Laura clearly informed Olivia that most of the information she knew was exaggerated.In particular, the books sold in bookstores as guides to high society were completely different from the actual state of society.

Such books were mostly written irresponsibly by washed-up socialites desperate for pocket money,filled with exaggerations and fabrications.The content was mostly about trends long outdated in society or things that had never been in vogue.

Laura pointed out each error Olivia believed to be true, offering proper advice.

“It’s a place where people live, Miss Fairfax.It’s a place where refined ladies are admired, but what’s truly needed is lineage and wealth.As a lady from a distinguished Yorkshire gentry family, you’ll be welcomed in society.”

“Really?”

“Absolutely.”

Olivia felt oddly reassured by Laura’s words.

“Look, I told you there was no need to fret.”

Mrs. Fairfax chimed in with a voice tinged with amusement.

“Until your debut, just enjoy dancing or painting as hobbies.And relax a bit.Once you’re in London, you’ll be diving into the marriage market,so it’s a pity to spend your last days as a girl only studying.”

“But what should I do for fun?”

“Go to the forest with your siblings and your governess, or learn fishing from your uncle Ian.”

Olivia shook her head.Even though she was free from her fear of high society,she was too grown to be interested in children’s games.

“That’s not for me. It’s not something a lady would do.”

“Oh, that lady nonsense again.”

Laura quietly asked,

“So, Miss Fairfax, how would you like to spend your time?”

Olivia thought for a moment before answering,

“I still… want to study more.Even if the threshold for society isn’t high,having more talents is better than having none.”

“What kind of studies?”

“I want to read more books and be able to converse perfectly in French.I wish Mother would find a French tutor soon…”

Olivia said this while looking at her mother, her eyes clearly pleading.

“Alright, Olivia. You don’t need to look at me like that…”

“Mrs. Fairfax.”

Mrs. Fairfax turned to Laura at the call.

“How about I teach Olivia French whenever I have spare time?”

“You? But aren’t you already busy with Daniel and George?”

“A couple of hours in the morning should be fine.Since Olivia has already learned much from her governess, I won’t have too much to do.”

“That would be very kind, but…”

Mrs. Fairfax looked at Olivia.

“What do you think?”

Olivia hesitated for a moment.Having the spinster who stole her first love, her uncle, as a tutor felt uncomfortable.Honestly, it hurt her pride.

“No, thank you. You’re not French, are you?Mother said she’d find one soon, so I’ll wait.”

Olivia refused primly, though she didn’t believe her own words.Her indifferent mother, who had dragged out the issue for a year, was unlikely to resolve it quickly.

“Miss Fairfax, even if you doubt my skills, try studying with me once.I’m sure it will be helpful to you.”

“I don’t want to trouble you.”

“It’s no trouble at all.Studying with you is something I need too.Languages, especially conversation, fade without use.If you help me, it’ll greatly help me maintain my skills.Even if my abilities aren’t perfect, think of it as helping each other.Will you study with me?”

Laura asked with utmost politeness.Olivia’s heart wavered as Laura made such a courteous request.It felt good to be asked so earnestly by a lady who had mingled with so many notables in London.

“Olivia, when your teacher asks so sincerely, you should accept.It’s good for you too.”

Her mother encouraged her from the side.Olivia rolled her eyes, then stammered,

“Well… shall I, then?”

On the afternoon of the tenth day since Laura arrived at the manor,Laura encountered an unexpected visitor.

Laura, Daniel, and George were sitting on a rock deep in the forest,sharing wild strawberries.George had crawled under bushes to pick them.His clothes were covered in dirt, but he didn’t care.

When he poured the strawberries onto Laura’s skirt,her expression alone was enough to make him happy.But when she patted his head and praised him, he felt like he was soaring.Meanwhile, Daniel, jealous of the praise George received, huffed and ate his strawberries.

They had forgotten their initial fear and wariness of their new teacherand had grown to deeply adore Laura.She was interested in everything they did, amazed by it,and joined in their pranks without hesitation.No adult had ever shown them such attention.Their father was obsessed with hunting,their mother only paid attention when teasing them,and their sister was prim and aloof.

They lived carefree and reckless, but in truth, they craved attention.When this beautiful teacher suddenly appeared,giving them approval and praise,the young, simple mischief-makers fell completely for Laura.

They even began competing for her affection.When George picked acorns to give her,Daniel brought handfuls of mulberries and poured them onto her skirt.When Daniel picked forest flowers for her,George climbed a tree to fetch bird eggs from a nest to offer her.

Laura balanced their rivalry, ensuring neither felt unfairly treated or hurt,while encouraging them.She lavished praise on their gifts,shared the berries,and decorated her dress with the flowers.But she told them to return the eggs to the nest,as the mother bird would be sad, and ensured they were safely placed back.

Just as the boys grew fond of their new teacher,Laura began to care for them too.These boys, showing her pure affection, touched her heart.She liked their innocence.Playing with them made her feel like a child again.

She had lived too long among artificial and pretentious things,thinking it impossible to reclaim innocence.But running through trees and rolling in the dirt with the boysmade her feel as if that lost innocence was reviving.At twenty-nine, she felt like she was nineteen, or even nine,ignorant of the world.In the clear, quiet, clean forest,Laura felt an astonishing cheerfulness,sometimes overwhelmed with happiness.

After finishing the strawberries,the three headed to the lake to skip stones.As they neared Dunville Park, the path widened,and the ground became even.A large dirt path, arched with trees like a tunnel, appeared.But in the distance, a man was walking toward the forest.Laura froze, recognizing the familiar figure.

“It’s Uncle Ian!”

The two boys, realizing the gentleman’s identity,panicked, brushing off their clothesand pulling crumpled caps from their pockets to wear.But the one who truly needed to tidy up was Laura.She became conscious of her appearance.Her neatly pinned hair had slipped out of its net,and her dress was stained with dirt and strawberry juice.

For a governess, her appearance was a mess.But she couldn’t fix it like her pupils could.He was already too close.In contrast, he was impeccably dressed in a gray suit,black tie, and gentleman’s hat.

“Hello, Uncle.”

The boys greeted politely, without their usual cheekiness.Mr. Dalton nodded and looked at Laura.Her face flushed slightly.He seemed surprised by the curly auburn hair spilling from her netand her rosy cheeks from exertion,then gave a mischievous smile.

“Is today’s lesson ecology?”

Laura blushed slightly and nodded.

“Must have been fun. What did you do?”

“We climbed trees to observe nests.And played a strawberry hunt.George has a knack for finding berries.”

“And occasionally startles the manor folk.While hunting berries, he also finds thumb-sized caterpillarsor centipedes with twenty-four legs,slips them into his pocket,and sneaks them into a coachman’s hat or a maid’s apron pocket,then acts innocent.”

Laura burst into a chuckle.Mr. Dalton shot George a stern look.

“You haven’t done that to your teacher, have you?”

George quickly shook his head.

When he heard Laura and the boys were going to skip stones,he decided to join them.Ian let the boys walk aheadand strolled alone with Miss Pendleton.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t visit sooner, Miss Pendleton.”

“Not at all. You’re busy with estate matters, Mr. Dalton.”

“Have you had any difficulties settling in?There must have been some inconveniences.”

Laura shook her head.

“Not at all, Mr. Dalton.It’s almost too luxurious.”

Mr. Dalton looked at her skeptically,as if she were being polite.Laura quickly added,

“I don’t know if it shows,but since coming here, my waist has grown two inches.Every morning and evening, Mr. Fairfax keeps offering food,and running around like this makes me so hungryI can’t resist eating it all.I’ll need new clothes next year.”

Mr. Dalton chuckled.Laura’s face flushed again.

“That’s a relief.I thought you’d be struggling.Adjusting to a new place isn’t easy.”

“Maybe if I were working elsewhere, I would be.In the usual governess’s position, that is.But honestly, I’m doing better than before I started.The people at Dunville Park treat me not as an employee,but as family.It feels like coming home, Mr. Dalton.”

Laura’s voice was filled with cheer.Mr. Dalton gazed quietly at her face with his dark eyes.

She was quite different from the woman he’d seen in London.Her face was radiant, her steps full of vigor.Though still slender, her jawline had softened,showing she had gained a little weight.Her words were indeed true.