Maylily - Chapter 68

“I heard from David.”

“And even so, you intend to keep your mistress in Prowden?”

“Yes.”

Hugh answered without a moment’s hesitation and calmly put another bite of food into his mouth. Deborah, watching him, looked utterly taken aback.

“Hugh, that’s….”

Vivian Cheshire, the youngest daughter of the Marquess of Cheshire, was scheduled to stay in Prowden for the entire next month with her mother.

The official reason was to attend the opening of the Lurollei branch of the Skaard Hotel and Hugh’s birthday ball, but members of both families had long made visits to each other’s estates to maintain their ties.

Deborah had cherished affection not only for the Marchioness of Cheshire, with whom she had shared friendship since girlhood, but also for her three children. That was why this situation bothered her all the more. And it was only natural.

“Weren’t you in the middle of arranging a marriage with Vivian? I recall your letter last month saying as much.”

“We’re adjusting the conditions. Nothing’s been finalized yet.”

Deborah had already noticed long ago that Hugh viewed marriage as an extension of business. The reason he had delayed marriage until now was because he had been waiting for the right partner and the right time to maximize his benefit by using marriage as a business tool.

Which meant that the partner he had chosen wasn’t Vivian herself so much as the Cheshire family.

What Hugh expected from Vivian was simply a pedigree and capability suitable for the mistress of House Everscourt. Emotional connection or building a real relationship weren’t important factors in this marriage, so he hadn’t even considered what impact his mistress might have on Vivian.

Of course, even if Hugh had thought that far, nothing would change.

He didn’t even know why Vivian, once praised as the finest bride of her debut season, remained unmarried to this day. Heartless boy.

To think I’ll be able to join Lady Deborah in managing Prowden as the wife of Lord Everscourt. I don’t even know how to express this joy.

Remembering the contents of the letter she’d received from Vivian a few days ago, Deborah felt her heart grow heavier.

Still, if this was Hugh’s decision, what more could she do? No matter how much she had stayed by his side like a mother, he was still only her nephew. The limits of how far an aunt could meddle were narrow and low.

“If that’s your intention, then I won’t add anything more to the matter. Just make sure to avoid the misfortune of having Vivian deal with your illegitimate child even before the wedding.”

“That won’t happen. Don’t worry.”

Seeing Hugh dismiss the possibility as if it were absolutely impossible, his cold, unwavering eyes made Deborah set aside her worst fears for now.

It would still be a harsh reality for Vivian, but what could be done? If she wanted the seat beside Hugh Skaard, she would have to endure it. Deborah swallowed her heavy sigh along with the wine.

***

The moment Maylily awoke in the same position she had fallen asleep in, the first thing she saw was the profile of the Count of Everscourt sitting on the chair by the window.

He sat with his back straight, one leg crossed over the other, his arms folded as he rested with his eyes closed. The golden glow of sunset, which had begun to push aside the afternoon light in the bedroom, cast a soft shadow across one side of his face.

When her vision finally cleared, Maylily quietly rose and stepped down from the bed, walking toward him on light feet.

How long has he been here? Did he fall asleep while waiting for me to wake up?

Even then, his posture was so perfectly poised it looked uncomfortable. Maylily reached out carefully to wake him, but then withdrew her hand.

The long shadow beneath his thick black eyelashes made his face so striking she couldn’t look away. The neat, slightly cold expression, with no trace left of the passion that had filled this hour yesterday, captivated her, and Maylily stared at him in silence.

Just the thought that the count was inside this unfamiliar space with her filled Maylily with a sense of relief she couldn’t understand. To find such a feeling in the man who had thrown her into this whirlwind. It was ironic.

Only yesterday morning, she’d thought she never wanted to see him again. Yet here she was, hating herself for holding her breath as she quietly looked at his face.

Don’t forget what this man has done.

As Maylily steadied the heart that threatened to soften and let out a deep breath, the count’s eyelids slowly lifted.

“….”

His clear gray-blue eyes held no trace of sleep, as if he had known Maylily was there all along. Her heart thudded at his calm gaze, but for some reason, stubbornness surged within her. Remembering the count’s deceit, she met his gaze unflinchingly.

In the silence steeped in the glow of sunset, their eyes collided for a long moment, as if probing each other. As the red tint soaked deeper into the light, the heat in their locked gaze slowly rose.

The intense light pouring over Maylily, who stood frozen with her faintly flushed hair hanging down, shone straight through the thin chemise she wore. It was a sight so suggestive it felt less provocative to be left with not a single thread of clothing.

As Hugh slowly lowered his gaze to the soft curves of her body laid bare through the fabric, his Adam’s apple bobbed hard. Even without touching her with a single fingertip, heat pooled heavily below.

This woman clearly had no idea what she looked like right now. If she did, she could never stand there like that, sending him such a provocative look.

Hugh intertwined his fingers with Maylily’s soft hand and let the corner of his lips curl.

“You’ve gotten quite bold in a single day, Maylily.”

Tilting her head as if asking what he meant, Maylily followed the path of Hugh’s gaze and, startled, crouched in on herself. Just as he expected. As she tried to retreat, Hugh pulled her hand back toward him with a low laugh.

“D‑don’t misunderstand. I just woke up like this. It’s a little warm in here, and the sunlight, um, I didn’t realize how thin the, uh, the clothes were….”

“When you get this flustered, it makes me want to misunderstand.”

Hugh wrapped an arm around Maylily’s waist and buried his face in the hollow of her soft chest. The gentle feel of her body and the pleasant warmth seeped into his cheek.

“It tickles. Let go.”

When he breathed in deeply the faint scent rising from her body as she wriggled to escape, Maylily whined and pushed at his shoulder. Her strength wasn’t nearly enough to move him, but Hugh let her go easily. There was no time to waste.

After shooting him a fierce glare, Maylily scampered away and pulled a beige muslin robe from the wardrobe.

Even after they’d tangled their bodies more times than she could count, she still flushed and fumbled with an almost excessive embarrassment. Watching her flustered little movements, Hugh found her unbearably cute. Letting out a low laugh, he rose and pulled the bell cord by the bed.

It wasn’t long before Alice arrived with a chicken sandwich and black tea. Hugh had them prepared in advance the moment he received word that Maylily had skipped lunch when he arrived at the annex. The food was set on a small table in front of the fireplace that closed off the studio.

Maylily must have been quite hungry, because she ate the simple meal with real enjoyment. Hugh, seated across from her, drank his tea at a leisurely pace as he watched her. Her small lips nibbling away, her awkward hand gripping the cup handle, her cheeks puffing out and settling again, the white neck that bobbed every time she swallowed.

By the time he found himself wanting to savor every little piece of her, Maylily happened to look up, and their eyes met. Only then did she realize Hugh had been watching her, and she flinched.

As if she’d suddenly lost her appetite, she slowed noticeably, eating only another bite or two before putting down her sandwich. Watching her with cold eyes for a moment, Hugh rose from his seat and moved to sit on the bed bench.

“Come here, Maylily.”

Opening the first aid kit he’d received from the maid in advance, he gave the order. Maylily, who had been wiping her fingers with a napkin, put it down on the table and walked over slowly with a reluctant expression, taking a seat a short distance from him.

“Lift your foot. I’ll change the bandage.”

“You don’t have to go to all this trouble. I’ll do it later myself.”

Maylily spoke politely in a gentle voice, but Hugh knew perfectly well she was simply being stubborn. The sweet satisfaction he had felt holding her a moment ago had vanished entirely, replaced by a surge of irritation.

“Maylily.”

“….”

When she no longer responded to his call, Hugh grabbed her chin and forced her to meet his eyes.

“Answer me.”

“…Yes, Count.”

Despite the obedient reply, the eyes looking back at him were filled with unmistakable defiance.

If I have to train you again, I’ll gladly do it as many times as it takes. Tightening his grip on her chin, Hugh twisted his lips sharply.

“Isn’t it the proper attitude of a mistress to accept anything I give you with a pleased face?”