Deceived 24

Chapter 24

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After hearing unsettling information about Isaac, Blair had spent the night agonizing over what she could do. She couldn't meet with the Domans' family physician or their servants, whom she didn't even know. They wouldn't blab about Isaac's sordid ailments to his fiancée.

Then she received an invitation to a reading from Margaret Doman. The hidden intent behind the elaborate wording was simple: to salvage some dignity by showcasing the prim and proper specimen of a prospective daughter-in-law.

Hesitating over the unwelcome invitation, the face that came to Blair's mind was none other than Isaac's mistress, Nicoletta Underhill. Wasn't she the one who had been closest to Isaac?

As expected, Nicoletta had attended every reading without fail, and Blair resolved to draw some answers from her. She first put on a calm facade, waiting for an opportunity, then deliberately spilled her tea.

Blair hadn't anticipated Nicoletta showing hostility so immediately, and blinked silently. She paid no attention to the ruined hem of her skirt, which was rather a relief.

"I'm curious why you think that."

"You singled me out among all the other young ladies. I thought you were going to interrogate me."

"Because Miss Underhill was the only one I knew."

Blair sat down in the chair, her calm eyes fixed on Nicoletta.

"By the way, interrogation... Could it be you who has something to hide from me?"

"What did you say?"

Nicoletta's chest rose sharply, then fell as she suppressed the rising anger. Blair let out a long sigh. She had no intention whatsoever of clashing with the mistress of a fiancé she didn't even love. To begin with, Nicoletta wasn't even someone she needed to argue with. She simply wanted to know the truth before making a decision.

"Let me be clear: I'm not here to assign blame, only to verify the facts."

"Could you explain properly?"

"I understand Miss Nicoletta Underhill has a private relationship with lord Isaac Domon. So..."

"So? What fact do you wish to verify?"

Nicoletta's lips twisted slightly. Her expression held not a trace of shock or guilt. Rather, it was a reaction of expectation.

Was this typical of those committing wrongdoing? Far from fearing discovery, they seemed almost proud. It had been the same at the clubhouse. Nicoletta had appeared eager to subtly reveal her affair with Isaac.

"I've heard concerning reports recently regarding Lord Domon's health. As you are close to him, I wanted to ask if you've noticed any signs." 

Blair hesitated slightly before adding casually.

"Not just Lord Domon, but the young lady as well."

"This is becoming downright rude. Why are you telling me this? Shouldn't you ask Isaac first? Or rather, the young lady's fiancé?"

Nicoletta's raised voice was unpleasantly sharp. Blair felt weary, closing and then opening her eyes.

"Of course, I could ask Lord Domon. But he's a party to this, so he'll defend himself. He might even conceal the truth."

"And what about me? Did you think I had no reason to conceal the truth?"

"Because you're a woman. Unlike men who value pretense and appearances, for us, a healthy body is life itself and our future. That's why I thought if I asked Miss Underhill directly, you would tell me the truth."

Instead of answering, Nicoletta stood there, her lips tightly sealed. The gaze that had been fixed on Blair gradually fell downward, as if pulled by gravity. After a long silence, Nicoletta lifted her head. Her expression seemed resolved.

"Then I regret I cannot meet your expectations, Miss Twyford."

"......"

"I have nothing to say about Lord Domon. Even if I did, I couldn't tell his fiancée."

Staring at Nicoletta, who rarely showed her true feelings, Blair took a slow breath. She was clearly hiding something, but she couldn't press further. What was this woman trying to protect? Her pride? Or loyalty and love for a man of no worth?

"Miss Underhill, I'm not here to quarrel with you over Lord Domon."

"Since you've just entered the capital's social scene, allow me to offer a piece of advice."

Nicoletta cut her off, lifting her chin to meet Blair's gaze. Then, with a strangely pale complexion perhaps due to her light makeup, she continued.

"Honest people don't last long in Borsa. If you ask honestly and expect honest answers..."

She then grasped the door handle of the lounge and turned to Blair.

"Lady Twyford would do well to return to her northern estate now."

The door closed, leaving Blair alone in the narrow space. For a while, Blair listened only to the click-clack of Nicoletta's heels echoing down the library corridor.

***

Blair, who had left the reading party early under the pretext of a wet dress, felt utterly troubled. All she had gathered was unsettling advice and nothing but anxiety-ridden speculation.

Leaving the Royal Library, Blair descended the stairs and walked toward the main road where her driver waited. Suddenly, she frowned. It was because of the man approaching from the other side, dressed in a bright suit.

The man, who had been walking while humming a tune, also noticed Blair's gaze. It was Isaac Doman.

"Oh, Miss Twyford?"

Isaac approached with a jaunty stride and stopped before Blair.

"Did you attend your mother's reading this evening?"

"...Yes, Lord Doman."

"Well, well. Has the reading already ended? I came to fetch you at my mother's request. Wasn't there still time left?"

"The session is still in progress. As you can see, my dress became quite ruined... I asked for permission and left early."

"My, my. What could have caused such a mishap for a proper young lady?"

Isaac clicked his tongue, eyeing the tea-stained hem of Blair's skirt. Blair was momentarily speechless at his smooth, nonchalant demeanor. Even if he didn't know the truth, his utterly unconcerned words and actions—despite his fiancée, mistress, and mother all being gathered together—even conveyed a sense of power.

"Were you just about to return to the townhouse?"

"Yes. My driver is waiting over there."

"How fortunate. I'll see you off so you can hurry home and change your clothes."

Isaac wrapped up the conversation, feigning kindness. Yet his gaze kept drifting toward the library entrance, clearly fixated on someone else attending the reading.

A surge of indignation welled up inside Blair. The sheer audacity of it made her blood boil and her mouth go dry. Blair couldn't stay silent any longer.

"I actually have something I wanted to ask you, Lord Doman."

Nicoletta had said that asking and answering honestly didn't suit the capital's social circles. She might be right. But unless one was a fool, how could one simply let it pass without asking?

"What is it?"

"Do you truly desire this marriage, Lord Doman?"

Isaac's eyebrow twitched. Blair took a breath and continued in a low voice.

"Even if you do, I know the reason isn't affection or interest in me. You have another woman in mind, and you'll continue seeing her even after we're married."

"...What? No, Miss. What on earth are you talking about?"

Isaac repeated, then suddenly burst into a hollow laugh, retorting in a tone of utter disbelief.

"I'm the one who's curious. Did Miss Blair believe marriages between nobles stemmed from affection? Are you dreaming of a love even my cousin, who just started elementary school, wouldn't believe in?"

"I never believed it. But at the very least, I expected we wouldn't harm each other."

"What does that even mean? When did I ever hit you?"

“Hitting isn’t the only form of violence. I believe secrets can be violent too. Marriage is a commitment that stakes my entire life, so I couldn’t help but worry about what dangers Lord Doman might harbor…”

Isaac’s brow furrowed sharply. Blair swallowed dryly, her voice trembling as she spoke.