He Opened A Matchmaking Agency In 18Th Century London [EN]: Chapter 163

163. A Name I’ve Never Heard Before?

“Theo Marriage Agency, CEO’s Office, 5th Floor.

“Lucy? You haven’t forgotten our 1 o’clock appointment today, have you?”

Theo asked, signing the approval documents as if to confirm.

“…Yes.”

“Then why don’t you put a little more effort into your outfit? You came to work in your usual clothes.”

“No, I didn’t. These are not my usual clothes.”

“Don’t regret it later. Go to the dress shop and change into your favorite outfit. Tell them I’ll pay for it.”

“No, thank you. There’s no need for that.”

“Are you sure you’re okay with that?”

“If he’s a man who values appearances, I honestly don’t think I’d be interested.”

“Really? Well, I suppose you’re right. What Lucy says isn’t wrong.”

“…Yes.”

Scribble, scribble.

Theo, having finished signing, handed over the documents and urged her once more.

“Alright, then come down to the VVIP consultation room at 1 o’clock. Let’s meet him together. I have a feeling you’ll meet your eternal partner today… You seem so uninterested, geez.”

Lucy only gave a bitter smile at Theo’s joking words.

* * *

Theo, having finished his lunch, came down to the cafe for a cup of tea.

He was waiting for Captain Rogers and Lucy.

♪~♬♪~♪♪~♬~

In one corner of the cafe, a small orchestra was playing classical music.

Thanks to that, the cafe was filled with music as fragrant as the coffee.

They had been doing mini-concerts for about 2 hours during lunchtime for the past few months, and the customers’ reactions were very positive.

They were planning to hold performances during the evening hours as well.

Theo checked the time and looked at the entrance of the cafe.

‘It feels like it’s about time… Why isn’t Lucy coming down?’

It was then.

A man in uniform strode into the cafe, looking around.

All eyes in the cafe were on him.

It was Jude Rogers.

The blue military coat he was wearing revealed that he belonged to the Royal Horse Guards, the most outstanding cavalry regiment in the British Army, and the wide collar decorated with silver cords and buttons harmonized with the golden lace visible inside the uniform’s vest, showing off his dignity as a military officer to the fullest.

It seemed like he had rushed over as soon as his shift ended.

“Captain Rogers! Over here!”

“Ah- Commander!”

Theo greeted Captain Rogers with delight and led him to the VVIP consultation room.

“Have a seat here.”

“Yes, Commander.”

Captain Rogers was a little embarrassed as he sat down.

“The Commander told me that he had a lady he wanted to introduce me to, so I came, but my shift was delayed, so I couldn’t even change my clothes properly.”

“No, a uniform is the best outfit for a soldier. You look great.”

“But, what kind of lady is she that you’re so concerned about introducing me to…?”

“Well, there’s a bit of a story. She’s actually a friend who used to work at my house, the third daughter of a noble family that has fallen on hard times.

She’s so sociable and quick-witted that she’s now working as a manager team leader in our company. She’s better at her job than she looks, so her weekly wage is quite high. Haha—sorry to say this, but it’s probably two or three times your weekly wage.”

In this era, even if a woman was the daughter of a family listed in the nobility, if she couldn’t marry properly and didn’t inherit any property, it was common for her to become a governess or maid in another house.

There were even cases of prostitution to make a living.

Not to mention daughters from fallen noble families like Lucy.

However, Captain Rogers was relieved by Theo’s words.

“I see. I was secretly worried that she might be from a good family. I couldn’t say it, but I hate anything that feels like a burden.”

“I know. I know how strong your pride is. Anyway, Lucy is polite, smart… you might even know her face when you see her.”

“Yes? Me? Is she a lady I know?”

“Anyway, you’ll know when you see her in person. I’ll go get her quickly.”

“Yes.”

Clunk-

Theo opened the door and came out of the VVIP consultation room, running into Lucy, who was coming in.

“Ah, Lucy! You came down just in time. A friend I wanted to introduce you to has just arrived.”

Lucy, with a dark face, opened her mouth hesitantly.

“CEO, I have a favor to ask.”

“What is it?”

“Could you please say that we’ll only talk for 10 minutes, and then I have to go back to work because of urgent company matters?”

“What’s wrong? You promised me you’d meet for 30 minutes, didn’t you?”

Lucy frowned and pretended to be in pain.

“I’m really sorry to say this after coming all the way here, but I feel nauseous and have a terrible headache. I might even have to leave work early today.”

It seemed like she was faking it, but there was nothing he could do.

“Really? 10 minutes? Alright. Well, if you want to leave that quickly, there’s nothing I can do. I’ll tell him that, but you have to keep the 10 minutes, okay?”

“…Yes.”

“Then, let’s go in and say hello.”

Clunk-

Theo opened the door and went inside, saying with a smile,

“Captain Rogers! I’ve brought Lucy Hayes, the proud team leader of our marriage agency. Haha—”

Captain Rogers smiled and slowly stood up from his seat.

The moment Lucy’s gaze landed on Captain Rogers’ face.

Lucy, who had been walking into the consultation room with an indifferent expression, stopped dead in her tracks.

Her eyes widened in surprise, and she couldn’t move.

“Lucy, what are you doing? Why aren’t you coming in?”

“……”

As the awkward silence stretched on, Captain Rogers politely greeted her first.

“Nice to meet you. My name is Jude Rogers.”

“Oh… I… I…”

Lucy, who had been slowly backing away, ran out of the consultation room.

Captain Rogers was at a loss.

“Commander? Why is she doing that? Did I do something wrong?”

Theo smiled and muttered to himself.

“It seems my prediction was right.”

“Yes?”

“Ah, no, Captain Rogers. I hope you don’t think too strangely of it. It’s not because of you that Lucy is acting like this. There’s a bit of a story, and it seems like she was flustered by the sudden meeting. It’s partly my fault, so please forgive me. If I tell you the story later, you’ll understand. Anyway, I’ll bring her back, so please wait a moment.”

“Ah, yes…”

Lucy was leaning against the wall outside the consultation room with a blank face.

“Lucy? What’s wrong?”

“…Director?”

“How can you run away so awkwardly when you see someone?”

Lucy, regaining her senses, asked, as if to argue.

“Director? Did you know that I like Captain Rogers?”

Theo asked back, his face brightening.

“Really? You have feelings for Captain Rogers? Haha—I knew my intuition was right.”

“How did you know? I’ve never told anyone, and it’s a secret I’ve kept only in my heart…”

“I happened to see you at Windsor Castle and roughly guessed it. Well, even if that hadn’t happened, I thought you two would get along well and was planning to introduce you.”

“Ah… then, you could have told me a little in advance…”

Theo felt wronged at her resentful grumble.

“What are you talking about? When I said I was going to introduce you to someone, you stubbornly refused to know who it was! Don’t you remember me even saying Captain Rogers’ name?

Then, who was it that wouldn’t even let me bring it up, saying I was mistaking my own feelings?”

“That’s… I just thought he was someone I could never be with. And I only remembered him as a lieutenant, not knowing his name. His name is… Captain Jude Rogers.”

Lucy felt foolish for only thinking of him as a lieutenant from three years ago.

“Anyway, aren’t you going back in? How embarrassed Captain Rogers must be?”

Lucy’s expression became urgent at Theo’s words.

“Oh, that’s right. I’m so sorry to Lieutenant, no, Captain Rogers.”

“Then let’s go in quickly. He’s waiting, isn’t he?”

But Lucy was fidgeting.

“What’s wrong? Why aren’t you going in? Is there another problem?”

“…Director, the way I look right now…”

“What about the way you look?”

“I came wearing the clothes I think are the worst on me today…”

“Oh dear, no wonder. You were trying to avoid my introduction, weren’t you?”

Lucy hung her head.

“I told you to stop by the dressing room earlier, but you were so confident.”

“What should I do?”

“Don’t worry. Like you said earlier, if he dislikes you for how you usually look, then he’s not someone you need to meet.”

“Director! That’s not it! Today is practically our first impression… He’ll definitely think badly of me.”

Theo patted Lucy, who had a tearful look, and gently pushed her back.

“Come on! The Captain has already seen you! It would be even funnier if you changed now, so let’s go in quickly. Your outfit isn’t that bad today either. It’s not polite to keep a gentleman waiting, is it?”

* * *

Amidst the fragrant coffee and soft classical music, Lucy was a completely different person.

Captain Rogers seemed to like Lucy as well, finding her stories amusing and showing a pleasant smile even when they weren’t particularly interesting.

“Haha—I see. No wonder your face looked familiar. You were the one who came to Windsor Castle that day.”

“Yes, I was really grateful then.”

Lucy’s face, which had been full of gloom for days, was now beaming as if nothing had happened.

‘As expected, their personalities and feelings match so well. They’re a match made in heaven. If they build their lives together, they can become a deeply rooted, great tree.’

The two continued their conversation, looking at each other with warm gazes, like lovers who had loved each other for a long time.

◈ July 1782, at the residence of the Director-General of Finance in France.

Charles de Calonne, the Director-General of Finance, was listening to his secretary, Henri Diderot, while drinking coffee.

“…And so, the current British negotiating team consists of five members led by a man named Theo Sanderson.”

Clunk.

The Director-General put down his cup, looking puzzled.

“Theo Sanderson? Not Minister Andrew Hall?”

He tilted his head and asked again.

“Was there such a person among the high-ranking British officials? I’ve never heard of him.”

The secretary hesitated before speaking.

“The coffee that the Director-General is currently drinking… is from the company of that Theo Sanderson.”

“What? No, does that mean he’s the CEO of T&S Coffee?”

“Yes, Director-General. He has invested not only in coffee but also in matchmaking, textiles, and machinery, and has been found to be the businessman earning the most money in Britain right now.”

“Hmm—so a real businessman is coming as the head of the negotiating team.”

“And…”

Charles de Calonne, the Director-General of Finance, was frustrated by the secretary’s hesitation.

“What is it? Tell me quickly without dragging it out!”

“The British King’s trust in Sanderson is so excessively high that it seemed a bit strange, so I did some background checks on him and discovered several surprising facts.”

“Surprising facts? What facts?”

“He was the one who played a decisive role in urging the recognition of independence for the North American colonies, leading to the British King’s decision.”

The Director-General’s eyes narrowed.

“Really? I was wondering why that stubborn British King suddenly made such a groundbreaking decision; so it was that Sanderson who led it?”

“Yes, that’s right. Furthermore, when suppressing General Howe’s rebellion, he led the government forces as a regimental commander and bought time until reinforcements arrived. He faced tens of thousands of rebels with only about a thousand men, risking his life.

If Sanderson had not stopped General Howe at that time, the British King’s head would have already been taken.”

“What are you talking about? He’s a coffee CEO, right? A regimental commander? So, was he a soldier?”

“No. According to the information, he was someone who had nothing to do with the military.”

The Director-General’s expression became quite serious.

“What a bizarre man. I thought Britain was running strangely well these days, but it seems he’s playing a part in it.”

“There is one more person I am most concerned about regarding this trade agreement with Britain.”

“……?”

“We should be wary of a man named ‘Scipio Marshall,’ who is currently the director of the Theo Institute for Mercantile Studies and Education.”

“Theo Institute for Mercantile Studies and Education? What’s that? Is that also related to Theo Sanderson?”

“Yes, it is. It’s a special-purpose economic research institute founded by Sanderson.”

“Goodness—Theo Sanderson seems to be involved in everything. But why the director of that place?”

“That director… is a freed black slave.”

The Director-General of Finance clicked his tongue.

“What? A black slave? Huh—but why should we be wary of him?”

“Five years ago, wasn’t there a commotion when an anonymous secret newspaper criticized France’s economic and social problems in detail under the pseudonym ‘Pio’?”

“Yes, I remember it well. At the time, the King was furious and ordered us to find him immediately and punish him.”

“That ‘Pio’ is the black man named ‘Scipio Marshall’ who is the director of the Theo Institute I mentioned earlier.”

“…What?”

Charles de Calonne, the Director-General of Finance, looked bewildered.

His criticism, which took up a full page of the secret newspaper five years ago, was a major topic among French intellectuals at the time.

He not only accurately pointed out the rotten parts of French society, as if several scholars had spent years researching the data, but also suggested problems and solutions.

But as always, the best medicine is bitter.

His criticism was too painful, and most government officials and high-ranking nobles were quick to spit out his advice rather than swallow it.

They did their best to prevent the article from spreading.

At the time, Charles de Calonne was quite shocked by the fact that there was an intellectual in France with such knowledge and practicality.

But he remembered being greatly surprised later when he learned that the person who wrote this article, ‘Pio,’ was actually British, had never been to France, and had taught himself French and used various books, newspapers, and economic data to understand France’s economic problems.

The Director-General of Finance had an ominous feeling.

“Pio was a freed black slave, and such a person is now part of the British negotiating team led by Theo Sanderson?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Hmm, this… we need to be thoroughly prepared this time.”

“Yes, Director-General. I think we should.”