Grace in Wonderland - Chapter 72

72. Interference

“How about sending a bouquet to Chelsea? It would please Lady Montague.”

“……”

“Include a letter of apology with it.”

“……”

Sebastian fretted as he paced around Richard, who remained silent. Ever since they were unceremoniously kicked out of the Montague mansion, Sebastian had been singing the same tune—reconcile with Lady Montague.

“Family members fight all the time; that’s how it is.”

“……”

“The longer you wait, the harder it gets to apologize, you know that?”

“…I don’t know.”

Feigning indifference, Richard gave a curt response, and Sebastian pouted in annoyance.

“It’s not as though Lady Montague was wrong, was she?”

Sebastian’s perspective leaned toward non-interference, while Mary Montague leaned toward interference. Yet, Sebastian saw merit in her reasoning, despite it clashing with his own views. This was because he was a seasoned and empathetic attendant.

Richard Spencer was a self-centered narcissist. Alone in his own world, he had no interest in how others felt.

Mary Montague was understandably uneasy. Grace Gurton was unlike other ladies. The man who married her would need to be a double or triple shield for her. On occasion, he’d even need to wield a spear and charge ahead.

For now, Richard was utterly captivated by Grace, following her around without restraint. But Mary likely feared he could change his mind at any moment. Her concerns were valid.

However, Sebastian had his suspicions. Sharing Richard Spencer’s daily life as his attendant, he couldn’t help but notice.

This time, it was real. The transformation in Richard over just a few months was undeniable. Reaching out first, showing care in subtle ways, and transparently revealing his fluctuating emotions—these were all new developments.

For someone who used to reject outstretched hands, rarely showed care, and, when he did, flaunted it openly, while keeping his true feelings tightly guarded—the change was profound. If this wasn’t love, then every definition of love in the world was a scam.

The person responsible for this transformation was Grace Gurton. Not long ago, Richard had suspected her of trying to siphon wealth from the Montague family. Yet now, she had become the leading lady of his heart.

The pretense was over. Sebastian had overheard the conversations between Richard and Lady Montague in the drawing room. And Richard knew Sebastian had been listening.

Thus, Richard’s love… was shared with his attendant. It was an awkward situation for both of them. Or perhaps only for Sebastian.

“I’m going to Dockland tonight to see Grace Gurton.”

Whenever Richard declared this outright, Sebastian instinctively curled his fingers into a fist, tucking them into his palm. It was his way of coping with the cringe-inducing secondhand embarrassment.

Inspecting the slums had been better. At least then, he could quietly chuckle at the spectacle.

“Have you thought about what else the classroom might need?”

What was he, an animal presenting prey to its mate? Why was he so obsessed with showering her with gifts? Sebastian pictured the shabby classroom stuffed with supplies, practically a storage room.

“The classroom is so cramped that there’s no more room for anything, Young Master.”

“Really?”

Richard’s face grew serious at Sebastian’s words. His brow furrowed deeply, as if he were pondering an unsolvable riddle. Any moment now, he might propose rebuilding the entire classroom from scratch.

“Just buy a ring.”

“A ring?”

“You’re planning to propose anyway, aren’t you?”

The opposing team’s defender had left the field. All that was left was to pick up the ball, charge forward, and score a try.

“Propose…”

Richard Spencer’s face turned bright red. He rubbed his flushed skin, now indistinguishable from his red hair. His lips and cheeks twitched uncontrollably.

To Sebastian, Richard’s behavior left a lasting impression:

He looked like a man who had lived alone in the mountains, coming to the city for the first time and encountering a woman.

This was why isolation didn’t work. People needed to live like everyone else.

What good was refined nobility if he floundered like an awkward fool when it came to love and marriage? He was an unpolished novice, barely scraping by.

Up until now, Sebastian’s guiding principle had been “don’t interfere.” It was wisdom born from years of watching over the headstrong Richard Spencer.

But this time, intervention was necessary. Without the civilizing touch of guidance, there seemed little hope of Richard living as anything resembling a human being. This was the rare chance to redirect the Young Earl’s course.

The first step was reconciling with Lady Mary Montague, just as Sebastian had been urging. Proposing to Grace Gurton while being at odds with her would be utterly unthinkable.

“Today, instead of Dockland, you should head to the Montague mansion.”

“……”

“Even if you don’t want to, it can’t be helped. Above all, isn’t she practically a mother to you? After the wound you inflicted on her heart, you should bow your head and apologize. If you’d just sought forgiveness immediately, it wouldn’t have dragged on this long.”

Richard Spencer was someone who prided himself on never apologizing recklessly. Bad habits are hard to break, and when left unchecked, they lead to one’s downfall. Apologies, too, are an art learned through practice.

For days, Richard had been avoiding and ignoring the pain he had caused the already frail Mary Montague. The unfamiliar experience of a personal conflict after ten years left him unsettled. Yet, avoidance and severance were what he did best, so it didn’t feel particularly different.

But one couldn’t live indefinitely in such a state—not with parents, not with children, and certainly not with someone like Lady Montague. Even setting Grace Gurton aside, Richard Spencer had plenty of reasons to humble himself before Mary Montague.

“Fine.”

Since an official request would likely be declined, an unannounced visit seemed the better option. Richard rose lightly and began preparing to leave.

Sebastian watched this small sign of maturity with a satisfied expression. The Young Earl, who had once been an unruly second-year public school boy, appeared to have grown just a little. If Sebastian could have, he might have patted him on the head.

At that moment, someone burst into Richard’s study.

“Richard!”

It was his younger sister, Freya, who had been staying in Bath with the Countess Spencer.

“Freya? You’ve returned without notice?”

“Richard, I have something to tell you!”

Freya, panting and flustered, exclaimed urgently. Richard placed his hands gently on her shoulders, his expression uneasy, and asked:

“If it’s not urgent, could it wait? I’m about to step out.”

“It’s urgent. More than anything.”

Freya Spencer rarely ran, and even more rarely raised her voice. The Countess’s strict discipline had ensured that.

So for Freya to enter so unladylike, breathless and shouting, meant there was a matter more terrifying than the Countess herself.

Richard massaged his left temple before guiding Freya to the couch in his study.

“What is it you need to tell me?”

Richard nodded to Sebastian, who promptly took the cue and left the study.

“Richard, today…”

“Today?”

“The Duke of Charlotte is coming to Lydon. Eleanor d’Estrée’s father.”

“What?”

Expecting at most some scandal involving an illegitimate child of the Duke of Devonshire, Richard froze at this unexpected revelation.

“While in Bath, Mother and the Duke of Charlotte kept in close contact. I assumed they were discussing Lancelot’s marriage, but that wasn’t it.”

“……”

“The Duke wants Lancelot to become the heir to their family. That way, marrying Eleanor won’t feel like a loss to them. And it’s exactly what Mother has always dreamed of.”

Freya’s voice trembled with frustration as she continued, “Yesterday, Mother suddenly announced we were returning to Lydon, which I found odd. This morning, while she was at breakfast, I secretly searched her room.”

“You…”

“Please don’t scold me for that now.”

“…Alright.”

“As soon as I confirmed the scheme between Mother and the Duke, I came straight here.”

“……”

“In two days, Mother is planning to call a surprise family meeting. The Duke of Charlotte will attend.”

Freya paused, studying Richard’s expression. His face remained impassive as ever.

“The agenda,”

Freya straightened her posture and, with a deep breath, delivered the next blow:

“…is the revocation of Richard Spencer’s status as Young Earl.”