Grace in Wonderland - Chapter 37

37. The Properties of a Triangle

The tea party organized by Lady Mary Montague did not proceed smoothly.

The hostess, Lady Montague, had to leave her seat just ten minutes after the tea was served. Feeling her breathing grow labored and sensing the onset of a coughing fit, she hastily rose from her seat, excusing herself by claiming she did not wish to intrude as an unseemly old woman among the younger generation.

Grace wore a concerned expression but pretended not to notice, as she had locked eyes with Lady Montague’s sharp gaze.

Unfortunately, Eleanor d’Estrée and Lancelot Spencer also failed to keep their promises. They had gone out to the Pump Room at midday, intending to return in time for tea. However, their open carriage became stuck in the mud, forcing them to waste time on the road.

Moreover, due to the uncovered nature of the carriage, the tilting vehicle splattered mud onto Eleanor’s latest Gallian dress and her shiny golden hair. Lancelot Spencer was no exception.

As a result, they were only able to return home after the tea party had ended. Their appearance, resembling two peacocks drenched in filth, made the villa’s maids sigh internally at the thought of the laundry.

Due to these circumstances, only three people attended the tea party: Grace Gurton, who reluctantly became the host in Lady Montague’s absence; the invited guest, Theresius Wilford; and Richard Spencer, awkwardly wedged between the two.

Richard Spencer deliberately arrived late. While punctuality was a noble virtue, he didn’t feel like adhering to it this time. Ignoring Sebastian’s time updates to the minute, he delayed for a full thirty minutes before finally opening the drawing-room door.

What he saw upon entering was Theresius Wilford and Grace Gurton seated together, chatting amiably like a pair of lovebirds.

“Do you know how long I’ve been waiting for this moment? And then, in the blink of an eye, the clock’s hands pointed to two o’clock, as if the clock were adjusting itself to my wishes.”[1]

“I-is that so?”

Richard slammed the drawing-room door shut.

“What exactly are you two doing?”

Admittedly, the words came out harshly.

It wasn’t intentional. For some time now, Richard Spencer had felt as if he were being manipulated by an unseen force. While his actions were undoubtedly his own, they felt strangely out of his control. It was akin to drinking and driving a carriage yet denying he was under the influence.

“Shouldn’t you greet us first, Richard?”

Theresius grinned smugly as he spoke. Richard tilted his head slightly, silently vowing to strike him someday.

“I apologize for being late, Miss Gurton.”

“N-no, it’s fine. Lord Wilford was sharing some amusing stories with me.”

Amusing stories? From that sly embodiment of desire? Richard wondered if Wilford even had the capacity for humor.

“Did you pick up some new entertainment skills recently, Wilford?”

Richard’s reply was laced with sarcasm, and seeing Wilford’s pale face twist in annoyance gave Richard a peculiar sense of satisfaction.

“What were you two discussing?”

Richard gestured toward a maid standing in the doorway, then took the seat across from Grace. The maid, bowing her head, promptly left to bring the tea that had been prepared for him.

“Miss Gurton mentioned that she writes in a diary daily.”

The answer came from Theresius.

“A diary?”

“Y-yes, I’ve been keeping one diligently since childhood,” Grace added shyly.

Theresius added, his tone ingratiating,“They say women have a knack for writing in a plain and pleasing style, and that this skill is developed through the habit of keeping a diary. Writing delightful letters, I think, is a talent unique to women.”[2]

“I-is that so?”

“There are things women are better at than men, you know—like performing duets or painting landscapes. Of course, there are far more areas where men are superior, but women do have a few areas where they excel.”[3]

Grace couldn’t agree with his statement. Whenever she hummed, Professor Charles Dodgson would scratch his temple, feigning an itch, while covertly covering his ears. And the few paintings she had attempted ended up as kindling.

According to her mother, Grace’s father, Lewis Gurton, had been skilled at painting, while her mother sang beautifully like a nightingale. Grace had inherited none of their artistic talents.

“Miss Gurton excels in other areas,” Richard interjected, cutting off Theresius.

“Really? What might those be, Miss Gurton?” Theresius asked, his expression feigning genuine curiosity. Not that he cared in the slightest—pretending to, as usual.

Richard struggled to suppress his irritation and answered on her behalf, “Miss Gurton is well-versed in mathematics.”

“Mathematics? The kind taught at college? Not simple addition and subtraction like other women?”

Theresius’s eyes widened as if surprised. Then he gazed at Grace with an expression akin to that of a divine messenger.

“I-it’s nnot much. I-I’m only helping Professor Charles Dodgson with his research as a pastime. J-just errands,” Grace stammered in embarrassment. Speaking of such things in front of Richard Spencer, a graduate of the best college in Ingrint, was humiliating.

“Miss Gurton, may I make a proposal?”

Richard paused, contemplating how to derail Theresius, but Theresius spoke first.

“W-what is it?”

“When you return to Lydon, would you join me in visiting a poorhouse?”

“A p-poorhouse?”

From the depths of her memory, Grace recalled a woman waving a ladle while yelling furiously.

“W-why a poorhouse?”

“My father is deeply interested in social welfare. I’m graduating soon and plan to assist him. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could help the less fortunate together? I know many ladies disapprove of such activities, but you seem different, Miss Gurton.”

“What, what could I possibly do there?”

“Most of the people in poorhouses are illiterate. They can’t read or write, not even numbers. Ingrint is a great nation, yet its literacy rate is abysmal. Perhaps you could teach the children and women there language and mathematics?”

Richard, barely concealing his displeasure, interjected, “Are you seriously suggesting that a lady destined to become the Young Lady of Montague involve herself in such dangerous work? Miss Gurton, you’d be better off keeping your distance from such ignorant people. If you truly wish to help, open your purse. Personally getting involved only tarnishes your dignity.”

Richard had his reasons for saying this. A woman like Grace, already burdened by rumors, visiting a poorhouse would only invite more scandal.

Moreover, Richard Spencer believed it was better to resolve social issues with money rather than through superficial acts of charity. Wealthy noblewomen visiting poorouses once or twice a week, delegating the dirty and hard work to maids while treating their visits as indulgences, were all too common.

“I-I’ll think about it.”

Richard had expected her to agree immediately. After all, she liked Richard Spencer, didn’t she?

But her response wasn’t as straightforward as he’d anticipated. By Ingrintian standards, wasn’t her reply a positive one? Why couldn’t Grace Gurton outright refuse?

As Richard puzzled over her hesitation, Theresius smiled triumphantly. Richard stared at the shimmering vitality in her multicolored eyes, realizing something unsettling: today, he had lost again. And this loss was devastating.

***

A triangle is a shape consisting of three sides and three angles. Its interior angles always sum up to 180 degrees, a property that never changes.

This means that when one angle, A, remains constant at the center, the other two angles adjust depending on the lengths of the other two sides.

Take a right triangle as an example. If the included angle is set at 90 degrees and the sides extend equally, forming an isosceles triangle, the other two angles each measure 45 degrees. However, if the sides differ in length, forming a scalene triangle, the angles vary.

When the sides lengthen, the angle formed between the longer side and its opposite becomes smaller. Conversely, when the sides shorten, the angle becomes larger.

Sometimes, love mirrors the properties of triangles, especially in love triangles. The most common form involves one person being adored by two others, or at least appearing so.

Grace Gurton sat at the vertex of a triangle, where the 90-degree angle spread into two sides. The other two vertices belonged to Richard Spencer and Theresius Wilford.

As the sides lengthened, the angles at the ends became sharper. Throughout the tea party, Richard Spencer’s demeanor was sharp and pointed, while Theresius Wilford remained relaxed.

Richard’s behavior, as keen and cutting as an acute angle, was a reflection of how far his feelings had stretched. This was a truth neither he nor anyone else had fully realized.

Author’s Footnotes:

[1] Partially modified quotation from the Mad Hatter’s dialogue in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Chapter 7, “A Mad Tea Party”

[2] Partially modified quotation from Henry Tilney’s dialogue in Northanger Abbey, Volume 1, Chapter 3

[3] Partially modified quotation from Henry Tilney’s dialogue in Northanger Abbey, Volume 1, Chapter 3.