The Maid Under the Stairs - Chapter 71

< Chapter 71 >

Mabel had to calm her swollen eyes that had been crying all night, so it wasn’t until the next afternoon, when it was time to have tea, that she first revealed herself to her friends.

Her heart was filled with loss and despair at the thought of truly losing William, but today, as it was the last day her friends would be staying at the mansion, she couldn’t excuse herself.

Mabel’s friends were spending time together in the indoor garden, as usual, the day after the social event. Fortunately, they seemed to have gathered quietly, worn out from the party that lasted well past midnight yesterday.

As Mabel entered the indoor garden, she could see white snow falling softly outside the glass walls. Thanks to it, Lord Alfred had made the mansion’s garden and forest look as tempting as sugar-sprinkled desserts.

Julia spoke to Irina.

“This is fortunate. There will be endless things we can do together, Irina.”

Julia’s face lit up as if she was having a great time at her first party without her fiancé. In particular, she danced with Theo, whom she once belittled as ‘the other person,’ and mingled with others at the party.

Mary told Mabel, who was quietly sitting down, about the conversation they were having.

“Oh, Mabel, there you are. We’re discussing whether Irina might work in Winterbrook after graduation. Irina sent a letter to the Mother Superior early this morning, offering to assist with managing the finances and sponsorship projects of the orphanage. Isn’t that remarkable?”

“That’s decided then, Irina. Congratulations! You and Julia will be a great help in Winterbrook.”

Mabel congratulated Irina and Julia in a slightly strained voice. At that moment, a maid found Mabel.

“Excuse me, Miss Willis. A letter has arrived for Miss Willis.”

The young maid, looking as if she were new, shyly handed Mabel a tray with the letter on it.

“For me?”

Mabel was puzzled as she had met everyone who might have sent her a letter yesterday. She read the name written on the envelope under the gaze of her friends.

“Manchester Observer Editorial…?”

George O’Connor, who had been quiet, suddenly interjected.

“Ah, that’s a name very familiar to me as someone from Manchester. It’s quite a progressive newspaper.”

Mabel raised an eyebrow as she peeled off the seal of the letter.

Dear Miss Mabel Willis,

I am Greg Huxley, the editor-in-chief of Manchester Observer, who aims to become the voice of not just the local community but of the entire UK. I recently read ‘My Home, Summerhill,’ which you wrote for Montaire Newspaper, with great admiration. The passionate personal happiness and societal change conveyed in your writing, along with your wise insights to achieve it, were delivered as a very important message to the readers.

Mabel’s expression changed to astonishment as she read through the letter. Sensing something amiss, Julia urged her on.

“Why, what’s the matter, Mabel?”

A while later, Mabel lifted her head and spoke with a vacant expression.

“They want me to work with them? To provide… a bi-weekly column for the last page of their newspaper.”

“What? Really?”

Theo rushed over to her. Standing behind Mabel, he began to read her letter aloud.

“Miss Willis, our editorial board believes that your thoughts and stories are needed in our current era. Therefore, I am requesting that you contribute a column to our newspaper, which will be published nationwide in a few months. Our newspaper and editorial team believe that your writing and thoughts can have an impact on society. Goodness gracious, this is truly incredible!”

With a joyful expression, Theo hugged Mabel tightly and then let her go.

“You’ll be writing for a national newspaper. That’s amazing, Mabel!”

“Manchester Observer is a really good newspaper. Congratulations, Miss Willis.”

George O’Connor and the other friends, including Irina, also rushed over to congratulate Mabel with wide smiles.

Mary, still hugging Mabel, spoke.

“I told you! There’s power in your writing, Mabel. I’m so proud of you!”

Amidst everyone surrounding Mabel and congratulating her, Andrew Woolf stood awkwardly in place, unsure of what to do. When he noticed the excitement of his friends settling down a bit, he seized the opportunity to speak up.

“But what about the proposal Mr. de Percy made for going to America?”

Mabel’s complexion turned bitter as she was released from Mary’s embrace.

“That… I already discussed it with Mr. de Percy yesterday and decided to forget about it.”

She replied calmly, but in her mind, the conversation from last night with Leon was already resurfacing.

‘Whether it’s America or anywhere else, if there’s a place where I can look at Mr. Edmundstone without feeling hurt, I’ll go.’

Tired of crying, Mabel leaned against the bed and sobbed quietly. However, Leon, who had been comforting her, remained silent for a while.

After a moment, Leon’s quiet voice echoed in her ears.

‘Not everything is over yet, Miss Willis.’

Unlike usual, Leon had a serious expression devoid of any hint of laughter. Had Mabel not been so consumed by sadness, she might have recognized a hint of youthful pain in Leon’s face.

‘True love disappears as slowly as it grows. Maybe it won’t disappear forever.’

Leon lowered his gaze to Mabel’s wet face. Thanks to it, Mabel could almost see his dazzlingly transparent green eyes properly for the first time.

‘But…’

Before Mabel could say anything, Leon raised his hand to stop her. He gently tidied the strands of hair that were flowing down her face. His touch was infinitely gentle.

‘I guarantee it. If Mr. Edmundstone felt even a fraction of what I know as the emotion of love, or even half of that fraction toward you, then you have nothing to worry about.’

Leon’s warm gaze lingered on Mabel’s disheveled face for a while.

‘So you’re not too late yet. Unlike some others.…’

There was a mixture of a sheepish smile and a chilly sadness in his expression as if he might burst into tears at any moment.

Mabel felt uncomfortable with Leon’s expression, which she still couldn’t understand.

Why did he look so sad?

‘Is it because of the thought that I shouldn’t go to America? Or is it because he empathizes with my sadness? But why.…’

As Mabel pondered, Andrew once again caught her attention.

“Well, that’s great then. You don’t have to go to that barbaric place with those Americans.”

Mary glared at Andrew for his derogatory remark towards Americans, but he didn’t back down.

“Unlike the noble ladies here, Miss Willis needs to work and earn money, so congratulations on finding a job quickly. Now all you need to do is find a fiancé with a decent background in Britain…”

Mabel sighed as Andrew’s repeated talk of finding a fiancé continued. However, interpreting that sigh differently, Andrew smiled.

“Oh, don’t worry too much. It may be difficult for a lowly man to win over a lady of high status, but the opposite often happens. So Miss Willis will soon meet someone whom all of us here at Summerhill can vouch for.”

“George, do you know more about Manchester Observer? Tell us how great it is for Mabel to be writing for such a place.”

Andrew’s murmurs were soon drowned out by Irina’s sharp voice and the bustle of Theo and Mary. Nevertheless, Andrew Woolf continued to gaze at Mabel’s blushing cheeks as she received congratulations from her friends.

* * *

The last night at Lord Alfred’s grew deeper. The snow continued to fall heavily outside, but the fireplace in Mabel’s study bedroom was warm and cozy with a full load of firewood.

‘Lord Alfred’s party was successful, and Irina and Julia seem to have finally found what they want to do. Since writing the last article, everyone in Summerhill has been more friendly towards me, and today I even got the opportunity to write for a national newspaper.…’

Mabel stared at the blazing fire lost in thought. Surrounded by friends who seemed as if they were celebrating her good news as if it were their own, she realized once again how lucky she was.

‘But why.…’

Mabel wiped away the tears that continued to flow without exhaustion. Everything she had dreamed of since entering Summerhill had been achieved. But her heart felt empty and sad.

‘When all desires are fulfilled and worries disappear, what would make Mabel happiest?’

Mabel finally understood Professor Webster’s question she had heard long ago.

William, accepted her as she was and acknowledged her worth. In a space without his love, Mabel’s pursued success, the gazes of others that she had feared so much, meant nothing to her.

‘The gaze, the smile, a single word… The happiness I felt in Mr. Edmundstone’s embrace is now too painful. It feels like being a bird with wings but no sky to soar in. Can I ever find that happiness again?’

Unable to bear the weight of the pain, tears fell rapidly down her cheeks, leaving traces of regret.

Knock, knock.

At that moment, someone knocked on the door of Mabel’s study bedroom.

Considering the late hour, Mabel initially thought it was just the sound of burning firewood collapsing. However, she could hear the slightly stronger second knock.