Garden of May

Chapter 34

“Some faces make you want to plan your future just by looking at them. This man’s face is one of them.”

Rosaline declared haughtily, waving her fan. With the faint sound of Blair’s scoff in the background, Vanessa thought of River Ross.

Thinking of him made Rosaline’s words understandable. He was a man whose mere presence evoked a desperate desire for entanglement. Perhaps that was why she had reached c*max several times with just a little bit of… ‘foreplay.’

With a face like that, it was inevitable. Blair’s voice suddenly cut through her wandering thoughts. “Apparently, his private life is quite scandalous. Women claiming to be pregnant by him are constantly showing up at the Batenberg estate.”

“That’s just rumor. None of those women could accurately describe the Duke’s appearance.”

“The fact that he hasn’t allowed himself to be photographed since he became an adult suggests he has something to hide. He hasn’t even sat for a portrait since he was ten, and even that one hasn’t been made public.”

“Well…” Rosaline’s lips curled into a cynical smile. “Having seen him from afar, I can say the Duke is absolutely flawless. He keeps his photographs private to avoid impostors. Just imagine the chaos if his portrait were ever released.”

“Maybe they aren’t impostors.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“There’s a reason he’s been in hiding since his leave began, Rosaline. Maybe he discovered another one of his illegitimate children.”

Rosaline laughed knowingly at Blair’s continued sharp assessment. “Men are always like this. They act as if they’ll die if there’s a man better than them.”

“You always have to belittle half the population to feel better, don’t you, Rosaline?”

“Both of you, stop.”

“Remember this, Vanessa, there’s always a reason a man rejects a woman.”

Vanessa sighed, rubbing her aching temples at Blair’s pointed warning.

“Sometimes I think Rosaline has spoiled you rotten. You used to be so cute as a child.”

“We spoiled each other. Ever since we were in Madam Winchester’s womb.”

Vanessa was dumbfounded by their self-satisfied expressions. Rosaline placed her fan on the table and rejoined the conversation.

“In any case, it’s good to be curious about the opposite s*x, Vanessa.”

It was the haughty advice of someone who seemed to have reached adulthood years ago, despite not even being of age yet, and, moreover, being the same age as Vanessa.

“In that spirit, you must regain your full health within two weeks, Vanessa. Unless you want to miss the Wilton garden party.” Rosaline’s reminder brought to mind the dazzling invitation Vanessa had forgotten. She heaved a deep sigh and buried her heavy head back into the pillow. “I’ll do my best.”

***

“-I’ll send a lawyer to handle the Boville matter as you instructed. Ah, and the acquisition of the shipping company is proceeding smoothly. We’re just making minor adjustments to a few of their conditions, but it should be finalized within this week. I’ll submit a written report soon.”

“Good. I look forward to it.”

“M-Master. And…”

“Speak.”

“This may sound presumptuous, but how long do you intend to stay there?”

Theodore rubbed his tired eyes with the hand not holding the receiver. The sunlight streaming through the general store’s large window was unusually bright. He habitually formed a smile, invisible to the person on the other end of the line.

“I said during our last call that I’d be spending the entire summer here. Don’t you remember?”

“Of course, I remember.” Norman, his butler, chose his words carefully. “However, the Dowager Duchess has been particularly unwell recently. She’s ceased all social activities and confines herself to her bedroom and the gardens. She only allows one young maid to attend her.”

“That’s typical. She always protests like this whenever something displeases her.”

“Do you… have any plans to return earlier than expected? The Dowager Duchess is genuinely worried about you. She may seem cold because she doesn’t express it outwardly, but she cares about you more than…”

“I know, Norman.” He gently interrupted the butler’s rambling.