The Maid Under the Stairs - Chapter 51
< Chapter 51 >
Mabel, who was in Leon’s car, looked out the window with an expressionless face.
“We were supposed to meet in London. How did you end up here?”
“I had something to deliver to Mary, and since I was supposed to see Miss Willis today anyway, I was just waiting to go to London with her.”
Although grateful for saving her from humiliation in front of Rebecca and the Home Economics Club, Mabel felt embarrassed by having to show such an appearance.
A moment ago, instead of getting angry at Leon’s harsh words, Rebecca decided to leave. It was a ladylike behavior knowing manners.
‘It seems difficult to have a conversation with Mr. de Percy today. We ladies will take our leave now. But Mr. de Percy… ‘
Rebecca quickly composed her face, which had just been flushed a moment ago, and wore a polite smile again.
‘Reading <Modern Woman> magazine is also for upper-class women. The rumor that the writer writing there is a liar will spread quickly. I hope you act wisely.’
With that, Rebecca and the members of the Home Economics Club walked past Mabel and Leon.
‘You’re lucky, Miss Mabel. Even if you make mistakes, gentlemen appear from everywhere to help you out.’
Mabel heard the mocking words thrown at her by the Home Economics Club members as they passed her.
Leon glanced at Mabel, who looked pale as if she might collapse at any moment. He had heard roughly about the situation from Mary the other day, but he didn’t expect her to be having a tougher time than he thought. Already slender, Mabel’s face looked even paler than usual now.
“My writing… Did my… mid-length story pass the judgment?”
Mabel asked with a voice that seemed like it could fade away at any moment. Leon felt his chest tighten at her question.
“Hah…”
Leon, with his hand not on the steering wheel, ran his hand through his hair.
“Just my luck. We have to have this conversation today of all days.”
Mabel stared blankly at Leon’s grim expression.
“How about we grab something to eat and rest a bit today instead of talking about the writing?”
Leon suggested as he parked the car on the way to London.
“No. Please tell me. Weren’t we supposed to meet today because of the judgment? Oh, could it be… I didn’t pass?”
Mabel spoke rapidly. However, she couldn’t hide the faint trembling in her fading voice.
“…”
Leon leaned back on the driver’s seat and ran his hands over his face. The disheveled blond hair glinted over his handsome face.
No luck this time, but there’s always next time. Her writing is good, so her prospects will be bright in the future…
The manuscript rejection news, which had been repeated dozens or even hundreds of times, was devastating. Moreover, this time it wasn’t just empty words. He genuinely believed her writing was good.
However, that simple word had never crossed his mind when he saw this woman desperately trying to maintain a composed expression.
“Mr. de Percy?”
Mabel called his name again.
“I can see now. People like that Rebecca girl must have pressured you.”
Leon managed to speak barely.
“Just last week… I almost confirmed your writing. That’s why I could leave the <Modern Woman> editorial team without worry and move to the newspaper.”
Leon ran his hand over his face again, as if he felt foolish.
After being appointed as the Editor of Montaire Publishing House and the official successor, he decided to work in all departments of the Montaire publications until his inauguration ceremony scheduled for next year. Managing the public newspaper, Westminster’s social gazette, and planning <Modern Woman> magazine were just a part of it.
But since meeting Mabel, he had been involved in <Modern Woman> affairs longer than expected, which raised doubts internally.
‘I didn’t know then why I wanted to stay there. If I had known, I would have ignored everything and just guarded the editor-in-chief position until Ms. Willis’ novel came out.’
Leon sighed again. His mind was a mess. He was angry not only because he didn’t know how to protect her where his power reached, but also because he had to deliver sad news to her.
‘Above all… I don’t like seeing you in pain.’
Leon thought as he looked at Mabel’s darkened complexion.
“Hey, Ms. Willis…”
“I’m okay, Mr. de Percy.”
Mabel quickly turned her head back towards the window to hide her expression and said.
“It’s only natural to be rejected if the writer is lacking. Since people who know my identity may not be interested in my writing.”
She struggled to control her trembling voice. But she couldn’t bring herself to look at Leon. Tears that she could no longer hold back flowed uncontrollably from Mabel’s eyes. She had been a fool to think that everything would be fine as long as she had her writing sanctuary.
“Ms. Willis, listen. When I take office as Montaire’s CEO early next year, I’ll help you publish that novel. No, now that I know how things are going, I’ll go to the <Modern Woman> editorial office right away and ask them to publish your novel.”
Leon’s heart softened as he saw her slender body trembling faintly as she sat back down. He wanted to reassure Mabel with an urgency he had never experienced before.
“I’ll do whatever I can, so please…”
“No, you can’t, you mustn’t!”
Mabel interrupted Leon’s words with a sobbing voice.
“What I… Mr. de Percy, you’re a respected figure as a journalist from a prestigious family. It must not be rumored that you helped someone like me or showed favoritism. If you praise someone as humble as me, Mary, Mr. Leon de Percy, or even the de Percy couple will lose their honor.”
In Mabel’s pleading eyes as she turned back to face Leon, there was a desperate plea. She didn’t want the shadow of misfortune pursuing her to engulf even the kind Mr. de Percy. She was already afraid to give herself to someone, fearing that she might not even receive the love of William, whom she already loved so much.
“I shouldn’t have dreamed in the first place. I should have known my place and acted accordingly, but I couldn’t discern heaven from earth and just followed my desires like a fool. I didn’t know everyone would suffer because of me… I’m sorry, Mr. de Percy.”
Leon didn’t say anything while Mabel finished speaking. He leaned against the steering wheel, and closed his eyes, seeming to be lost in thought.
After a short silence, Leon’s voice came again not long after.
“I must have momentarily mistaken myself for someone living in an idealistic world, alone in the world of the privileged.”
Leon crossed his arms over the steering wheel and turned to face Mabel.
“Ms. Willis, I am not like the British people who indulge in aristocratic games.”
Leon’s voice was firm, unlike the anxious tone when he saw Mabel’s tears.
“I’ve known you, Ms. Willis, directly by meeting and talking to you, and by reading your writing, long before knowing your lineage or background. Why should it matter to me now? If readers dislike you? Then what about the readers who were passionate about your previous writings? Aren’t those who change their evaluation of a work based on the author’s status or the publishing house the real snobs?”
Leon looked at Mabel with a sharp gaze.
“Whether Ms. Willis comes from a maid’s background or royal lineage, the writing you produce is because it’s you. Readers want that, or at least I do. If any other conditions are hindering your talent, then we just need to find people who don’t care about those conditions.”
Mabel raised her head at Leon’s words. Her tear-stained face looked bewildered. She had never encountered anyone with Leon’s attitude in the firmly entrenched class system of British society.
Mabel had always thought that people of low status clouded the air around them, like ink on clear water. For some, the mere association with them disgraced their family name and lowered their status; for others, the mere touch of their hair was a blot on their high honor.
Leon looked at her with a complex expression, then spoke softly as if to soothe her troubled soul.
“Where I come from is a bit different. If you have talent, it doesn’t matter what your parents do. It’s the land of freedom and opportunity. No matter what anyone says, there are plenty of publishers eager to publish the undoubtedly popular writing of Ms. Willis.”
Leon glanced at Mabel’s pale face again.
‘You’re a good writer. You’ve come a long way in learning proper writing techniques and improving. And…’
With Leon, who would lead Montaire Publishing House, firmly believing that Mabel was a highly talented writer, he knew that there was more than just that sentiment lingering in Mabel’s weary expression.
‘I just wish to see you smile. Until then… I want to be by your side.’
From the first meeting when she defended her writing with a spirited face to the discussions of the Brontë sisters in front of Cheshire Hall, and even the playful expressions while wearing the hat Leon gave her, Mabel’s vivid memories overlapped in Leon’s mind.
And expressing the thought that came to his mind was easier than anything else.
“Ms. Willis. How about coming to the United States with me as soon as you graduate?”