Chapter 26

They had not even spoken his father’s name aloud, yet the threat of tears pressed hot against his eyelids. Abandoning all pretense of aristocratic composure, a soft, choked gasp escaped Elwin’s throat.

“You possess a keen interest in regional meteorology, it seems,” Leon observed lightly, his tone intentionally bright to diffuse the melancholy.

He was clearly recalling their first meeting, when Elwin had clumsily inquired about the weather in the capital. That man—who had once seemed so insufferably arrogant—now felt entirely different. He remained slightly vexing, of course, but…

“The weather is the very cornerstone of polite society,” Elwin retorted, proudly squaring his shoulders with all the resolve of a fledgling gentleman.

The afternoon had devolved into an absolute disaster, but this remained his official debut into high society, and he refused to retreat in defeat.

“I shall return to my seat now,” Elwin declared.

“And I shall take a turn around the garden before following,” Leon replied.

Offering Leon a perfectly executed, gentlemanly bow, Elwin turned and walked back toward the gathering. He sat down, lifted his teacup, and calmly sipped his tea in the company of the very souls who had so viciously slandered him only moments before.

The guests seated at the center of the table kept stealing glances at Elwin while fawning over Dwight, asking how long he planned to stay on the estate and imploring him to join their riding parties and hunting competitions.

At first, Dwight had seemed reluctant to indulge them. Yet as the praise and flattery mounted, his reservations visibly softened into pleasure, and by the time they parted, he bid everyone farewell with a thoroughly satisfied expression.

Elwin, who was not practiced at reading a room, simply thought that Dwight had enjoyed himself and that, because of that, the outing had been worthwhile.

He realized something was wrong only when they reached the carriages.

“I will ride back in the carriage with Sir Elwin.”

Selena, who had entered the Finch house with sparkling eyes and barely contained excitement, now wore a deeply sulky expression. At her unexpected declaration, Dwight, who had been preening like a king only moments before, immediately furrowed his brow.

He clicked his tongue so softly it was almost inaudible. Had they been at home, he might have scolded her with a single cold, cutting word. With so many eyes watching, however, he forced an awkward smile.

“As you wish, Miss Selena.”

Bewildered, Elwin climbed into the carriage with Selena. Throughout the ride back to the manor, he could not stop worrying over her mood.

He had been so occupied with failing to look after himself at the tea party that he had not noticed what she had been going through. Judging by how wounded she looked, had someone been rude to her? Had she been dragged into some unpleasant conversation?

Or… is she angry at Lord Dwight? Why? Out of jealousy?

Elwin remembered catching them in the garden at night, meeting in secret. If his guess about their unusual relationship was correct, then watching Dwight surrounded by women could hardly have been pleasant for her.

Seeing the young girl so gloomy made Elwin’s own heart feel heavy. Of course, if she knew that he had seriously resolved to marry Dwight, she might despise him instead. He was hardly in any position to pity her.

After staring silently out the window for a long while, Selena let out a sigh.

“Sir Elwin. Are social gatherings always like this? They are different from what I imagined.”

“I am not sure. This was my first time attending such a gathering as well…” Elwin lowered his gaze, ashamed. “If I had been more capable, I would have helped you, Miss Selena.”

He expected her to snap at him. Indeed. You were no help at all.

Instead, Selena only gazed at him in silence before lowering her eyes.

“I am sorry, Sir Elwin. I…”

Her lips moved for quite some time, as though there was more she wished to say, but in the end, she could only offer an awkward smile.

“About putting makeup on Miss Eleanor. When I think back on it, I believe it was terribly rude of me.”

Elwin assured her that it was quite all right, but Selena’s melancholy did not lift for the rest of the ride.

Before long, the two carriages arrived at the count’s manor.

The moment Selena stepped down and met Dwight’s eyes, displeasure swept back over her face, and she turned her head away. Dwight ignored her entirely and approached Elwin instead.

“Sir Elwin. Excuse me, but are there riding horses at the manor?”

At the question, the tips of Elwin’s ears reddened.

No matter how eccentric the Ravenwell household was known to be, a manor of this size would never be without riding horses. Had Dwight heard so much about their supposed poverty that he assumed they could not even afford proper steeds?

The thought irked Elwin, but he forced himself to smile politely.

“…Of course there are.”

“Excellent. Hearing all that talk about riding at the Finch house made me want to ride as well. Once everything is prepared, would it be possible to go?”

At Dwight’s words, Selena flinched in anger and cut in.

“Lord Dwight, but!”

Dwight merely shifted his gaze and glared at her. Unlike at the Finch house, where he had kept up appearances, this was a look of absolute condescension.

It was a gaze that said, You will simply do as I say.

“Ugh…”

Selena looked furious, but she swallowed her words, turned on her heel, and marched into the manor.

Elwin, who already felt sorry for her, hesitated for a moment, wondering if he should follow and comfort her. But Dwight had made a request of him for once, and he could not afford to neglect it.

“Riding sounds like a fine idea. I will have it prepared first thing tomorrow. There are several nearby routes with beautiful scenery.”

“Ah, as for the route, I received a recommendation today.” Dwight’s smile sharpened. “May I decide where I would like to go?”

“…Of course.”

Elwin answered with as much generosity as he could manage, but a strange sense of foreboding crept over him at the sight of Dwight’s grin.

And such forebodings were never wrong.

***