Garden of May - Chapter 36
Chapter 36
The editor’s voice sounded almost like a sigh. Vanessa’s shoulders twitched at the sound of her pen name, one she still hadn’t grown accustomed to.
The editor’s gaze sharpened, making her suddenly anxious about appearing unnatural.
After a moment of contemplation, tapping her fingers on the table, the editor spoke again.
“Our Miss Welsh is a young woman, unlike other detectives, isn’t she?”
“Of course, but…”
“Discovering true love and culminating in marriage while solving the case would be the happy ending our readers desire.”
“But… there isn’t a suitable character.”
“What about this naval officer? Handsome, unmarried, and wealthy. He seems like a perfect fit.”
“Vanessa, over here!”
A sudden voice startled Vanessa back to reality. Rosaline and Blair were waving at her from across the street. Vanessa swallowed a sigh and plastered a bright smile on her face. She couldn’t let her mood spoil her precious time with her friends.
Even this outing wouldn’t have been possible without them. Lately, she felt increasingly monitored. It could be her imagination, but… While she used to have relative freedom to go out with a servant, now she was shadowed everywhere. The only time she felt somewhat free was within Gloucester Castle.
“Let’s go.”
They bustled across the street and into the Winchester twins’ favorite coffee house. As Blair settled in and ordered two large lemon sorbets and a coffee, Rosaline couldn’t contain her curiosity.
“How did it go? Did they agree to publish your next novel?”
“Yes! And starting with this contract, I’ll have a permanent spot at the bottom of the advertising page. Before, it was only when there was extra space.”
“Oh my goodness! That’s wonderful, Vanessa!”
Rosaline beamed and hugged Vanessa briefly. Vanessa returned the smile, relieved. Blair, who had been watching with the detached air of someone enduring a tedious play, propped his chin on his hand.
“It’s good to be financially independent, but don’t exhaust yourself. Once you’re married, your husband’s wealth will be yours.”
Blair’s words dimmed Vanessa’s smile. Rosaline coughed, kicking Blair hard under the table to break the sudden frostiness. The young man, who would normally have feigned exaggerated pain, looked at Vanessa with a serious expression.
“It’s true. You’ll also receive your allowance soon after you’re married.”
“To be honest, I’ve been looking for ways to avoid marriage altogether.”
Rosaline and Blair gaped at her candid confession, as if she had declared a monumental act of defiance.
“Even if running away is unrealistic, I want to propose to my uncle that I become financially independent. I need even more money for that.”
To her surprise, Blair seemed taken aback. He seemed to have forgotten all their previous leisurely discussions about sabotaging her marriage prospects.
“Wait, Vanessa. You’re seriously not going to get married?”
“That’s right.”
“Count Roden is a disgusting old man, but how will you survive on your own as an unmarried woman? Besides, your uncle will never allow it…”
“There are plenty of ways if I look for them.”
Rosaline, who had been listening quietly, raised an eyebrow and interjected.
“Vanessa. Surely you’re not talking about… that idea from the other day?”
“….”
“Are you insane?”
“The other day? What did you two talk about?”
“It’s nothing.”
Rosaline curtly dismissed Blair’s curiosity. Taking Vanessa’s hands in hers, she scrutinized her face with a worried frown.
“You haven’t started anything yet, have you? No, even if you have, it’s alright. You can stop.”
“Rosaline.”
“Just have a child and separate. The initial marriage might be dreadful, but after that, you can have a lover or two.”
“….”
“Everyone lives like that, Vanessa. You know what kind of marriage my cousin has.”
Vanessa slowly pulled her hand from Rosaline’s tight grip. It would have been better if he were a much older man, a man who wanted nothing from his wife but an heir.
Count Roden was barely past fifty, and his vigorous, sordid reputation preceded him; it was arguably the most notorious in Ingram. If it were mere rumor, it wouldn’t be so dreadful.
Vanessa swallowed the wave of nausea rising in her throat. It was always like this when she recalled her first meeting with her fiancé. The way he looked at her, listened to her, touched her… after that, she hadn’t been herself.
‘I practically begged a complete stranger to take my v*rginity.’
Of course, it hadn’t been entirely impulsive. River Ross, even if everything went wrong, would be a memory worth keeping. The kind of man who could fulfill anyone’s fantasies about their first time….
“Vanessa Cyrene Somerset. Are you really trying to become another Lady Rowan?”
Vanessa bit back a groan. She couldn’t ignore this; she’d said too much to completely deny it now. She hesitated, unsure how to respond, when Blair suddenly leaned over, placing a hand on each of their shoulders and pressing them down towards the table. As their heads dipped, he brought a finger to his lips. “Shh. Look over there.”
