Chapter – 11
“Th-that is…”
Eleanor barely managed to speak, her face pale. At that moment, Asher stepped forward, shielding Eleanor from Syndy’s gaze. Syndy, in turn, frowned faintly, unable to hide the anger creeping into her expression.
“I took Olivia for a walk with the permission of Logan, but due to my carelessness, I lost her.”
“Careless, you say?”
Syndy’s tone dripped with sarcasm.
“You had a governess with you, yet you lost the child due to your own negligence? How ridiculous.”
Because there were people on the street, she couldn’t shout or cause a scene. Her words, though seemingly gentle, were extremely cutting.
“Today is Eleanor’s day off, so…”
“Seems you’ve grown close enough to call her ‘Eleanor,’ have you?”
“……”
“Even so, you shouldn’t try to cover your own mistake by hiding behind a man, Eleanor Hudson.”
Syndy’s expression grew icy.
“Go find her before Olivia’s condition leaks beyond the walls of Clavern Manor.”
After her husband passed, Logan inherited the title of Duke, and Syndy became the former Duchess. Yet, since Logan had no wife, she still acted as the lady of Clavern Manor. Many tried to woo her for marriage to Logan.
So, Olivia’s lack of proper development was a humiliation in itself. Syndy did everything to hide the fact that she had given birth to a child who fell short of her expectations. Today, the mere mistake of a governess almost exposed that shame, and she could not tolerate it.
“Immediately!”
Syndy spat out the command. Though Eleanor couldn’t raise her voice, she nodded repeatedly and ran off. Asher looked between Eleanor and Syndy a few times, understanding what was being said, and finally followed Eleanor.
“Olivia!”
Eleanor called out, weaving through the crowd. Asher did the same.
Amidst so many people, finding a child, still half the height of an adult, was no easy task. In a crowd, even spotting her shadow was difficult.
“Oh no, oh no… I was distracted…”
“Don’t worry, Eleanor. She was right there until just now, she couldn’t have gone far.”
Asher gently reassured Eleanor, who muttered about having lost her focus in excitement over this rare outing, tears threatening to spill.
“My failure to pay attention to Olivia is also partly my fault.”
Asher, too, had not noticed Olivia’s disappearance, so it couldn’t be blamed solely on Eleanor.
“Let’s focus on finding the child first.”
Eleanor nodded resolutely, turning to search. If she failed to find Olivia now, she wouldn’t face Logan again, so she had to succeed. Tears could come afterward.
“Olivia!”
She couldn’t know the roads well, so Olivia probably hadn’t gone far. Yet, the longer it took, the slimmer the chance of finding her.
Eleanor’s anxious, labored breaths scanned the surroundings. The sun shone above, sweat ran down her back, yet the alley was shadowed by tilted buildings. Her eyes fell on it.
If it were mere mischief, Olivia wouldn’t be there. But if she had hidden, she was likely in that alley. Eleanor didn’t hesitate and stepped forward.
“God…”
And like a miracle, she found Olivia there. She was crouched on the ground, sniffling, her clothes dirty. Eleanor clasped her hands in silent thanks.
“Olivia, why are you here?”
“E-Eli…”
Olivia stammered, cowering as if afraid of being scolded. Eleanor approached carefully, kneeling to meet the child’s gaze.
“Mom… Mom was there.”
“……”
“She told me not to come out…”
It seemed Olivia had spotted Syndy before Eleanor and Asher did. Remembering the harsh words of her mother, she had run and hidden in this alley, unknown to anyone.
Stay put. Don’t wander in front of me. Keep that foolish voice down!
Those were all Syndy could say to her child. Seeing her shameful daughter enraged her. So, the first thing Olivia thought when she saw Syndy was to hide in a dark, secluded place, away from prying eyes.
“I-I don’t know. I was scared.”
Yet once she ran, the unfamiliar surroundings frightened her. A strange alley in the bright city, with no one to return her safely—Olivia burst into tears.
“It’s okay. I’m here.”
Eleanor whispered gently, wrapping her arms around the child. She was relieved to have found her. Olivia was not lost forever like her long-lost younger sibling. Eleanor kissed the top of her sweat-soaked head repeatedly, pulling her close.
“It’s okay now. Let’s go home.”
Olivia calmed down gradually under Eleanor’s soothing. Eleanor wiped her tear-stained face with her sleeve and roughly tidied her dirty dress.
“Eleanor! Olivia!”
Just as they emerged from the alley, Asher ran toward them, calling their names. Though Eleanor’s hands were cold and her heart shook with residual tension, seeing Asher brought a strange relief. Her fear seemed to melt away.
It was as if the small, fragile walls of anxiety crumbled.
The air was chilly on the way back. Eleanor and Asher were exhausted and didn’t speak; Olivia knew she had done wrong and only rolled her eyes.
In truth, losing the child due to carelessness was not uncommon. The real problem was that Syndy had discovered it. Without a protective cover, her shame had nearly been revealed.
“Get out, Olivia.”
Though scared, she had to face the consequences. Eleanor helped Olivia out of the carriage as soon as they arrived at Clavern Manor’s front yard. Her parasol was long lost, leaving her hands free to assist.
“Thank you and sorry, Sir Asher. Please go safely.”
But Asher didn’t greet Eleanor or Olivia. He stepped out of the carriage. Eleanor looked at him, puzzled, and he smiled tiredly.
“Since we erred together, we take responsibility together.”
“No, this is entirely my fault…”
Asher shook his head silently, lifting Olivia. Eleanor had no choice but to follow briskly behind him.
“Have you arrived?”
“And the lady?”
“My lady is waiting for Miss Hudson.”
Eleanor’s heart sank. Asher noticed the slight tightening of her hand on her skirt.
“I’ll show you in.”
Leaving a woman like that alone was impossible. George, seeing Asher stay, felt it might ease Syndy slightly.
“Madam, Miss Hudson has arrived.”
“Let her in.”
The voice was cold. Eleanor braced herself for the worst, stepping into the reception room.
“So, you came here yourself?”
“Since I share part of the blame…”
Syndy, who had been waiting to scold Eleanor, now saw Asher enter with Olivia in his arms. Her gaze toward Eleanor, as if thinking she was hiding, grew even colder.
“You didn’t do what you were told, instead tried to relieve your responsibility by seducing a man. That’s truly disgusting.”
“……”
“Logan.”
Syndy wasn’t alone. Logan leaned against the table, sighing softly. The sound felt like thunder to Eleanor. She squeezed her eyes shut, feeling guilty for dragging Logan into this mess despite his kindness.
“I’m sorry. I was careless with Olivia, or rather, the young lady. I accept any punishment, as it’s entirely my fault.”
Eleanor bowed deeply, hands clasped, sincerely apologizing. She was ready to accept any storm.
“No, the lack of attention was mine too…”
“Enough excuses, Asher. Step aside, Olivia Clavern.”
But Logan did not shout at Eleanor; he spoke calmly to Olivia. Frozen in Syndy’s presence, Olivia, still in Asher’s arms, wiggled her feet. Asher set her down.
“You made a mistake; hiding won’t help.”
“Logan!”
Syndy glared, calling his name.
“The governess’s negligence is more serious! She even took Olivia out without permission!”
“I permitted the outing. Today is Miss Hudson’s legitimate day off.”
Logan raised a hand, stopping Syndy’s complaints and explaining clearly. Syndy’s expression of disbelief was ignored.
“However, as her guardian, her carelessness cannot be denied.”
