Grace in Wonderland - Chapter 80

80. A Mother’s Legacy

Mary Montague’s body, which Richard Spencer had held throughout the night, was finally moved for embalming the next afternoon, with Lord Anthony Montague’s permission. After giving those instructions, Anthony secluded himself in his study, unmoving.

Legally, Grace Gurton had no relation to Mary Montague. However, as someone who had received her wealth and care, Grace stayed by Anthony Montague’s side throughout the funeral preparations. Mary Montague had repeatedly asked her to look after her husband, who would be left alone.

Grace took charge of placing the obituary in the newspaper and sending letters to acquaintances. She ordered lilies and arranged for the hearse to prepare for the funeral service, set to take place three days later in the Montague family mausoleum chapel.

It was through Richard Spencer’s words that Grace first learned Mary Montague had left her an enormous fortune. She wanted to question him right then, but it wasn’t appropriate to do so in front of the deceased.

The day before the funeral, Grace sought out Anthony Montague. He remained in his study, overcome with grief, his eyes red and swollen as he sat alone. He had barred the servants from entering and spent his time silently mourning. Seeing him, Grace’s heart ached as well.

“Y-Young Earl’s words… please don’t take them to heart. H-he didn’t mean them.”

At her words, Anthony Montague gave a bitter smile and replied, “I know. Someone he admired deeply has passed, and she didn’t even give him a hint. It’s understandable.”

Grace felt a sense of relief at his response. She had been worried about how much his feelings might have been hurt and was also concerned Richard Spencer might have earned his animosity.

When Grace had chastised Richard and left the room, she had been furious herself. It wasn’t just that she hadn’t been able to properly mourn Lady Montague’s death, but also that she had to endure Richard’s harsh words. Her heart had felt like a garbage heap.

The gap between ideal and reality was vast. Richard Spencer, who was wrong, hateful, and dark, had once caused her loss and now caused her pain.

Yes, it was true she had lied and hidden the truth, forced by Mary Montague’s earnest pleas. From Richard’s perspective, it must have been hard to accept. In time, she began to feel sorry for him.

However, that didn’t mean she deserved to be blamed for things she didn’t even know about. That was why Grace knocked on Anthony Montague’s study door.

“L-Lord Montague, I have a question.”

“What is it?”

“T-the other day, the Young Earl mentioned something in passing. D-did Madam leave anything to me?”

“…Did Richard tell you that?”

“Y-yes. B-but I wasn’t aware of anything…”

“Mary’s assets have been transferred to you. Richard helped with the initial paperwork.”

“Yes…?”

“The plan was to inform you on the day of your engagement to Wilford. Lawyers were to be present to finalize the adoption process simultaneously.”

“I-I can’t accept that. I-I can’t take it.”

Grace shook her hands in refusal.

She had already received so much from Lady Mary Montague. The first expensive dress she had ever worn, custom-made accessories, unique experiences in Lydon and Bath, charity for the poorhouse she had stayed in, and most importantly, the occasional care and affection Mary had shown her.

All of that was more than enough. It was overwhelming.

“C-can’t I return it?”

Anthony Montague didn’t answer her question. Instead, he picked up a thick envelope and a small box from his desk and handed them to her.

“It’s yours. I’ve never gone against Mary’s wishes after our marriage. Even if she’s no longer here… I don’t want to defy her.”

“……”

“The envelope contains documents listing assets now in your name. And the box…”

Anthony Montague’s voice trailed off as he closed his eyes tightly. Grace looked down at the clumsily held box in her hands.

“That’s Annabel’s ring.”

“…Yes?”

Grace blinked, startled. Annabel’s name was the last thing she expected to hear in this situation.

“As you know, Annabel was… my cousin and Mary’s friend. It was through Annabel that Mary and I met. At the time, I was poor and had no title to inherit, just an insignificant man, and Mary was a Spencer. I thought we had no chance. That’s why I rejected her confession several times.”

Anthony Montague’s voice was heavy with regret as he continued.

“When I finally changed my mind and accepted Mary, when the Spencer family granted permission for our marriage, I was still poor. I couldn’t even afford a proper engagement ring. I absolutely refused to use the money James Spencer tossed my way to buy one.”

“……”

“That’s when Annabel secretly sold her jewelry and bought this ring. I used it to propose to Mary.”

“……”

“I thought I could repay her during my lifetime. I intended to repay her over and over again. But everything happened so suddenly. I never imagined she’d leave us so soon.”

“……”

“Annabel only wrote to us about her daughter as she faced death. Mary and I were abroad at the time. We only found her letter months later when we returned to Lydon.”

“……”

“We rushed to Aire, but by then, you had already been sent somewhere. We scoured every poorhouse in Aire and finally found you.”

“……”

“I initially opposed adopting you. Annabel’s name still carried weight in society, and I feared you’d be hurt by it.”

“……”

“But Mary thought differently. She believed that the more challenging the circumstances, the more we needed to support you so you could live confidently. She insisted that, now that our name wasn’t so insignificant anymore, we should give you our name and Mary’s wealth so you could reclaim your place.”

“……”

“Annabel sold everything she had to buy this ring. That must have made life even harder for her in Aire. I’ve always felt guilty about that, as did Mary.”

“……”

“So think of these documents as the interest on the original cost of the ring. They’re for you and Annabel.”

“……”

“Once the funeral is over, we’ll resume the adoption process. Please keep that in mind.”

“……”

“Do you have any other questions?”

Grace opened her mouth as if to speak but then shook her head softly. She gripped the ring box tightly in her hands.

“P-please… m-make sure to eat.”

At her concern, Anthony Montague let out a dry laugh.

“You’re thoughtful.”

“……”

“Even though we’ve prepared for this for so long, it’s still hard to process. If Richard comes by again, send him to me. He’ll be struggling even more.”

“……”

“He was a very lonely child.”

Anthony Montague muttered softly. As Grace left the study, she repeated his words to herself a few times.

A very lonely child.

Richard Spencer was the heir of one of Ingrint’s most prestigious families. He didn’t seem like someone who would know loneliness.

There had been times she found it strange that Richard regarded Mary Montague as a mother figure despite the Countess of Spencer still being alive. Even at the villa in Bath, she’d never seen him engage with the Countess.

Was the perfect façade hiding loneliness? Was that why Richard had that look on his face while gazing at the waters of Cherry Hinton? Did it have something to do with why he disliked the face others praised?

“Richard is a cowardly fool, Grace.”

“He was a very lonely child.”

As she walked back to her room, the Montagues’ words echoed in Grace’s ears like a chant. The Richard Spencer they described was different from both the one known to society and the one she had seen.

Every door has a hidden side. Even shadows cast on cave walls have substance.

Grace pushed aside the memory of Richard Spencer’s harsh words and his anguish. She stared at the ring—Mary Montague’s keepsake and her mother’s gift—for a long time before slipping it onto her finger.

The ring loosely encircled her slender finger, jangling softly as it moved.