Mike came down with a high fever.
The doctor had already been here. Mike lay alone in bed, drowsy and delirious. His valet stood by, at a loss for what to do.
Susan came to his bedside and wiped the sweat from his forehead. Mike opened his eyes to look at her, but his vision was blurry.
"Madam..." he rasped.
Susan gently patted the blanket. "Rest well." Mike seemed to want to speak, but Susan continued, "Luther has already set off. Don't worry, just stay at Hildes Manor and focus on getting better."
Hearing that Luther had left, Mike breathed a sigh of relief. He no longer had to face the complicated relationships between Luther and his two nieces, nor did he need to travel to Paris. And as for the person from last night, who they were and whether they would spread the news... Mike closed his eyes. He was too ill to dwell on it.
Luther had left the manor early in the morning. Baron Hildes had lent him his carriage so he could travel to town and switch to another vehicle. Baroness Hildes, along with her three daughters, bid farewell to Luther, pulling Jennifer close to spend more time with her.
Vivian stood in the back, calmly observing the scene.
Luther boarded the carriage, smiling as he bid everyone goodbye. His gaze fell on Vivian, and they exchanged a glance.
What had happened would remain unknown, and they would become family by law.
The carriage slowly moved away.
Luther's departure did not seem to have a significant impact on Hildes Manor. They continued to entertain guests and hold gatherings. Baron Hildes began inquiring about the situation in France during his conversations with gentlemen, while Susan asked other ladies about Paris. However, information was scarce. They even subscribed to newspapers, but the papers rarely reported news about France.
Luther's mother was a French noblewoman who had lived in England since marrying his father and rarely returned to France. Recently, her health had declined, and feeling her time was short, she insisted on returning to Paris and requested Luther to accompany her. Luther had proposed to Jennifer, and her parents were supposed to go with him. However, Baron Hildes could not leave, and Mike was bedridden with a fever, leaving only the women, which was highly inconvenient.
Baroness Hildes repeatedly asked Luther to write back. Indeed, Luther sent a letter every few days. Each time a letter arrived, Baroness Hildes's worries eased slightly.
"I hope his mother recovers soon," Susan said to Mike. "Otherwise, I hope she passes quickly. The last thing we need is for her to drag on, preventing Luther from getting married."
Before her marriage, Baroness Hildes had been a kind and tender-hearted young lady. But twenty years of marriage had broadened her horizons and hardened her heart. She would do anything to secure her daughters' marriages, even making a deal with the devil if necessary.
Mike was often shocked by Susan's ruthlessness, but to him, this older lady had always been the closest person, providing love and warmth after his mother's death. She cared for him, protected him, and taught him. Now, Mike would do the same for her and her children.
Family was always the most important. They might use each other, but they would never abandon one another.
Mike's body had recovered, but he still felt listless. The old butler, Hughes, even came to Hildes Manor himself, and seeing Mike's low spirits, advised him to stay a while longer. Being cared for by Susan was better than returning to Roshar Manor and being alone.
Susan was delighted to see Hughes. She told the old butler about Luther and hoped that Hughes and Mike could attend Jennifer's wedding together.
The old butler returned happily.
Many days had passed since that incident. Mike had searched among the servants at Hildes Manor but had not found the blonde-haired, blue-eyed man. He guessed it might have been a local farmer or someone else, which made it hard to confirm.
Maybe it was just a dream or an illusion.
Mike was not a lady, and chastity meant nothing to him. Besides, he had long lost his innocence. The incident at the pool was the first time in many years that he had been intimate with someone, and despite the mistake, he was satisfied. So, after a while, he stopped worrying about it.
Until one day at a party, Mike met a gentleman with golden hair and blue eyes.
His wine glass slipped from his hand and shattered on the floor. The wine soaked his trousers and shoes.
Oh, God.
The young man approached Mike. "Mr. Roshar, let me take you upstairs to clean up." He extended his hand and took Mike's arm, his smile kind yet firm.
Mike was almost forcibly taken upstairs, too stunned to speak, his eyes filled with panic, looking rather pitiful.
The hallway was very long, with candles spaced far apart, casting dim light. Thick, deep red carpets covered the floor, making each step feel like walking on clouds.
Everything seemed luxurious, ancient, and unreal.
What was happening? Mike struggled to think.
They had received an invitation to a party.
A duke had purchased a long-vacant castle that originally belonged to the Watson family. The Watson family had once been wealthy, but now they were so poor they couldn't even afford trousers. Unable to maintain the castle, they moved out, and it gradually fell into disrepair. Until early this year, it was said to have been bought and restored. By summer, the new owner had moved in and held a grand ball, inviting local nobles and gentry.
The invitation excited the baroness. Though Jennifer was engaged and Vivian's marriage was settled, the chance to meet wealthier and nobler young men still thrilled her. She told Mike, "I heard the duke only has one son, and he's unmarried!"
But no matter how excellent the duke's son was, there were no suitable young ladies left at Hildes Manor. The only one not engaged was Anna, who was just fourteen and not yet out in society.
They arrived at the duke's castle, which looked splendid after the renovations. Many people attended, mostly young ladies dressed elaborately, vying for attention. They gracefully held up their skirts and lace fans, all aiming to become the next duchess.
However, they probably didn't know that the next duke had been intimate with a man, under the bright moonlight, by the tranquil waters of the lake.
They walked for a long time and finally reached their destination. The door was opened, and the room was very bright, causing Mike to shrink back and raise his hand to shield his eyes. But before he could adjust, the young man pushed him into the room. Mike stumbled and steadied himself against the wall. As he regained his senses, he saw the young man close the door and approach him step by step.
He was tall and handsome, with a slight smile at the corner of his lips. His golden hair and blue eyes sparkled in the bright light, and his graceful, gentlemanly manner reminded Mike of a lion he had seen in a magazine.
"We meet again at last."
He closed in, pinning Mike against the wall and whispering in his ear.
"I've been madly missing you, your scent, your moans."
"Everything about you!"