Chapter 19

Standing next to Eugenie, Craig, who was holding her arm, spoke to her apologetically as she looked at Archy's retreating back with a dejected shoulder.

"I'm sorry, about Archy being like that. Since it's been a while since you've come to this house, she might be confused. Can you be lenient with her?"

"…Yes, of course."

Craig smiled encouragingly at Eugenie, who had a slightly sad smile on her face. Lionel, who was in his wheelchair, looked up at Craig and Eugenie again.

"Congratulations on your engagement, Eugenie, Craig."

"…Thank you, brother."

Craig opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something more to Lionel but closed it again. Lionel's father looked around at everyone present and spoke.

"Shall we move to the drawing room? Lady Eugenie and the others from the Spencer Marquessate must be tired, and the tea is ready."

Edith, who was a bit concerned about how Eugenie, who was linked arm-in-arm with Craig, kept glancing at Lionel, pushed his wheelchair toward the drawing room.

***

While drinking tea around the table, the conversation centered on Craig and Eugenie proceeded in a warm atmosphere. Eugenie, as if she had just noticed, asked Edith, who was pouring tea into Lionel's empty teacup from the small teapot in front of him.

"Is the tea that Lord Lionel is drinking different from the black tea we are having?"

Edith nodded at Eugenie's words.

"Yes. The caffeine in black tea can be a bit stimulating for the stomach, so this pot contains herbal tea."

"I see. …It smells good."

Smiling, Eugenie asked Edith, who returned a smile.

"Would you like to try it, Lady Eugenie?"

"Oh, can I have some too?"

"Yes, I'll pour you a cup now."

Edith poured herbal tea into a new teacup prepared by a servant and handed it to Eugenie. Eugenie, taking the teacup from Edith, sipped it and smiled.

"…It's delicious. It has a gentle taste and a refreshing aftertaste."

Seeing Eugenie's beautiful smile directed at Edith, Edith felt her tension ease.

(I was wondering what kind of person she would be, but I'm glad Lady Eugenie seems to be a good person. I was a bit concerned about how Lady Archy behaved when she met Lady Eugenie…)

Eugenie's father, who had been listening to the conversation between Edith and her daughter, looked at Lionel, who was at the table in his wheelchair.

"Lord Lionel, I heard from my daughter that you have been bedridden due to illness. It seems you have recovered much more than I heard. …How are you feeling now?"

Lionel, who felt a probing gaze from Eugenie's father, returned a smooth smile.

"Yes, my condition has improved considerably lately. Since Edith and I became engaged, and she has been supporting me devotedly in this house, my health has improved beyond belief. …All thanks to Edith."

"That's good to hear. I was told that Lady Edith is from the Oakridge Earl's family?"

"…Yes, that's correct."

Edith felt a slight condescension in Eugenie's father's soft tone. To protect Edith, Lionel smiled at her and then looked at Eugenie's father.

"The medicine made by the Oakridge Earl's family has been effective for my deteriorating health. Edith herself has extensive knowledge of medicine and is actually the one who is compounding the medicine for me now. This herbal tea is also a blend of medicinal herbs she has prepared."

"…I see."

Eugenie's father, who nodded at Lionel's words with little interest, shifted his gaze to Craig and his daughter, who were sitting next to each other.

"I am pleased that the engagement between Sir Craig and your daughter has been arranged. I have heard that Sir Craig is an excellent person, just like Lord Lionel was in his prime."

Eugenie's mother also nodded at her husband's words.

"I am delighted that my daughter Eugenie will soon become a member of the Granville Marquessate. Please rest assured that she is well-prepared with the knowledge necessary to support the Marquessate."

Edith felt a bit uneasy at the words of Eugenie's parents. Although they did not say it directly, it seemed they thought Craig, not the ailing Lionel, would succeed the Granville Marquessate. When Edith glanced at Eugenie, she seemed to feel the same way, her face clouding over at her parents' words.

Lionel's father, standing up from his chair, looked at Eugenie and the others at the table.

"I am delighted that both my eldest son Lionel and my second son Craig have found wonderful fiancées. Thank you for coming to our house today."

As the tea party came to an end and Eugenie and the others were about to board their carriage, with Craig and the others from the Granville Marquessate seeing them off, Eugenie, who had turned away toward the carriage, came back to Lionel.

Since exchanging a few words to congratulate each other on their engagements, Eugenie and Lionel had not really spoken. Lionel, looking a bit bewildered, met her gaze.

"Lord Lionel, you look much better than the last time we met. I sincerely hope for your recovery."

"…Thank you."

Eugenie then turned her gaze to Edith, who was pushing Lionel's wheelchair, and smiled softly.

"I am glad that Lord Lionel's fiancée is someone as wonderful as Lady Edith. I look forward to speaking with you again."

"Yes, I would be delighted."

Edith returned a gentle smile to Eugenie. To Edith, Eugenie did not seem like a bad person. Her smile and words did not seem to have any hidden motives.

However, Archy did not reappear before Eugenie and the others that day.