The Maid Under the Stairs - Chapter 80 - END

< Chapter 80 >

Dag-dag-dag-dag-.

The slow, rhythmic sound of hooves echoed through Lord Alfred’s hunting grounds at the mansion. 

A handsome horse with sleek, black fur carried a young couple deeply in love on its back.

From the day after leaving Summerhill Dormitory until graduation day, Mabel decided to stay at Lord Alfred’s mansion. Of course, it was no coincidence that William had taken leave that week to stay with Lord Alfred.

Watching Mabel grasp the reins for the first time, nestled against his arms, William looked on with pride.

“How about that? It’s not so difficult, is it?”

Trying not to be distracted by his lips tickling her neck, Mabel replied with all her might.

“As long as you don’t interfere, William. Maybe I was born to be a rider after all?”

As Mabel leaned forward like a jockey, William burst into laughter. His low voice created a pleasant vibration against Mabel’s back. Enjoying his laughter like music, Mabel suddenly asked a question, 

“But I didn’t realize riding required so much equipment. Riding boots, gloves, a riding saddle… Look, I still don’t know what these are used for.”

Shrugging her shoulders as she looked down at the unfamiliar pockets on the saddle, William took her hands and pulled the reins, saying.

“Mabel, the most important thing you need is a good riding instructor who also happens to be your lover.”

Mabel blushed at William’s unfamiliar words. He had a different dazzling charm in his crisp riding clothes than he did in a suit.

“You came to the front door to fetch me today with your horse, and the sight of you reminded me of last winter. As soon as I saw you returning from winter riding with the other gentlemen, I hid in the study bedroom…….”

Mabel recalled her efforts to avoid him once she realized her feelings for him. Back then, she couldn’t have imagined herself riding affectionately with him through the mansion grounds as she was doing now, dressed in stiff riding attire that exuded a different charm from her usual formal attire.

After a moment of thought, William replied with a hint of laughter in his voice.

“Ah, you mean the day you peeked at me while I was bathing?”

“Oh my, peeking! I had no idea there was a secret door behind the library bookshelf.”

Mabel retorted, jumping slightly at William’s jest. As a result, the horse they were slowly riding began to pick up speed.

“Whoa, whoa.”

However, William expertly calmed the horse without whipping it once and began to steer it towards the rose-filled backyard of the mansion.

With a playful tone, William continued to tease Mabel.

“Well, from what I remember, you seemed to enjoy watching my backside for quite a while.”

William considered mentioning that the leather bag she had dropped, which she was holding, was a protective guard covering gentlemen’s groin areas during rough riding competitions. But he decided against it when he saw Mabel’s ears and neck turning red.

“I-I didn’t mean to… W-Were you very startled?”

Mabel tried to come up with an excuse but gave up. It was true that she was momentarily mesmerized by his bare back in the bright sunlight.

“Of course. It was quite a surprise.”

“The esteemed William Edmundstone? Doing… embarrassing things in broad daylight?”

Mabel protested at William’s nonchalant reaction.

William appeared mild-mannered on the surface, but there was no holding back when he and Mabel spent their nights together. Instead, they formed a rebellious and passionate bond that was anything but proper.

‘The whole of England is fooled by him.’

Mabel blushed as she remembered last night when they had spent time together in her bedroom. Amid their cute banter, they entered the heart of Lord Alfred’s rose garden.

“Lord Alfred!”

Mabel called out to Lord Alfred, who was sitting on a bench in the rose garden. William dismounted and helped Mabel off the horse.

A smile spread across Lord Alfred’s face as he watched them.

He looked much healthier than he did two years ago, but the white hair scattered across his head showed the undeniable passage of time.

* * *

“So, you’ve decided to tour the whole of England for your honeymoon? Instead of going to France or Italy, why would you choose to travel in this dull country, Mabel?”

Lord Alfred and Mabel walked through the rose garden together after a long time. It was a tradition they had maintained since Mabel went to college.

However, Mabel didn’t know that even on weekends without her, Lord Alfred would stroll through the garden alone, reading the letters Mabel sent every week.

“I have to write an essay for the Manchester Observer as soon as we return from our honeymoon. I thought touring the countryside of England and Scotland, and meeting people from different walks of life, would inspire me to write and also help William with his policy-making. Don’t worry, Lord Alfred, I’ve found some beautiful forests and accommodations suitable for our honeymoon. “

Lord Alfred chuckled at Mabel’s neat and ambitious travel plans.

“Haha, it seems William has found the perfect match in you.”

The scars on his face were now hidden under wrinkles. He had aged rapidly recently, almost as if he had completed a big task.

“Oh, Mabel, this is just the beginning of the estate’s territory. It’s a small area with not many farmlands or workers. You could say most of the estate’s territory is covered by this forest here.”

Lord Alfred led Mabel up the hill beyond the rose garden and started talking, looking down at Alfred’s estate, the paths through the meadow, and the forest.

“It was Elizabeth’s idea to build that path and cabin. She said as we grow older, we’d want to take forest baths in this forest, so she suggested using the cabin not just for the forester but as a small cottage for us.”

Lord Alfred pointed to the forest cabin, where Mabel and William had proposed to each other, stood.

Lord Alfred then turned to look at the mansion. The modest three-story Tudor mansion at the forefront of the hill was surrounded by roses.

“It’s a small and cozy mansion built with love. Even though Elizabeth left, this house still holds Elizabeth’s presence for me… But I don’t regret leaving.”

Listening to Lord Alfred’s explanation, Mabel momentarily doubted her ears.

“Leaving? Lord Alfred, what do you mean by that?”

Lord Alfred turned to face Mabel, his once commanding military face now adorned with a gentle and kind smile.

“I mentioned a wedding gift I wanted to give you, didn’t I? … Mabel, this mansion is the wedding gift I want to give you.”

Lord Alfred’s unexpected words startled Mabel.

“What? Lord Alfred, what… What do you mean by that?”

However, Lord Alfred seemed to anticipate her reaction and raised his hand to calm her down.

“It’s not because you’re marrying William. If William can’t capture your heart, I intended to adopt you, even if it meant you inheriting the estate… Mabel, I want to spend the rest of my days at Isle of Wight Cottage. Even on good days, it’s hard to breathe, and managing this mansion is burdensome. A small cottage by the sea would be better. It holds precious memories with Elizabeth, so I won’t be lonely…”

Lord Alfred spoke calmly.

“At the winter party, I chose you as the hostess of the party to further strengthen the bond between you and the estate. William also knows about my inheritance plan. If you wish, you could start your married life here, in your mansion, Alfred’s estate.”

Mabel was stunned by Lord Alfred’s firm words, which seemed to have been thought out for a long time. From her experience, when Lord Alfred spoke like this, no one could change his mind.

“Lord Alfred, I… I don’t know what to say… You’ve already changed my life.”

To think that he would care so much about her, regardless of the mansion’s inheritance. Mabel was moved to tears by Lord Alfred’s gesture and affection.

“You recognized my humble talents, sent me to college, and… found me a family I never had. Always silently by my side… And because of you, I was able to cultivate love with Mr. Edmundstone…”

Trembling, Mabel’s voice was met with Lord Alfred’s wrinkled hand, patting hers gently.

“I understand, Mabel. It’s rare for an old man in a lonely prison of despair to become important again in someone else’s life. So, I’m grateful to you too.”

A serene silence fell between them. Without needing to say much, they both knew they had been pivotal in each other’s lives and therefore held each other dear.

After a moment, Lord Alfred slowly spoke again.

“Ah, now that you’ll be the owner of the mansion… we need to know its name.”

Having worked at the mansion for a considerable time, Mabel had known it simply as ‘Alfred’s,’ so his words surprised her. As if he knew her thoughts, Lord Alfred added an explanation.

“It had a name given by Elizabeth, but after she left, stubborn as I am, I hesitated to call it by that name anymore. It didn’t feel the same without her.”

Lord Alfred’s voice trembled slightly, like a child learning to speak.

“The mansion’s name is Alis Maris.” (Latin for Wings of the Sea)

As soon as she heard the name of the mansion, a Latin phrase flashed through Mabel’s mind. It was a phrase she often heard at Summerhill.

“Ah, Alis volat propriis. She flies with her wings…”

“Yes, that’s it. It’s taken from Elizabeth’s favorite phrase.”

Beyond Lord Alfred’s distant voice, the wind blew. It felt as if the wind, blowing from the cliffs of the Isle of Wight, had come to greet Lord Alfred early.

Mabel felt as if she had grown wings, whether it was because of Elizabeth Alfred’s wish or because of the seabird pendant hanging around her neck.

On the serene hill where she stood with Lord Alfred, the beautiful Alis Maris mansion came into view. 

And within it lay her love, William Edmundstone, waiting for their conversation to finish, and a future where she could fly freely, just like the wings of a seabird.

END.