“Miss Lance.”

“Yes?”

“I’m returning to Dunville Park right after the ball. I’ve already packed my things and made arrangements with the coachman.”

“Why so soon…?”

“I’m going to look for another job. Within a week, I’ll be leaving Yorkshire. To a faraway place. A place where it will be hard to see old friends again.”

“Oh.”

Miss Lance didn’t know what to say.

“I hope you find happiness, Miss Lance.”

“You too… be happy, Miss Sheldon.”

She smiled faintly.

As they descended the staircase, Miss Lance was overwhelmed with complex emotions. She felt relieved that Miss Pendleton would no longer be part of Mr. Dalton’s life. But at the same time, she felt a twinge of guilt. Miss Pendleton was stepping aside for the sake of Mr. Dalton and herself.

Leaving the protection of the two families, where would she go now? How would she live?

Passing through the dim staircase, the two women walked down the long corridor leading to the ballroom. Miss Lance wanted to ask Miss Pendleton about her future plans but held back. She couldn’t help her, nor should she. What good would it do to care for the former lover of the man who would become her husband?

Besides, it’s someone else’s business, anyway.

“Ian!”

At the familiar voice, the two ladies stopped in their tracks.

The sound came from a small side room, some distance from the ballroom. The door was slightly ajar.

Miss Lance recognized the voice as belonging to Mr. Fairfax.

Mr. Fairfax must be with Mr. Dalton!

Without thinking deeply, Miss Lance moved toward the room. Miss Pendleton quickly grabbed her arm.

“They must have something to discuss privately. That’s why they chose such a secluded spot. Let’s head back to the ballroom.”

“But it’s too crowded, and there are so many people. I’ve been alone for hours trying to find Mr. Dalton. If I meet him here, we can go in together…!”

“You mad fool! Is now the time to be prattling on about Miss Pendleton?”

Miss Lance stopped mid-sentence.

Mr. Fairfax’s heated voice continued from beyond the door.

“The rumor that you and Miss Lance are lovers has spread like wildfire! All of London firmly believes you two are getting married!”

The two ladies froze.

Soon, Mr. Dalton’s scoff echoed out.

“What absurd nonsense. What have I done with Miss Lance? Honestly, London’s gossipmongers always spin things in the most vulgar direction.”

“This is entirely your fault. They say Miss Lance firmly believes you’re going to propose. You must have acted carelessly. What are you going to do? Miss Lance’s reputation is about to be shattered!”

“Any rumor will eventually fade. She comes from a good family and is quite popular. She’ll find a suitable match soon enough.”

“You clearly know nothing about society. Miss Lance’s chances of finding a good match are ruined. And it’s because of you!”

Mr. Fairfax was fuming.

“There’s only one solution. Let go of your feelings for Miss Pendleton. Turn your affections toward Miss Lance. If you don’t take responsibility and marry her, this situation won’t be resolved.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Why should I marry a woman I have no interest in when I love someone else?”

Mr. Dalton’s voice, laced with irritation, pierced through the crack in the door and struck the ears of the two ladies.

“If it’s not Miss Pendleton, marriage means nothing to me!”

Miss Lance shook off Miss Pendleton’s hand and stormed toward the room, flinging the door open.

Bang!

The sound of the door hitting the wall reverberated.

Inside the small room, the two gentlemen, who had been facing each other in a heated exchange, turned toward the entrance. Their faces soon contorted with dismay.

“Miss Lance!”

“Miss Pendleton!”

Each gentleman called out the name of the lady they cared for.

“Oh, oh…”

Miss Lance looked at Mr. Dalton. His gaze was fixed on Miss Pendleton standing behind her. He had spoken those words, but she, who had also heard them, was completely overlooked.

This can’t be…!

Miss Lance burst into tears and ran off somewhere. Mr. Fairfax called after her and chased her out.

Only a man and a woman remained, one outside and one inside the room. Mr. Dalton looked at Laura with a deeply troubled expression.

“…Miss Pendleton.”

He took a step toward her.

“I…”

“Stop.”

Laura held out her hand to halt him. He froze in place.

“It seems our friendship is over.”

His face paled.

“There will be no more place for you by my side. Farewell, Mr. Dalton.”

Laura gave a calm curtsy and vanished like the wind.

Dragging a trunk full of belongings with great effort, Miss Lance ran straight into a gentleman. It was Mr. Fairfax. He was pacing in front of the room where Miss Lance was staying with her friends, arms crossed.

“Miss Lance.”

Miss Lance suddenly became conscious of her appearance. Her face, a mess from tears; her hair, disheveled from running; the hem of her dress, crumpled from carelessly handling her luggage.

But the most humiliating thing was that he was one of the people present in a situation where she had essentially been rejected by Mr. Dalton.

“What brings you here?” she asked sharply.

“I was worried about your well-being…”

“I’m fine.”

Miss Lance brushed past him, dragging her trunk down the corridor. He followed her.

“Are you heading back to London?”

“Yes.”

“Please reconsider. Tomorrow morning, all the events will be over. It would be better to return with your friends, Miss Lance.”

“No.”

“The night train is dangerous for a lady traveling alone. And in this attire, you’ll surely catch a cold…”

“I said no!”

Miss Lance whipped her head around and glared at him.

“My friends firmly believe I’m going to be proposed to by Mr. Dalton! What would they say if they saw me like this? What am I supposed to say to them?”

“…”

“Even if I make excuses to my friends, it won’t matter. If I show up at breakfast tomorrow with a swollen face, everyone will whisper. Miss Lance must have been abandoned. The one he loves… must be another woman…”

Miss Lance bit her lip. Tears welled up in her pale blue eyes.

“I… need time to sort things out. Time to process… time to think about what’s happened to me…”

Mr. Fairfax nodded.

“I understand. Then, at least allow me to escort you.”

“…”

“I won’t interfere in any way. I’ll follow you like a shadow. Please, just let me ensure you arrive safely at the Lance estate. I beg you.”

He bowed his head, looking almost as subservient as a debtor pleading for an extension.

Miss Lance’s heart softened slightly. Truth be told, she was a little scared of taking the night train alone.

She gave a small nod. He expressed his gratitude politely and immediately took off his tuxedo jacket, draping it over her shoulders—a considerate gesture for the lady wearing a dress that bared her shoulders.

Then he took her trunk. The luggage she had struggled to drag seemed as light as a small gift box in his hands.

He was truly like a shadow. He walked three steps behind her, never uttering a word. He quietly called for a carriage, loaded her luggage, and lowered the step for her to board. He himself sat in the cold coachman’s seat.

At the station, he bought her ticket, carried her luggage, and guided her to her seat. Then he took a seat across the aisle and left her be.

Despite the chaotic situation, Miss Lance noticed Mr. Fairfax’s thoughtfulness. To him, she was just a slightly acquainted lady, yet he went to such lengths to care for her. Men often called themselves gentlemen at every turn, but a true gentleman like William Fairfax—there couldn’t be more than five in all of England.

Miss Lance felt gratitude toward him and knew she should express it. But right now, she was too exhausted, too depressed, and too overwhelmed by sorrow to do anything. And above all, she was deeply humiliated.

Until she boarded the train, Miss Lance had denied reality. She told herself she must have misheard, that it was all a misunderstanding, or that he was hiding his true feelings.

But the reality she had heard with her own ears shattered any rationalization.

“Don’t talk nonsense. Why should I marry a woman I have no interest in when I love someone else? If it’s not Miss Pendleton, marriage means nothing to me!”

That cold, ruthless voice.

Oh, he didn’t love me!

In the carriage earlier, Miss Lance had cried and cried. By the time they reached the station, she was so drained from weeping that she couldn’t even step out of the carriage without support.

The train steamed out of the station. With bloodshot eyes and a swollen face, Miss Lance stared out the window. The landscapes she had looked at with such anticipation a few days ago now bid her farewell, bathed in moonlight.

As some of her sadness drained away with her tears, Miss Lance, who was reasonably sharp and self-aware for her age, began to think more clearly.

Why did I fall into such a delusion?

Upon reflection, he had never truly courted her. His kindness was nothing more than the standard courtesy a gentleman extends to a lady in society—no more, no less. Yet she had firmly believed that he, Ian Dalton, was in love with her, Dora Lance. Why?

She traced back through her memories, trying to recall the details of situations and circumstances as objectively as possible.

And as the train crossed the border of Yorkshire, she faced the truth.

Because everyone around me said Ian Dalton was smitten with me. And… because I wanted to believe it.

Her face flushed as red as a tomato. She felt so foolish she wanted to kick herself.

I’m an idiot. A fool. How could I let myself be swayed by such baseless rumors? Mr. Dalton was never interested in me from the start. He never asked me to dance a waltz, never gave me gifts, never threw flirtatious glances my way. Oh, what am I to do now? All of London firmly believes I’m in a relationship with Mr. Dalton!

She wanted to fling open the train window and throw herself out. But Mr. Fairfax wouldn’t let her. He had likely insisted on accompanying her precisely to prevent such an act.

Oh, if only I had been a little more aware, things wouldn’t have turned out like this. I could have stopped my friends from spreading rumors about me and Mr. Dalton. I could have kept my distance to avoid misunderstandings. If only Mother hadn’t filled me with false hopes, if only there had been even one person to give me proper advice…

At that moment, someone came to Miss Lance’s mind. The one person who had indirectly warned her to be cautious about the rumors involving Mr. Dalton.