Garden of May

Chapter 86

It must be because they heard about me contributing to Mary’s hospital bills.

Mary was young, but she was one of the longest-serving maids at Gloucester Manor. When Vanessa first arrived after graduation, she thought she’d never make any friends. But now, she felt like she could manage just fine.

Vanessa left her room, her heart feeling lighter. The hallway was unusually bustling. Servants from Winchester were hurrying up and down the stairs, carrying luggage. Vanessa watched them curiously before opening the drawing-room door.

“Ah, there you are, Vanessa.”

“Rosaline.”

Vanessa involuntarily paused, a knot forming in her stomach as she saw the familiar face beaming at her. She knew Rosaline’s confinement was long in the past, yet she found herself instinctively avoiding Rosaline’s gaze. It was difficult to meet her eyes.

She fought to protect my honor, and I’ve thrown it in the dirt.

Vanessa briefly embraced Rosaline and sat in the chair opposite her. As soon as the maids served iced tea, Rosaline propped her chin on her hand and asked, “Something’s different today, Vanessa. Why do I feel like you’re avoiding my eyes?”

“No. That’s not it….”

“See, you’re doing it again.”

“Really, it’s nothing. I’m just a little… tired today….”

Vanessa, feeling exposed, finally lifted her head. She forced a smile as she met Rosaline’s eyes. Rosaline, who had been studying her with narrowed eyes, shrugged, seemingly deciding to let it go this time.

“Well, if it’s nothing, it’s nothing.”

“What about our tea today? We had that invitation from Elliot’s, didn’t we?”

“I canceled everything as soon as I heard your wedding veil had arrived. They say the closest female friend should be the first to see the bride in her veil. I loathe the Count of Roden, but I wouldn’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime moment for anything.”

It was a long-standing promise between them. To be the first to see each other in their wedding veils and to be each other’s bridesmaids. The memory of those carefree days brought a smile to Vanessa’s face.

“Thank you, Rosaline. I really mean it.”

“Who knows? Maybe the Count will come to his senses next month and call off the wedding.”

Vanessa chuckled at the frivolous joke. Seeing her smile, Rosaline seemed to relax, a smile finally gracing her own lips. Vanessa deliberately glanced around the drawing-room before broaching the subject she’d been avoiding.

“Where’s Blair?”

“Oh, he went to meet a real estate agent.”

“A real estate agent? Why?”

“His Grand Tour was canceled. He’s decided to stay in the south a while longer.”

“His tour was canceled? I had no idea….”

“It was only decided a few hours ago. Blair suddenly insisted he wouldn’t go. His entourage will return to Lyndon Manor ahead of him. Blair and I will stay at a hotel in Bath for another month or so.”

“Won’t a hotel be uncomfortable? You can stay here longer if you’d like.”

“Even between us, it’s a bit much to impose for so long. It’s been almost two months since our month-long stay began. You wouldn’t believe the tantrum Lady Winchester threw over the phone.”

Rosaline sighed and shook her head, adding almost as an afterthought, “She wanted us back in Lyndon immediately. She’s only tolerating it because Blair’s wedding has been moved up.”

“Blair’s wedding… has been moved up?”

“He canceled the tour he was so insistent on. There’s no reason to postpone it any longer, so it’s only natural he’s being dragged to the altar.”

“I see.”

“He seems to have enjoyed his time here, as he’s looking for a house in the south. Cecily agreed.”

Vanessa had long known that the Grand Tour was Blair’s way of postponing his wedding for as long as possible. She’d once thought his insistence was simply because he wasn’t ready to lead a family, or perhaps a form of youthful rebellion.

She’d considered the occasional intense looks he gave her as nothing more than possessiveness towards an old friend….

“Of course, Cecily seems delighted that the wedding has been moved up.”

Vanessa picked at a hangnail, avoiding Rosaline’s gaze. Blair’s confession from a few days ago floated to the surface of the silence between them. A strange guilt churned in her stomach.