He Opened A Matchmaking Agency In 18Th Century London [EN]: Chapter 137

137. The Duke’s Grandson (4)

“…I was born in Liverpool, England, and spent my childhood with my parents on a corn farm in South Carolina, North America.”

As soon as Tae-oh heard this, he was certain that this young man was the grandson of the late Duke Bentley Edwards.

‘Rio knows the exact place name that I didn’t even tell Sir Jeffrey, just in case.’

Moreover, he could immediately sense the sincerity in Rio’s story, confirming it wasn’t fabricated.

“My childhood was really happy. I don’t have any memories of England because I was too young, but life in South Carolina, North America, where we ran a small corn farm, was peaceful and filled with simple joys.”

At that time, corn was primarily cultivated on a small scale for local consumption within the North American colonies.

Consequently, numerous small corn farms existed, often operated with just a few enslaved people.

The farm run by Rio’s father was similar.

However, everyone on the farm cared for each other like family, creating warm and happy childhood memories for Rio.

“My father was always kind, but he constantly reminded me of our family’s connection to the Duke. He insisted on proper etiquette at meals and cautioned me about my words in public.

My mother couldn’t read, but she loved hearing me read aloud. Each evening, under the candlelight, she would knit while I read—it was our special ritual.”

The faint smile playing on his lips revealed the happiness he felt during that time.

Tae-oh posed the question that intrigued him most.

“You seemed content with your life there, so what prompted your move to Jamaica?”

Rio fell silent, seemingly struggling to compose himself.

Finally, in a somber tone, he began to explain.

“First of all… these are childhood memories, and the events were so traumatic that only the clearest recollections remain.”

“Yes, I understand. Please stop if it becomes too difficult to discuss.”

Rio took a few sips of tea before recounting the horrific events of that day.

“I believe it was autumn when I was eight. I was so engrossed in a fairy tale book my father had just bought that I barely touched my dinner and went straight to my room to read.”

Rio swallowed hard, his expression reflecting the pain of the memory.

“About thirty minutes later, my mother, who was talking with my father in the kitchen, suddenly collapsed. Startled by my father’s scream, I rushed out… but soon after… he, too, collapsed…”

His parents, foaming at the mouth and struggling to breathe with convulsions, soon died. Shortly after, Rio lost consciousness and collapsed as well.

When he finally awoke after several days of fighting for his life, his parents were already buried. Young Rio was then taken in by a white couple on a neighboring farm.

However, under the guise of caring for Rio, they seized all the property his parents had left behind and sold him into servitude a year later.

“Being sold to Jamaica under the name ‘Tommy’ at the age of nine was, in a way, fortunate. The neighbors constantly beat and cursed me, making my life miserable.”

“Tommy? Did the neighbors sell you under a different name?”

“I believe so. They threatened me, telling me I had to be ‘Tommy’ from then on. But when I arrived in Jamaica, I used my given name and surname. No one really cared what my name was.”

It was common for enslaved people of African descent to be given new names by their owners, often using only the given name without a surname. Refusal to accept the new name resulted in severe punishment.

However, Rio was white and spoke English fluently, so there were no significant obstacles to using his original name instead of “Tommy.”

Having arrived in Jamaica, Rio worked tirelessly at various jobs to earn money, eventually gaining his freedom seven years later. He explained that he had struggled on different farms in Jamaica until he reached the age of twenty-three.

“The reason I never gave up and persevered was the unanswered questions surrounding my parents’ deaths. As I grew older, I felt a growing responsibility to uncover the truth behind their unfair demise at any cost.”

It seemed suspicious that both parents would suddenly die after eating a meal that was no different from any other.

Moreover, considering that all family members became critically ill simultaneously after consuming the same food, Rio was convinced that his parents had been poisoned.

The Black maid who assisted with housework at the time was a prime suspect, but ultimately, no evidence was found, and the investigation was closed after a few weeks without any conclusion.

Even in modern times, identifying the perpetrator in a poisoning case is challenging. With the limited scientific knowledge of that era, it would have been nearly impossible to find the poisoner.

“My parents were kind to everyone. They avoided causing trouble, even if it meant financial loss. Who could have committed such a cruel act against such good people…?”

It was a deeply traumatic memory for him, one he had never shared with anyone.

The act of speaking about it brought back the happiness of the past, juxtaposed with the hellish events that followed, tormenting him.

He seemed surprised that he was so easily revealing his past to Tae-oh, someone he had just met.

Having opened his heart, Rio continued to share the events he had kept hidden.

“…My father always said that when I became an adult, he would take me to his home country, England. My mother was reluctant, but my father insisted on returning to his hometown, London, before he died.”

But his father passed away before fulfilling his wish.

After coming of age, Rio frequented the port of Jamaica whenever he had the chance.

He tried to fulfill his father’s dream by inquiring about merchant or passenger ships bound for London, hoping to inform the Edwards family.

“It was incredibly frustrating. I desperately wanted to go to London, but I lacked the money and the means.”

In the late 18th century, the cost of traveling from Jamaica to London was an expense only wealthy plantation owners could afford.

Even the cheapest ticket represented a significant sum that a farm manager could barely save over several years.

Beyond the cost of the ticket, there were additional expenses for food, beverages, and other necessities during the voyage, as well as tolls, which further increased the overall cost.

“All I could do was share the story of my family, as I had heard it from my father, and hope for help from someone.

Of course, I knew the risks. I knew that a lowly white man claiming such a story would likely be dismissed as a fraud. But I held onto the belief that at least one person would listen to my story with sincerity.”

That’s how he met his cousin, Sir Jeffrey Edwards.

“Then, what is your relationship with the young lady who accompanied you?”

Rio blushed at the mention of Laura Robinson.

“Laura is the daughter of the owner of the farm where I’ve been working for the past three years.”

Rio had been working as a manager at Hugo Robinson’s sugar cane farm for three years.

Mr. Robinson, who had observed Rio’s work on another farm, hired him at a premium as soon as his previous manager left.

He believed that Rio’s literacy, writing skills, and quick calculations would be a great asset to the farm.

As Mr. Robinson anticipated, Rio proved to be invaluable.

He demonstrated exceptional talent in producing and selling sugar cane and rum, and he skillfully managed complex contract negotiations with merchants.

As a result, he earned considerable trust and was treated well on the farm.

However, complications arose when an unexpected romance blossomed between Robinson’s eldest daughter, Laura, and himself.

“She was the first woman who helped me overcome my loneliness and brought excitement into my life. Though younger than me, she was thoughtful, kind, and beautiful, and she understood my pain more than anyone else.

In early last year, I fell ill with a severe cold. Seeing her secretly come to nurse me every night, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her.

I confessed my feelings, and she happily accepted.”

But the love between a farmer’s daughter and a manager with a slave background was destined to face obstacles.

Robinson, who came from a common background, was eager to marry Laura into a noble family, just like other farmers.

In this context, a freed slave seeking to marry her would likely face severe consequences.

As time passed, Laura entered marriage negotiations with a noble family in Jamaica, and the wedding date was being arranged.

Rio and Laura spent their nights in tears, embracing each other.

However, there seemed to be no solution. Their separation loomed like an unavoidable fate.

Then, Jeffrey Edwards arrived in Jamaica, presenting an unexpected opportunity to go to England.

Rio proposed to Laura and begged her to accompany him to London.

He knew it was a reckless proposition, but Jamaica without Rio held no meaning for Laura.

Ultimately, Laura left a tearful letter of apology to her parents and boarded a ship to London with Rio.

“It sounds like you’ve been through immense hardship. You’ve endured so much.”

Rio responded with a quiet smile to Tae-oh’s words of comfort.

Tae-oh, deeply moved by Rio’s tragic life story, was eager to help him in any way he could.

* * *

After Rio left, Tae-oh borrowed a book titled ‘For My Beloved Edwards Family,’ written by Duke Garrett, from the book rental store next to T&S Cafe.

He stayed in the office until evening, diligently reading the book.

He had only seen excerpts in newspapers and magazines before, but now he read the entire book to understand Duke Garrett’s true feelings.

Tak-

Tae-oh closed the book and pondered.

The autobiography wasn’t written by the Duke himself. It seemed a professional ghostwriter had listened to Duke Garrett’s story and embellished it convincingly.

Nevertheless, the writing betrayed emotions that were being suppressed and concealed.

While the expert’s skills might deceive most readers, they couldn’t fool Tae-oh.

‘Reading the entire book feels strange. There’s an excessive emphasis on the fact that Dylan Edwards, the family’s eldest son, immediately left England and disappeared, and the detailed description of Dylan’s wife’s private life, which isn’t even certain.

Above all, the timing of this book’s publication coincides with Rio’s claims of being from the Duke’s family in Jamaica… The timing is too perfect to be a coincidence.’

Furthermore, the writing conveyed a sense of anxiety and impatience that was difficult to ignore.

Perhaps this reflected a fear of a potential heir to the family emerging.

However, even with the appearance of a legitimate heir, it seemed odd that he would be so afraid, especially since it wouldn’t necessarily mean losing his title.

It seemed necessary to meet the Duke tomorrow and gauge his true feelings.

◈ The next day. St. James, Duke Garrett Edwards’ townhouse.

“You mean it doesn’t seem like a lie? No, what are you talking about? Are you suggesting that young man is truly a member of our family?”

Tae-oh arrived at Duke Garrett’s house early in the morning, even skipping work.

“I haven’t gathered all the evidence yet, so I can’t say for sure.

However, after meeting and speaking with Rio Edwards, I believe he is telling the truth. His story aligns with the information I’ve gathered during my investigation.”

Duke Garrett’s eyebrows twitched, and he appeared uncomfortable at the mention of “information.”

“What information are you referring to?”

Duke Garrett was skilled at concealing his emotions, but he gradually became agitated as Tae-oh spoke.

“Were you unaware that Dylan Edwards had a son in Liverpool?”

When Tae-oh posed the question without giving him time to prepare, the Duke, after a momentary look of surprise, quickly regained his composure.

“Hmm… really? Well, at the time, I only received information that he had left England immediately, so I wasn’t aware of that at all. But where did you find this information?”

“Then, you wouldn’t know that he ran a corn farm in South Carolina, North America, afterwards?”

“…Hmm, no, I didn’t know.”

As Tae-oh continued to press him, Duke Garrett’s carefully constructed facade began to crumble.

The movement of his pupils differed noticeably from before, subtly revealing that he was lying through his emotions and gestures.

It was clear that Duke Garrett knew everything about Dylan Edwards having a son in Liverpool and running a corn farm in North America.

At this point, another sharp attack was needed to gauge the Duke’s true reaction.

“Rio Edwards told me that he lived happily with his parents when he was young, but one day, someone poisoned their food, leading to their deaths.”

Duke Garrett avoided Tae-oh’s gaze.

‘He doesn’t seem very surprised. He’s just looking at me and trying to feign surprise.’

Duke Garrett cleared his throat for no apparent reason.

“Hmm- hmm- …If that’s true, he’s a young man with a truly unfortunate story. But somehow, I think all those stories are lies.”

“But fortunately, he also ingested the poison, but he didn’t consume much, so he barely survived. And Rio Edwards was sold as a slave to Jamaica a year later.”

“…Yes?”

Duke Garrett’s pupils darted wildly.

It was the exact reaction he displayed when Tae-oh mentioned being sold as a slave to Jamaica.

Clearly, his emotions and gestures, which had been calm until then, revealed a drastic shift the moment he heard that Rio had survived by chance in North America and was sold to Jamaica.

‘Huh? Is that really a reaction of someone who didn’t know? Does Duke Garrett believe that Rio died with his father in North America, and that the Rio in London is truly an imposter?’