It had been a week since Laura arrived at the manor.Mrs. Fairfax, who had been covertly observing Laura while pretending otherwise, began to feel the limits of her curiosity.Her desire to know more about the young lady Ian had taken a liking to had finally burst forth.

Up until now, she had left Laura alone to adjust to the manor,but she could no longer hold back.She invited Laura to have tea together in the morning during breakfast,saying she would introduce her to little Ian.

Laura gladly agreed, excited at the prospect of meeting little Ian.Mrs. Fairfax sat in the parlor and instructed a servant to bring little Ian from the nursery.

While waiting, Laura handed Mrs. Fairfax something wrapped in paper.Mrs. Fairfax unwrapped it.It was a small picture book.

“What’s this?”

Laura said with a shy expression,“I promised Mr. Dalton I’d give little Ian a gift someday.I made it a few months ago, but I’m only now able to give it.”

Right after learning that Mr. Dalton had a young nephew,Laura had taken time between her tasks to make a gift.It was a storybook she crafted by selecting the most interesting fables from La Fontaine’s Fables,which she had read while learning French in her school days.

Though it was completed months ago, various circumstances had prevented her from giving it.She had left it behind at the Pendleton estate,but remembered it just before leaving for Dunville Park and safely retrieved it through Ann.

Mrs. Fairfax couldn’t hide her amazement as she flipped through the storybook Laura presented.The book, bound in red leather, contained eight fables handwritten by Laura.One page had the original French text, the other Laura’s English translation,and beneath the large letters were watercolor illustrations Laura had drawn, charmingly filling the space.

Olivia, sitting nearby, leaned toward her mother to look at the book.She was greatly surprised by the beautiful French script on the paper.But outwardly, she asked nonchalantly, as if it were no big deal,“You know French too?”

Laura nodded.

“How much?”

“I can read it, speak it, and hold conversations.”

“Did you learn from a governess?”

“I learned it at school. I was close with a native teacher.”

Olivia was intrigued by her response.French was a subject that dominated her daily interests.She wanted to ask Laura how much she had learned and what textbooks she used, one by one.

But showing such interest in Laura hurt her pride.She casually munched on a cookie from the table, acting indifferent.Yet, Laura could see plainly how much Olivia was stirred.

Of course, Mrs. Fairfax, who had raised Olivia for thirteen years, saw it too.Only Olivia firmly believed she was hiding her feelings.The two mature women exchanged glances and smiled secretly at Olivia.

Soon, the nursemaid brought the child into the parlor.Mrs. Fairfax took the child in her arms.She leaned toward Laura to show her the baby.Laura couldn’t help but gasp at the sight of the baby Fairfax before her.

Though people often say all babies are cute,some babies, truthfully, are not.But little Ian was, in every way, a perfect baby angel.Light brown curly hair, chestnut eyes, rosy cheeks, and sparkling eyes.Chubby, wriggling fingers.There wasn’t a single part that wasn’t adorable.

Laura leaned closer to the baby, who was looking at her with a runny nose and drool.She softly called the child’s name.The baby, as if understanding her, gazed at Laura quietly.Then, suddenly, smiled brightly.Laura burst into laughter too.She had seen many friends’ babies, but never one so lovely.

The baby reached out toward Laura.Laura noticed the child was trying to grab the ribbon decoration on her dress.She leaned even closer, and the baby played with the ribbon.

“Our Ian isn’t shy with strangers.He shares the same name as his uncle, but their personalities are completely different.”

Laura’s heart raced as she watched the tiny hand clutch the ruffled trim on her dress.

“This is the cutest baby I’ve ever seen, madam.”

Mrs. Fairfax handed little Ian to Laura’s arms entirely.Laura held little Ian, showing him the storybook she made,playing with him in her arms.The child giggled loudly, even in unfamiliar arms.

The nursemaid came downstairs.It was time for the baby’s breastfeeding.The nursemaid took the child away.Laura watched with reluctance as the nursemaid left the parlor with the baby.Mrs. Fairfax promised to show him again next time.

Laura and Mrs. Fairfax talked about little Ian for a while.When was he born, had he started rolling over, could he say “mama”?It was typical baby talk,but for a woman who loved babies and one raising a baby, it was the most delightful topic.

Meanwhile, Olivia, who neither liked nor was raising a baby,felt bored by their conversation.Taking advantage of a lull in their talk, she spoke to Laura.

“Do you know Christine Salmon?”

Laura flipped through the pages of her memory.Soon, she recalled a lady who often attended tea parties.

“Yes. Miss Salmon was someone who often came to tea parties.”

“Are you close?”

“No. We’re just acquaintances. Is she a friend of yours, Miss Fairfax?”

“She’s my friend Lydia’s cousin.Her cousin said she often went to tea parties at the Pendleton estate.”

“Then you must have known about me before I came, Miss Fairfax.”

“Just your name.”

Laura nodded.Olivia began to satisfy her curiosity in earnest.

“You’ve been in London society for a long time, haven’t you?How many years were you there?”

Laura gave her the exact number of years.Olivia blinked.It was an astonishingly long time.Almost as long as the years she herself had lived.

Olivia forgot her prejudice against Laura for a moment.She rattled off names of society figures she’d collected from reading the society pages of magazines and newspapers,asking if Laura knew them.Most, Laura had greeted or conversed with,and she had even attended their weddings, funerals, or christenings, or those of their families.Laura shared these facts openly.

Olivia’s heart raced.It felt like a great figure was sitting before her.

Olivia was deeply interested in London society,but the only London lady she really knew was her aunt, Janet Fairfax.Naturally, Olivia admired Janet.At seventeen, Miss Janet was still a newcomer in society,but to thirteen-year-old Olivia, she seemed entirely grown-up.

She couldn’t forget Janet, who had spent time at the manor last Christmas.Dressed in the latest London fashion, Janet looked confident and refined.

Olivia had followed her aunt around, asking about society,and Miss Janet told her adoring niece everything in detail.More than half of Olivia’s questions were about things Janet hadn’t experienced,but instead of admitting ignorance, Janet covered her inexperience with imagination and guesses.

Mrs. Fairfax said,“Our Olivia will debut in London society in three years.She’ll live with our young master and your lady at their house.”

“Mr. William Fairfax and Miss Janet?”

“Yes. Miss Janet said she’d help Olivia.”

“That’s wonderful. Living with a guardian and mentor.You must feel at ease, madam.”

“Of course. Both are trustworthy gentleman and lady.I have no worries about Olivia’s debut.Though she’s the one fretting and anxious.She says she’s not properly prepared in dancing, drawing, or anything.”

“Mother.”

Olivia tried to stop her mother, but Mrs. Fairfax ignored her and continued.

“She especially complains about her French, begging for a tutor every day.We had a tutor for about a year, but she suddenly left to get married.Her fiancé found a position sooner than expected.So Olivia’s anxious about her French lessons.”

Laura looked at Olivia.Her face was red, perhaps embarrassed by her mother revealing her shortcomings.

“Miss Fairfax has a strong desire to learn. That’s a good thing.But you don’t need to be too intimidated by London society.It won’t be much different from Yorkshire society.”

“Not different?But my aunt Janet said most young ladies there speak French as fluently as their native tongue,play at least five instruments,and are well-versed in everything from literature to philosophy.”

Laura shook her head.

“Unless the society Miss Janet Fairfax moves in is different from the one I knew, that’s an exaggeration.It’s a place where people live,so their accomplishments and talents vary widely.Miss Fairfax, would you tell me about what you’ve learned so far?”

Olivia obediently shared her skills.Literature, mathematics, history, and other basic subjects,along with drawing, piano, and dancing.

“That’s enough to debut right now.”

“Really?”

“Of course. There are plenty of ladies less accomplished than you,making friends and receiving love letters from gentlemen.”

Olivia was confused.It was completely different from what her aunt Janet had said.Her aunt had looked at her drawing and piano skillsand warned her she’d be humiliated in London if she went as she was.

But Laura was much older than her auntand had spent far longer in society.Common sense told her to trust Laura’s words over Janet’s.

Olivia forgot her prejudice against Lauraand poured out all the questions in her heart.She asked if the London society guidebooks she and her friends had read,and the rumors circulating among young ladies before their debut,matched the real society, or if they were different.