Grace in Wonderland - Chapter 54

54. Practicing Advice

At breakfast this morning, Lady Mary Montague heard the news that Eleanor d’Estrée had left Bath at dawn. Lancelot, the Countess, and Freya did not come down to the dining room.

“The engagement with Eleanor d’Estrée has been annulled, Aunt.”

Present at the table were Lady Mary Montague, Richard Spencer, and Grace Gurton—just the three of them. The servants and attendants had already been dismissed, leaving the vast dining room with a chill that belied the summer season.

“What?”

Lady Montague paused mid-drink, lowering her glass.

“Lady d’Estrée left for Lydon early this morning. She says she’s returning to Gallia.”

“Could you explain in more detail?”

Richard’s demeanor was calm throughout. He did not appear as someone affected by a terminated engagement.

“Since you would learn of it anyway, I will explain here.”

Unconsciously, Lady Montague wet her lips with her tongue. A woman born into a great noble family and well-versed in life’s complexities, her intuition whispered that something was amiss.

“I plan to marry Lancelot and Lady d’Estrée.”

“What…!”

Lady Montague slammed her glass onto the table, producing a sharp sound. The implication of his statement was clear.

“Everyone knows those two were close, Richard.”

Still, even a clear implication required verification. Lady Montague’s voice quivered slightly as she spoke.

“If that’s all you’re basing this on…”

“I saw it with my own eyes, and there were other witnesses.”

Richard’s gaze briefly flickered toward Grace Gurton as he spoke. Grace lowered her head, listening silently to the conversation.

“What exactly did you see?”

“For the sake of Lady d’Estrée’s honor, I won’t elaborate. It’s better for you to leave it at that.”

“Then what about the witnesses?”

If Richard’s claim was true, the witnesses would become a persistent source of trouble for the Spencer family. They would need to be silenced promptly and permanently. That was the way Lady Montague, as someone raised in the Spencer household, had been taught to think.

“There’s no need to concern yourself with that.”

Richard’s reply was reassuring, as though to soothe Lady Montague’s worry.

Edmund Beaufort, while often frivolous, possessed a surprising ability to discern what should and should not be done. Perhaps that was why, despite his libertine lifestyle, he had managed not to earn the ire of women.

As for Grace Gurton, Richard had never been worried. She was so tight-lipped that, even days after the ball, she had not voluntarily mentioned anything, even to Lady Montague.

Because of this, Richard Spencer had been able to ease the shame he felt when Grace had stumbled upon him in that humiliating moment. He found himself respecting her friendship more than ever.

“Does Elaine… I mean, the Countess, know about this?”

“I told her briefly. I sent someone to Wormleighton the day before yesterday, so the Earl will hear of it in two days.”

Lady Montague clutched her chest as she abruptly stood. A dry cough echoed through the cold dining room.

“A-are you all right?”

Grace Gurton, who had remained silent until now, hurried to Lady Montague’s side. Seeing Grace’s frightened, gentle expression, Lady Montague forced a smile—the kind one uses to reassure a nervous accomplice.

“What on earth is happening?”

Lady Montague paced around the dining room, her eyes fixed on the unmovable Richard.

“L-Lady Montague, please, sit down over here.”

Unable to watch any longer, Grace took Lady Montague’s hand and guided her to a seat.

“Such an unbelievable thing has happened, Grace.”

Already frail due to illness, Lady Montague’s hands felt even colder. Grace quickly rubbed them to warm them.

“What about that boy Lancelot? What’s he doing now?”

Lady Montague asked as she caught her breath. What puzzled her most was why Lancelot Spencer was so unnervingly silent.

“…He’s probably in his room.”

The last time Richard spoke with his younger brother, Lancelot had been overwhelmed with emotion and anguish. Richard assumed he was still in the same state, refusing to leave his room.

“Young Master.”

While the three sat with heavy expressions, Sebastian entered the dining room hurriedly and announced, “The second young master’s door was open, so I checked, but he was not inside. He left something behind that I believe you should read.”

Richard unfolded the note Sebastian handed him. The writing was a mess, as if scrawled in a rush, and Richard’s firm lips softened slightly as he read it.

“What does it say?” Lady Montague approached him and asked.

Richard handed her the note and answered, “He asks for forgiveness for leaving in a hurry without saying goodbye… and he thanks Miss Grace Gurton.”

Hearing this, Grace blinked in surprise. Lady Montague, equally puzzled, turned to look at her.

Sitting some distance away, Richard Spencer closed his green eyes slowly. Until they fully shut, his gaze remained warm, fixed on one point.

***

“What did that note mean earlier?”

As soon as they left the dining room, Lady Mary Montague led Grace into the drawing room. She sat Grace down beside her and firmly took her hand.

“Why did Lancelot thank you?”

Grace, looking troubled, hesitated before finally speaking with reluctance.

“A-sctually, I was the witness. I-I think he’s thanking me for keeping it a secret.”

“You?”

Lady Montague’s eyes widened as she stared at Grace. Then she sighed with relief.

“What a relief.”

“…P-pardon?”

“Richard said there was no need to worry about the witness, but I couldn’t let it go. I was even considering torturing Sebastian to find out who it was, just in case.”

“T-torture?”

“Hohoho, I’m joking.”

Mary Montague laughed and waved her hand dismissively. However, Grace’s tingling sense of unease suggested that at least half of what Lady Montague said was true.

“What exactly happened that day?”

“……”

Grace couldn’t easily bring herself to speak. The general outline was clear, but the details were private, and she didn’t want to talk about them lightly.

“I-it’s difficult for me to explain. I-I’m sorry, Madam.”

Lady Montague remained silent for a while before responding in a cheerful tone.

“That’s an excellent stance to take.”

“……”

“No matter how muddy the waters of the Lydon social scene may be, people like you help purify them.”

“I-I haven’t done anything.”

Mary Montague gently brushed Grace’s curls aside and spoke again, “You probably already know this, but let me give you a bit of advice anyway.”

“……”

“Get to know your friends, and if you judge them to be worth keeping, hold on to them tightly. It’s best to avoid getting into fights, but if you do, make sure to teach them a lesson. Act in a way that makes them treat you with respect.”[1]

Mary Montague’s tone became serious.

“Of course, Anthony and I will protect you, but we can’t know everything that happens behind the scenes. And I doubt you’d tell us anyway.”

“……”

“So, remember this. The most important thing is…”

Just as she was about to continue, Richard entered the drawing room and interjected, “To avoid conflicts when possible, but if you do get involved, make sure to stand your ground, right?”

“Richard!”

Richard flashed a mischievous grin as he sat down across from Lady Montague and Grace.

“‘Hamlet.’ You used to tell me the same thing when I was young.”

“But I emphasized a different part to you.”

“I remember. You told me to hold on tightly to friends worth keeping.”

Mary Montague shot him a playful glare. “For someone who remembers so well, you certainly don’t seem to take my advice.”

“We’ll see.”

Lady Montague had long advised Richard to find close friends he could confide in. However, Richard had always dismissed her suggestions.

Whenever she brought it up, Richard Spencer felt uncomfortable. But now, things were different. He had finally found a “friend” worth keeping.

In that sense, Richard Spencer felt he needed time with his friend. He wanted to check the back of the note Sebastian had given him.

“If you knew how well I’ve followed your advice, you’d be surprised.”

“Really?”

Mary Montague raised an eyebrow.

“Then, if you’ll excuse me, I have something to discuss with my friend.”

Richard gestured confidently toward Grace.

“Friend?”

Ignoring Mary’s astonished expression, Richard turned to Grace again.

“You must have something to say to me, Grace.”

“Grace?”

Mary Montague’s voice rose in surprise. She was left speechless as Richard casually extended his hand to Grace without hesitation.

Author’s Footnote:

[1] Partially modified quotation from Polonius’s lines in Act 1, Scene 3 of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet