This Villain Is Mine Now - Chapter 8

“Why? You don’t like my answer? I agree with you, so let’s put aside our hard feelings the next time we meet.”

Lyle’s smile was questionable as he said this.

“It’s the last time we’ll see each other, and I suppose I should say goodbye properly.”

Lyle squeezed Elaina’s hand lightly and leaned in to kiss it. His lips brushed against the back of her hand. The corners of Lyle’s mouth curved up in a slight arc.

‘What the hell?’

The way he walked away from her, as if it were no big deal, seemed odd to say the least.

Until today, as the social season drew to a close, he hadn’t been able to say a word to Diane, whom he’d been so eager to meet.

It was clear that the Marquis and Marchioness of Redwood were people who cared about what others could see. It was clear that they would protest to Archduke Grant.

‘That man must be in dire need of the Marquis of Redwood’s support.’

What is the source of his relaxed demeanor?

Instinctively, Elaina knew something was amiss, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it, for on the surface, the winner of the confrontation between Lyle and herself seemed to be the latter.

It wasn’t until some time later that Elaina realized what was really going on.

***

“Miss, you seem to be in a good mood?”

“Yes.”

A few days ago, the social season had come to a close with the National Day ball. It was a welcome respite for Elaina, whose nerves had been strained to keep Lyle in check at every event.

Sarah, who had been studying her nervously, asked the question she had been wondering.

“By the way, miss. What’s been going on with you lately?”

“Did I do something?”

“No, no. You’ve been neglecting the people you used to be friendly with, and you’ve been taking care of Lady Redwood all the time…….”

Sarah trailed off, unable to get the last word out of her mouth.

“What are you talking about?”

“Because, frankly, I don’t think it’s very helpful to you.”

A duke’s daughter and a marquis’s daughter. Both were born into nobility, but in Sarah’s eyes, Elaina and Diane were as different as heaven and earth.

To be honest, Sarah couldn’t take much of a liking to Lady Redwood. Shouldn’t she have approached the young lady first, given their status? It was also a bit of a blow to her pride that the young lady had been the one to initiate their friendship.

Sarah’s words were like sharp thorns; she didn’t like Elaina’s closeness with Diane after the debutante ball and until the end of the social season.

“Sarah, that’s not a nice thing to say.”

“Yeah, yeah. I know, you’re saying that you shouldn’t make friends with people based on what you can get out of them, but, miss. Do you realize how delicate your reputation has become these days with the way you’ve been wrapping yourself around her?”

“Reputation? What about my reputation?”

“Oh, my dear!”

Sarah’s voice rose a little higher at Elaina’s nonchalant response. Sarah whispered to her in a hushed voice, as if she were embarrassed to even bring it up.

“I’ve heard stories of you trying to get between Lady Redwood and Archduke Grant, that you’re trying to steal someone else’s man!”

Elaina’s eyes widened a little at Sarah’s words, and then she burst out laughing like someone who had just heard the most ridiculous story in the world.

Sarah slammed her hand against her chest in frustration.

A few days ago, she had run into some maids from another family on her way to the market. They wanted to know if it was true, to fact-check it.

She replied sternly, “Say something that makes sense,” and reported it to Lady Winchester as soon as she got back to the mansion. But she just laughed, saying that reacting to such a ridiculous rumor would only make it more exciting and spread.

“Of course, you’re right, miss,” Sarah said, “Does this make sense? Hah, really! People say silly things so easily. But as your maid, I don’t want the slightest taint on your name.”

Sarah sulked. “I don’t know why you’ve taken a liking to Lady Redwood. It’s all good. You’d been seeing each other at social events for years and always pretended to be oblivious, but maybe she’s actually quite nice when we finally get to talk.”

Sarah, who had been rambling on and on without taking a breath, caught her breath and spoke urgently, as if she wasn’t finished yet.

“But, young lady. You’re of marriageable age, and it can’t be good for you to be rumored with such a disgraced man as Archduke Grant.”

Elaina burst out laughing at Sarah’s suggestion that she cement her friendship with Lady Redwood only after she was betrothed to a man of distinction.

“Who exactly is a man of distinction?”

A few names came out of Sarah’s mouth as if she’d been waiting for them.

“Leo? Oh, my God, Sarah. Leo is just a friend of mine. Do you have any idea what you’re talking about?”

“I don’t know! You’d rather be engaged to Lord Bonaparte than be rumored to be with someone like Archduke Grant!”

Shaking her head, Elaina said, “I know you’re worried, Sarah, but now go and get ready for my guest. Diane will be here soon.”

“Miss!”

“Sarah, what you’re worried about is just a bunch of rumors that no one will remember by the next social season, so just put it out of your head.”

“I understand your desire not to be the Archduchess’s maid,” Elaina added, teasing Sarah.

“Ah, miss!”

“Just kidding, now go and make sure the refreshments are ready. It’s Diane’s first time visiting me, and I don’t want it to be anything less than perfect.”

“Even if I don’t have to check, House Winchester’s hospitality is always perfect.”

“I know. I hope Diane will remember that Winchesters are several notches above the Redwoods when it comes to quality maids.”

The simple Sarah gave in to Elaina’s urging. She grumbled and argued that it was already perfect, but she kept glancing at the door.

“Sarah, what’s wrong?”

“No, just. I think I’ll go to the kitchen for a minute.”

Sarah stumbled out of the room, adding that it wasn’t for hospitality at all, but because she had something on her mind.

Another smile tugged at the corners of Elaina’s mouth as she looked at her disingenuous maid.

***

“What kind of rudeness is this!”

Sarah, who had been pacing the room and nervously checking the time, stamped her foot as if she couldn’t take it anymore.

“Rude is one thing, but to break an appointment like this!”

It was already more than an hour past the appointed time, and it is common courtesy to send someone to explain when you are late for an appointment. It is even more polite to not be late at all.

But Lady Redwood had kept Lady Winchester waiting for over an hour now without saying a word.

“Really, I always knew she wasn’t a social person, but this is too much. Is she doing this because the social season is over?”

Sarah fumed, saying she ignored the lady’s invitation since they wouldn’t be seeing each other at events for a while.

“Something must be going on.”

But Elaina was just as puzzled.

“What’s going on? Everybody knows that Lady Redwood stays at home all day except for social events. I told you, miss, neither Archduke Grant nor Lady Redwood is of any use to you, so please, stop associating with them.”

Tears welled up in Sarah’s eyes, saddened at the young lady receiving such disrespect.

Puzzled by Sarah’s demeanor, Elaina averted her gaze.

It wasn’t until long afterward that a letter from Redwood arrived.

The sender was Diane. It said she was so sorry she couldn’t come today.

“What does it say?”

Sarah asked nervously, fearing that the kind-hearted young lady might be swayed by the apology. But instead of answering, Elaina turned grave.

“Go and get the carriage ready, Sarah. I must go out.”

“Miss, what do you mean by that all of a sudden? Where are you going?”

Hastily grabbing her going-out gloves, Elaina said, “To the Redwood mansion.”