~Chapter 10~
As always, she left just after breakfast but still didn’t arrive until well past noon.
Making this trip back and forth consumes an entire day, and on top of that, it’s utterly exhausting.
Still, I have to deliver the cabbages somehow.
“Very well. Anything else?”
Her voice, once so confident, now dropped to a near whisper.
Narrowing her eyes, she leaned in slightly, like she was sharing a secret.
“And… this must remain an absolute secret from my mother.”
Her mother already fretted over her working alone in the fields and selling produce at the market.
But if her mother found out she was reading love letters from an unmarried man, she might faint outright.
For Eloise, survival came first.
But for Laura, pride as a noblewoman still held the utmost importance.
“That goes for me as well. It must stay between us—no one else can know.”
“Then let’s make it official.”
Eloise smiled brightly, her innocence shining through.
***
On the way home, Eloise pulled out the contract inside the carriage Carlen had arranged.
Though she had won her peace of mind by settling on ten silver coins, she couldn’t quite understand why Carlen had added extra clauses.
“Maybe he’s just drowning in money. Insisting on paying more, even when I suggested a lower price. Well, considering most of this area belongs to the Elias estate, he probably does have the means.”
When she had proposed ten silver coins, Carlen had said,
“For letters containing difficult content, additional payment will be provided. And if any other duties arise beyond simply reading letters, appropriate compensation will also be given.”
Eloise pondered the added terms.
“What kind of difficult content could there be? Noblewomen’s love letters are usually predictable, aren’t they? And what other duties could come up besides reading letters…”
No matter how she thought about it, she couldn’t guess what other tasks might arise.
Carefully folding the contract, she held it tightly in her hands, feeling grateful that this arrangement might bring her extra income.
***
It was the day to deliver to the duke’s manor.
Eloise packed freshly picked cabbages into a sack and tried to sound casual as she spoke to Laura.
“I’m off to deliver the cabbages.”
“Be careful out there. Selling cabbages at the Elias estate… Mother feels both happy and uneasy about it.”
Laura sighed, and Eloise smiled brightly.
“It’s a good thing. I won’t have to sell at the market anymore, and they pay generously. It’s much easier on me.”
“Well, if it’s good for you, then I’m happy too.”
“You’ll have to eat lunch on your own today, but I’ll be back before teatime.”
“Don’t rush. It’s a long way to the duke’s manor. Take your time and don’t push yourself.”
“I will. I’m off.”
A pang of guilt stabbed Eloise’s heart as she lied and hurried out.
Carrying the heavy sack of cabbages, she entered the forest, where a plain carriage without any markings waited—the one Carlen had prepared.
No one could recognise her, but Eloise kept the curtains tightly drawn, anxiety twisting in her chest until the carriage left the village behind.
Arriving at the manor, her heart began to pound once more.
She remembered the place where she had to read the letters—Carlen’s study—and the fact that she would be alone with him during that time.
Entering Carlen’s separate study in the manor’s annexe, an odd feeling settled over her.
“It’s just reading letters. I have to stay calm and explain the love letters plainly, like a teacher reading to a student. Eloise, you can do this.”
Clenching her fists tightly, she took a deep breath.
She’d taught the neighbour girl, Lara, how to read once before; it would be just like that.
Although Lara was a beginner, like a baby learning letters from scratch.
“Who knows? Since noblewomen’s language is hard to understand, maybe I’ll have to read to Duke Carlen as if he were a child.”
As her racing heart finally began to steady, Eloise’s gaze took in the study.
While the sitting room had already felt strange, this place was even more so—it was Duke Kalen’s sanctuary.
The scent of ink and old books mingled with a faint, lingering fragrance—his fragrance.
A sweet and heavy smell.
The room, lined floor to ceiling with bookshelves, felt like a fortress.
Unlike the reception room, which at least had gold-framed paintings to soften the mood, there was not a hint of extravagance here.
The door was constructed of heavy, solid wood, and even the candlesticks were still the original brass colour.
On the large walnut desk lay a neatly arranged set: quill, ink bottle, paperweight, and letter opener.
Piles of documents stood carefully stacked in perfect alignment on one side.
“Looks like he’s extremely tidy.”
Though candles were lit, heavy, layered curtains veiled the tall windows, filtering the light to keep it from damaging the books.
Bringing a soft, muted light into the room.
As Eloise scanned the study with nervous eyes, the door opened and Carlen entered.
She stiffened, bracing herself.
“Sorry for the delay.”
“Oh, no, I just arrived myself.”
After greeting her and sitting down at the desk chair, another man stepped in behind him, smiling warmly.
“I’m Conrad Burnett, the duke’s aide.”
“Eloise Moora.”
Seeing the unfamiliar face, Eloise’s gaze flickered sharply toward Kalen.
“The only people who know about your visit here are myself, my mother, Conrad, Carl, and Barrett,” he said calmly.
‘Barrett? Who’s that?’
At the mention of this new name, she clenched her fist lightly.
If this was supposed to be a secret, she had no idea how many people were involved.
Sensing her concern, Kalen added calmly,
“They are like my right hands. No one else knows, so rest assured.”
“Yes, which is why I brought the tea. No one who serves me knows about this—not even Carl… except Carl.”
Conrad’s chatter made Eloise bite her lip.
The duchess, Kalen herself, this talkative aide, the mysteriously named Barrett, and Carl—at least six people knew about this matter.
Could this be called a secret?
“This guesthouse wing isn’t entered by anyone unless specifically summoned.”
“I’ll trust you, Duke. So, shall we begin?”
“Let’s start with tea. Take a moment to breathe…”
Eloise’s expression, which had been rigid with gravity, softened as Kalen became distracted and focused on the papers in front of him.
Wondering if it was okay to relax, she glanced at Conrad, who just shrugged and poured tea into her cup.
He neatly arranged a plate of chocolates and bowed politely.
“I’ll be attending to other matters now. Call if you need anything. And, my lady…”
“Yes?”
“I believe in you. Stay strong.”
Startled by the unexpected encouragement, Eloise’s eyes widened.
‘Believe in me? Stay strong? What am I supposed to be strong for?’
Conrad, his face full of trust, backed out the door, leaving Eloise bewildered.
Once Conrad left, the study was filled with a peaceful silence.
The only sound was the soft scratch of pen on paper.
Gently lifting her teacup, she sipped the warm herbal infusion, its fragrant aroma calming her nerves.
Her eyes wandered around the room until they landed on a rather hefty box.
“There are letters inside.”
Kalen’s words made Eloise flinch in surprise.
He seemed focused on paperwork, but he must have noticed her small movement.
“May I look at them first?”
“Do as you wish…”
Eloise rose quietly and approached the box.
On top lay an open letter.
‘Has this one been read already?’
She picked up the letter, and without looking up from his documents, Kalen said,
“That was the first letter I got stuck on. That’s why I asked Lady Moora for help.”
“Hmm…”
How hard could it be to get into trouble with him?
Bracing herself, Eloise unfolded the letter and began to read.
Even though it was two pages long, reading it didn’t take long.
Her heart clenched briefly when she saw the name—Lady Catherine Ember, Viscountess—reminding her of the earlier tea-time incident.
But she steadied herself and calmly read on.
The letter was filled with cheesy, overly flowery expressions and awkwardly sentimental phrases, but nothing truly complicated.
By the time she finished reading, Kalen was still engrossed in his paperwork.
She glanced over at him cautiously, and just then, he looked up.
Their eyes met, and El blinked in surprise.
“When you’re ready, you may read it aloud.”
“Where should I read it?”
“Sit on that chair and read comfortably.”
Taking a seat at the table, Eloise unfolded the letter and steadied her voice.
Though she was ready to begin, Kalen remained seated behind his desk.
Curious, she looked at him and asked,
“Aren’t you coming over here?”
“Don’t mind me. Just read.”
Don’t mind him? Whose letter was this, if not for him? The thought nearly slipped from her lips, but she swallowed her frustration and said politely,
“You need to be closer to hear the letter properly.”
“You can hear my voice well enough from here. Just read.”
“Listening while doing work? Will you be able to concentrate on the contents at all?
“Don’t worry about that.”
Since he insisted, further argument felt pointless.
Taking a deep breath, Eloise unfolded the letter again, about to read the first line—but then she put it down and quietly slid her chair closer to Kalen’s desk.
The heavy chair groaned as it moved, and El’s face flushed pink.
‘I was trying to be quiet…’
Noticing Kallen’s gaze on her, El settled into position and replied as if nothing was wrong.
“My job is to read the letters well, so I’m sitting where you can best understand the contents. Don’t mind me.”
“Hmm, I see.”
Surprised by his gaze, Eloise shot him a quick glare.
He must have seriously underestimated her.
