Grace in Wonderland - Chapter 87

87. Explanation

“That can’t be, Young Earl.”

By definition, an experienced servant is one who adheres to the principle of not interfering in the conversations of their superiors, as though this principle is etched into their very being. Especially for someone in the position of Montague’s butler, not only was he expected not to interrupt conversations, but he also mastered the art of existing as if he wasn’t even there.

They were individuals who, even while witnessing exchanges between the master and their guests, neither saw nor heard anything. Servants only became visible when tea cups were emptied or desserts ran out.

Richard Spencer, having frequented the Montague mansion since childhood, was well aware of how seamlessly the butler could disappear into the background. For the butler to interject in their conversation was utterly unthinkable.

“What are you trying to say?”

Richard asked, shifting his gaze from Edmund to the butler. Edmund Beaufort, equally startled, turned to look at the butler with a puzzled expression.

“It’s clear that Viscount Lovelace stole the ring from Miss Grace Gurton.”

Well, this is something new. The butler’s bombshell revelation made Edmund feel as if he had been struck.

Every family has its hidden stories beneath its facade. However, unlike others, Edmund wasn’t particularly curious about such matters. Learning these secrets wouldn’t change anything, and he couldn’t fix them anyway. So, why did people insist on delving into the private affairs of others?

One of the secrets to Edmund Beaufort’s popularity was this: respecting what others wished to keep hidden. Whether it was mismatched bosoms or seven-toed feet, if someone didn’t want to reveal it, Edmund simply didn’t look. There was always plenty to admire elsewhere.

So why did he keep ending up learning things in this way? Ever since getting involved with Grace Gurton, Edmund found himself fretting over the unwrapping of hidden packages in other people’s households. This time, it was a case of familial theft—and the stolen item happened to be Mary Montague’s engagement ring!

“Tell me everything you know.”

Richard commanded. The butler wasn’t someone who would make baseless statements, and that made Richard even more serious.

“Since Miss Gurton’s arrival in Lydon, Viscount Lovelace has frequently visited the estate. Lady Montague consistently refused to see him.”

“Why?”

“From what I’ve heard, the Viscount recently went bankrupt. He was caught up in a stock fraud scandal that caused a great deal of debt.”

“So, he came looking for Grace Gurton?”

“That seemed to be Lady Montague’s suspicion. Isn’t it plausible? The Lovelace family severed ties with Annabel Gurton long ago and had no previous contact with Miss Grace Gurton.”

“And then?”

“A few days ago, the Viscount came again. Since Lady Montague was not present, Miss Gurton went outside to meet him herself.”

The butler hadn’t been able to rest easy knowing Grace was meeting the Viscount alone. Though she had refused to bring an attendant, the butler had followed discreetly.

Being unseen despite being present was his specialty. As such, the butler had observed what transpired outside the estate without being noticed.

“The Viscount did ask Miss Gurton for financial assistance, but she refused immediately.”

“…Then what about the ring? Why does the Viscount have it?”

At Richard’s question, the butler hesitated. To explain, he would have to disclose his knowledge of the argument between Richard Spencer and Grace Gurton on that day—or more precisely, Richard’s one-sided accusations and Grace’s declaration of separation.

“Young Earl.”

The butler called Richard, seemingly embarrassed. Then, after glancing briefly at Edmund Beaufort, who was feigning disinterest, the butler looked back at Richard.

Surely, the butler thought, Richard could take the hint that he wanted Edmund to leave the room.

But Richard Spencer, oblivious to such subtleties, urged him.

“Speak now.”

Fine, thought the butler. Whatever embarrassment followed would be Richard’s to bear. Resigned, the butler began to explain.

“That day…”

“That day?”

“The day you visited the estate and encountered Miss Grace Gurton outside.”

“…How do you know about that?”

Richard was mortified, not just embarrassed, to realize that the butler had witnessed the incident. The very scene where Grace Gurton had declared, “I hope we won’t meet again,” had been observed. And of all people, the witness was the Montague butler, someone Richard would inevitably see again.

“I was concerned for Miss Gurton and followed her discreetly. It was because Viscount Lovelace had come to visit that day,” the butler explained.

“…Viscount Lovelace?”

If his first emotion was embarrassment, the second was despair. The man Grace had been holding hands with that day… was none other than Viscount Lovelace?

Richard wanted to vanish. He wished he could warp back to the Spencer mansion, crawl under his bedcovers, and kick them in frustration. Sebastian’s nagging words, “Why don’t you pay more attention to others?” now rang painfully true.

Come to think of it, Richard hadn’t even registered the man standing close to Grace. He hadn’t bothered to note his appearance, his age, or any other details. He’d only confirmed that it was a man and had completely lost his senses.

Without knowing the full story, Richard had mistaken Viscount Lovelace for a stranger and accused Grace Gurton of seducing random men with her innocent face. But accusations hadn’t been enough; he had even asked if she made a habit of it.

The primary reason Richard had come to the Montague mansion today was out of sheer curiosity. After returning to Westminster without discovering who the man was, his frustration had nearly driven him mad.

Additionally, he had planned to demonstrate his vast capacity for understanding to Grace. He intended to magnanimously undo her declaration of separation. He had convinced himself it had been an innocent misunderstanding—just hand-holding, nothing more—and, despite his reluctance, had resolved to forgive her.

“It seems Viscount Lovelace wrestled with Miss Gurton and took the ring from her. Since that day, the ring has not been seen on her finger.”

As the butler continued, Richard’s face turned ghostly pale. Normally as fair as a marble statue from the Romian era, even the freckles that dotted his skin seemed to have vanished, leaving his complexion deathly white.

“To think he would consider putting a stolen item up for auction. Our company narrowly avoided disaster,” Edmund Beaufort said, clearing his throat.

It had been sheer luck that Edmund had discovered the ring while inspecting the auction items. Without his discerning eye—the finest in Ingrint for identifying gemstones—Beaufort might have been accused of trafficking stolen goods, bringing disgrace upon their name.

“In that case, I’ll have to report Viscount Lovelace to the Metropolitan Police,” Edmund declared, rising from his chair. He suspected there were layers to this story that Richard and the butler weren’t sharing, but he had no desire to dig deeper. It was already more than he cared to know.

Using his intention to report to the police as an excuse, Edmund prepared to leave the stifling drawing room. The ring was now in Richard Spencer’s possession, so it would likely find its way back to its rightful owner.

“Beaufort.”

“Yes?”

Before Edmund could take more than two steps, Richard Spencer tripped him up with his words. Like a bear dreaming of freedom beyond its cage, Edmund stumbled back.

“Delay the report. I’ll handle the matter concerning Viscount Lovelace.”

What?

At Richard’s declaration, both Edmund and the butler instinctively bowed their heads in silent prayer for Viscount Lovelace’s soul. They knew that being imprisoned by the Metropolitan Police might actually be a better fate.

“Fine, I’ll hold off on reporting it for now.”

Of course, there was no guarantee the Viscount would still be alive by the time a report was filed.

Edmund Beaufort silently thanked his personal philosophy—never waste energy on a woman already involved with someone else—for sparing him from further entanglement.

“Richard, I’ll take my leave now.”

“……”

“When Miss Grace Gurton returns, please see that her portrait is delivered to her. Let her know I’ll be sending another request soon and ask her to reply.”

Before leaving, Edmund made a point to remind the butler. Though his romantic aspirations were over, he felt entitled to at least some acknowledgment for commissioning the portrait—a masterpiece created by a painter even the royal family struggled to secure.

“By the way…”

The butler’s next words caught both men off guard, especially Richard Spencer, who inwardly cursed himself for his rashness.

“Miss Grace Gurton has departed for Grentabridge.”