The Maid Under the Stairs - Chapter 50

< Chapter 50 >

The late summer’s final breath gradually transitioned into autumn along the lakeside, creating beautiful scenery. 

The trees surrounding the lake were adorned with a golden hue reflected in the ripples, and the gentle autumn breeze brought a slight chill, refreshing Mabel’s heavy heart.

“It’s the first time since last autumn.”

William murmured as he watched the birds gliding over the lake. It was the hidden lake behind Summerhill College that he had introduced Mabel to last autumn. Mabel and William had decided to converse here away from the prying eyes of others.

“They formally rejected the expulsion demand in the hearing. It was expected with the presence of witnesses, but things seemed to flow more smoothly due to the achievements you’ve made during your time at school.”

“Ah…”

Mabel responded with a quiet sigh to William’s gentle words. The issue that had weighed on her mind throughout the past year seemed to have disappeared, and she felt like crying out with relief. However, there were still many unresolved matters for her.

William looked at Mabel quietly gazing at the lake and continued speaking.

“I’m sorry for causing all this, Mabel.”

“Why would Mr. Edmundstone feel sorry for me? It was my fault for not properly reading Lady Margaret’s letter and upsetting her. And to hear that Lord Alfred is in such bad condition…”

Finally, tears welled up in Mabel’s eyes. More distressing to her in the past two days than the threat of expulsion was the news about Lord Alfred, written in Lady Margaret’s letter that she had postponed reading.

Not knowing Lord Alfred’s deteriorating health and casually thinking she could handle Lady Margaret’s nagging, missing the news about him, her heart was filled with sadness and guilt.

“I thought even if I were expelled from Summerhill this time, it wouldn’t matter much. I used to send letters to Lord Alfred quite often. Even though it’s been over two weeks without a reply, I foolishly thought it was nothing.”

“It’s not your fault. It’s Lady Margaret’s mistake for behaving like this, even though Uncle told the employees not to inform you or anyone else.”

William reached out and gently took Mabel’s hand.

“Uncle didn’t inform you because seeing you enjoy your college life brought him great comfort. He knew you would drop everything and visit Oxford once you found out. Now, even the doctors tell me to refrain from visiting him. As soon as his health is a little better, I will certainly take you with me to Oxford.”

But Mabel only quietly sobbed at William’s comfort.

It seems misfortunes come all at once.

As soon as the dream-like summer passed, Lord Alfred fell ill, Daisy ran away, and Mabel almost faced expulsion when her identity was almost exposed. It seemed as if the world, realizing her overflowing happiness too late, was now trying to snatch away everything Mabel loved.

‘What I love.…’

Mabel still looked up at William standing before her, her face moist with tears. His blue eyes were filled with pity for Mabel, yet the warmth and tranquility within momentarily eased her fears.

‘Is the shadow of misfortune following me? What if because of me, you lose your reputation or ruin your life? Maybe your happiness lies in distancing yourself from me.’

William’s dark hair, reflected in Mabel’s eyes, gently swayed in the cold autumn air. The setting sun beyond the lake made his features even sharper.

Mabel’s gaze passed over the affectionate face looking at her, the comforting embrace she received, and finally reached out to the hand they held together.

‘I wish for your happiness, but… truthfully, I’m afraid of a future where you’ll regret loving me, Mr. Edmundstone.’

The painful sentence from Daisy’s letter echoed in Mabel’s heart as well.

Meanwhile, as Mabel thought of Daisy, besides serving as a witness at her hearing, she realized there was something else she wanted to ask William for help with.

“There’s another matter I need to address, Mr. Edmundstone.”

Mabel hurriedly wiped away her tears as she spoke. There would be plenty of time for pain and regret ahead. But in reality, some things cannot be waited for.

“It’s about Daisy, the maid I used to work with at Lord Alfred’s… I need Mr. Edmundstone’s assistance.”

* * *

The urgent message from William was brief but hopeful. 

The errand runners he had sent out had found Daisy and James Herbert in Worcester. Fortunately, they had found a place to stay for the time being.

Daisy received the money Mabel had sent through the errand runners, and there was also assurance that they could live until James found a job.

‘Oh, that’s such a relief.’

Walking along the leaf-strewn path, Mabel let out a deep breath. Above all, knowing she had an address where she could check on Daisy’s well-being brought her a sense of relief.

After hearing about Daisy’s situation, William left a message for Mabel not to worry and departed for London. He also understood, without any further words, that while Mabel may currently be relying on his help, she truly wanted to help Daisy with her own strength. So, without saying much, he simply carried out the tasks she asked of him.

“So, it was necessary to keep in touch with Mr. Edmundstone. Without him, I wouldn’t have found Daisy so quickly.”

Mabel justified herself as if she were defending against an accusation. With the confirmation of early graduation after this semester, it was time to gradually reduce contact with him.

Moreover, since William’s appearance at Mabel’s hearing, rumors had been circulating in Summerhill that Mabel and William might have a relationship beyond that of a simple sponsor and student, so they needed to keep their distance even more.

That was when someone called out to Mabel, who was about to leave Summerhill’s campus.

“Miss Willis?”

“Uh…”

Mabel groaned as she saw Rebecca and several members of the Home Economics Club approaching her from the opposite side of the leafy path.

Considering the rumors about her connection to the Edmundstone family, few students openly showed hostility towards her.

Mary said it wasn’t just because of William, but for whatever reason, Mabel found it much easier to deal with the majority of students who quietly scorned her rather than the anxious Home Economics Club, fearing she would slip through their fingers.

“I’m always surprised whenever I see Miss Willis. How shameless must one be to still walk around here with their head held high?”

Rebecca didn’t bother hiding her hostility anymore. There was a strong tone of disdain in her voice as she spoke.

Mabel didn’t know what to say in response to Rebecca’s increasingly aggressive remarks since her expulsion had been overturned.

“If you had even a shred of respect for the school or its students’ honor, you would have left voluntarily.”

“Even your former friends, Irina and Julia, have stopped associating with Miss Mabel.”

A couple of Home Economics Club members who were watching from Rebecca’s side chimed in, blaming Mabel.

“In a week, it’ll be the Autumn Festival, and there’ll be guests from all over, but here you are, still studying like some orphan maid, equal to the rest of us Summerhill girls?”

Rebecca sneered at Mabel, bending down towards her and speaking with a mocking tone.

“If you knew that ‘orphan maid’ was the top-performing student in the year, you’d find it even more amusing.”

Unable to bear it any longer, Mabel finally lashed out at Rebecca and the Home Economics Club. Rebecca just laughed at Mabel once again, saying, ‘Well, that’s that.’

“Miss Willis, anyway, this isn’t a place to come and study seriously. It’s where you come to cultivate refinement, to learn the virtues of a lady. Of course, Miss Willis wouldn’t think of such things; she’s here to seduce noble gentlemen and keep them as sponsors.”

“What are you saying?”

“It’s not just a rumor in Summerhill but also in London. Mr. Edmundstone is said to be tempted by a young maid, disrupting England’s social order. How could such a capable and noble man be ensnared? He was indifferent even to the daughters of London’s supposedly noble houses. In the end, it seems noble gentlemen are all the same. Or maybe they share bedding tips with loose maids to get a quick thrill. Did Miss Willis benefit from such favors too?”

Mabel felt a pang in her chest as she watched even William, who had helped her despite her humble status, being dragged down with her. William was a capable person with the intention and power to make the world a better place, not just some incompetent aristocrat playing with young maids as Rebecca described him.

“If you don’t want to tarnish the face of the noble Edmundstone family, it would be best for you to leave here as soon as possible. Even shamelessness has its limits.”

Rebecca threatened Mabel with a low voice as she watched Mabel’s face turn pale at the mention of William.

“It’s said that even wealthy young men find it hard to resist playing with maids for more than a season. Surely you won’t enjoy upper-class lady games until Mr. Edmundstone’s heart changes and you graduate with a diploma? Miss Willis, think about it. What would a maid under the stairs do with a college diploma, unless she plans to use it as a mop?”

Rebecca was about to burst into laughter at her own words when a sharp voice echoed from the campus at Summerhill and the garden connecting to the outside.

“That’s enough.”

The dazzling blond man stared coldly at the ladies with his hands in the pockets of his suit pants.

“You don’t have to spew gutter-like words just because you have a mouth like a mop.”

“Oh, Mr. de Percy. Well, unlike Miss Willis here, we are ladies from noble families, so please watch your words, won’t you?”

Momentarily taken aback by the man’s voice, Rebecca, recognizing Leon, blushed slightly and spoke.

“Oh, unlike these ladies here, I judge based on character rather than lineage.”

Leon retorted in a chillingly low voice.

“I don’t need to show respect to that house dog just because they come from a distinguished and noble family, right?”