Chapter 120
Felice gave a bittersweet smile and let her gaze wander out over the garden for a moment.
“I want to see this role through to the end. To be honest, it seems like things are going well between you and Lady Elise, so I wonder if I’m even needed anymore… But, you’re not actually together with her yet, right?”
“Felice…”
Claude called her softly in response, but Felice just smiled and finished what she wanted to say.
“In any case, I’ll do my best until the very end. I happened to learn that a letter from the Roberts family arrived a few days ago—congratulations, truly. The big day is almost here, isn’t it?”
Felice gave him a radiant smile, sincerely wishing him well.
“Is me… getting together with Elise really something to congratulate me for?”
Felice tilted her head, not understanding.
“Pardon?”
“No, never mind… I’m sorry.”
Claude shook his head and smiled gently at her.
“I won’t offer any more excuses. But please trust me—when it comes to your family’s honor, I will take full responsibility and restore it. That much, I promise you.”
Felice blinked, meeting his determined eyes.
Maybe he was just saying it, she thought. After all, the Kelton family’s reputation had already been tarnished for a long time, and working as a tutor had only added to the stain. Of course, this scandal was the worst of all. But, hearing him say he’d take responsibility for her family’s name brought her a strange sense of comfort.
“Thank you for saying that, even if it’s just words. I mean it.”
“No, truly. There will be good news soon.”
Claude replied, and Felice nodded.
As always, Felice ended with her sense of duty.
“So, when would you like to schedule our next lesson?”
* * *
The next day, Claude attended a gathering hosted by Joseph Coburn. Joseph was the head of the Justice newspaper, a self-made man who had started as a printer and built a successful paper from the ground up.
Claude respected him, especially because Joseph was much more thorough and meticulous than other businessmen—something he attributed to his years in the printing trade. Maybe that’s why it had taken Claude so long to win him over.
“Sir Racliffe, it’s been a while. Lately, you’ve practically been our top patron! Ha ha.”
Joseph greeted, alluding both to Claude’s recent society gossip and his investments in the paper.
Claude smiled and nodded.
“Thank you for the invitation.”
“Not at all! I just received a wonderful batch of liquor and thought it was the perfect excuse for a gathering.”
Joseph said with a wide grin.
The only thing that didn’t sit well with Claude about Joseph was the man’s love of drink—and the fact that he could put away entire crates without ever getting tipsy.
“Sounds great. What sort of drink is it?”
When Claude asked about the alcohol, Joseph’s eyes lit up. Just as he was about to answer, his wife came over to greet them.
“Welcome, Sir Racliffe. My husband has been beside himself with excitement, waiting for you to arrive.”
“Haha. Has he been missing his drinking buddy?”
“Oh, I only wish he’d cut back a little!”
Joseph’s wife gave him a playful slap on the back, and he laughed loudly, sharing a moment in their own world before showing Claude inside.
“You and your wife seem very happy together.”
“Haha. Do we?”
Joseph blushed and scratched the back of his head.
“My wife’s been through a lot because of me, but she’s always stayed by my side.”
“She must be a wonderful person.”
“She is. Truly.”
Joseph laughed, before returning to his favorite subject: liquor.
After a few drinks and much talk about spirits, Joseph, a little more relaxed, brought up something else.
“By the way, about that recent business… I know it couldn’t have been an easy decision, at least financially.”
“Business?”
Claude set down his glass.
“I mean, halting the articles about Lady Felice. You’ve covered the loss with your own investment, but… not publishing those juicy stories must’ve been a tough call. Was it just a gesture of respect for your partner?”
Joseph looked at him, clearly curious about the answer.
“What do you think?”
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