Grace in Wonderland - Chapter 123

123. Merciful Judgment

“Why did you do it?”

Richard Spencer sat facing the Countess. She sipped a spicy, tangy tea infused with Indus spices, her face showing displeasure.

It had taken ten days for Richard and Grace to travel from the harbor to Bath. This extended journey was because Sebastian had tactfully instructed the coachman to drive slowly.

During this time, Sebastian had sent a messenger ahead to the Spencer villa in Bath. The messenger informed the Countess that Richard Spencer, the Young Earl, would be visiting—accompanied by Grace Montague.

This was Richard’s idea. Sebastian had suggested that arriving unannounced might be more effective, but the Young Earl had shaken his head.

Richard Spencer wasn’t visiting the Countess for interrogation or investigation. He was already certain of the truth. His visit to Bath was for judgment.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” the Countess replied, dabbing her nose with a handkerchief in a nasal voice.

“Are you saying you don’t know why I came here?”

“I received a letter stating you and Grace Gurton—no, Montague—would be visiting. But the reason for your visit wasn’t mentioned.”

“……”

“You should reprimand Sebastian. When notifying someone of a visit, isn’t it proper to include the purpose? If you’re incompetent, at least hire capable attendants.”

“……”

Richard, seated with perfect composure, remained silent, his hands calmly holding a teacup. The Countess glanced at her son’s bandaged leg indifferently before speaking again.

“If you have nothing to say, I’ll retire to my room.”

She gripped the armrests to push herself up, but Richard’s icy voice stopped her.

“Sit down.”

A matchbox landed in front of her.

“What kind of rudeness is this? This is exactly why I—”

“Mother.”

Ignoring her irritation, Richard interrupted. It was unusually disrespectful of him.

“Grace was kidnapped. And no one knows this better than you.”

“…I know nothing about it.”

The Countess glanced between the box on the tea table and Richard before reluctantly answering.

“This was found among the possessions of the coachman driving the carriage Grace was in.”

“So? Why are you showing it to me?”

“It’s a matchbox sold at a store here in Bath.”

“And?”

“The coachman was a man with a Midwestern accent. He kidnapped Grace in Lydon.”

“……”

“Such a man would have no reason to possess matches purchased in Bath.”

“……”

“That’s why I suspect a connection between the coachman and you.”

“You… you accuse me based on such flimsy evidence? The only one who looks foolish here is you.”

Richard smirked, his right eye narrowing slightly.

“Perhaps. I’m well aware that a mere matchbox isn’t conclusive evidence.”

“At least you have some sense.”

The Countess sneered. Richard rubbed his left temple and continued.

“You taught me something valuable when I was a child.”

“……”

“The art of making baseless accusations.”

“What nonsense is this?”

“After enduring it countless times, I learned something: baseless accusations can corner someone, humiliate them publicly, and leave them feeling utterly defeated.”

“……”

“I considered doing the same to you this time, but…”

“……”

“I remembered how you always failed whenever you tried.”

A hint of contempt flickered across Richard’s face. The Countess glared at his exposed left temple, her nails digging into her palms.

“So I decided to present solid evidence instead.”

“……”

Richard smiled faintly as he watched the Countess’s sharp nails dig into her thigh.

“Viscount Lovelace confessed. He admitted meeting with you.”

“……”

“He said you ordered Grace’s kidnapping. And that you paid him.”

Sebastian had instructed the coachman to drive slowly for various reasons: the prolonged journey had exhausted everyone’s bodies and minds, Richard’s leg was in poor condition, and they needed to wait for Viscount Lovelace to regain consciousness.

Viscount Lovelace had hovered on the brink of death for over a week. Richard had secured a separate carriage for him, ensuring he received medical care throughout the journey to Bath.

Fortunately, the Viscount regained consciousness before reaching Bath. As soon as he opened his eyes, he caused a commotion, lamenting everything he had lost, but that only lasted until Richard Spencer appeared before him.

The Viscount confessed the truth to the Young Earl. As Richard listened to stories of the meetings with the Countess, the orders for kidnapping, and the transactions, he felt a deep pain. Even though he had already suspected the facts, hearing them confirmed was still difficult.

Meanwhile, Sebastian concealed the full truth. The Viscount’s injuries were attributed to a fierce struggle with the soldiers trying to capture him. To soothe the wounded pride of the soldier involved, Sebastian provided a generous compensation.

Grace, sitting beside Richard and listening to the fabricated report, looked embarrassed. However, understanding Sebastian’s intentions perfectly, she didn’t bother to correct the story.

Richard shot a displeased look at the soldier who had half-killed the Viscount in excessive self-defense. However, out of concern for the rabbit-like Grace, he refrained from scolding the soldier too harshly. After all, witnessing the brutal scene of the Viscount being subdued must have frightened her immensely.

In his heart, Richard was almost an accomplice. During his ride, he had deliberated over how to punish the Viscount in a way that would garner public approval, and one of his thoughts had been to castrate him.

“To interrogate me based solely on the Viscount Lovelace’s testimony is preposterous,” the Countess of Spencer said, pressing a handkerchief under her eyes with exaggerated indignation.

“It’s a skill you personally taught me, Mother,” Richard retorted, recalling her cold face as she had once slapped him across the cheek at Lake District, dismissing Lancelot’s feeble excuses.

“Sebastian should be delivering news shortly.”

After the Viscount’s confession, Sebastian headed to Lydon instead of Bath. His goal was to trace the origins of the money the Viscount had received from the Countess.

The Countess of Spencer had persistently and secretly siphoned off the family’s wealth. This was something Lancelot had uncovered years ago. When Richard had learned that the assets the Countess had embezzled were being used to plan a new life with Eleanor d’Estrée in the New World, he had been utterly astounded.

At the time, Richard hadn’t taken any action. The turmoil surrounding Mary Montague’s death had left him with neither the time nor the will to deal with it. He had postponed addressing the matter until after he officially inherited the title.

The substantial sum handed over to Viscount Lovelace likely came from the Countess’s secret funds. Sebastian intended to investigate the Countess’s money laundering and embezzlement activities and report the findings to Richard Spencer.

“I even instructed him to retrieve details of the Spencer family assets you stored in Gallia and Switon banks.”

“What?”

The Countess looked incredulous. However, the nonverbal cues Edmund Beaufort had once observed in Richard were equally evident in his blood relative. Richard’s gaze lingered intently on the Countess’s throat as it bobbed anxiously.

“I will convene a family meeting.”

“……”

“It has been a long time since a family meeting didn’t revolve around me.”

“……”

“The agenda will be ‘The Revocation of Elaine Spencer’s status as Countess’.”

“Richard!”

The Countess shrieked, her shoulders trembling violently. The delicate lace shawl she wore slipped off her shoulders and fell to the floor.

“I considered disowning you, but…”

“……”

“But since none of the countless family meetings you presided over ever succeeded in disowning me…”

“……”

“I’ll extend you the same mercy. Something else I learned from you.”

“You…”

“The outcome of the meeting will align with my wishes. Once the other elders of the family learn that you’ve been using embezzled funds to buy their favor, they’ll understand the situation. They’re not entirely oblivious.”

Elaine Spencer’s family of origin was the royal family. If she were expelled, she’d have no choice but to return there. While Queen Anne wouldn’t welcome her warmly, the royal family would likely take her in to avoid the disgrace of an ousted sister.

Being expelled from the Spencer family and stripped of her title was preferable to remaining in the household without status. In that sense, Richard Spencer’s mercy was no mercy at all.

“I imagine you’re curious about your future, so I’ll give you a hint. You’ll live out your days in Wormleighton. Whether Father’s mistress will accept a woman who is no longer a Countess, I can’t say.”

With that, Richard delivered one final whisper to the Countess, whose words failed her. His tone was light and unburdened, yet vicious in its casualness.