Grace in Wonderland - Chapter 67

67. The Moment of Proposal

On the evening before his engagement, Theresius Wilford visited the Montague mansion in Chelsea. He was there to hurriedly propose to Grace Gurton.

It seemed unnecessary to propose when the engagement was just around the corner, but Theresius’s stubborn father had handed him his wife’s ring and nudged him to go. It was a kind of surprise event, carefully planned with Lady Mary Montague’s personality in mind.

The Baron Wilford’s prediction was correct. To Mary Montague, who had overcome class barriers to marry Anthony Montague, love and romance were inseparable. While she had meticulously reviewed the terms of the marriage contract, given her Spencer family upbringing, that was a separate matter altogether.

“This will be such a wonderful memory for Grace!”

Lady Montague couldn’t hide her excitement. Theresius Wilford, neatly dressed, holding a bouquet in one hand and a ring case in the other, reminded her of a younger Anthony Montague.

“How did you come up with such an idea? You truly are a considerate gentleman, Young Lord Wilford.”

“She’s going to be my wife, so it’s only natural to care for her, Madam.”

Theresius smiled gently, feeling glad he had listened to his father. It amused him how someone like Mary Montague, whose voice could dominate the social scene, was moved by something so trivial.

“Grace should be in the library. I’ll send a maid to bring her to the drawing room. Would you mind waiting?”

With a flushed face, Mary Montague guided him to the drawing room. Once she hurried off, Theresius made himself comfortable, sipping the tea brought by a maid and leisurely surveying the interior.

The drawing room of the Montague mansion was adorned with items imported from Turkan. These were goods that fetched dozens of times their original price once brought to Ingrint. Judging by the Chelsea mansion and the decorations, the Montagues had clearly amassed significant wealth.

When Theresius had first approached Grace Gurton at his father’s behest, it was because of the Montagues’ influence in politics and their connection to the Spencer family. However, now what caught his eye were the Montague assets, details of which were not fully known, and Grace Gurton’s inheritance rights.

Even after some time, Grace Gurton did not appear. It was obvious that Lady Montague was fussing over her, dressing her up from head to toe in anticipation of the proposal.

But in the end, she was just a woman who frequented a slum. Theresius smirked.

After marriage, he planned to stop her from teaching at the poorhouse. Though he had suggested volunteering together for appearances’ sake, his weak stomach made it impossible for him to endure trips to Dockland.

Grace Gurton, however, had continued to frequent such places, teaching the lowliest of women. Recently, this had gained her some notoriety through the “Blue Stocking” gatherings, but Theresius’s name had been absent from the stories.

From the Royal Library to the poorhouse, his fiancée’s growing reputation bothered him. He had wanted the image of a man embracing a lacking woman with love, not the image of someone cleaning up after a well-known woman.

When he heard she had spoken about expanding educational facilities and establishing colleges for women, he was utterly dumbfounded. If that was how she planned to act, then after marriage, Grace Gurton would not be allowed to step a foot outside the house.

“Oh, good evening, Lord Wilford.”

Grace Gurton entered the drawing room in an understated yet elegant outfit. Theresius estimated the approximate cost of her modestly designed pale pink dress. It was clear once again that the Montagues’ wealth exceeded expectations.

“Miss Gurton.”

Theresius greeted her with his characteristic gentle smile. As Grace hesitantly approached, he took her hand and led her to sit on the long sofa in the center of the drawing room.

“You’ve been very active with your volunteer work lately.”

“Ah, yes. Th-thank you for always sending guards and a carriage.”

“Think nothing of it. I wish I could join you, but I’ve been busy assisting my father with parliamentary matters. I truly feel sorry about that.”

“Oh, no. I-I’ve heard you’re very busy.”

Grace smiled as if to show she understood.

She had heard from Lord Anthony Montague that Parliament was in chaos. The process of overhauling the centuries-old Poor Law was fraught with constant disputes.

Grace didn’t know much about politics, but she at least wished for better treatment for the working women she taught.

Even among the poor, there was a hierarchy. Women and children, whose voices were nearly nonexistent, were among the weakest even within Dockland.

“Th-thank you sincerely.”

“What do you mean?”

“For replacing all the classroom supplies with new ones and for renovating the building so neatly.”

“……”

“And for occasionally sending food—you can’t imagine how happy the students are. They come to class after long, hard days of work, so they’re always very hungry. Since the portions are generous, they even take the leftovers home.”

“……”

Theresius remained silent at Grace’s words. That couldn’t be true. The funds collected from the nobles had not been sent to the poorhouse due to unavoidable circumstances. It was a matter he hadn’t even reported to Baron Wilford.

“There’s no need to thank me.”

Theresius quickly composed his slightly cracked expression and replied with feigned kindness.

“You should thank the patrons instead. I’ll make sure to pass along your gratitude.”

“Yes, yes. T-the students wrote letters of thanks. C-could you deliver those too?”

“Of course. I’m sure the patrons will be very pleased to receive them.”

Letters? So she’s even teaching them how to write now, it seems.

Theresius was deeply displeased by the fact that Grace Gurton had ignored his opinions and continued to instill false hopes in those of humble backgrounds. For this reason, prohibiting her from visiting the poorhouse after their marriage became an essential measure.

“Miss, tomorrow we’ll be engaged.”

“Y-yes.”

At those words, Grace’s heart began to twinge. Her engagement to Theresius Wilford had progressed smoothly, and their marriage was already planned for the same time next year.

Grace was someone who thrived on adapting. She was confident she could adjust to the engagement, the marriage, and life thereafter. It was a problem she could handle without much difficulty, given her skills.

But she didn’t want to face the problem. She knew that once she did, the solution would come easily, but the equations themselves held no appeal.

Yet the engagement ceremony was tomorrow, and the bell signaling the final five minutes of an exam was ringing. It was time to pick up the quill and write down the answer the examiner wanted.

“I came here to make my fiancée happy before the ceremony.”

Theresius Wilford knelt on one knee in front of Grace, looking directly into her eyes.

“As you know, the Wilford family crest features a willow branch. That’s why the ring passed down to the women of our family is also designed in the shape of a willow.”

Theresius took out a small, square case from his pocket and opened it as he spoke. Inside was a ring, its design resembling intertwined willow branches, adorned with gemstones shaped like leaves, intricately crafted.

“Please accept this ring and become the lady of the Wilford family, Miss Grace Gurton.”

Grace stared silently at the dazzlingly beautiful ring. It was lovely but looked heavy.

Theresius Wilford had asked her to become “the lady of the Wilford family,” not “his wife.” In noble families, marriage meant such things. Not a union of individuals but a merging of families. Not a bond of love but an exchange of advantages. For Grace Gurton, who was about to enter their society through this engagement and formal adoption, this was another hypothesis to prove and adapt to throughout her life.

“My lady, your hand.”

Theresius gestured toward Grace’s left hand. She forced herself out of her thoughts, curved her eyes into a smile, and slowly extended her hand forward.

At that moment, the sound of the drawing room door bursting open echoed through the room. Both their heads whipped around to the intruder, who stood boldly next to them.

“That’s enough, Wilford.”

With those words, cold tea was poured over Theresius Wilford’s impeccably styled hair. The empty teacup tumbled onto the carpet.

“What’s the meaning of this?!”

Theresius jumped up, drenched in tea, while Grace covered her mouth and began to hiccup. Lady Mary Montague, who had followed the intruder, froze in shock at the scene before her.

And watching this extraordinary spectacle, Sebastian smirked.

Direct tackle successful. No dismissal will be declared.

It was time to steal the ball. He suddenly felt a strong craving for popcorn.