Guidelines for the Perfect Goodbye - Chapter 184

“I lent her the money out of trust. I considered her a friend. After all, she’s a viscountess, just like me. I never imagined she’d do this.”

I should have remembered that people always say, ‘Expect the unexpected.’

Viscountess Odridge bit down hard on her lower lip.

Cecilia cautiously asked,

“When did this happen, if I may ask?”

“It’s been over a year now. I’ve lost count of the days.”

“I suppose the funds must have been absolutely necessary for her.”

Viscountess Odridge’s lips twitched as if suppressing a laugh.

“Oh, of course. It was money she desperately needed. She lost all the money she took from the card table. She must have been in a real bind to reach out to me.”

“The card table…?”

“Gambling.”

Cecilia, appearing troubled, lightly stroked the stem of her glass, as if she had overheard something she shouldn’t have.

“I didn’t take her for that kind of person…”

“Young ladies like you can’t expect to understand a person’s true nature just by looking at the surface. Even I didn’t realize it back then.”

Viscountess Odridge swirled her wine glass before drinking deeply to fill the void left in her heart.

“If I had known sooner, I wouldn’t have associated with her at all.”

Cecilia carefully observed her before asking again.

“Wouldn’t it help if you spoke to Viscount Lope? Perhaps he could resolve the matter somehow.”

“Of course, I talked to him! But that woman has caused more than a few problems. He’s so worn out by it all that he just told me that he lets the women handle their own issues.”

Viscountess Odridge spoke with a sarcastic tone.

“They’re a perfect match as a couple, aren’t they? That whole family is like that. Even Duchess Pierce doesn’t bat an eye at her own mother’s troubles anymore. I’m the one stuck with everything.”

She let out a bitter smile. Cecilia lowered her glass, gazing at her sympathetically.

“So, even the Pierce Duchy can’t help. That must be really tough for you, Madam.”

“Yes, truly…”

Her emotions suddenly welled up, and Viscountess Odridge paused. Cecilia muttered quietly, almost to herself.

“Though Lord Christian still seems to care about his grandmother…”

“Christian…?”

Viscountess Odridge blinked, her eyes losing focus for a moment.

“Christian Pierce?”

“Oh, yes. I danced with him today.”

“With him…?”

“Yes.”

“Oh dear. You shouldn’t, Miss Cecilia. Do you know how much of a notorious flirt that man is?”

“This is the first I’m hearing of it…”

“It’s serious. Do you know how many women that man has been involved with? He probably lost count himself at some point!”

“Oh…”

Cecilia sighed softly.

“It’s alright. I don’t see him in that way. We just danced, that’s all.”

“Well, that’s a relief. I’ve seen more than enough women throw away both body and heart after falling for his family name and good looks, only to end up ruined.”

“I see…”

Cecilia briefly recalled Christian and then smoothly shifted the conversation back.

“But if she spent the money gambling, it would be difficult to recover. You’re really in a tough spot, Madam.”

“Exactly.”

Viscountess Odridge rubbed her chest, as if the thought weighed heavily on her.

She might not need the money to live, but that woman’s attitude had been intolerable. At this point, out of sheer spite, she was determined to get it back.

“Perhaps, if it’s possible to at least figure out where she spent the money, there might be a chance to recover some of it.”

“Oh, Miss Cecilia, you’re so naive.”

Viscountess Odridge laughed.

“It was wasted in a club in her own estate. Of course I know where she spent it. I even know the name of the club…”

“Then is there no way to get it back? Since the money was spent illegally?”

“It’s not like a noblewoman can sit at a gambling table out in the open. The people she gambled with are all from reputable families. I can’t just go after each one of them for the money, and I certainly can’t report the club.”

“Ah…”

Cecilia sighed again.

“Then unless you win it back the same way, it’s money you’ll never recover.”

“Exactly. All she does is gamble it away…”

The hand holding the wine glass suddenly froze.

“…What did you just say, Cecilia?”

“Pardon? Oh… was it rude of me to say the money can’t be recovered?”

“No, before that.”

“Before that…?”

Cecilia thought for a moment, then shook her head.

“I’m sorry, I’m not sure what you’re referring to.”

“…No, you don’t need to apologize.”

Viscountess Odridge set down her wine glass, her fingers leaving marks from gripping it so tightly.

She rubbed her flushed cheeks, then pressed a hand to her forehead.

“Oh, I’ve had too much to drink.”

“Are you alright? Would you like me to help you?”

“I couldn’t ask a guest to do that.”

Viscountess Odridge smiled faintly as she looked out the window.

“Cecilia, it’s getting late. Even though it’s the social season and the city never sleeps, staying out too late can be dangerous. You should head back soon. And since you said you came in secret, I’ll keep our meeting today a secret as well.”