Chapter 24
Belmore House:
Even after receiving his congratulations, Cecil didn’t move. Christopher, with his composed dignity, indirectly conveyed that she should leave.
“It’s late. You’ll probably visit the exhibition as well, won’t you? I’ll greet you properly then.”
Ignoring his subtle suggestion, Cecil continued speaking. She disliked feeling as if he treated her like a servant who spoke only to give orders before sending her off—especially in front of his secretary.
“I don’t feel like taking the train yet. I haven’t been feeling well lately, either.”
“Where have you been feeling unwell?”
“The Prime Minister’s residence is old, and the drafts are terrible. Now that I must stay there again, I’m a bit worried.”
After saying this, Cecil took out a handkerchief and coughed lightly. Even while watching that awkward play earlier, he hadn’t changed his expression.
“My father was worried as well. He even considered sending you to the countryside to recuperate, but it’s too far to go by carriage, isn’t it?”
Cecil Hobart certainly had her clever side. She never said what she wanted aloud.
“How about staying at my city residence during the winter? It’s vacant, but with a little preparation, it should be fine.”
Cecil immediately rejected the suggestion.
“Rumors might spread about me staying at your residence before our engagement. That would be troublesome.”
“My oversight. Would you prefer a hotel stay, then?”
Christopher planned to accommodate Cecil’s insistence as much as possible. From his perspective, it was also a way to subtly show his connection with the newly appointed Prime Minister—a proposal that didn’t cost him anything.
“A hotel?”
“Yes, stay in the penthouse. You can even have tea with your friends in the tea room.”
Cecil pretended to consider his words carefully, pausing for effect.
“After all, you’ll debut in high society this spring, and hosting occasional parties at the hotel would be fine. I’ll prepare everything as you wish.”
Christopher added a single condition.
“If the Prime Minister permits.”
Cecil, secretly waiting for an engagement in spring and a wedding in summer, felt a pang of disappointment.
Of course, even a proper lady couldn’t just give her approval on the spot. She nodded lightly in response.
“If my father allows it, there shouldn’t be a problem.”
“There’s no need to worry about that. With the blizzard worsening, it’s best we head back, Miss Cecil.”
“Cecil… Cecil…”
The change in address, from “Miss Hobart” to “Cecil,” carried more weight than the hotel suggestion. It gave her hope beyond mere excitement.
Christopher lightly nodded and signaled Rufus. Waiting for their conversation to conclude, Rufus opened the door politely as he had when they first entered.
Cecil seemed about to leave, but with a troubled expression, she turned back to him.
“What should I do? I left my coat in the carriage. It’s quite cold—do you have a shawl I could wear?”
Of course, he didn’t have a woman’s shawl. Her gaze was already drifting toward the coat hanging on the wall.
“Rufus, give the lady her coat.”
Rufus quietly took the coat from the wall and draped it over Cecil’s shoulders.
“Thank you, Lord Belmore.”
Cecil gave a slight, polite nod and stepped outside.
She didn’t speak to Rufus, who followed to see her off, and her haughty expression remained until she entered the carriage.
Her mind was elsewhere. She reached into the coat pocket to check for something, noting that, as a gentleman, he surely wouldn’t carry anything in his own.
She focused solely on removing the small diamond bracelet she wore and dropped it deep into the inner pocket of the coat.
“Now you may go.”
Cecil arrived at the carriage exactly on time, tossing the coat over with a pleasant smile.
“Rufus will assist you a lot during your hotel stay.”
“Is there anything I could help you with, Miss?”
“That remains to be seen.”
Seeing Rufus’s uneasy expression, Cecil vowed that once she married Lord Belmore, she would deal with him first.
Both Lord Belmore and Rufus Ollivander had a slightly unnerving presence. If Belmore was inscrutable, Rufus was blatantly audacious in observing people.
With these thoughts, Cecil closed the carriage door. Her days were about to get busier.
Now that her father regained power, she had to start managing the women around Belmore.
He wasn’t a rake, but if any woman were infatuated with him, Cecil intended to make it clear who truly belonged by his side.
Ah, she still needed to check on the Evans daughter—another girl playing her part while she herself should have been the socialite’s leading lady.
After the cookie incident, the women’s society quickly replaced the lead actress. Even those old ladies needed to see who the real leading lady of high society would be.
Eventually, the Evans daughter would be beneath Cecil.
ring kko *
“Liri! Sorry to keep you waiting!”
Timothy waved warmly and ran toward Liri. She smiled lightly and rose from the chair in the hall.
“Let’s go.”
Outside, the snow that had stopped began to fall again. The streets were empty.
“I can smell the snow!”
Liri laughed and ran forward; Timothy hurried after her.
“Be careful not to fall.”
“Timothy, it’s a happy Christmas.”
Liri twirled around, pretending to scoop snow with her hands.
The snow muffled the world’s sounds. Through the falling flakes, Timothy felt as if an angel had descended to earth.
Had it not been for the absence of footprints in the snow, he might have thought wings had appeared on Liri.
“Merry Christmas to you too, Liri.”
Timothy came down the steps, slipping her gloves onto her hands.
“Your hands must be cold.”
Touched by his gentle care, Liri looked at the leather gloves. The distinctive scent made her mind wander.
‘Has he come from the convent to work here?’
He was wearing gloves even today, holding another actor’s face tenderly with gloved hands…
Timothy, unaware of Liri’s thoughts, smiled faintly at the slender arms into which the gloves fit.
He promised himself they would have dinner together at the Rutland residence that evening. Her devout parents would not neglect her on Christmas.
For Liri, facing Christmas alone for the first time, it would be a gift.
“Liri.”
At Timothy’s quiet call, Liri finally looked up, tracing the smooth leather of the gloves.
“Let’s go home. You can’t spend Christmas alone in your lodging.”
She shook her head firmly.
“No, Timothy.”
“Why?”
“It’s a day for family. I’m not part of your family. You don’t need to have your time disrupted for me.”
Liri always took a step back, but he intended to come closer.
“Your parents want to see you too.”
Unaware that words alone wouldn’t persuade her, Timothy pressed on. Like all upright men, he didn’t understand resistance without reason.
“You don’t need to worry. Your aunt and uncle are waiting for you.”
“Then I still won’t go.”
Timothy, like a stubborn puppy refusing to enter the house after a walk, didn’t move. Liri had no choice but to relent.
Rather than face a Christmas without the person she awaited most, it might be better that he arrived, even with an unexpected companion.
While they bickered, a four-wheeled carriage stopped. A young lady and the man escorting her quickly passed by.
The bespectacled man brushed past Liri and glanced back. Timothy noticed the gesture immediately.
After the carriage left, Timothy approached the man returning with a coat. The man first smiled warmly and spoke.
“I thought I recognized you. Sorry for staring.”
He naturally extended his hand. Despite his refined clothing, his demeanor suggested he wasn’t nobility.
“I’m Rufus Ollivander. And you are?”
“Timothy Rutland.”
Their hands briefly met and separated, exchanging the usual Christmas greetings.
Timothy glanced once more at the man’s retreating back before turning his attention to Liri.
“Strange man.”
“Why? He was polite and courteous. Maybe he really confused you with someone he knows.”
“He didn’t ask about you. It wasn’t a mistake.”
Liri looked at Timothy worriedly. He relaxed his expression and quickened his pace.
