted the moment she opened her mouth.

But Grace was neither heartless nor ungrateful enough to refuse Lady Mary Montague’s request outright. From the start, there was only one answer she could give.

Lady Mary Montague was a savior to Grace, bringing her to Ingrint after she lost her mother and giving her a chance at a new life. She had even arranged for her to stay in Grentabridge through Charles Dodgson’s help.

In life, there are things we must do even if we don’t want to, and things we cannot do even if we want to. This was a case of something she had to do, regardless of her feelings.

“…Y-yes. I think I’ll be fine.”

Hearing Grace’s response, Charles Dodgson’s expression darkened. Still, he was always on her side.

“Alright, then. Start packing your belongings.”

And so, Grace Gurton’s journey was decided. It was the beginning of her adventure to the Wonderland of Lydon.