If You're Going to Sell Yourself, Sell It to Me - Chapter 69

“Did you write the contracts for everyone else as well, Mr. Rivern?”

“No. Normally, my assistant Evan handles these things, but he’s been away on important business for a few days, so I drafted it this time.”

Raymond’s response put her somewhat at ease. It was odd to be worrying about someone else’s affairs given her own situation, but she couldn’t help thinking that anyone reading a contract like this would be concerned about the man in front of her. She was certain that his assistant was probably feeling the same way right about now.

It actually took more time to turn the contract into something more standard instead of the one-sidedly favorable version it had been for her. The contract detailed not only the weekly wage but also meal and rest times in great detail. She had heard that contracts for live-in governesses needed to be thorough since, after living together, the lines between work and rest could easily blur.

She couldn’t help but wonder if she wouldn’t have been so affected by Locke if she had clearly established boundaries back when they pretended to be a married couple on the ship. This regret drove Georgiana to carefully check that there were no missing details or anything else that needed to be added.

Her green eyes, filled with determination, scanned the paper up and down repeatedly.

“It looks like even ants would find it impossible to avoid Ms. Leona’s scrutiny,” Raymond remarked, clicking his tongue as he watched her.

Finally, she signed the document, and he stood up abruptly.

“I look forward to working with you,” Raymond said, smiling brightly with his eyes half-crinkled. He extended his hand toward her.

Though his expression was open and friendly, Georgiana hesitated and didn’t immediately extend her own hand. If it were Angela, she could easily be close with her, but the man in front of her was different. No matter how kind and gentle he seemed, on the surface, he was still an adult man who had lost his wife.

A widowed man and an unmarried governess—it was a situation ripe for gossip. To avoid unnecessary rumors, she needed to keep her distance. If she lost this job because of inappropriate rumors, she’d have to leave again, heading to an unknown destination.

Even if they eventually hired a proper tutor and she had to quit the governess position, Georgiana wanted to stay and work here, even if it meant doing menial tasks. She was confident that anything would be bearable under someone who looked after the welfare of former slaves.

She had to stay here as long as possible.

With this thought, she grasped her skirt instead of his hand and gave a curtsey.

“I also look forward to working with you.”

Behind her smile was a determination to endure no matter what. Raymond, looking down at her, withdrew his hand with an awkward smile.

He probably wouldn’t offer his hand to her again. That was for the best—better for both of them, she thought as she deliberately looked away.

“I’ll see you at dinner, then.”

Without even needing to ask, Raymond’s last words before she left the room made it clear that she would be dining with him and Angela. Though she had insisted that she was fine eating with the servants, she could only nod when he said Angela would certainly want her to join them.

‘Sigh… This day feels so long.’

Her steps back to her room felt especially heavy. She had been through so much in just one day, so it was no wonder she was exhausted.

It was surprising that the day wasn’t even over yet.

Shaking her head, Georgiana looked up at the sky through the hallway window, still filled with sunlight.

Still, she was so happy to have a comfortable room to rest in.

Entering her room, she collapsed onto the bed, which smelled faintly of aromatherapy oils.

“Meow!”

An angry meow from under the blankets made Georgiana sit up in shock, pulling the covers back.

“W-what’s this?”

The source of the sound was a cat with green eyes and golden fur.

Seeing it, Angela’s words suddenly came to mind.

“And there’s even a cat named Becky who looks a bit like you. Becky has green eyes, just like you.”

The cat’s eyes were indeed similar to hers, just as the child had said.

Although, the grumpy expression wasn’t something they shared.

“So, you’re Becky?”

Becky must have been sleeping right next to where Georgiana lay down and seemed displeased at being disturbed.

“Sorry, I didn’t know you were here first.”

The cat’s indifferent expression was as endearing as Angela’s.

Georgiana, planning to rest until dinner, carefully lay down at the edge of the bed, watching Becky for her reaction.

The animals she had seen before were just alley cats or rats, fleeing from people in fear. Since she had never been this close to an animal, she wasn’t sure how to interact and simply observed the cat from a distance.

Becky was within arm’s reach, but Georgiana didn’t want to touch her without permission.

After a while, Becky, seemingly losing interest in Georgiana, blinked a few times before curling up and going back to sleep.

Though the cat hadn’t come closer, she hadn’t shown any fear or tried to run away either. Georgiana found it fascinating.

‘Could it be that I’ll be staying with you in this room from now on? If so, I’d love that!’

Georgiana smiled warmly at her new roommate, Becky.

***

With each button he fastened, the thick bandages around his body disappeared in the mirror. Once he had secured the last button, his injury was entirely hidden.

Recently, he had lost quite a bit of weight, making his jawline even sharper and giving him an even more intense look. His face was pale, evidence of the ongoing recovery process. He could feel the toll his body had taken.

“Are you really going like that?”

Leaning against the doorway, Anthony asked, and Locke nodded.

The two weeks spent waiting to recover had been pure torture for him. While he had been lying comfortably in bed, Georgiana had surely been struggling somewhere. Guilt and worry kept him from sleeping.

He feared she was wandering the streets alone or had fallen into the hands of vagrants. These anxieties haunted him constantly.

Their last encounter had been the worst possible one.

Instead of offering a warning, all he had done was grab Isabella’s hand and scold Georgiana for being there. The despair and pain in her eyes still haunted him vividly.

From what he had heard, it seemed that Georgiana had left before she even became a wanted fugitive. She must have fled after that terrible confrontation, and it wouldn’t be surprising if she hated him.

Even though he hadn’t intended for things to turn out this way, if he could find her, he was determined to beg for forgiveness, to explain everything and clear up the misunderstandings.

His weakened state meant that he couldn’t help her and would have been more of a burden. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have waited even a second longer—he would have rushed out to find her.

Eating was a struggle, but he forced himself to swallow just enough food to stay alive, knowing he needed to recover.

Anthony and Henry had kept him updated on the search for Georgiana throughout the ordeal. Each time they came with news, Locke’s nerves were on edge, fearing the worst.

“I understand your feelings, and I won’t try to stop you anymore. I just wonder where Lady Georgiana could have gone.”

“It’s certain she’s not in the Northwest. The authorities have searched everything—even the homeless camps and underground sewers—yet there’s no trace of her. She must have gone far away,” Henry said, and Anthony nodded in agreement.

“I heard about the people who gave Georgiana a ride to the Northwest. Have we found them?”

“Of course, you know me. It took a while because the villagers were tight-lipped, but I finally tracked down the Hansons. They were surprisingly discreet.”

“Their address?”

Henry pulled a piece of paper from his pocket in response, and Locke, who had moved close to him without anyone noticing, quickly snatched it from his hand.

“This is their daughter’s house. They went there for the birth, so they should be staying for a while.”

“Does anyone else know about this place?”

“No. The innkeeper was the only one who knew Lady Georgiana left the village, and he was remarkably silent about it. If he hadn’t recognized me from that day, I doubt he would have said anything.”

“That’s a relief.”

Locke knew that if there had been even the slightest chance of Georgiana’s whereabouts being compromised, Henry would have taken care of it. Henry wasn’t the kind of person to leave loose ends.

There had to be a good reason for his confidence.

Locke swiftly put on his coat.

“The carriage is ready. The place will remain vacant for you to use whenever you need it.”

“Thank you. I will never forget this kindness and will repay it someday.”

Locke bowed deeply toward Anthony. Without his help, Locke would have been captured long ago. He vowed to repay this debt someday, no matter what.

“Don’t forget that promise. I didn’t help you for nothing. When you’ve established yourself after independence, remember me. I’ll support you until the day I can export a warship built by my hands to this country,” Anthony said with a grin, adding quietly, “Take care.”

Locke patted Anthony on the shoulder without a word and left the place behind.