MDCHC 78

chapter 78

Lord Winchester’s dance was less of a dance and more like a martial routine. Three steps to the left, three steps to the right, thrust! Success! Rhythm was killed, and so was the beat. Now let’s strangle the very life out of this dance!

“Difficult.”

After a few steps, Lord Winchester seemed to realize it too. He awkwardly tried to help with my turn, but his hands got tangled and he flustered.

“This is the first time I’ve seen you not do something well.”

I took his hand again and slowly stepped to the left. Since my mother insisted I train with a dance teacher after we were first invited to Camellia Manor, I had at least learned the basics. Which meant I was far more skilled than him.

“Does it look that strange?”
“Not strange, exactly… more stiff, I’d say?”

Before I knew it, I was leading Lord Winchester. A man a head taller than me, whose hand seemed almost sunken into mine, was being pulled and pushed around at my whim. And it was… rather fun.

“Are you enjoying yourself?”

I had giggled several times, and even burst out laughing when our eyes met. Seeing this, he asked me.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I laughed too much, didn’t I?”
“Yes.”

At his reply, I quickly shut my mouth with a snap. Maybe I had gone too far.

“But it’s fine.”

Lord Winchester said, looking at my tightly sealed lips.

“As long as my wife is happy, that’s all that matters.”

Before I realized it, he was smiling too.

“Mom~”

Daniel’s voice, drowsy and soaked in sleep, called out to me. Normally, he would already have been in bed at this hour.

“Perfect timing. We were about to leave anyway. Brian is already asleep.”

Indeed, a woman who appeared to be a nanny was holding a soundly sleeping Brian.

“Sorry to trouble you, Duchess of Devonshire.”
“Trouble? Not at all. Brian was clinging to Daniel the whole time, which made it much easier for me. Besides, I never really liked balls much anyway. I prefer sitting quietly to moving about.”

The Duchess kindly eased my guilt, saying it actually helped her slip away early.

“Come here.”

Daniel, rubbing his eyes while clutching at my skirt, was lifted easily by Lord Winchester. Just like the nanny holding Brian, he nestled Daniel against his chest.

Good heavens! To see this with my own eyes!

It was truly moving. I had tried so hard to see such a warm father-child scene. Finally, all those efforts bore fruit!

“If you’re sleepy, go ahead and sleep.”

Of course. With such a broad chest, it was the perfect bed for little Daniel.

“Today was fun.”

With heavy eyes, Daniel murmured drowsily.

“Everyone called me pretty and cute. I ate lots of tasty food, and I even danced with Brian.”

Like writing in a diary, Daniel seemed unable to fall asleep without recounting all the happy moments of the day. Only after he finished speaking did he finally close his eyes and drift off.

“I’m glad. He must have had fun.”

Looking at his sweet, sleeping face, I couldn’t hide my warm smile.

Lord Winchester nodded as he walked slowly. It was a far cry from his usual firm stride. I could see he was walking carefully, so as not to wake Daniel.

‘Funny, he couldn’t dance softly like that.’

The memory of his overly rigid dancing bubbled up laughter in my chest like soap bubbles.

“It’s time to head home.”

I said, walking beside him as he carried Daniel. At those words, Lord Winchester suddenly stopped.

He looked at me with a strange expression—as if he had just realized something anew.

“What is it? Do you need to stop somewhere else?”

I wondered if he had forgotten some engagement—perhaps meeting Ethan or the other knights after the ball.

“No.”

He shook his head.

“It’s just that…”

Just that? He trailed off, making me stop as well.

“I realized we’re heading home together.”
“…Pardon?”
“I mean… that we’re going home together.”

What a strange thing to say. If not home, then where else would we go?

“Let’s go, my lady.”

Adjusting Daniel in his arms, he urged me forward. To return home together, as I had said—or as he had.

Life was like that. You always ran into the very person you didn’t want to see.

“Hmm?”
“Ah?”

In the middle of town, I ran right into George. Startled, I froze, unsure how to react. He too looked surprised, clearly not expecting to see me here.

The only difference was that in his surprise, there was the faintest hint of delight.

Why?

“We meet again, Countess Winchester.”
“Yes, I didn’t expect to see you here.”

I was being honest. This was a pink, frilly dessert café. In fact, the only man inside was George himself.

“This is a place I often visit when I’m on land. No other place serves financiers like this one.”
“Ahh~”

Quite an unexpected taste. Not only was it rare for a man to like desserts, it was even rarer to openly admit it.

Even Freddie, the youngest of the Pomots family, was obsessed with whipped cream cakes and scones piled with blueberry jam and cream cheese. Yet he always denied it, saying he only ate them because mother had prepared them, out of obligation, out of courtesy—before devouring half a dozen at once.

If told to leave some for his sisters or nieces, he’d insist boys in their growth phase needed to eat that much—though he was already fully grown!

“Especially the fig and peanut financiers here. They’re exquisite.”

George said, beaming.

“Mom…”

Daniel, who had been quietly listening, tugged at my sleeve. We had come out because this café was said to serve delicious desserts.

“Oh~ so you’re the famous Daniel.”

George smiled at him warmly. Whatever “famous” meant, it seemed he had heard stories about Daniel, and his eyes sparkled with curiosity.

“Would you introduce me to the young lady, Countess?”
“Uh…”

I hesitated for a moment. He was, after all, a suspect in the poisoning of Lord Winchester. It wasn’t right to judge without evidence, but the thought still troubled me.

‘No, no. As a mother, I mustn’t teach my child to view people with prejudice and preconceptions.’

Looking at Daniel’s clear eyes, I chastised my own clouded heart.

“This is Daniel de Winchester, my daughter.”
“Pleasure to meet you, little lady. I’m George Dudley, a spirited sailor in the navy.”

He introduced himself warmly, crouching to Daniel’s level.

“Hello.”

Daniel not only responded, but shyly hid herself against my skirt.

“Since fate brought us together, may I treat you to some desserts I recommend?”
“No, thank you.”
“Please, don’t refuse. I’ll choose only the best ones.”
“No.”

I refused again. To be honest, his kindness felt burdensome. The terrace incident, his ease around women, the way he spoke so skillfully to Daniel—it was too smooth.

‘He’s a womanizer.’

Whether or not he was guilty of poisoning, of this I was certain. My instincts screamed it. The man before me was a flirt.

“I’d like to be clear.”
“Yes, Countess?”
“Last time, you compared me to an acacia. But I must say—married women are not flowers.”
“…What?”
“You seem a good man, Mr. Dudley, so I’m sure you’ll find a fine, unmarried lady. One without thorns, of course.”

“…”

George, who usually spoke so smoothly, fell silent and blinked at me.

That’s right. Perhaps he wasn’t used to women speaking to him so firmly. But not every woman will fall for your charm. Hmph!