He Opened A Matchmaking Agency In 18Th Century London [EN]: Chapter 20

20. Persuasion

◈ Theo’s residence in Hampstead, London.

The morning after returning to London from Birmingham.

A loud knock echoed from Theo’s bedroom door.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

“Master! Are you not awake yet? Mrs. Macgregor has been waiting for some time! Master?”

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Opening his eyes in a daze, Theo wondered what the noise was.

“What? What was that? Who’s here?”

“Mrs. Macgregor is here!”

Theo jolted upright in bed.

“What are you talking about? Mrs. Macgregor is here?”

“Didn’t I tell you about 30 minutes ago? Mrs. Macgregor is waiting in the reception room.”

“Ah… Oh dear.”

Theo had been sound asleep, exhausted from his travels.

He vaguely remembered his maid Lucy knocking on the bedroom door, but he didn’t realize it was to announce Mrs. Macgregor’s visit.

He quickly got up, splashed some water on his face, threw on some clothes, and hurried down to the reception room.

As Lucy had said, Mrs. Macgregor was sitting on the sofa, waiting.

She seemed lost in thought, unaware that Theo had entered.

However, the hem of her gray muslin dress, spread out under the table, was trembling slightly. She seemed to be shaking her leg.

People often shake their legs unconsciously when they are nervous or anxious.

‘She must be anxious, thinking that her daughter’s marriage depends on my words.’

Theo approached, apologized for being late, and greeted her. Only then did the woman stand up abruptly and curtsy.

As soon as Mrs. Macgregor saw Theo, her eyebrows lowered slightly, a subtle sign of the tension in her face.

It indicated that she had been eagerly awaiting some resolution for a long time.

“Mr. Sanderson, I’m so sorry for coming here so suddenly. I was originally planning to visit in a few days, but I couldn’t wait and came this morning.”

“No, it’s alright. I should have contacted you first.”

Lucy came in, placed a steaming cup of tea on the table, and left.

Clack.

The woman, who had been fidgeting with the teacup, spoke first.

“That James Watt… What was he like when you went to see him in person? Was he the one Mr. Sanderson heard about?”

“Yes. James Watt was the person I knew. So was Mr. Matthew Boulton. They weren’t the strange people you were worried about, but truly great developers and businessmen.”

Her face clearly showed disappointment at Theo’s answer.

“Ah… I see. Well, what about Mr. Watt’s personality or way of thinking? Did he seem like a good match for my daughter? My daughter told me that you went to the factory and saw him working…”

Mrs. Macgregor’s voice was somewhat weak, and she desperately hoped that the two’s personalities would not match.

‘She’s having a very hard time.’

Although he hadn’t exchanged many words with her, Theo could quickly tell that the woman’s condition was worse than it appeared.

Her deep love for her daughter had led to great betrayal and loss, and she showed a high stress response, going beyond worry, about meeting James Watt.

In such cases of mental distress, it is difficult to persuade with general advice.

To stabilize an unstable mental state, it is necessary to give strong conviction and reassurance.

The reason why superstitions, cults, and unverified treatments are prevalent in the scientifically advanced 21st century is that fraudsters cleverly exploit these unstable mental states.

Even though it may seem exaggerated and absurd to a third party, people easily fall for it because, under an unstable mental state, exaggerated conviction seems like a more rational solution and even provides deep comfort.

Theo, who knew this psychology better than anyone else, decided to instill strong conviction in Mrs. Macgregor, who was experiencing mental difficulties.

“Madam, I dare say, the character of James Watt, as I saw and judged him, was excellent, and his inventions were truly remarkable. Not only that, but Mr. Watt’s passion for research and…”

The woman, who had been slightly taken aback by Theo’s continued praise, soon regained her composure and opened her mouth.

“I think I understand what you mean. I’ve lived my whole life as the wife of a businessman. It seems that Mr. Watt has developed a product with some business potential, as my daughter said. If even Mr. Sanderson is like this.

But can someone who hasn’t been properly educated continue to succeed like this while being looked down upon by people? My husband also went through a lot of effort and hardship to get to where he is now. I suffered a lot as well. The thought of Anne having to go through such pain for the rest of her life…”

Mrs. Macgregor continued, with tears welling up in her eyes.

“Moreover, Mr. Watt’s business is a speculative one, unlike my husband’s stable business. People who bet everything on such inventions and invest large sums of money can become penniless overnight. I’ve seen such cases countless times around me. I don’t want Anne to experience such misfortune.”

Theo fully understood the woman’s feelings.

It was a society where labor was looked down upon. Moreover, it was still hard to imagine that someone who was not an aristocrat could invent machines using scientific principles and make money from them.

In fact, it was no exaggeration to say that the possibility of science becoming a great source of wealth was first realized by James Watt.

As a mother sending her daughter off to marriage, her worries were only natural.

But it was James Watt, of all people. Wasn’t he the one who led England, which had been on the fringes of Europe, into becoming a global economic power?

From now on, his life would not be about worrying about not having enough money, but about worrying about having too much.

“I understand your concern that your daughter might have to worry about money and suffer. But I think it would be better to put those worries aside. Mr. Watt will never have to worry about money for the rest of his life.”

The reason for marriage for women in this era was, in fact, money. For women in this period, who had difficulty finding jobs, marriage was almost the only way to escape poverty.

“Why are you so confident that Mr. Watt will do well, Mr. Sanderson?”

“It’s embarrassing to say it myself, but I have the knowledge to read the flow of the economy and some accurate information. That’s why I’m being treated beyond my station at the Intelligence Club.”

“Yes. I’ve heard a lot about that in the rumors. That Mr. Sanderson has great insight.”

“I am really confident about how great an achievement James Watt will make.”

Mrs. Macgregor nodded in agreement.

“Yes, I feel a little relieved to hear you say that, Mr. Sanderson. But, as you know, we need honor in addition to money to live. We have enough money, but we have suffered a lot of humiliation because we didn’t have honor. So we wanted Anne to have that honor.”

Firmness could be felt in the woman’s eyes and lips. It seemed that the sorrows she had suffered throughout her life due to her status had accumulated in her heart.

That’s why she wanted to marry her daughter off to a nobleman with good status.

“Mrs. Macgregor, James Watt will not be a mere mechanic, but a manufacturer who will make a great name for himself. He will also gain tremendous honor.”

“At best, he’ll be a manufacturer who’s a bit known in Birmingham. My husband alone…”

Theo shook his head.

“No, no. Mr. Watt will make his name known not only in Birmingham but throughout England, no, the whole world.”

“What? Make his name known all over the world?”

Mrs. Macgregor had a dumbfounded expression.

“Perhaps you want Miss Macgregor to marry a nobleman of high status and live respected by people as a noble lady?”

“Wouldn’t all parents with daughters want that?”

“Yes, of course, that wouldn’t be a bad life either. But the world is changing very rapidly. The era when nobles are treated with respect is quickly disappearing.”

“······.”

“Mr. Macgregor alone has worked hard to accumulate a lot of wealth, and now he is treated better than most nobles, isn’t he? I am also a commoner, but I am being treated beyond my station by nobles at the club because I have a little more insight than others.”

“······.”

“I guarantee that England will soon enter the era of the Industrial Revolution.”

“Industrial… Revolution? What is that?”

Theo used the term ‘Industrial Revolution’ for the first time in the 18th century. Even in front of Mrs. Macgregor, who was not an intellectual.

“It is a cataclysmic transformation that will completely change human life. It is an era of unprecedented and terrifying economic revolution with the enormous production volume coming from machines.

Clothes and goods that used to be too expensive to wear can be found in countless numbers on the market and bought at low prices, and with the development of transportation, hundreds or thousands of people can arrive all over the country in a matter of days.”

There were many cautious aspects to revealing the future history too clearly, knowing the risks involved, but considering the level of education of women at the time, it was a possible explanation because Mrs. Macgregor was very unlikely to properly understand Theo’s economic predictions or prospects and spread them around.

“Do such things really happen?”

“Yes. You will be able to feel it directly a few years from now.”

“Then, does that mean that James Watt plays such a great role in that Industrial Revolution?”

“It’s not just a great role. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the Industrial Revolution starts with James Watt’s steam engine. I am 100% sure of that, so I invested boldly.”

Mrs. Macgregor had a bewildered expression at the unbelievable stories.

But Theo didn’t stop there.

“James Watt will become a globally renowned figure, and his descendants will continue his fame for generations. And his wife, who supported Watt, will also be praised.

If he becomes so great that his name will remain long after his death, wouldn’t that be a much more valuable life than becoming the wife of a nobleman whose name will not even be recorded in history?”

“Could it really be that much? Aren’t you overestimating Mr. Watt too much?”

“As I said before, I have invested most of my cash in Mr. Watt, and the investment will continue in the future. I did so because I believe in my judgment based on rational grounds.

Moreover, Miss Macgregor and Mr. Watt have personalities that are so well-matched and are a couple who can live happily in love for the rest of their lives. Where else can you find a better match than this?”

“······.”

It was James Watt who was chosen by Miss Macgregor, who had high self-esteem and self-understanding to the point of looking at herself objectively from a third person’s point of view.

While meeting James Watt, she found the person she should spend her life with.

“Still… how can she be with a widower with a child…”

“I fully understand that point. If I had a daughter, it would never have been easy to allow. But if you take that point away, I am confident that James Watt can be the best groom for Miss Macgregor.”

“…Still.”

“Even if he is a young nobleman with high status, a lot of money, and a good appearance, what if he treats Miss Macgregor carelessly and wastes his fortune by falling into gambling and a dissolute life? Would your daughter really be happy?

In fact, how many young nobles are like that these days? It’s harder to find a man who isn’t.”

In fact, gambling and reckless entertainment that risked the lives of young nobles in the late 18th century were so prevalent that they became a social problem.

“James Watt is excellent in every way except that he is not a nobleman and has been hurt. Moreover, doesn’t Miss Macgregor say that she is comfortable and happy when she is with Mr. Watt?”

“Yes, well… she always says that.”

“She is Miss Macgregor, who understands and diagnoses herself better than anyone else. Trust her judgment. Although he is older, remarried, and has children, the two of them can live a happier life than anyone else.”

Mrs. Macgregor was already wavering.

“But, my husband’s opposition is so strong…”

“You don’t have to worry about that. If you meet him in person and talk to him, you will like Mr. Watt because you have a common denominator called business.”

Slurp.

The woman’s face, drinking the remaining tea, looked more comfortable than before.

“I feel a little relieved to hear Mr. Sanderson’s words, but will Mr. Watt’s future really be that good?”

Mrs. Macgregor was already won over. But she seemed to need more certainty.

She had to show the definite future of the person who would become her son-in-law so that she could rely on those words and support her daughter’s future. It is similar to how you can reduce your worries about an uncertain future by relying on religion even if reality is painfully difficult.

Simple comfort or reassuring words are of little use now.

“Well, what if, in the distant future, statues of your son-in-law are erected everywhere, his inventions are displayed in every museum, and his achievements are recorded in detail in history books so that students learn about Mr. Watt?”

“What? History books? Aren’t those only for people who have made a name for themselves?”

“That’s right. What I’m saying is that Mr. Watt’s future is so bright that it will be like that. Moreover, the two of them communicate very well and have a strong sense of respect for each other. Madam, think about it. What if the couple cared for each other, talked about their concerns, and supported each other like friends?”

“······.”

When there is something difficult to decide, the definite advice of a reliable person is a great help.

It was an important marriage issue for her daughter that she had been agonizing over for months, and it was something that showed no signs of resolution no matter how much she prayed and urged her daughter.

But as she entrusted the marriage issue to Theo Sanderson, whom she had only heard rumors about, Mrs. Macgregor felt strangely at ease and her worries disappeared.

“Miss Macgregor learned the right character, self-esteem, empathy, and self-understanding from an early age thanks to having good parents. I think that the power of such parents has developed the ability to recognize at a glance a good man who is perfect for her without being biased towards external factors.

Please bless the marriage of the two. Then the two will live as the happiest couple in the world, caring for each other and living in great wealth and honor.”

“······.”

Mrs. Macgregor felt really strange.

It was clearly considered an exaggerated prediction to change her mind, but somehow she felt that everything would go as Theo said.

And that conviction was making her feel infinitely relieved.