15.
No, no matter how she turned it over in her mind, such a thing was impossible. What kind of man was James?
For the past five years, he had never once let his gaze wander to another woman. He had remained unfailingly affectionate and polite, always painting a vivid picture of their future together.
“I… I trust James. There must be some misunderstanding.”
Seeing Daphne’s reaction—a desperate retreat from reality—Melody let out a pitying sigh.
“I certainly hope so. But…”
Melody bit her lip. She hadn’t intended to go into detail, but if things continued this way, Daphne would be played for a fool. Finally, she squeezed her eyes shut and blurted it out.
“They were kissing, Daphne. I don’t know what other kind of ‘misunderstanding’ that could possibly be.”
It was as if the serene world Daphne had inhabited had suddenly shattered with a deafening crack.
* * *
Bella smiled, twirling the diamond ring on her finger. The five-carat, princess-cut stone caught the light, shimmering with a brilliance that felt like a benediction on her future.
“Ah, it’s beautiful.”
James had given it to her as a surprise—a thirty-thousand-dirham token of his devotion. He had even whispered a promise to replace it with something even grander once they were officially engaged.
*Why does taking something feel so much sweeter than being given it?*
Stealing away into that private room with James during the House of Kingsley’s party had been, by any measure, a brilliant decision. Ever since that day—the light touches, the lingering conversations, and finally, that fiercely hungry kiss—James had been completely ensnared.
She felt no fear of retaliation from Daphne or the House of Laurel.
*The one who gets things stolen from them is simply a fool.*
According to James, Daphne was beautiful, but dreadfully dull. When they met, they did nothing but sip tea, talk, or stroll through gardens and parks. She was so paralyzingly virtuous that he had to be cautious even when attempting to hold her hand.
Bella clicked her tongue, mocking the memory.
“Daphne. If you were going to be like that, you should have married him quickly and put him on a leash. An engagement is no shackle at all.”
If marriage couldn’t curb a man’s wandering eye, an engagement was mere silk ribbon. Of course, the heat of the initial passion was often fleeting, and there was only so much a woman could achieve through physical seduction alone.
Knowing this, Bella was determined to force an engagement.
*Breaking things off with Daphne will be child’s play, but it won’t be so easy for him to discard me—not when I was the one he chose.*
Besides, she wouldn’t even give him the luxury of contemplating such a thought.
Her reverie was broken by a click at the door. John walked in.
“Father! Are you done with work?”
“I’m late, aren’t I? My apologies. That old man kept rambling on about nonsense.”
He had just returned from a meeting with Count Arens. By playing the sycophant and rubbing his hands in feigned compliance, he had managed to secure a foothold in the Count’s business affairs, though he was growing weary of the man’s endless, repetitive stories.
How welcome, then, was the news that Bella had captivated the eldest son of the House of Count Cheslow.
*As expected of Bella. It’s a shame nothing came of Duke Kaylas, but I never held high hopes for that anyway.*
From the start, his ambition had been to marry her into a powerful Earldom. He hadn’t even considered the House of Cheslow, given their ties to the House of Laurel, but his darling daughter possessed a singular talent for turning the impossible into fact.
“So, why did you need to see me so urgently, Bella?”
“I think we should start preparing for the engagement.”
“An engagement? Is James’s heart truly firm?”
“He said he would finalize the dissolution of his engagement with the House of Laurel by the end of this year.”
John’s face lit up. Becoming in-laws with the House of Cheslow offered endless opportunities. Bella, however, signaled for him to compose himself.
“But before that, there is one more thing we need to handle.”
“Hm? What is it?”
“His friends were whispering. They’re worried that the ugly one from the House of Listerwell might try to pester them as well.”
John furrowed his brow, having only just remembered Harriet existed.
“That girl. I’d quite forgotten about her.”
He hadn’t seen her in ages, but Bella was right. It was time to sever that useless connection once and for all.
“Tell them not to worry. I’ll take care of it myself.”
Bella’s eyes crinkled into a sweet, predatory smile. It was finally time to drop Harriet into the abyss.
* * *
“It’s turned freezing the moment December arrived.”
Harriet entered the soap workshop, her breath catching as the biting air rushed in. Sophia, who was busy stoking the fire beneath the cauldron, glanced her way.
“They say it’ll be colder than ever this year. Didn’t you bring a scarf or arm warmers?”
“I didn’t have the time to worry about such things.”
“You won’t survive the winter in this state. Why don’t you write to your family and have them send some?”
“I suppose I should. It is far too cold.”
Harriet shivered violently, thrusting her hands toward the flames. The convent lacked the funds to keep the stoves burning, so she considered herself fortunate to work in the workshop where there was at least a fire.
*They told me my room was on the warmer side, but how do the others endure this?*
She shuddered, a muffled moan of discomfort escaping her lips. She hated the thought of begging her uncle for favors, but if she didn’t, she feared she would freeze to death before spring.
*I should ask for thick socks and stockings, too. It’s embarrassing to write a letter just to ask for goods—is there some other excuse I can use?*
As if fate had anticipated her dilemma, a letter stamped with the seal of the House of Listerwell arrived that very day. For the first time in an age, she felt a flicker of gratitude toward her uncle.
*He must be sending end-of-year greetings. That’s perfect. I’ll include my requests in the reply.*
With a lighter heart, Harriet tore open the envelope. She steeled herself, ready to endure the inevitable lecturing about her conduct.
However, the letter contained something she had never imagined.
「Harriet,
This may be sudden, but I am writing to inform you that I must terminate your guardianship before it is too late.
I originally intended to oversee your care only until you reached adulthood, but due to various circumstances, it has been delayed repeatedly.
As you will be twenty-two in the coming year, I believe you are capable of living independently.
I noticed you emptied the jewelry box; that should be sufficient to secure your own funds for your independence…」
Harriet stared, her vision blurring.
“What? Terminate… guardianship…?”
No matter how many times she read it, the message was clear: they were cutting her off. And they weren’t sending a single penny to help her.
“Ha…!”
Her mind went blank. This wasn’t possible. Hadn’t they promised to provide a dowry and a stipend in exchange for her silence at the convent?
Enclosed with the letter was a certificate of guardianship termination. John had already made it official.
Harriet paced the small, cramped room, her heart hammering against her ribs.
“This is madness. How could he do this?”
The shock eventually gave way to a cold, creeping terror.
“What do I do… What on earth am I supposed to do?”
Trembling, she rushed to the drawer and pulled out the small pouch she had kept hidden at the very bottom. Inside were the few accessories she had brought with her from the estate.
Back then, she had wondered if she were being overly cautious—now, she didn’t know what she would have done without them. Her stomach turned as she imagined her uncle rummaging through her jewelry box back home. Would he have even sent a letter if she had left them behind?
*How much could I get for these?*
A gold necklace, a bracelet, and earrings shimmered in her palm. They were studded with small diamonds and emeralds, but the stones were minor and the quality was poor. They wouldn’t fetch much.
Thump.
Harriet sat on the edge of her bed, clutching the gold as if it were her lifeline. She sat there for a long time, frozen, staring into the nothingness.
There was no way out.
Even if she were incredibly lucky and sold them for a high price, she wouldn’t even clear ten thousand dirhams.
*And then what? Once I have the money, where do I go?*
She had no place to stay. She had no other relatives, and no friends she could rely on. John knew that better than anyone.
“He’s telling me to just go and die.”