Laura Pendleton smiled languidly, sprawling across the soft carpet.

“Did you know? I’ve read Mansfield Park over a hundred times by now. When I was sad, lonely, or in pain, reading it brought me comfort and happiness. But you know, earlier by the fireplace, I tried reading it again, and it wasn’t the least bit interesting.”

“Why’s that?”

“Maybe because my life used to be so unhappy. I must have found comfort in Fanny Price, who was poor, mistreated, and invisible. ‘Here’s a girl as lonely and struggling as me, yet she endures and finds happiness,’ I thought. But now, I feel nothing for Fanny but pity.”

Laura boldly pulled Ian Dalton closer, kissing his cheek.

“Fanny and I aren’t alike at all. I have something Fanny doesn’t—my Ian Dalton, the most perfect, wonderful husband in the world.”

“Then we ought to do something for Fanny Price. Should I sell the eastern lands and make a donation to her husband’s parish?”

“Miss Price is already living a rich life with her beloved Edmund, so she doesn’t need any gifts.”

He stroked Laura’s hair and asked, “What about you? Is there anything you want?”

“Me?”

“Yes. You’ve made the happiest man in the world into the happiest man in the universe.”

“…”

“Come on, Mrs. Dalton. Prove your transformation.”

Laura toyed with her husband’s ear, deep in thought. Ian inhaled the sweet scent of her breath, awaiting her response.

“Darling, our wedding anniversary is coming up. On that day, make me happy.”

“What would make you happy?”

“You’ll have to figure that out.”

“Quite the challenge. Give me a hint.”

“I don’t know. You figure it out.”

Ian groaned, burying his face in Laura’s chest.

“Blast it, you expect me to read the mind of a woman as difficult as you?”

“Am I difficult?”

“Early in our marriage, I showered you with jewels and carriages, only to be scolded for extravagance. Any other woman would have smothered me with kisses for it.”

“Fool, do you think all women are materialistic?”

“Well, it’s not like I’ve ever had eyes for any woman but you.”

He rested his cheek against her chest, pondering for a moment. Then, he lifted his head with a resolute expression.

“Alright. I swear on my love for you, I’ll make this the best anniversary ever.”

“Can I count on that?”

He kissed her lips softly. “Of course.”

His lips trailed to her neck. Laura glanced at the clock on the wall.

“The maids will be up soon.”

“Mhm.”

“They’ll be coming up and down this floor to fetch bathwater.”

“I know.”

His lips moved lower. Laura could no longer continue speaking.

An hour later, Laura’s hollow soul overflowed, brimming with warmth.

Jack Moss, the overseer of the Banzli coal mine, sent a letter reporting that the contractors for the smelting facility have been pilfering materials.

“…”

“Mr. Dalton?”

Noel turned to Ian, who was seated at the desk across from him.

Ian sat with his arms crossed, staring into space, his handsome brow furrowed deeply.

“Mr. Dalton?”

“…”

“Mr. Dalton?”

After several calls, Ian finally shifted his gaze. Noel swallowed a sigh and repeated the letter’s contents.

Ian silently extended his hand. Noel walked over and handed him the letter. After reading it carefully, Ian clicked his tongue in displeasure, pulled a sheet from the paper box, and began scribbling.

“Go to Jack Moss yourself, deliver this letter, and report back on the situation.”

“Shall I go today?”

“There’s no train today. Leave tomorrow.”

“Understood.”

Returning to his desk, Noel tucked the letter into his leather bag and asked, “Is Jack Moss trustworthy?”

“…”

Ian was once again staring into space with a grave expression.

“Sir!”

Ian flinched, looking at Noel as if startled awake.

“What?”

“Is Jack Moss trustworthy?”

Ian nodded. “After my father passed, the only mine with no suspicious discrepancies in the ledgers was Banzli. In the twenty years Jack Moss has been in charge, there’s been no embezzlement. He’s the most honest miner in England, so treat him with respect when you visit.”

“Understood, sir.”

The matter was settled. Noel expected his employer to lapse back into frowning at the air. But Ian, as if determined to defy expectations, leaned back in his chair and let out a long, heavy sigh, as if the earth had caved in and the sky had fallen.

It was an even more troubled demeanor than before.

What’s wrong with him?

Noel had no interest in meddling in his employer’s personal affairs, but he could no longer stay silent. Ignoring such blatant distress wasn’t just discourteous—it was impossible to focus on work when the man across from him was silently shouting, I’m troubled! I’m dying over here!

Though a bit of a rake when it came to leisure, Noel was meticulous about work and resolved to clear up his employer’s issue so he could finish sorting the mountain of receipts by the end of the day.

“Is something troubling you, sir?”

“…”

“Perhaps you could share it with me?”

After a brief silence, Ian spoke. “Noel.”

“Yes?”

Ian looked at Noel with a pitiful expression. “What on earth do women like?”

“…Is that what you’ve been agonizing over this whole time?”

Ian nodded. “I promised my wife a grand event for our anniversary. I swore I’d make her the happiest woman in the world.”

Noel sighed. All this brooding during work hours over something like that?

“With respect, didn’t you declare yesterday that you’d be an indifferent husband to your wife?”

“I gave up.”

Ian shook his head. “Moving the pyramids would be easier than being indifferent to a wife as lovely as Laura.”

Noel stifled a laugh. Our master is quite the character. Most men would badmouth their wives to avoid looking foolish in front of other men, but this one doesn’t hide his feelings in the slightest.

Once, Noel had found Ian’s behavior laughable. He’d scoffed inwardly at the man who braved the morning dew to find four-leaf clovers for his wife, rushed out of the office for tea time with her, or grinned all day at a pocket watch she’d given him for his birthday, thinking him the epitome of a lovesick fool.

But over time, Noel came to find his master’s devotion rather admirable. Even a seasoned flirt like Noel couldn’t help but be moved by the sight of a man so steadfastly in love with his wife.

Ian continued to grumble. “I’d love to put her in a golden carriage, parade her through the shopping district, and buy her furs and jewels. We’d dine on a French course meal, I’d massage her feet in a suite, and we’d make love all night.”

“That sounds splendid. Why not do it?”

“It’s not Laura’s taste.”

“There are women who don’t like that sort of thing? Well, when was your wife happiest in the past?”

“When I decided to quit smoking?”

“…Anything else?”

Ian thought hard. “When I sat her on a sturdy branch in the forest and sang to her. When I brought her the first apple of last autumn. When I made a flower crown from her birth flower on her birthday and placed it on her head.”

Are they teenagers?

“Your wife responds to thoughtfulness.”

“That’s the problem. Solving things with money is easy—I have plenty of it. But Laura is frugal and indifferent to material things. She likes pretty hats and trinkets, but she despises excessive luxury.”

“She’s a remarkable woman.”

“Of course.”

Ian replied as if Noel had stated the sky was blue.

Noel pondered for a moment before speaking. “Sir, you once said that to sense what your wife truly wants, you need to use all five senses and then some. It’s time to use that Ascertain her true desires from your heart.”

“From my heart?”

“Yes. An anniversary celebrates the union of two lovers. It’s a precious time to trace the most beautiful moments of your history together. Look into your shared past. There’s surely a hint hidden there.”

Ian fell silent.

Did that work?

Noel studied Ian’s expression. He looked deep in thought, but not as distressed as before.

He must have found a clue. Now let’s get back to work.

Having resolved the distraction, Noel returned to organizing the Banzli smelting facility receipts.

Meanwhile, Ian crossed his arms, stared at the ceiling, and repeated to himself, Our history.

Noel’s words had sparked a ray of light in Ian’s clouded mind. Instead of seeking answers in generic romantic gestures, Ian, prompted by Noel’s advice, began to trace their shared history.

Not the painful, difficult moments, but the beautiful, precious ones.

Dozens of images flashed through Ian’s mind. The night he and Laura waltzed under the moonlight. The midday conversations in Dunville Park’s woods. The afternoon they walked through White

//field Forest, following her father’s footsteps. The time they warmed themselves by the fire in a cabin to escape the rain.

To Ian, those moments were as vivid as yesterday. In them, Laura was always smiling.

In nature, by the warm hearth of a cabin, in my arms, Laura was happy.

Ian found his answer.

He stood, regaining his dignity, and buttoned his jacket with a composed expression.

“Don’t disturb me unless it’s urgent.”