Grace in Wonderland - Chapter 30

30. A Sinful Soul

As Richard returned to the Spencer family villa after leaving the Pump Room, his mind was in disarray, like a room turned upside down. The cause of his turmoil was Grace Gurton’s decision to go to the play with Theresius Wilford.

What on earth was she thinking, accepting Theresius Wilford’s invitation so easily? Didn’t she like me?

At first, Richard thought her flushed cheeks were simply due to her happiness at being adopted by Lady Montague. He assumed she was a cunning and sly woman trying to win favor.

Then, at some point, he realized that her attention was solely focused on him. Coming to understand the meaning behind her blush left him feeling uneasy.

Ah, what a sinful soul I must be…

Grace Gurton was to become Lady Mary Montague’s adopted daughter. If such a person liked him, wouldn’t that be problematic?

If he rejected her firmly, Grace Gurton would be devastated beyond recovery. Her suffering would worry Lady Montague, and causing Lady Montague concern was absolutely unthinkable. As for Grace Gurton’s feelings, they were none of his business.

“What are you brooding over this time? Shall we take a stroll by the river? You haven’t even glanced at your face today.”

“Sebastian.”

Richard flashed a fearsome smile. Yet Sebastian, unfazed, asked him.

“Did something happen at the Pump Room?”

“Why would you think that? What gives you that idea?”

“Well, it’s just that you’ve had a sour expression this whole time.”

“……”

Richard Spencer had grown entirely accustomed to Sebastian’s teasing. He was also skilled at not saying things he didn’t want to.

If he explained the reason truthfully, Sebastian would undoubtedly tease him with some nonsense about that damned mustard seed again. Besides, he didn’t even want to talk about it. He couldn’t talk about it. The reason was hard for him to accept even himself.

“The Second Young Lord and Lady d’Estrée are attending the play tonight, I hear.”

One of Sebastian’s strengths was his ability to read the room. Richard was relieved that he didn’t press further and replied with ease.

“So I heard.”

“Why aren’t you going, Young Master?”

“Because I’m not interested in the play.”

“Even though it’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream?”

“What about it?”

Why do people like such things? It doesn’t make any sense in reality.

“Young Master, what’s today’s date?”

“June 23rd.”

“And tomorrow?”

“…Are you joking?”

Richard’s right eyebrow twitched. Sebastian’s weakness was this: he could read the room when he wanted but often pretended not to, lingering annoyingly.

“Tomorrow is June 24th, Young Master.”

“Stop beating around the bush and just say what you mean, Sebastian.”

When it came to time management, Richard was far superior to Sebastian. While not as disciplined as Prussen philosophers, he lived a far more orderly life than most nobles.

“June 24th is St. John’s Eve. Tonight is the eve of the feast day.

“And?”

“It’s said that strange creatures appear on St. John’s Eve. That’s the backdrop of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”

“Hah, what nonsense.”

“Nonsense, you say? Tonight, all sorts of peculiar and magical things might happen. That’s probably why the play is being staged at the Assembly Room tonight.”

“As a member of the National Church, aren’t you embarrassed to say such things?”

Sebastian wrinkled his nose at Richard’s remark. Who was the one baptized into the Ingrintian National Church yet hadn’t confessed in over ten years?

“By the way, is Miss Grace Gurton attending with Theresius Wilford?”

“How do you know that?”

“Oh, I know. Lady d’Estrée has rolled up her sleeves, saying she’ll help Miss Gurton get ready.”

“Eleanor? Why?”

“Well, perhaps Miss Gurton wants to look beautiful for Lord Wilford and asked for Lady d’Estrée’s help. Speaking of which, have you made peace with Lord Wilford yet?”

Sebastian’s nagging tone made Richard grind his teeth lightly. While he wanted to grind harder, he refrained to preserve his perfectly aligned teeth.

Eleanor d’Estrée. From the moment Theresius Wilford knelt to invite Grace, her face had lit up. How typical of someone from Gallia, to focus all her attention on romantic affairs.

Helping Grace Gurton get ready… Surely she wasn’t planning to cover that small, round face in plaster powder. Grace didn’t need such strange makeup…

Richard cleared his throat and asked about Freya’s whereabouts. The unusual quietness in the villa made him curious.

“What about Freya?”

“The young lady has gone out with the Countess.”

“Oh? Where to?”

“There’s a small music concert tonight at the Winchester Marquess’ estate. It seems the Countess wanted to introduce the young lady there. After all, she needs to find a chaperone for next year’s debutante season.”

“Is that so urgent?”

“Who am I to fathom the Countess’s intentions?”

The Countess of Spencer was making every effort to pair Freya with Graham Harold. There were very few suitable matches for Freya in Ingrint.

All of Queen Anne’s sons had died young, making marriage into the royal family impossible. Under these circumstances, the Spencer family had only two candidates in mind for Freya’s husband.

One was Graham Harold of the Winchester Marquess family. The other was Deimos Cavendish of the Devonshire Duke’s family.

Deimos Cavendish had been Freya’s intended match since childhood. If he had grown into a proper young man, he would have been engaged to Freya long ago. However, Deimos was entirely lacking in redeeming qualities.

He neglected his studies and physical training and had a notoriously eccentric personality. Worse still, his excessive infatuation with Freya led him to spread baseless rumors of a scandalous relationship between them, creating an ongoing nuisance to clean up.

Graham Harold, on the other hand, was Richard’s age and somewhat resembled a close friend. Coming from a noble lineage and devoid of unsavory gossip, he was the Countess’s choice for a future son-in-law.

Richard, however, disagreed. Graham had no significant flaws in character or background. The problem was his lack of ambition and overly modest nature.

The atmosphere of the Winchester family differed markedly from that of other grand noble families. As owners of prominent media companies, they maintained relatively close ties with the general public—a trait some found objectionable. Richard Spencer was among those who disapproved. He found their approach not objectionable but irritating.

In Richard’s view, nobility should live as nobles. There was no need to descend to the lower echelons and complicate matters under the guise of humility. This belief was shared by Freya Spencer.

For these reasons, Richard was convinced that Graham and Freya were ill-suited for each other. Graham would likely find Freya arrogant, while Freya would regard Graham as hypocritical.

“By the way, did you find out what I asked you to look into?”

“What do you mean?”

“About who Freya has taken an interest in lately.”

“Oh, that!”

Sebastian was momentarily surprised at having not yet reported such significant news to the Young Earl. He must have been distracted by Grace Gurton’s affairs.

“Recently, the young lady has been frequently visiting the Devonshire Duke’s estate.”

“The Devonshire? For what purpose?”

“Isn’t it obvious? To see someone she wishes to meet.” Sebastian grinned slyly.

Richard frowned and asked again, “Surely, it’s not Deimos Cavendish. Do you mean his younger sister?”

“She’s not going there to see the young lady.”

“Then who?”

“Apparently, she’s been visiting to see the Duke’s illegitimate son,” Sebastian replied with a knowing tone. “The maids at the Duke’s estate say it’s to meet him.”

“The illegitimate son? The one born out of wedlock?”

“Yes. Though he hasn’t been formally acknowledged yet, there’s speculation that the Duke of Devonshire will do so soon.”

Richard was appalled. But as a seasoned nobleman, he regained his composure and asked the most critical question to determine the situation’s course.

“Does he have any interest in Freya?”

Freya had denied it, but she could have been lying to protect him. Confirmation was necessary. A flicker of intensity briefly crossed Richard’s green eyes.

“No. It seems the illegitimate son has no interest in the young lady.”

“……”

That was only natural, and it was fortunate. But why did it feel so unpleasant? How could an illegitimate son not show the slightest interest in a beautiful count’s daughter?

“It’s likely just a fleeting infatuation with a handsome man,” Sebastian quickly added, sensing Richard’s discomfort.

“Handsome?”

“Oh, Young Master. Even if you don’t follow rumors, you must have heard. The illegitimate son’s looks are the talk of the town.”

“Is that so?”

“He’s famous for shooting golden arrows straight into the hearts of Lydon’s ladies.”

“……”

“After all, beauty is everything, isn’t it? Oh, but of course, you are no less impressive with your manly and dashing appearance,” Sebastian flattered shamelessly.

He added, “Women tend to like men with delicate, dandy-like appearances. Like the Devonshire illegitimate son or Theresius Wilford.”

“Theresius Wilford?”

Richard’s brow furrowed deeply.