He Opened A Matchmaking Agency In 18Th Century London [EN]: Chapter 13

The Unfading Smile

Upon hearing that I knew the Countess of Rendmond, Thomas Clarke and his wife visibly paled.

“W-Well… Surely you’re mistaken? How could you possibly know Lady Rendmond? The Lady I know isn’t someone you… someone of your station would be acquainted with…”

“Doesn’t she have two prominent moles just below her right ear? And a small one on the right side of her chin?”

Daniel Burke described the Lady’s exact features, and Thomas and his wife snapped their mouths shut.

Seeing the couple’s expressions, Burke chuckled heartily and said,

“Hahaha. It seems I’m right, judging by your faces. Actually, Lady Rendmond is a distant relative of my father. Before she became a Countess, she lived near our house, and we often visited each other.”

Thomas’s eyes widened.

“W-What? A relative? Is that true?”

“Yes. And there’s one more interesting fact.”

“?”

“Actually, Lady Rendmond suggested to my brother and me last year, when the position of estate supervisor became vacant, that we take on the job. My brother flatly refused, and I declined as well. We both felt we lacked the experience to properly manage such a large estate.

So, we told the Lady it would be better to find someone else, and that person turned out to be Sir Thomas Clarke. Haha—what a coincidence.”

A faint smile touched Tae-oh’s lips.

Just like in the 21st century, the power of connections in the 18th century was immense.

Especially for someone with as much influence as a Count, who held not only land and farm management rights but also various appointment powers. If they favored someone, they could grant them land or positions under the guise of patronage.

For that reason, many people sought to ingratiate themselves with those in power to benefit from their network, and Thomas was one of those people.

But now, a relative of Lady Rendmond, who could be considered at the apex of that network, had appeared before Thomas.

Thomas and his wife, who had barged in with such fanfare to assess their prey, had walked straight into a tiger’s den.

A small groan escaped Thomas’s lips.

“Ugh…”

The momentum of Thomas and his wife, who had been wielding their influence so freely, was instantly reversed.

That power was now firmly in Daniel Burke’s hands.

Burke looked at Baron Clarke, who was lying in bed, and continued,

“From what I heard from the Lady, the position of estate supervisor varies greatly depending on the location. I understand that the area Sir Thomas Clarke will be in charge of this time is in very good condition.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“Yes. But my brother and I have never held such a large position, and managing and supervising an entire estate is no easy task, so we declined. But for that position to go to my father’s nephew, what could be more fitting? Hahaha.”

Baron Clarke also nodded and looked at Thomas.

“That’s right. For the Lady to give you such great support, Thomas, you are very fortunate indeed.”

“Ah… Yes. Th-That’s right.”

Burke turned sharply toward Thomas.

“From what I know, the house provided to the estate supervisor is also very large, even larger than most mansions in London, isn’t it? Or am I mistaken?”

Thomas wore a forced smile, but his eyes betrayed his unease.

Seeing Thomas’s expression, Tae-oh smirked inwardly.

‘Heh heh… Thomas Clarke is clearly terrified of Burke.’

Fear is a primal emotion that arises when facing something beyond one’s control.

Once his uncle, Baron Clarke, died, his uncle’s remaining daughters would be vulnerable and easily manipulated by Thomas.

And the prospective son-in-law that the eldest daughter brought seemed insignificant and was looked down upon.

On the other hand, Lady Rendmond was someone Thomas had to appease and respect above all others.

But now, someone related to that Lady had appeared as the prospective son-in-law, so the fear Thomas Clarke felt must have been immense.

Thomas was planning to immediately evict all five daughters as soon as his uncle passed away, renovate the house, and rent it out.

He already had a much larger and better house and land, courtesy of Lady Rendmond. And he would be treated as a manager and supervisor of the Count’s estate.

“What… What did you just ask?”

“I asked if the house that the Lady will provide is a very good place.”

But Daniel Burke was no longer smiling.

Burke’s cold face, devoid of a smile, was more than just a warning to Thomas.

‘If that guy goes to the Lady and tells her that I’m planning to take the house and kick out all her daughters as soon as the Baron dies…’

Cold sweat trickled down Thomas’s back.

In this era, reputation and rumors were paramount for nobles. All the more so for the manager and supervisor who oversaw the Count’s most important assets.

‘How much effort have I invested to secure the position of manager and supervisor?’

Thomas had even feigned humility and dedication in front of Lady Rendmond.

The Lady regarded Thomas as a moral and compassionate man and had entrusted him with the position of manager and supervisor.

But the moment that prospective son-in-law revealed the truth of what was happening here, it was clear that the enraged Lady would revoke all the honor and wealth he had worked so hard to obtain.

Thomas’s eyes darted around, desperately searching for a way out of this predicament.

This mansion and land also generated a decent income, but it was nothing compared to the benefits of being a manager and supervisor of the estate sponsored by the Lady.

‘Get a grip! If I hesitate now, it’s over. I have to demonstrate compassion immediately, or it will be impossible to salvage later.’

Even if that man ran to the Lady today and spread negative rumors, he calculated that if he showed a concrete act of kindness here, it would serve as a sufficient defense.

But he had to act now. That way, he could argue that the prospective son-in-law had misunderstood his intentions.

Thomas lowered his voice as much as possible and looked down at the Baron, opening his mouth.

“Ahem-hem, Uncle. The reason I came to see you today without prior notice was that I had something urgent to discuss.”

“Really? You have something to tell me? What is it?”

Baron Clarke and everyone else focused on Thomas.

“Ahem-hem-. As the legal heir under inheritance law, I will inherit the rights to this house and land. So, I came here in such haste to express my firm intentions regarding those rights.”

“…?”

“I am about to begin my role as the Count’s estate manager and supervisor. There are numerous benefits bestowed by the Count, including a fine house, so this mansion and land are not of great importance to me.

Therefore, I am considering allowing my young female cousins to reside in this house rent-free, so they can live comfortably in the future. At least until all the children are married and leave this house.”

Thomas’s wife, who had been listening quietly, was so shocked that she gasped.

“Honey, you! Are you crazy… Ack-!”

Thump-

Thomas stomped hard on his wife’s foot, who was trying to interrupt, and continued to speak.

“Actually, the reason I brought an architect with me last time to inspect the property was that I was planning a small gift for the children who will be living in this house for an extended period. Oh, and of course, I will ensure that all the proceeds from the land are used for their living expenses.”

“……”

Baron Clarke and his five daughters stared blankly at Thomas with surprised eyes.

Then Burke smiled and offered his suggestion.

“Sir Thomas Clarke, the young ladies here are very fond of reading. Since you have decided to renovate the house, I hope you will also include a charming little library.”

“Uh… Huh?… Y-Yes, hahaha… That’s… a splendid idea.”

Burke said to Baron Clarke,

“Father, I will relay this generous gesture to Lady Rendmond as it is. I was planning to visit the Lady myself next week to invite her to my wedding. She is such a compassionate person that she will be delighted to hear this heartwarming story.”

It was Daniel Burke’s words that sealed the deal.

His words carried more weight for Thomas than a stack of legally binding contracts.

Baron Clarke clapped his hands and responded.

“Yes, yes. Please do so. Be sure to boast to the Lady about our Thomas’s kindness. What could be more wonderful? Hehe.”

Thomas and his wife, who had arrived in high spirits, were now crestfallen, while the Baron’s family was filled with joy.

The five sisters were relieved of the fear that they would have to leave the house they loved and face a difficult life, and Baron Clarke was able to alleviate his worries about his daughters, who might have nowhere to go after his death.

‘Heh heh. Lady Rendmond was a close relative of Burke. I simply connected two people who had good chemistry, but things are working out so well, as if by fate.’

Tae-oh couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight of Thomas and his wife departing with slumped shoulders.

◈ One month later.

Late February of 1776, unusually warm.

Daniel Burke and Sarah Clarke’s simple and beautiful wedding was held modestly at a country villa.

Lady Merien Rendmond was overjoyed to hear that Burke was getting married and lent him one of her villas to host the wedding, and she covered a significant portion of the expenses.

The wedding was attended by many acquaintances, including Baron Clarke, who had come despite his ailing health. Of course, Tae-oh, the primary facilitator of the wedding, was also present.

Every time Thomas and his wife, who attended the wedding, saw Lady Rendmond chatting amiably with Burke, they were anxious that their deceitful actions might be exposed.

At the conclusion of the joyful and happy wedding,

Sarah and Daniel, the stars of the day, held hands and stood in the center of the stage.

Then, to the accompaniment of sweet music, they gazed into each other’s eyes and slowly began to dance.

♪~♬♪~♪♪~♬~

Baron Clarke was moved to tears at the sight of his lovely daughter and son-in-law, and his younger sisters celebrated their older sister’s wedding and sincerely wished her a happy future.

***

5 days later.

Robert Clarke’s Baron’s bedroom.

Five daughters with tears welling up in their eyes were looking down at their father around Baron Clarke’s bed.

Below the bed, the house’s butler and servants, as well as a dozen acquaintances including Tae-oh, Lord Carrington, and Viscount Monson, were present with sorrowful faces.

“…Father.”

Sarah, kneeling, called out to the Baron in a trembling voice.

Baron Clarke gave a faint smile.

“Yes… My eldest daughter. You looked like an angel on your wedding day… This father can now die… without any regrets.”

“Sob-, Father…”

Baron Clarke loved to read, and he always said that he wanted to read even at the moment of his death.

Remembering this, the daughters decided to gather together and read to their father on his last day, as they had done in the happy days of the past.

Sarah wiped away her tears and gestured to her second sister, Elizabeth.

Elizabeth nodded and began to read in a slightly trembling voice.

It was a passage from Locke’s ‘An Essay Concerning Human Understanding,’ which the Baron particularly enjoyed.

“The function of understanding… is given to man not merely for pure speculation, but to guide human life… Sob sob-, the ultimate resource that man relies on in guiding himself… is his understanding. Sob sob.”

As Elizabeth read in a tearful voice, Baron Clarke’s lips moved along with the words.

Quiet sobs were heard throughout the bedroom during the reading.

Tears streamed down the faces of the five daughters at the passage ‘ultimate resource.’

“Daniel… Daniel…”

Baron Clarke, out of breath, called out his son-in-law’s name.

“Yes, Father.”

As Daniel Burke hurriedly approached the bed, the Baron summoned his last strength and tightly grasped his hand.

Then, in a weak voice, he struggled to speak.

“Daniel, I’m… proud of you. Thank you… for becoming my son-in-law. My daughter and… my precious children… Please… have mercy and take care of them in my stead… Even when I go to heaven… I will never forget that gratitude.”

“Don’t worry, Father. I will take responsibility for my sisters-in-law to the end… to the end in your stead.”

The Baron, with his mouth slightly open, stared into the air for a moment, then looked at the acquaintances standing below the bed one by one, giving them a barely perceptible nod.

And finally, when he met Tae-oh’s eyes, he smiled faintly and moved his lips.

Tae-oh bowed his head and paid his respects politely.

After a while…

“Father! Father!”

“Waaaaah!”

“Dad! No!”

“Master! Sob sob-”

Five days after witnessing the joyous wedding of his eldest daughter, Sarah,

Robert Clarke, the Baron, quietly closed his eyes surrounded by his beloved daughters, son-in-law, and acquaintances.

Loud cries erupted from everywhere, and Sarah collapsed and sobbed uncontrollably. Burke held his wife tightly by his side and comforted her.

The youngest daughter, who was eight years old, kept trying to climb into her father’s chest, and the maids struggled to pull her away while fighting back their own tears.

Amidst the profound sorrow around him, Tae-oh’s gaze lingered on the corners of Baron Clarke’s lips.

When he first met the Baron, his smile was overshadowed by worry and anxiety and quickly vanished, but today, a faint smile remained until his final breath.

‘The great worry in his heart… has now completely disappeared. I’m so relieved.’

After receiving the terminal diagnosis, the worries and anxieties that had always burdened the Baron’s mind dissipated, allowing him to pass away with a peaceful smile.

For humans, the final moment is inevitable.

And witnessing it is always a difficult experience.

Still, Tae-oh sincerely thanked God for allowing him to help send off a person’s last moments with a touch of happiness.