He Opened A Matchmaking Agency In 18Th Century London [EN]: Chapter 63

< Life is Unpredictable >

◈ 8 days later, Manchester. Paul Osborne’s mansion.

Mr. Osborne was startled by Theo’s sudden appearance without prior notice.

However, he expressed genuine delight at seeing him after about a month.

“I received a letter from Lord Ricardo a while ago. I was so happy to hear that you received a title from His Majesty the King, haha. Congratulations, Lord Sanderson.”

“Thank you.”

“But, seeing you come all the way here, I assume you had business in Manchester?”

“No. I came all the way from London to see Mr. Osborne.”

“Really? You came this far just to see me?”

“Yes. There’s something I need to ask.”

Mr. Osborne’s face showed clear signs of embarrassment. But soon, as if realizing something, his expression hardened.

He silently led Theo to an outdoor table in the yard.

Clatter.

As the maid set down the tea and left, Theo spoke first.

“Do you have any idea why I came all this way?”

Mr. Osborne nodded with a bitter smile.

“If you really came all the way here to see me, I think I have a rough idea.”

“······.”

“You probably want to ask about the story between Lord Colin Peterson and my daughter.”

“Yes. That’s right. I’m curious to know what happened.”

After fiddling with his teacup in silence for a while, Mr. Osborne slowly opened his mouth.

“To come all this way because of that matter… I can’t refuse to explain.”

Mr. Osborne looked into the distance and continued with a heavy expression.

“As you know, Lord Sanderson, when you left, I had decided to betroth Peterson to my daughter. And I was proceeding with the preparations.”

Unlike the children of ordinary noble families, Colin Peterson had an excellent character and was very considerate, which Mr. Osborne liked in many ways.

Above all, he was so fond of Catherine that he wanted to marry them off quickly.

“But after having Peterson by my side for a while, I realized he had a natural talent for business. He understood the work of the textile factory after seeing it a few times, even though he had never done it before, and even came up with better methods.

Moreover, he understood the laws and tariffs related to trade better than I did, just by looking at the contracts I had with other countries.”

Colin Peterson had studied economics in France, so he had considerable knowledge and understanding of economics and trade-related laws and procedures.

From a modern point of view, it would seem natural for a father-in-law to be pleased and reassured if his future son-in-law understood and handled the factory work well, but Mr. Osborne’s thinking in the 18th century was completely different.

To Mr. Osborne, the image of a hardworking prospective son-in-law seemed like a lowly merchant, not a noble aristocrat.

It’s a part that modern people can never understand, but if you look at the values of the time, it was a very natural perception that was deeply ingrained throughout society, not just Mr. Osborne’s problem.

In European countries such as England and France during this period, there was a deep-rooted perception that ‘nobility’ and ‘engaging in business’ were conflicting sentiments.

Even King Henry IV of France’s statement, ‘If there is contempt in this world, it is for merchants,’ shows how lowly merchants who worked hard were viewed at the time.

Furthermore, even Montesquieu, a leading political thinker of the 18th-century Enlightenment in France, publicly attacked wealthy merchants and financiers as disgusting and vulgar professionals, and criticized that if a society where they are treated well because they have a lot of money arrives, honor will lose all its meaning, and the state will be shaken from its innermost essence.

In this social perception, Mr. Osborne, who had been engaged in commercial activities, seemed to feel not only disappointment but even some fear at the fact that his prospective son-in-law was interested in factory work.

“While watching Peterson help me with work, I could definitely foresee it. If he not only had a great interest in the textile factory work but also had such a good head for business… he would definitely try to run this textile factory after I die.”

Theo felt a pang of regret. It seemed that Lord Peterson had taken his advice to lead the conversation with the theme of the textile industry too actively, in order to become close to Mr. Osborne.

“But, there’s no guarantee that Peterson will run the factory, is there? Also, if you honestly tell him that you can’t approve of the marriage if he shows interest in the factory or commercial work, he’s not the kind of person who wouldn’t listen.”

Mr. Osborne shook his head.

“Well, as someone who has been in business for over 30 years, I could immediately sense that Peterson is a person who feels great joy in working. He’s a born businessman, not an aristocrat.

What good would it do to get a promise from such a person? Just watch. Peterson is someone who will definitely become a great merchant and build a big business later on.”

“These days, there are so many aristocrats doing business. It’s definitely not a world where that’s a flaw. Even in London, aristocrats who make a lot of money from business are starting to be treated much better.”

“That’s for business aristocrats like Lord Sanderson, who are consultants, financiers, or just representatives who don’t work.

The problem is that Lord Peterson has a great interest in active businesses like me, where he personally moves around to check goods and secure contracts. The reason I continue to do this work, even though I’m pointed at for doing lowly work, is because the fun and sense of accomplishment are great, and Peterson seems to be even more so than me.”

Mr. Osborne’s fantasy of a noble aristocrat who doesn’t work seemed to be much more deeply rooted than he thought.

“Anyway, while I was worrying about this and that… there was something that decisively changed my mind.”

“?”

“My daughter said that Peterson told her that he wanted to move into our house and live with us after they got married.”

“He wants to be a live-in son-in-law?”

“Yes. That’s right. Of course, I know it’s a commendable thing to say for me, who will be lonely and alone.

But my heart couldn’t accept it. Although Peterson has a great interest in running the factory, I expected that his interest would naturally fade if he lived elsewhere, but when he volunteered to be a live-in son-in-law… I felt strangely resentful and disappointed.”

Perhaps because of his lifelong experience of being looked down upon as a merchant, Mr. Osborne seemed to be trying hard not to pass on the same life to his daughter and grandchildren.

“In the end, it seemed certain that Peterson, who is not legally an aristocrat, would take over my factory and live as a merchant.

Lord Sanderson may not understand my stubbornness, but as a father, I couldn’t tolerate my daughter or grandchildren being pointed at as the wife and children of a merchant for the rest of their lives.”

Theo felt that he could never break Mr. Osborne’s stubbornness.

It seemed he had to give up persuading him here.

“Then… are you going to look for a new groom again?”

After taking a sip of tea, he cautiously answered, glancing at Theo.

“Well, that’s… no.”

“Then…?”

“After experiencing it once, I realized how difficult it is to find a suitable groom. So I… um… I’ve decided to betroth her to Lord Alec Parker.”

Theo couldn’t believe his ears.

“Excuse me? Did you just say… Lord Alec Parker?”

“That’s right.”

“But… why him of all people?”

Anticipating a negative reaction, Mr. Osborne hurriedly defended himself.

“My daughter was also reluctant to marry Lord Alec Parker. Moreover, she had grown fond of Lord Colin Peterson, even though it hadn’t been long.

But even if she resents me now, the day will surely come when Catherine understands my heart.”

Theo earnestly dissuaded him.

“If you think Lord Colin Peterson is absolutely impossible, why don’t you look for someone else? I’ll arrange it. A marriage with Lord Alec Parker will definitely not be easy.

I didn’t tell you in detail at the time, but he’s not a good match for your daughter in terms of personality, he has issues with women, and he seems to have a very strong gambling and violent tendency…”

“Lord Alec Parker came to see me about ten days after not attending my birthday party. He apologized to me very deeply. I was somewhat impressed that he came to see me to apologize, even though he knew that my heart had already leaned towards Lord Peterson.”

“······.”

“Moreover, he honestly confessed his gambling addiction and deeply blamed himself. And he also vowed to quit gambling completely and live righteously from this opportunity.

As the eldest son of an Earl’s family, isn’t that something everyone goes through?”

“······.”

“If I use my wealth and earn more money in the future to restore the lost territories of the Parker Earl’s family one by one… I also had a desire to regain the reputation and respect of the former Parker Earl’s family.”

“No… still, Lord Parker is…”

Mr. Osborne said firmly.

“If that happens, my daughter will become the Countess of Parker. The grandchildren born will also inherit the noble bloodline of the Earl’s family. I’m ashamed to say that when I imagine that… I can’t give up that dream. Please understand my foolish and greedy self.”

“Mr. Osborne. I… I’d rather introduce you to another excellent nobleman in London. Lord Parker is absolutely not an option. That person is…”

Mr. Osborne cut off Theo’s words.

“No. I know my place well. Would those great Earl families in London dare to marry someone like us, a country merchant? It’s only possible because the Parker Earl is in decline. I will work hard until the day I die to restore the Parker Earl’s family to its former glory. Definitely.”

“Mr. Osborne! Lord Parker is absolutely not an option. He’s just wearing a mask and acting insincerely. Your daughter’s married life will be unhappy for the rest of her life.”

“I’ll just get them engaged for now and watch for a year. I’ll watch closely for a year to see if Lord Parker has really changed, and if he’s only changed in words, I have no intention of marrying them off. So don’t worry too much.”

Theo felt an emotion that was a mix of annoyance and anger surge up.

However, the firm standards of status in this era and Mr. Osborne’s values, which had been solidified over many years, were not the kind of problem that could be easily changed.

Mr. Osborne was a good person, but he was foolishly deeply immersed in the old ways of thinking.

His desire for his daughter and grandchildren to be treated as aristocrats of the Earl’s family was so great that he was completely unable to read the changing world.

***

Theo, after leaving Mr. Osborne’s house, visited Lord Peterson’s residence on his way back to London.

Theo’s heart was even heavier when he met Lord Peterson’s parents.

The Baron and his wife seemed to have already anticipated the result when they saw Theo’s somber face.

However, they were deeply grateful for Theo’s thoughtfulness in coming all the way to help.

“We are just grateful to Lord Sanderson. We are also very grateful that you looked favorably on our son and tried to help him.”

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry that I couldn’t be of help.”

“No. It seems that Miss Osborne was not meant to be with our son.”

“Is Lord Peterson in his room?”

Theo wanted to see Colin Peterson’s face once before leaving for London, but he couldn’t see him.

Lord and Lady Peterson sighed deeply and said.

“Colin is having a hard time, so we sent him to a relative’s house far away to recuperate. His cousin forcibly took him to change his mood.”

“Ah… I see. You did well.”

Anyone who has seen Colin’s happy face when he was with Catherine can easily understand Lord Colin Peterson’s feelings now.

“I have a favor to ask, Lord Sanderson.”

“Yes, Madam. Please speak.”

“Since he’s so heartbroken, could you introduce him to someone better now? I’ve heard rumors that Lord Sanderson can do that.”

The extreme change in their usually bright and positive son seemed to have brought great sadness and worry to the couple.

It seemed that they wanted to heal their son’s heart, which had been hurt by love, with another love and bring him back to his former bright self as soon as possible.

But not now.

A wounded heart needs time to heal, at least until it heals. A hasty action could only make the wound worse.

“Now is the time to heal the wounds of the heart. Instead, I promise you, when the wound heals, I will connect him with a really good woman.”

“…Yes, yes. Thank you. Thank you so much.”

**

In the carriage returning to London from Manchester.

Theo’s mood was endlessly sinking.

It was a world of difference from when he was returning with a light and happy heart after connecting the two people.

“Haa-”

The image of Lord Peterson running to the carriage last time, giving him wine, and waving his hand until he disappeared came to mind, and a sigh naturally escaped.

Love is never easy, not in the 21st century, and not in the 18th century.

And people’s affairs were truly unpredictable.

◈ 2 months later, the Intelligence Club.

For a while, Theo was busy focusing only on matchmaking.

He didn’t even attend the club.

In order to forget the story of Colin Peterson, which ended badly, he worked harder to connect good couples.

Another month passed like that, and it was the club he had visited after a long time.

From afar, Lord Ricardo quickly approached Theo.

Seeing that there were many people around him greeting him happily, it seemed that he had not visited the club for a while either.

“Lord Sanderson! Lord Sanderson!”

He called Theo breathlessly.

“Ah! Lord Ricardo. It’s been a while. When did you come to London?”

Even though Theo greeted him happily, Lord Ricardo hurriedly grabbed Theo’s hand and led him to the corner, skipping the greeting.

“Lord Ricardo? What’s wrong?”

“Have you heard the news?”

“Yes? What news?”

When Theo looked completely clueless, Lord Ricardo opened his mouth in a gloomy voice.

“You didn’t know? Oh, how can such a shocking thing happen?”

“…What’s going on?”

Lord Ricardo continued with dark eyes.

“Well, you know, Mr. Paul Osborne was carrying goods on a ship when he fell into the sea due to a storm and… passed away.”

“What? What is that…?”