The Maid Under the Stairs - Chapter 34
< Chapter 34 >
“Knock, knock. Leon, what are you doing?”
Mary, who substituted knocking with her voice, had already half-pushed herself into the study, seemingly uninterested in Leon’s response.
“Work.”
Leon glanced briefly at Mary over his golden glasses and replied. Mary had been particularly hovering around Leon since the start of the summer vacation.
“Are you working on Mabel’s manuscript?”
Mary asked subtly, but Leon again shifted his gaze back to the manuscript without saying anything. However, Mary quickly realized that the densely written manuscript was the rough draft of a mid-length novel that Mabel had written for the winter issue of a magazine.
“Is it a love story? Any changes, perhaps getting a bit more passionate?”
“Why are you curious about that in particular?”
Leon, who had lost his concentration, finally took off his glasses and spoke to Mary.
“No, I just think Mabel is quite popular. It’s summer vacation, but she hasn’t contacted me or any other friends, and I thought maybe she’s caught up in a romantic relationship…”
As Mary spoke, Leon’s expression became more guarded. Mary, who had been restless due to boredom since the start of the vacation, was excited that Leon was showing interest in the conversation and continued.
“Isn’t summer vacation usually like that? Every time vacation ends, there’s a line of ladies from Summerhill with engagement rings. Besides, Mabel already has that incredibly handsome politician. Remember when Mabel came to our house last time? He said he’s spending Christmas with Mabel.'”
Mary tried to imitate William’s low voice as she spoke. In her excitement, she missed the fact that Leon’s expression was gradually becoming distorted.
“Oh, and Theo mentioned that one of the boys we hang out with, Andrew Woolf, seems to be interested in Mabel. Andrew’s not worthy in Mabel’s eyes, with her connections to the likes of Mr. Edmundstone, and so I’m sure he’s not worthy of her…….”
Mary trailed off as she gestured with her head, looking back at Leon. However, Leon seemed visibly angry for some reason.
“Am I interrupting something important? I was just wondering if I could hear any news about Mabel… Don’t editors usually get along well with writers? Besides just exchanging boring manuscripts, they sometimes meet and talk face to face…”
Mary’s attempt to gauge Leon’s mood faltered at the end of her sentence. However, Leon remained silent until the end, focusing solely on the manuscript as if hoping it would answer instead of him.
‘Love, huh? Do they engage in that sort of thing?’
Leon glared at the manuscript in his hand as if wishing it would provide the answers instead of its owner.
The manuscripts Mabel sent from the Isle of Wight were certainly more emotionally vivid and impactful compared to before. As a managing editor, Leon should have been pleased, but he couldn’t help feeling uneasy amidst Mary’s talk of Mr. Edmundstone and engagements.
“Mary, so what’s the real reason you came to see me?”
Feeling his mind becoming complicated, Leon raised his hands to his forehead and asked.
“Mabel must have forgotten to give me an address to write to. She said not to send any more to the Oxford mansion last time. So I wondered if I could get Mabel’s address here. Is it written there… Isle of Wight, right?”
Mary reached out stealthily towards the envelope with Mabel’s initials and address, which she had been eyeing since earlier.
“…Are you really just going to send a letter?”
Leon, who grabbed the envelope before Mary’s hand reached it, asked with a stern expression. Mary’s expression showed hesitation, wondering if she should lie.
“Isle of Wight… I heard that rich people who know fashion have a villa there.”
Mary muttered. Rich, fashionable, partying. Not one, but two people that these three words had in common came to Mary’s mind.
“Instead of a letter, if I say I’m going to visit Mabel with friends, you won’t give me the address, will you?”
Mary asked with a disappointed expression. It was obvious that Leon would respond with something about privacy, but after hesitating for a moment, Leon gave an unexpected answer.
“Alright. But under the condition that I accompany as a guardian.”
Leon’s eyes, as he handed over the envelope with Mabel’s address, momentarily flashed with a frightening light.
* * *
“Hmm…”
Mabel, lying under a tree, woke up with a start. It felt like she had dreamt of Mary, and she felt the same torment she always felt with Mary’s eccentric behavior.
The sunlight peeked through the green leaves and illuminated her face. As she looked around, she noticed William concentrating on reading beside her.
When he was in London, he always stuck to neat, combed hair and formal suits. His flawless appearance made him incredibly charismatic.
But when he was on Isle of Wight, he always dressed in casual shirts, and his tousled hair was often blown around by the sea breeze. She found this natural look of his equally enchanting.
“If you want me to read you a book, you can just ask. Don’t just stare like that.”
William slowly turned his head towards Mabel as he thought she was concentrating, teasingly speaking. Caught admiring his side profile, Mabel quickly sat up, feeling embarrassed.
“Ah…… I’ve fallen asleep again, I must have gotten into the habit of falling asleep listening to Mr. Edmundstone read me stories last winter.”
William smiled gently at Mabel. Underneath the beautiful chestnut tree behind the villa where they sat, various summer flowers bloomed in different colors.
“Are you going to stop reading?”
Mabel asked wistfully, watching William close the book. She loved the words that came out of his soft, beautiful voice.
“I want to do something other than reading.”
William gently took Mabel’s hand, which was placed near him, and quietly placed something in her hand. It was a silver necklace with a small pendant shaped like a soaring seabird.
“Oh my, it’s beautiful!”
Mabel exclaimed, her eyes widening as she looked at William.
“Last time, you said you wished you dared to face the wind like a seabird on the white cliffs, right? I once said something similar. Right here on this island.”
William said with a smile. His affectionate gaze shifted between her and the pendant.
“When Aunt Elizabeth gave me this pendant that she wore around her neck when I was a child…”
“Why would you give me such a precious item…”
Mabel exclaimed, surprised. The silver bird in her hand sparkled as if ready to spread its wings.
“When you said those words, it seemed like this bird had already decided to be by your side.”
William shrugged helplessly, smiling, and then placed her other hand on the necklace.
“What’s truly precious to me are the memories of Aunt Elizabeth giving me this necklace and the villa. If Mabel remembers the courage Aunt Elizabeth gave me here, she will surely be pleased too.”
As if in response to William’s words, the birds on the beach simultaneously emitted soft coos. Smiling softly as she looked at the small bird pendant in her hand, Mabel had a knack for easily softening her heart, as if handing over the necklace.
“Since you’ve given me something so precious, I should share one of my secret stories. To tell you in advance, it’s a story related to this pendant and something cute.”
Mabel opened her mouth with a soft smile.
“My surname isn’t Willis. When I was left at the orphanage, a small note hidden in the basket I was in said ‘Mabel Birdie.’ Of course, they changed it to Willis at the orphanage, saying it wasn’t British enough. I only found out when I was sixteen and leaving the orphanage.”
“Mabel Birdie… Birdie means bird, doesn’t it?”
William suddenly remembered, as if reminded of something. It was an old word that could be found in old Scottish books.
“Yes, that’s right. It’s a strange coincidence, isn’t it?”
“Birdie, beautiful. Uncommon. Have you ever thought about finding your family?”
William asked, studying Mabel’s expression.
“Yes, but I don’t know. If my parents or family wanted me back, wouldn’t they have come to the orphanage already…”
Mabel lowered her head in response to William’s cautious question. Then, she fiddled with the pendant in her hand.
“Mr. Edmundstone, is it really hard to live if I don’t know my parents, my roots, as people say?”
“Well, I believe parents are only necessary until their children become independent. Since Miss Mabel has already grown into a fine individual, there’s no need to define herself through her parents anymore. Now, Miss Mabel’s achievements and unique thoughts will define her more than her parents or her background.”
William’s voice showed no hint of lecturing or scolding. Instead, it seemed affectionate and soothing, comforting Mabel.
After briefly observing Mabel’s expression, William lifted the seabird necklace and placed it around Mabel’s neck. Sensing his intention to put the necklace on her Mabel instinctively sat up straight. The silver pendant, warmed by the sunlight, touched her bare chest.
William’s gaze gently settled on the back of her white neck as he spoke.
“But even if you say you don’t need them anymore, isn’t it natural to still feel curious and longing to know about their existence?”
His low, gentle voice tickled the back of her neck. Mabel tried to hide her embarrassment and replied calmly.
“I’m not sure. If it’s okay for me to feel that way, or what’s the right thing to do. It sounds foolish, doesn’t it?”
“No, it doesn’t. It’s a difficult matter. But… trust your feelings, Miss Mabel.”
William turned her around gently to face him, meeting her gaze with a caring look. Then, he spoke firmly but affectionately.
“Allowing yourself to feel your emotions is very important.”
William’s hand brushed softly against her hair. Strands of her hair that had been caught in the necklace cascaded tantalizingly down her shoulders. The bird on her chest seemed to be fluttering as if about to take flight at any moment.