Grace in Wonderland - Chapter 81

81. The Arrival of Family

The funeral began humbly but ended grandly. Although it was meant to be a modest ceremony in the family chapel, following Mary Montague’s wishes, many of her acquaintances and those she had helped in her lifetime gathered to mourn her.

Lord Anthony Montague, Mary’s husband, could not stop his tears. It was rare for a husband to weep so sorrowfully at his wife’s funeral, drawing sympathy from the women present and disapproval from the men.

Grace Gurton stayed in a corner of the chapel. After Mary Montague’s passing, rumors about Grace’s future had spread like wildfire. Some unscrupulous individuals even placed bets on it.

To protect her, Anthony Montague ensured she remained as inconspicuous as possible. However, in an open space, it was impossible for her to remain completely hidden. A few people inevitably noticed her presence.

Not long after, a new malicious rumor spread, carried by the wind of fans and whispered in the drawing rooms of Lydon society. It claimed Grace Gurton was a cold-hearted woman who didn’t shed a single tear at the funeral of someone who had cherished her.

Richard Spencer, his sorrow perfectly concealed, greeted mourners with an impassive expression. Attendees praised his noble and steadfast demeanor, saying it was befitting of a great aristocrat.

Richard’s thoughts were clear. Status was decisive and had the power to obscure many things. The same actions could receive vastly different judgments depending on one’s status.

The Young Earl of Spencer stayed until the very end, witnessing Mary Montague’s coffin being laid to rest in the family mausoleum. Occasionally, he discreetly scanned the surroundings, searching for Grace Gurton.

This wasn’t only due to the deep grief caused by her death but also to address the lingering dull pain he had caused. He intended to express his discomfort about the harsh words he had spoken and assure her that he would avoid such incidents in the future. It was the utmost regret a nobleman could show.

Unfortunately, the two didn’t cross paths that day. Grace stayed away from everyone, while Richard was surrounded by countless people.

In the end, Richard Spencer returned home without offering his regrets to her. A month passed as he endured his grief and dull pain.

***

After Mary Montague’s funeral, Grace remained incredibly busy. She divided the household duties with the butler, taking on tasks usually assigned to him.

Although the butler tried to dissuade her, her determination was unwavering. Keeping herself busy allowed her to momentarily set aside her overwhelming thoughts. Thus, she actively sought out tasks to occupy herself.

“Miss Gurton.”

As she sat with the butler, organizing receipts, a servant approached her cautiously. His face showed clear discomfort.

“There’s a visitor at the gate. They claim to be your… family. Since their identity hasn’t been verified, I asked them to wait outside, with your understanding.”

“F-family?”

“Yes, that’s what they said.”

Grace tilted her head at the mention of “family.” Since her mother’s death, she had no one she could call family.

“I-I’ll go out and see. T-thank you.”

As Grace quickly draped a shawl over her shoulders, the butler stepped in front of her and asked, “Wouldn’t it be better to bring someone along to meet them?”

“I-it’s fine. I-I’ll be back shortly.”

Grace replied with a determined smile. Leaving behind their worried gazes, she hurried to the front gate of the Montague estate.

“Grace!”

A man calling her name came rushing toward her. Grace stared intently at him. Even before he introduced himself, she felt she knew who he was.

Viscount Lovelace.

His brown hair and hazel eyes, tinged with a reddish hue, were inherited from her mother. His modest height and features bore a strong resemblance to Grace and Annabel. He was undoubtedly her mother’s brother.

“I’m your uncle. Annabel’s younger brother.”

The man, dressed decently, approached Grace. As a strong scent of alcohol wafted from him, she instinctively took a step back and regarded him with wary eyes.

“I was so heartbroken to hear about Annabel’s death.”

The man extended his hand, forcing out tears. However, Grace did not take his hand.

“I heard Lady Mary Montague took you in, so I came to visit several times, but I was turned away each time. That wretched woman blocked me from seeing my own niece. Interfering with a reunion between family like that… she’ll face divine punishment even in death!”

“V-Viscount Lovelace.”

Whether it was due to drunkenness or his naturally brash personality, the man spewed insults about Mary Montague in front of Grace. There was no reason to listen to the ramblings of a drunken man with unfocused eyes. Grace interrupted him and waited for him to get to the point.

The Lovelace family had excommunicated Annabel Gurton immediately after she left Ingrint. Although she had already been married by then, the excommunication served as a formal severance. It was a calculated move to distance themselves from Annabel and the constant gossip about her in high society.

Before her death, Annabel wrote letters to both her friend Mary Montague and her younger brother, Viscount Lovelace, pleading for them to take in her daughter, Grace Gurton.

Had the Viscount not torn up the letter immediately upon receiving it and instead crossed over to Aire to fetch the child, Grace wouldn’t have spent years starving and freezing in a poorhouse.

However, the Viscount turned his back on his niece. Months later, it was Mary and Anthony Montague who scoured all of Aire and finally rescued Grace.

Grace had no idea her mother had sent a letter to the Viscount. Nor did she know about his recent visits; Mary Montague had never mentioned them. But Grace could easily guess why Mary had kept quiet.

It was because she sensed danger and desperation from him. Despite his tidy appearance, the Viscount’s gaze, expressions, and every movement oozed shameless desperation.

Grace had endured famine and disease in Aire. She had witnessed countless deaths and understood well how people became shameless when clawing their way out of hardship. The man in front of her, sweating and feigning tears, was no different.

“W-why are you looking for me?”

“Why would you ask such a thing? That’s so hurtful, Grace. We’re family, aren’t we?”

He grabbed her hand. Grace wanted to pull away, but the drunken man’s grip was too strong.

“I heard you’re going to be adopted into the Montague family.”

Viscount Lovelace licked his dry lips. This niece he was meeting for the first time seemed like a miracle worker—a savior.

After inheriting his title a few years ago, the Viscount had ventured into various businesses. Though a minor aristocrat, he was blinded by ambition and greed, second to none.

But the world wasn’t kind. Managing a small rural estate was entirely different from tackling urban business ventures. In his desperation to revive his dwindling fortunes, he fell victim to a scam.

The Viscount’s desire for a quick fortune, his ignorance, and his gullibility made him an easy target for swindlers. Seduced by promises of massive returns, he invested all his wealth into a risky venture.

Initially, he saw his investments multiply tenfold. Emboldened, he reinvested all his profits and even took out loans to pour more money into the scheme.

But soon, the stock prices plummeted, and the Viscount went bankrupt overnight. The Lovelace estate was now on the verge of being seized.

Rumors swirled that the scam was a large-scale operation involving the Ingrint government, but investigations were still in their early stages. There was no way for the Viscount to claim restitution or recover his losses.

Then, one of his creditors, who had lent him a significant sum, mentioned Grace Gurton. The creditor pressured him to beg his niece, soon to become a Montague adoptee, for money.

That was why the Viscount had repeatedly tried to visit Grace. Mary Montague had blocked him every time, but now she was gone. The servants had no authority to turn away visitors or withhold messages. Thus, today presented Viscount Lovelace with a golden opportunity.

“Money, lend me some money, Grace.”