Guidelines for the Perfect Goodbye - Chapter 88
Should she meet him to determine the nature of the substance mixed with Poenaâs Tears and ask him and Dane if they know of a gypsy named Louise ClĂ©on?
Diana was also there. It might be good to visit soon to check on her emotional state as well.
Cecilia idly rubbed her chest. Her heart throbbed as she confronted truths she had not known in her previous life.
* * *
A few days later, Cecilia went out to the bustling streets with Mary, using the excuse of fetching the dress she had ordered some time ago.
After finding the dress, outside the dress shop, Cecilia asked Mary,
âCould you wait for a moment in the quiet park?â
âMe? Alone?â
Mary hesitated, showing reluctance.
Cecilia understood her concernâit was likely fear that if Cecilia wandered alone and something happened, or if strange rumors started, she wouldnât be able to avoid responsibility.
Cecilia smiled gently and handed a box she had received from the dress shop madame to Mary.
âTake this and wait.â
âWhat is this?â
âA gift for you.â
âFor⊠me?â
âYes. I asked them to make a hair accessory from the leftover fabric of my dress.â
Mary, struggling even to hold the heavy dress, quickly took the box. Upon opening it, a shiny blue silk ribbon captivated her gaze.
âWowâŠâ
Maryâs eyes sparkled with desire.
âItâs so beautiful, Miss!â
âDo you like it?â
âOf course! Thank you so much! Iâll cherish it for lifeâŠ!â
Seeing Mary so elated, Cecilia instructed her to wait quietly. Maryâs face, which had been bright, clouded slightly with worry.
ââŠYouâre not going to do something dangerous, are you? At least give me a hintâŠâ
âIâm just going to meet a friend.â
âYou donât have any friendsâŠâ
Ceciliaâs brow twitched.
âThat was unexpectedly piercing.â
But outwardly, she managed a shameless response.
“Mary, how long have you been my attendant?”
“Uh⊠not years⊠just a few monthsâŠ?”
“That’s right. You havenât even been working under me for even a year. How can you be so sure about my social relationships? I do have a friend or two.”
If a friend implies ‘a young lady from some noble family,’ then honestly, Cecilia had not a single friend. In the central social circles, all the children Cecilia’s age were friends with Caroline.
But friendship sometimes transcends the bounds of lineage or social status. Cecilia did have a trustworthy friend.
‘Although that friendâs home isnât a grand mansion but a grimy back alley, thereâs no need to go into such detail with this child.’
As Maryâs doubts did not easily clear, Ceciliaâs gaze turned icy.
“Do you doubt my words?”
“Oh, noâŠ! Of course, I trust you! Absolutely!”
Mary instinctively clutched the box as she exclaimed.
“Really?”
Cecilia curved her lips upward. Simple and honest Mary. Thatâs why I really like you.
“Iâll be back soon. It wonât take long.”
“âŠYes. Please come back quickly. You promise, right?”
“Yes, yes.”
Cecilia waved her hand nonchalantly in response to Maryâs concern and began to walk away. Her destination was the back alley where Gilbert Holt and Dane Holt were.
* * *
“Do you plan to come here often?”
Dane squinted as he recognized Cecilia.
“Why? You donât like it?”
“No, itâs not that. Just havenât seen you around for a while, but nowâŠ.”
Thatâs because in the past, she was too cautious to come even if she wanted to. Fear of being caught wandering the back alleys might cause trouble, so she dared not even look.
“Whatâs with the sudden frequent visits, oh high noble lady?”
“Wherever I go, I’m looked at with suspicion.”
“Of course, people are suspicious. What you bought was….!”
Dane looked around unnecessarily as there was no one listening, then lowered his voice, covering his mouth with his hand.
“PoisonâŠ!”
“So?”
“So? How long has it been since you bought that and youâre back already?”
“Shouldnât the seller be more of a problem if you really think about it?”
“Hey, donât talk like thatâŠ.”
Dane inadvertently met Ceciliaâs gaze and cleared his throat awkwardly, turning his head.
“You’re blushing.”
“Shut up!”
He covered one reddened ear with his hand and pointed to the apothecary with the other.
“Grandfatherâs inside. Try to make a proper deal this time, no lowballing.”
“Sorry, but Iâm not here as a customer of the pharmacy today.”
“âŠThen?”
“I came to ask you something.”
“Ask me something? âŠMe?”
