Guidelines for the Perfect Goodbye - Chapter 25
Two days later, Cecilia saw Mary struggling with a needle and red thread.
“What are you so diligently working on?”
Mary set down what she was holding and clasped her hands together.
“I’m sorry, Milady. I was just trying to do it in my spare time…”
The item left abandoned on Mary’s chair was an unfinished, embroidered sachet.
“A sachet? What about the one I gave you before… Did you throw it away?”
“No, of course not!”
Mary waved her hands in denial.
“Then what’s this?”
“Well, it’s just that…! Ah, the one you gave me was so pretty, I wanted to try making one myself! But I guess I’m not good at embroidery. It didn’t turn out as lovely as I hoped…”
Cecilia closely examined the sachet. Indeed, compared to the one made by Hannah Linfitt, it was embarrassingly poor.
“Hmm… It is indeed quite clumsy in many ways.”
Mary’s face turned red at Cecilia’s objective assessment.
“Right? I guess it’s too much for my skills, right?”
“Yes. If you really want a new sachet, don’t struggle alone. Why not ask someone else to do it for you?”
“Someone else?”
“Yes. Someone skilled in embroidery. Just pay them a little and ask for their help.”
“Someone else…”
“Hmm… Oh, I know!”
Cecilia tapped her chin and then raised her index finger as if a thought just struck her.
“Why not ask the person who made my sachet?”
“…Mrs. Linfitt?”
“Yes. Currently, Mrs. Linfitt would likely do the embroidery for just 5 Lis, considering her earnings have dwindled since being sent to the attic.”
Hannah Linfitt had long been demoted to a lower maid getting on the count’s bad side. Whatever Lilith said to him, he even refused to provide a letter of recommendation, making it hard for her to find another job.
“But asking someone who disrespected you to do such a task feels a bit…”
“What does it matter? Don’t worry about my feelings.”
“Really…?”
“Yes. I know how to maintain boundaries and put a lid on my emotions.”
“Milady…!”
Mary’s eyes shone with admiration for Cecilia, who then cast a shadow over her face.
“No, wait. Considering your tight budget, paying for embroidery might be difficult.”
Cecilia smiled apologetically.
“I was too thoughtless. Forget what I just said.”
“It’s okay. I’m grateful just for the thought.”
The conversation ended lightly. Cecilia soon seemed to forget about Mary’s project, picking up a book while looking out the window.
“Mary, could you bring me some cold herbal tea to drink while I read?”
“Yes…?”
“What are you staring at? Herbal tea. Nothing too strong in flavor.”
“Yes, right away!”
Mary, lost in her thoughts, hurried out of the room, leaving the embroidered sachet neatly on the wooden chair.
Cecilia picked up the sachet Mary left behind. A piece of paper fluttered to the floor – it was the embroidery design.
The pattern was eerily familiar.
Of course, it was the same flower embroidery that Caroline was working on.
‘As expected. I knew this would happen.’
The talentless Caroline, following her suggestion, must have asked the sachet-wearing Mary to do the embroidery, and Mary, greedy for money, couldn’t refuse and later regretted it.
Cecilia knew it all along.
She had once suggested the same to Caroline in the past.
‘If you’re worried about the gift, why not ask Mrs. Linfitt for help?’
‘Your nanny?’
‘Yes. Mrs. Linfitt is very skilled. Look, she made this sachet for me.’
‘Wow, it’s beautiful. It suits you perfectly, Ceci.’
Cecilia remembered the smile Caroline had shown back then.
‘It suits you perfectly.’
That phrase was never a compliment.
‘Sister… why did you take Mrs. Linfitt away?’
‘Take her away? What do you mean?’
‘Mrs. Linfitt said she was becoming your maid. Did you take her?’
‘Mrs. Linfitt came to me of her own accord. Why would I leave a lady who complained about caring for a sensitive girl like you?’
‘I never cried or threw tantrums…’
‘You did. You cried and threw tantrums. Ceci, you should always be gentle and modest as a noble lady.’
