Guidelines for the Perfect Goodbye - Chapter 181

Viscountess Odridge hesitated for a moment in the hall. Should she remain on the sofa here or go into the parlor?

In her heart, she wanted to slip into the parlor. Sitting in a desolate corner of the hall, sipping tea with a young lady while listening to piano music, felt far too pitiful.

But she still had her duties. The duty of a hostess and the lady of the house. It wasn’t time for the party to end yet. If a guest arrived, she couldn’t let them leave empty-handed…

Her close friends from the capital hadn’t arrived yet. They were closer to her than to Viscountess Lope. Since they had been friends since childhood, surely they would come, wouldn’t they?

Cecilia, who had been closely observing the conflicted expression on Viscountess Odridge’s face, spoke kindly.

“Madam, the decorations are truly lovely. Did you choose them yourself?”

“That’s right. I picked them out personally.”

“As expected, you have excellent taste.”

Cecilia smiled softly. At first glance, she had seemed like a delicate, aloof beauty, but when she smiled, her youthful freshness was apparent. Viscountess Odridge couldn’t help but smile as well.

“Beautiful things that are pleasing to the eye and lovely to display never grow tiresome.”

“Is that so?”

Cecilia didn’t particularly agree, but neither did she wish to upset the viscountess. Instead, she simply followed her, lightly and gracefully.

The viscountess found herself quite fond of Cecilia, who responded in a gentle yet respectful manner.

The first daughter of the Lasphilla family, whom she had met two years ago, had also been a refined young lady, but there was something subtly different about Cecilia.

Her bright smile didn’t seem like an attempt to act grown-up. And yet, she exuded a quiet confidence.

Cecilia carried herself with the poise of someone far more experienced, but she had the sense not to flaunt it, instead remaining humbly quiet.

“The hall is quite chilly. Shall we go inside?”

“Are you sure? You don’t need to trouble yourself on my account…”

“No trouble at all. It would be even sillier to stay here and let dust collect on the threshold. Let’s go inside. I’d like to sit and talk with you more closely.”

As Viscountess Odridge led Cecilia into the parlor, she asked,

“You’re not here to simply keep a lonely married woman company, are you? Though I suppose a circus-less table will do for a short while.”

Cecilia shook her head, saying such words were far too generous.

“For me, it’s an honor, Madam.”

* * *

Tea and refreshments were brought into the study-parlor that Viscountess Odridge liked to use.

Cecilia, after sipping the tea, won the viscountess’s favor once more by identifying the type of tea.

“These must be Eastern tea leaves. Their tender green color is truly beautiful.”

“Oh my, you know your tea? Actually, my son is studying abroad on the continent, and they have a much wider variety of teas than Caswick. I asked him to send me a few special ones.”

“Indeed. It seems your son has just as keen an eye as you, Madam.”

“He’s twenty-three this year. Hoho, I gave birth to him a bit late in life, yet he still only cares about his parents.”

“Those who care for those above them are bound to also care for those below them.”

“My, do you think so as well, Miss Cecilia? I must admit, I am proud of that trait. Other ladies might envy me, so I don’t flaunt it… But I suppose this much is alright to tell an unmarried young lady, isn’t it?”

“If it weren’t so late, I could listen to you speak about it all day. You mentioned he was studying abroad, didn’t you? For him to carefully select tea leaves and send them to his parents… Sending him away must not have been easy. I admire your courage, Madam.”

“Since he’s an only child, I was worried he might grow up too dependent. I wanted to raise him to be self-reliant.”

“Oh my, if he’s your only child, then your longing for him must be overwhelming…”

Tears quickly welled up in the viscountess’s eyes. She was an emotional woman.

Wearing a sincere expression of sympathy, Cecilia remarked in admiration.

“It was truly a decision made out of love for your child. A mother’s love is indeed… remarkable.”

With a gentle smile, Cecilia continued.

“Those words you said earlier, about things that are pleasing to the eye and beautiful to behold never growing tiresome—now I must return them to you.”

Cecilia spoke exactly the words the viscountess wanted to hear. The viscountess dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief.

Any caution or suspicion she might have had toward the unfamiliar guest had completely vanished. In the viscountess’s eyes, Cecilia was now a mature, lovely young lady, more than suitable to be paired with her son.