He Opened A Matchmaking Agency In 18Th Century London [EN]: Chapter 8

8. A Magical Event

◈ A week later, at the Godwin estate.

After a week of no contact from Viscount Monson, Lady Godwin treated her daughter Lydia with even more cynicism.

“Didn’t I tell you? I told you that dress was absolutely out of the question, but you insisted on wearing it. Serves you right. How could someone like Viscount Monson be interested in a woman wearing such a shabby dress? He’s surrounded by women decked out in luxury. How pathetic must you have looked?”

“······.”

“You act like you know everything, but how can you be so clueless about the world? No man would be interested in a woman who can’t dress up and spends her time buried in useless, difficult books.”

“······.”

Lydia remained silent despite her mother’s harsh words.

“Ugh, frustrating! Just looking at you makes me feel like I’m going to burst. Anyway, I’m planning to have Smith married off next year, so we’ll be expanding your room into a larger one. You’ll have to use the room attached to the backyard from now on. Move your things today!”

Smith, Lydia’s younger brother, was scheduled to be married next year. He was the youngest and only male sibling in the family.

Lady Godwin was already putting in a lot of effort to welcome her new daughter-in-law.

Her son Smith’s marriage was an important event for the Godwin family, as it would secure the family lineage.

“If you had married Viscount Monson and gone to a Count’s family, how much better would it have been for your siblings? What will the new daughter-in-law think when she sees you, an old maid, still living here? Ugh, I can’t stand the sight of you. Go down to the yard and start cleaning out your room!”

*

The small room attached to the backyard had been used as a storage room for a long time.

Even though the servants had cleaned it, the room was damp and eerie, as no one had lived there.

‘It’s going to be quite cold in the winter… Still, it’s not as bad as I thought.’

Although she was forced to move rooms, Lydia felt relieved at the thought of avoiding her mother’s nagging for a while.

‘If I put up curtains, move the bed to the window, and add a few plants, it’ll look pretty decent.’

For a while, she hadn’t been able to read her favorite books due to the pressure to get married.

But the thought of being able to immerse herself in books from today on made her feel much better.

‘Right. What marriage is in store for me anyway…’

She felt ashamed of how desperate she had been to get married for the past few months.

◈ Five days later, at the Godwin estate.

“No… how could he come without any notice?”

Lady Godwin’s face was pale.

It was because Theo and Viscount Edward Monson were standing at the door.

“I am truly sorry. The Viscount has been busy with urgent matters and hasn’t been able to meet Miss Godwin. He felt bad and wanted to see her as soon as possible, so I brought him here.”

Theo deliberately didn’t contact them and made a surprise visit to Lydia’s house.

The intention was to show Viscount Monson her true, unadorned self.

Viscount Monson, who had rehearsed his lines, chimed in.

“Lady Godwin, I am truly sorry. I’ve been quite busy lately. If I don’t see Miss Godwin today, it will be difficult to contact her for a while.”

The Lady was flustered and didn’t know what to do.

“Still, you should have contacted us before coming. Um… please give me a moment. I’ll have Lydia get ready. She’s not presentable right now.”

Viscount Monson smiled and dissuaded her.

“No, what special preparation is needed? I just want to see her face briefly and apologize for the late contact. I don’t have much time.”

The Lady turned around in a hurry and said,

“Anyway… just a moment! Please, sit here for a moment. I’ll have tea prepared, Melanie! Melanie!”

Theo, seeing the Lady rushing to the kitchen, quietly called over a maid who was standing at a distance.

“Where is Miss Lydia Godwin?”

“Yes? Ah… well…”

“The Viscount is very busy right now. He’s planning to leave quickly after seeing her face, so please tell me. Otherwise, he might just leave without seeing her.”

“······.”

“Quickly.”

The maid, hesitating, answered as if she couldn’t help it due to the urgency.

“The young lady… is in the backyard.”

“Then, please take the Viscount there right now.”

“Yes?”

“You must take the Viscount to Miss Godwin right now. There’s no time, hurry!”

“Ah… yes.”

Theo winked at Viscount Monson, and the Viscount smiled and followed the maid.

*

The maid who came down to the backyard cautiously spoke to Viscount Monson.

“Viscount, would you please wait here for a moment?”

“?”

“I’ll go and tell the young lady quickly. If we go like this, she might be very surprised.”

After speaking, the maid quickly turned the corner and ran somewhere.

‘How disheveled could she be that they’re making such a fuss? Her makeup was a bit heavy that day, but is she unrecognizable without it?’

Unable to resist his curiosity, Viscount Monson stretched his neck and peeked into the backyard.

‘…!’

A small yard with bright sunlight pouring down on a wooden bench.

A woman with abundant blonde hair tied up haphazardly, leaning casually against the bench and reading a book, caught his eye.

Her smooth legs were comfortably resting on the wooden corner next to the bench, and her bare toes were wiggling happily in the warm sunlight.

It was Lydia Godwin.

Viscount Monson, as if possessed, turned the corner and slowly stepped into the yard.

Clear eyes focused on the book, a sharp nose, and cherry-like red lips… It was as if he were looking at a beautiful watercolor painting.

Perhaps at this moment, if one were to choose the most relaxed and happy person in the world, it would undoubtedly be Lydia Godwin.

And Viscount Monson was completely captivated by her down-to-earth appearance.

The Viscount had completely lost his heart to Lydia Godwin, who was a completely different person from the one he had seen before.

The maid, who had rushed over, whispered in Lydia’s ear that the guest had arrived right next to her.

Lydia, startled, quickly straightened her crumpled skirt and stood up.

Lydia, who stood up from the bench and turned to the side, asked the Viscount as if questioning him.

“Who are you to come here without permission…?”

But soon,

“Oh… it’s you?”

Lydia, realizing that the visitor was Viscount Edward Monson, looked very embarrassed.

“Why are you here…?”

“Miss Godwin, if I have offended you, I am truly sorry.”

Despite the Viscount’s polite apology, Lydia was very angry.

“Surely, you didn’t come all the way here to see me?”

“Yes? Ah, yes. That’s right.”

“I find it very unpleasant. Your attitude at our first meeting, coming to my house without any notice like this, and coming to this backyard without a word, it’s all very rude.

Do I look so easy to you just because I’m old and haven’t gotten married yet? Please stop looking down on me. Please go back now!”

“Miss Godwin, please calm down and listen to me.”

“I don’t know why you came to see me, but I wish you would just go back. I find it very unpleasant no matter how I think about it.”

Lydia, creating a cold atmosphere, turned around and tried to go into her room.

“Miss Godwin! Just a moment, just a moment!”

“?”

“I believe that Theo Sanderson is a very special person. That’s why I met you because he introduced us. If it weren’t for Mr. Sanderson’s introduction, I wouldn’t have even made an appointment to meet you.”

Lydia’s hand, which was holding the door, hesitated.

It was the same for Lydia. She had met the Viscount with some anticipation because it was Theo Sanderson’s introduction.

“I have never been so swayed by anyone’s words in my life. But Mr. Sanderson was truly different in every way. You are the person that such a special person actively introduced to me.”

“······.”

“I had great expectations for the meeting, with the confident words of Mr. Sanderson, who seemed to know all the principles of the world, that he could find the life partner I had been looking for.”

“······.”

“But honestly, I thought Mr. Sanderson was wrong at our last meeting.”

Viscount Monson took another step closer and continued.

“But today, I think I know why he tried so hard to introduce Miss Godwin to me.

Mr. Sanderson was confident that we could have a good relationship for life, and I foolishly only vaguely understood the meaning of those words today.”

Lydia turned her body abruptly with a dumbfounded expression. And she snapped at the Viscount.

“Suddenly? You suddenly felt that conviction after seeing me twice? I don’t know what made your mind change so easily, but I feel very bad because your fickle attitude also seems to be making fun of me. Please go back now!”

But Viscount Monson suddenly pointed to the book in her hand.

“Miss Godwin, that book you’re holding…”

Lydia was at a loss for words at the sudden talk about the book.

“?”

“That book, what is it?”

Lydia held up the book she was holding and asked back.

“··· Why this book?”

“That book… why are you reading that book? The cover is tattered, have you read it that much?”

“···?”

“It’s important to me. Can you tell me why you’re reading that book?”

Lydia was dumbfounded by the endless story about the book.

“Why am I reading it? I’m reading it because it’s my favorite book.”

Viscount Monson moved closer to Lydia.

“You, a woman, like Descartes [René Descartes, a French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist]?”

“Is there a problem with a woman liking Descartes?”

Viscount Monson grabbed Lydia with an excited face.

“Oh, what are you doing?”

“Let’s sit down first. And let’s sit down and talk slowly. Okay?”

“?”

The Viscount led her to the bench.

Lydia, who was at a loss for words at the continued strange behavior, had no choice but to follow him due to an unknown attraction.

“Miss Godwin? Isn’t this book Descartes’ ‘Meditations on First Philosophy’?”

“··· Yes, so?”

“It’s not an easy book, when did you start reading it?”

“······.”

When Lydia stared blankly instead of answering, the Viscount suddenly began to recite a passage from the book in a low voice.

“We are… confirmed from the fact that we cannot understand any object unless it is divisible… and conversely, we cannot understand any mind unless it is indivisible.”

It was his recitation close to instinct, as if humming the lyrics of a favorite song.

Then Lydia stared at the Viscount with wide eyes. Wasn’t Viscount Monson reciting her favorite passage?

When Lydia looked at him in surprise, the Viscount nodded as if he understood.

“So, I was right? Miss Godwin also likes this book as much as I do?”

“······.”

Lydia didn’t answer. But all the answers were contained in her surprised eyes.

The Viscount asked with a soft smile.

“Do you perhaps like other philosophy stories?”

“······.”

“Miss Godwin, it doesn’t matter if marriage isn’t the goal. Shall we take the time to get to know each other from today? I think there is a clear reason why Mr. Sanderson, with his unique insight and wisdom, tried so hard to introduce us. So I want to talk to Miss Godwin a lot. Somehow… I think Mr. Sanderson is right.”

“······.”

*

Lady Godwin was stomping down to the backyard with a maid carrying warm black tea.

The Lady was openly complaining to Theo, who was following behind.

“Mr. Sanderson! This is really too much! How could you bring the Viscount when my daughter looks like a beggar? Even if you’re a man, don’t you know how important a woman’s appearance is?”

“······.”

“I clearly explained to you that I was worried about not being able to marry Lydia off at that time, but how could you do this knowing the situation?”

“That’s why I came without contacting you.”

Lady Godwin glared at Theo.

“Huh, what did you say? Are you saying that you deliberately came without contacting us? Mr. Sanderson, you are a really strange person.”

However, the maid who turned to the backyard first stopped walking after seeing something.

“Madam!”

“What is it? Why aren’t you going quickly?”

“Madam… please look over there.”

The Lady, who stepped into the backyard, had a blank expression as if she had lost her words.

“No… what is that?”

Viscount Monson and Lydia were sitting side by side on the bench where the Lady’s gaze was fixed.

They were looking at each other affectionately and talking intimately, like an old couple.

The Lady looked at Theo at the unbelievable sight.

Theo, who arrived behind her, watched the scene with a satisfied expression and opened his mouth.

“You see, Lady Godwin. That’s why I dropped by suddenly.”

“No, what on earth is going on? Did Mr. Sanderson cast some kind of magic? My daughter said that he didn’t even say a few words and was only cold to her. How could they become so affectionate…”

Theo smiled and replied.

“Sometimes, magical things happen when you don’t do anything.”

“Yes?”

“Haha, anyway, congratulations in advance, Lady Godwin. It looks like you’ll have to start preparing for your daughter and the Viscount’s wedding soon.”

The Lady’s eyes widened at the word wedding.

“Wed… wedding preparations?”

“Don’t you know yet? Doesn’t it sound like the beautiful harmony of those two is reaching even here?”

“······.”

Being able to meet the best ideal type who matches each other like them is, in a way, a blessing in a short life.

And Theo, who had done that difficult thing even in his previous life, was intoxicated with a sense of accomplishment that had been building up for a long time.

‘That’s right. That’s why I worked so hard at this job. Hehehe.’