Guidelines for the Perfect Goodbye - Chapter 54

“I-I heard that Hannah Linfitt had troubled you, Aunt, but I could never imagine her to be so malicious. I really don’t know anything.”

She blurted out a self-incriminating statement. If she intended to feign ignorance, she should have done it thoroughly, not half-heartedly.

Guinevere smiled bitterly at the girl, who seemed to have a heart as fragile as a chick’s.

Lilith knew about the sachet incident, so how could this child not? With even the maids looking askance, how could a child of this house be unaware?

“I didn’t call you today to interrogate you.”

“No? Then…”

Cecilia tilted her head, her eyes still shaken with unfaded fear.

“I called to make you an offer.”

“An offer?”

“Yes. You’re turning seventeen this year, so you’ll be having your debutante ball next spring, right?”

“Yes… but…”

“That day, I’ll be your chaperone.”

“What?!”

Cecilia’s eyes and mouth opened wide in shock.

“My chaperone?”

“Why? Do you think I’ve become such a fallen doll in your family that I’d be treated like trash outside too?”

Spoken in a flare of irritation, it felt like spitting while lying down. She wanted to bite her uncontrollable tongue, especially in front of this child…

“If you would be my chaperone, it would be nothing but an honor for me…”

Cecilia’s eyes trembled nervously.

“Why all of a sudden…?”

“I was the chaperone for Caroline’s debut. So naturally, for you, her sister…”

She suddenly stopped speaking.

She didn’t want to make pitiful excuses in this house anymore. What’s the use of any word now?

Sometimes, honesty is the best policy.

“I need a chance to regain your father’s trust.”

She reviled Adam. Yet, because she despised him, she needed to stay even closer to him—just as one must enter the lion’s den to shear a lion’s mane.

The child’s mother had wanted a capable chaperone, and Adam was aware of her competence as one.

Moreover, he wasn’t the type to mix emotions with numbers. Unlike herself, who was emotional, even in moments full of rage, he managed to retain a sliver of rationality.

The fact that he didn’t denounce her for attempting to harm Nathan and left it unaddressed shows as much.

Adam’s way was to cover up the incident rather than make an outright enemy of the Rosencrantz family.

“But Father, he…”

Cecilia hesitated with her response.

“I’ll speak to Adam myself.”

“…”

“Hah. Can you stop looking at me like that? It’s unpleasant.”

Guinevere frowned deeply and put down her teacup forcefully.

“Do you think Adam will hate me forever? I am his sister. The one married into the Marquisate.”

Fortunately, she was still the useful Marchioness Rosencrantz. If she humbly offered to become her daughter’s chaperone, he wouldn’t blatantly refuse.

He’d likely be relieved to see her trying to appease him, a man who even scrutinizes silence for its motives.

“…Of course, it will be difficult for now. Adam will need time to save face with his wife and son. But your debutante ball is more than half a year away. Do you think you can find a better chaperone than me by then?”

Guinevere scowled at the silent Cecilia.

“It’s impossible. Who would want to take you in and raise you by their side?”

Had the sachet incident not been exposed, she would never have agreed to be Cecilia’s chaperone, even if it killed her. Taking someone of gypsy lineage to social gatherings? That would be a disgrace in itself.

But the outcome twisted unexpectedly, and she had to crawl for a while.

As that lowly girl’s chaperone.

Looking back, it wasn’t a losing deal for either party.

“…You don’t need to mention me at all. I’ll handle everything. Just consider this a heads-up to prepare accordingly.”

Cecilia nodded, albeit restlessly, out of habit.

Guinevere glared at her cowardly gesture.

“Have you caught a summer cold or something?”

“Oh, no. I’m healthy.”

“Then stop trembling like a scared dog.”

Her words weren’t spoken with kindness akin to comfort.

“Showing your feelings like that in social circles only serves to discomfort others.”

“I, I’m sorry…”

Despite her brief apology, Cecilia’s hands continued to tremble like the leaves of a wispy aspen tree. Simultaneously, the tea from the cup she held spilled over onto the floor.