MDCHC 86

chapter 86

“Madam, a guest has arrived.”

At the maid’s words, I set down the cosmos I was holding. The delicate, fluttering flowers were a bit troublesome to arrange properly, but they were perfect for feeling the full arrival of autumn, which had crept in quietly but unmistakably.

“Please tell them to wait in the parlor for a moment. It’s still warm outside, so we’ll serve cold lemonade and cookies.”

Without asking who had come to see me, I returned to arranging the flowers. My hand, hesitating between pink and white cosmos, finally settled on pink.

Even without her saying it, I knew exactly who had come. It was the guest I had instructed to arrive at this exact time today.

And it was better for him to wait a little.

“Yes, Madam.”

After the maid closed the door behind her, I continued arranging the cosmos in a vase to place in the bedroom, wanting even a person who went out early in the morning and returned late at night to feel the season.

“I apologize for keeping you waiting. I had to finish some things first.”

As I entered the parlor, offering the greeting I had prepared, the guest immediately rose from his seat, as if he had been waiting just for that moment.

“That’s all right. I haven’t been waiting long. They say the Winchester family is wealthy, and your parlor is so impressive that I got distracted just looking around.”

George Dudley said this with a bright smile, as if he genuinely enjoyed exploring the room.

“That’s flattering.”

I smiled and sat down. Then my eyes fell on the glass of lemonade he had partially drunk. He had said he lost track of time while looking around, but perhaps the waiting had made him a little anxious—the glass was already half empty.

‘Such smooth talk,’ I thought inwardly, but of course, I didn’t voice it. I simply raised my head, met his gaze, and offered a faint smile.

“Thank you for inviting me to your home.”

“I thought it would be inappropriate to discuss such a sensitive matter in a public place where anyone might overhear.”

I paused there, partly because the maid had brought me the tea I was going to drink.

“If you need anything, I’ll call. Stay outside.”

I sent the maid out of the parlor, even though she wanted to stay nearby to serve. She, too, was an outsider. And what we were about to discuss was not something for outsiders to overhear.

“You have something to say about Daniel’s biological mother?”

A few days ago, George Dudley had sent me a letter. The unexpected name had surprised me once, and its content had surprised me again. He had written that he wanted to discuss Daniel’s biological mother with me.

I had thought about it a little but couldn’t ignore the letter. So I invited him to the estate, to speak privately where no one could overhear us.

It was actually fortunate that he had reached out to me first by letter.

“I hope this topic isn’t uncomfortable for the Countess of Winchester.”

“Not at all.”

“That’s a relief. Actually, I have a suspicion about who Daniel’s biological mother might be. The moment I saw Daniel, I thought of her resemblance.”

“Is that so?”

My chest tightened slightly, but I answered calmly in front of George.

As expected, Daniel’s beauty had been inherited from his mother. I couldn’t even imagine how beautiful a woman would be who resembled the world’s most adorable Daniel.

No, it was Daniel who resembled her. A woman so beautiful that even Lord Winchester could fall for her.

“But to be certain that Daniel is her daughter, I need to know the child’s birthday. Do you know Daniel’s exact birth date?”

“Of course I do.”

“Then when…”

“But I don’t want to tell you.”

George’s face hardened at my reply. It was the first time I had seen him look so stern.

“Does the Countess of Winchester also dislike revealing who Daniel’s mother is?”

“No. Actually, I already know who Daniel’s mother is.”

“What? You know?”

“Yes.”

George looked taken aback, clearly surprised that I already knew. He had the expression of someone who had just had their trump card taken away.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes. I heard it directly from Lord Winchester himself.”

“……”

George fell silent and appeared deep in thought.

Was he trying to figure out whether to say the name he knew first to see if it matched mine, or was he weighing whether Lord Winchester had already told me the truth about Daniel’s mother? I could not tell.

“Mr. Dudley.”

I spoke first, taking the initiative.

“Do you want something?”

George looked up from his thoughts. His eyes still carried the weight of deep contemplation.

“I don’t think you came to me just to guess at society gossip for fun. You must have a purpose in bringing Daniel’s mother’s name to me.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Because you still haven’t directly mentioned her name. Like a gambler who doesn’t reveal their last card easily.”

“That’s the same for you, Countess of Winchester, isn’t it? Since our cards may differ, you don’t reveal yours easily either.”

“Perhaps.”

“I admire the Winchester family’s effort to hide the flaws of their lineage.”

We exchanged faint, polite smiles—smiles with no warmth or kindness, purely for appearances.

“Do you think I can’t find out Daniel’s birthday just because you won’t tell me?”

“No. I’m sure you could find it out.”

“Then don’t make it difficult. Just tell me, and I won’t hold it against you.”

“No.”

I refused Dudley’s request with a smiling face. But as if he had expected it, Dudley did not frown. He simply stared at me with a smile.

I recognized that as his true face. The sly expressions he used to seduce women, the playful smiles he wore as if everything was a game, none of that was real.

That sharpness, the ruthlessness that would not spare even a woman if she got in the way of his goal—that was George Dudley’s true nature.

‘Lord Winchester was right.’

If that was his true self, Dudley was the kind of man who would not hesitate to poison an enemy.

“You know, don’t you? Acacias have thorns.”

That was my answer. To take anything from me, one must be ready to be pricked by thorns. I would not give anything easily.

“……”

Dudley was smart enough to understand my meaning. He stared at me silently, then for a moment, his expression changed.

He smiled. Back to the cheerful, good-natured naval officer, who was particularly kind to women.

“I almost forgot. You are the Acacia, madam. I won’t trouble the busy Countess of Winchester further. I will look into Daniel’s birthday myself. Once I am completely certain, I will return.”

Dudley rose from his seat, as if he had no lingering regrets.

“When that time comes, we can compare the cards we each hold.”

I nodded politely, fulfilling my duty as Countess.

But as soon as he left the parlor, the tension drained from me, and I let out an involuntary sigh. I wasn’t sure if I had conducted myself well as the Countess of Winchester or defended myself properly as Daniel’s mother.

George Dudley had gone. All that remained in front of me was the half-drunk glass of lemonade.