If You're Going to Sell Yourself, Sell It to Me - Chapter 27

There wasn’t much to do on the ship. Most of the first-class passengers slept in late, enjoyed a leisurely lunch followed by tea time, then returned to their cabins to rest for a few hours before attending the evening banquet, which lasted late into the night. It was hard to understand what these nobles had so much to talk about, seeing each other every day.

Luckily, after that last lunch where she had felt completely overwhelmed, Lockwood had told Georgiana she only needed to join him when absolutely necessary. He also told her she could rest whenever she wanted, which made her smile so widely that her gums showed.

Staying cooped up in the cabin might have felt like she was shirking her duties, but since he had suggested it first, she was able to relax without guilt. After sending him off for the day, she invited Sarah over.

“So, what he said was…” Sarah’s mouth never stopped moving as she recounted the events of the past few days. Georgiana offered her some of the refreshments on the table since Sarah was doing most of the talking and hardly eating anything.

Sarah was dressed in old clothes, much like Georgiana had worn before boarding the ship, but there was no trace of sadness or worry in her demeanor. Georgiana found this fascinating. Sarah seemed to have a strong inner resilience, something Georgiana admired and wished she had herself.

“Oh, by the way, Georgiana! I heard there’s going to be a fireworks display and a masquerade ball on the deck tomorrow evening. The maid said it’s because the waters here are calm and there are no dangerous rocks, so they can have a party,” Sarah said, her eyes shining like a cat that had just spotted a toy.

“Yes, Locke mentioned it to me,” Georgiana replied.

He had casually brought it up when discussing their plans for the day. Of course, he had said she could attend if she wanted to but that it was also fine if she didn’t. She hadn’t given him a definite answer, but she was planning on not attending.

Judging by how prepared he seemed, with fancy clothes and even a mask laid out in the morning, he had probably known about the event in advance. However, she still didn’t feel inclined to go. It was a masquerade ball, where everyone would be hiding behind masks, making the event feel even less meaningful to her.

“What’s with that lukewarm response? It’s a ball!”

“Yes… It is.”

“Don’t you have any dreams of attending a ball? I’ve never been to one, so I’ve always wondered what it would be like—to wear a fancy dress, be in a glittering ballroom, and eat as much as you want,” Sarah said, clasping her hands to her chest like a girl in love.

Was it really that appealing? Had she ever felt that way herself?

Georgiana remembered how, as a child, she had often daydreamed about a prince rescuing her from Willow and then taking her to a ball at the palace, where they would dance together.

“I did, when I was younger,” Georgiana admitted.

“So, you don’t want to do that now?” Sarah asked.

“It’s not that I don’t want to…”

“Your expression says you have no interest at all,” Sarah said, pouting playfully. “Does that mean Mr. Limberton won’t be attending either?”

“No, Locke will go.”

Probably. He had asked her if she wanted to go, and since she hadn’t said no, he was likely planning to attend.

“What? So what will you do during that time?”

“Oh, I’ll just read a book or watch the sea. I’ll be fine.”

“What? That’s absurd! Did Mr. Limberton tell you to stay behind?”

“No, Locke asked if I wanted to attend, but I haven’t given him an answer yet.”

Sarah’s eyes sparkled at her words, and Georgiana had a bad feeling about where this was going. She was already too late to stop Sarah’s enthusiasm.

Sarah suddenly jumped up and grabbed Georgiana’s hand.

“Where’s your dressing room?”

“Why?”

“What do you mean, why? We need to pick out your dress for the ball!”

“But I haven’t decided yet…”

“What are you talking about? You can’t let Mr. Limberton go alone! Do you know how dangerous those balls can be? You need to go and show those women who are eyeing your husband that he’s taken. And don’t think you can trust the men, either!”

“I’m sure there won’t be anyone like that.”

“How can you be so sure?” Sarah’s words made Georgiana think of Isabella.

Maybe the hostility she had felt from Isabella was because of him. The difference in Isabella’s behavior toward her and him was so stark that she couldn’t believe she hadn’t noticed it before.

‘If I don’t go to the ball, who will Locke dance with first?’

The answer that came to mind was Isabella. Just imagining the two of them holding hands and dancing in the middle of the ballroom made her chest ache. They would look like a perfect picture together.

And since he had been attending events alone while she was recovering, there were probably quite a few women who thought he was single.

“See? Now you’re realizing I’m right,” Sarah said, noticing Georgiana’s gloomy expression. With determination, Sarah led her to the bathroom.

“No, this way,” Georgiana corrected her.

In the end, Georgiana spent the late evening picking out a dress with Sarah.

The next morning, she wanted to tell him that she would attend the ball, but she missed the opportunity as he was rushing off to an important appointment. She thought she might see him again in the afternoon, but as the day wore on, she realized he was likely busy. Henry was nowhere to be found either, so she couldn’t ask him to pass on the message.

Finally, late in the afternoon, Sarah came to help her get ready, but Georgiana still hadn’t informed him, and it seemed she would have to attend the ball alone.

“You still haven’t told him?” Sarah asked, glancing at the clock on the wall. There was only about an hour left until the ball, and he still hadn’t returned.

“No, we just haven’t crossed paths today. If he doesn’t come back soon, he’ll probably head straight to the ball.”

“Why is he so busy if he’s not the captain?”

“Good question.”

Georgiana realized she was curious about what exactly he was doing on the ship. They weren’t close enough for her to ask directly, but the thought lingered in her mind.

Could he be gambling?

The thought sent a shiver down her spine, reminding her of her father and Willow’s gambling addiction. She hated gambling with a passion, and though it was common for men to play cards and place bets, she hoped Locke wasn’t into such things.

Sarah noticed her serious expression and responded in kind, “So, you’ll have to enter the ball without an escort. But do you know what Mr. Limberton’s mask looks like?”

“No…” Georgiana realized she hadn’t even thought about the fact that it was a masquerade ball. They would need to recognize each other by their masks, something that wouldn’t have been an issue if they had gone together. But now…

“Well, neither Mr. Limberton nor you have faces that can be easily hidden by masks, so it shouldn’t be hard for you to find each other. Even with one eye covered, I could spot you both!”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

As Sarah confidently claimed that she could find them even while standing on her hands, an idea suddenly popped into Georgiana’s mind. While tying up her own hair, she gave Sarah—who had also styled her hair in a half-updo—a meaningful glance. There were plenty of dresses in the wardrobe that would suit her perfectly.

Even if they couldn’t both get in, Georgiana was willing to let Sarah take her place at the ball. After all, Georgiana had never really wanted to attend in the first place, while Sarah was the type to enjoy herself, even alone.

“Sarah, would you like to come with me to the ball?”

“Me? How could I go? They’ll check our identities for sure.” Sarah shook her head, clearly wanting to go but convinced she wouldn’t be allowed in.

“Don’t worry. They only check one person’s identity when entering the banquet hall, so it should be fine. I should have thought of this sooner.”

“Really? I can come too?”

“I’d be so grateful if you could.” Georgiana looked at Sarah with pleading eyes.

“Well, if you’re asking so sincerely, how could I say no?” Sarah finally agreed, a smile spreading across her face as Georgiana pulled her to her feet.

“Follow me.”

“Why?”

“It’s time to pick out a dress for you, Sarah. Take your pick, anything you like.”

“Thank you so much, Georgiana.”

After changing into the dress Georgiana had chosen for her, Sarah gave her a hug before they left the cabin.

“Don’t worry if we can’t get in. Just wearing this beautiful dress makes me happy.”

“Don’t worry, we’ll get in,” Georgiana assured her friend, holding her hand as they headed upstairs with a determined look on her face. The clock’s hands were already pointing to the time the ball was supposed to start.

There were more people gathered in front of the banquet hall than usual. The number of guards had also increased to manage the crowd. Both women pressed their masks more securely onto their faces.

When it was their turn, the most stern-looking guard stepped forward to confront them.

“Where are you coming from?”

“I’m Mr. Limberton’s wife from cabin 611, and this is my friend,” Georgiana replied, handing over the identification she had brought just in case. The guard studied her ID carefully before nodding in recognition. However, his gaze lingered suspiciously on Sarah.

Surely a woman in such an expensive dress must be a first-class passenger, but with the unusually large crowd today, he had to be thorough. A single mistake could cost the guards their jobs.

“I’ll need to see your companion’s ID as well,” the guard said.

Georgiana realized her worst fear was coming true. Just as she was about to step forward and take responsibility, claiming Sarah was the rightful guest, a tall man stepped in between them.

“They’re with me. It should be fine to let them through, right?”