What I Gained by Giving My Body - Chapter 1.19

“…….”

“What were they saying?”

“……Cathy is cruel. Asking even though you know everything.”

Caitlyn looked straight at Leslie. Brown hair and blue eyes. She had an ordinary appearance at a glance, but whenever she spoke in a singing voice with her rosy cheeks flushed, men and women of all ages would be enchanted by her charm.

But Caitlyn knew. Leslie’s popularity was no different from a castle built on sand. Once people started to turn their backs, Leslie would become nothing more than a temptress who used wicked tricks to bewitch men despite her ordinary looks.

It wasn’t Leslie’s fault. That was just the nature of high society. Caitlyn alluded to that fact.

“You said it was a tea party. What would the ladies of other families think?”

The water had finished boiling. Caitlyn put two spoons of cheap black tea into the teapot and poured the water. No matter how much the family fortune had declined, she couldn’t send a guest away without serving tea.

“……I had no intention of calling the ladies of other families.”

“You didn’t?”

Caitlyn asked back, flustered.

“Even if I’m stupid, I’m not that dull. I intended to enjoy a tea party with just the two of us, Caitlyn and me. Is even that not allowed?”

Leslie sipped the tea with a nonchalant face. Even though she must have only enjoyed high-quality tea that would cost a gold piece for a handful, she looked like she was thoroughly enjoying the cheap tea sold as leftovers at a corner store. Caitlyn’s lips twitched. The answer to Leslie’s question was ‘of course not.’

The rumor that the youngest daughter whom Count Sufferd cherished had enjoyed a private tea party with ‘that Caitlyn Hardick’ would spread beyond control.

However…… had anyone other than family ever worked this hard for her? Because of that, Caitlyn had no choice but to refuse. Because she couldn’t allow the person who had shown her pure goodwill for the first time to be hurt.

“No.”

When Caitlyn answered firmly, Leslie’s eyebrows drooped. Her conscience was pricked by the piteous appearance, but even so, she had no intention of humoring her childishness.

“……I suppose it can’t be helped.”

She was relieved by Leslie’s resigned voice, but only for a moment.

“I’m sorry, Cathy!”

In an instant, her legs became wet. Caitlyn stared blankly down at the lukewarm tea spreading across her light-green skirt. She couldn’t understand the current situation at all. Why on earth would Leslie use the obvious bullying tactic of splashing tea on her……?

Could it be that she had approached her with some other intention from the beginning, rather than goodwill? Caitlyn looked at her, lost for words. Leslie’s eyes widened, and she shouted loudly in a theatrical voice.

“Oh dear, I accidentally…… Cathy’s clothes! I’m so sorry.”

“……What is the meaning of this, Lady Sufferd?”

The doubt was resolved quickly. It was because Leslie, smiling brightly, was pulling her hand.

“Cathy, let’s go to my house. Since I’ve committed such a discourtesy, I must naturally have your clothes laundered.”

“I can wash my own clothes…….”

Caitlyn stopped speaking. It was because Leslie’s face was filled with horror. No matter if she was only a baronet, the idea of a noble doing cleaning and laundry herself must have felt like something that could never happen to the sheltered Lady Sufferd. Leslie spoke with an air of great determination.

“If you don’t follow me, I will wash Cathy’s clothes myself.”

Looking at her expression, it was surely a resolution to prevent Caitlyn from doing the laundry herself at all costs. Caitlyn ended up laughing hollowly to herself. To think that washing someone else’s clothes held such great meaning to Leslie was entirely unexpected. In truth, for her, it didn’t really matter what Leslie did…….

‘Since she’s going this far, she’ll be truly sad if I don’t go.’

It wasn’t a formal tea party, and if it were just an invitation as an apology for splashing tea, even if rumors spread that she visited the Sufferd Count family, it would be regarded as a mere happenstance.

“Alright.”

Caitlyn stood up from her seat.

“Instead, I must return before dinner. Because my brother will be waiting.”

It was then. A weak voice flowed through the crack of the slightly opened door.

“No, come back late.”

“E-Ed? You’re up early?”

Caitlyn approached Edward’s room in a fluster, but the door was closed immediately.

“I’m fine…… stay out and play for a long time.”

To a casual listener, it was a voice full of illness that was no different from usual, but Caitlyn knew. The fact was that Edward was very much welcoming her outing. Leslie shouted at the top of her lungs.

“Thank you, Sir Edward! I wish you a speedy recovery!”

It was probably the first time in years Edward had heard a wish for his recovery. Visitors were extremely rare for the Hardick family, whose fortune was beyond ruined, and even those few visitors couldn’t bring themselves to wish for a recovery for Edward, whose funeral date was as good as set.

Feeling the home atmosphere brighten for the first time in a very long while, Caitlyn thought. Perhaps…… she should treasure her connection with Leslie Sufferd even more.