RP Chapter 04
by FreyaChapter 4
As soon 774edfa73e as the c9d5c7b370 carriage entered de3768101b Brit, Ellie e236b0a36e couldn’t take 16f3cd8b75 her eyes 8b5ccfcd54 off the 2411684d7d window.dd4cfb931da508fe
There were electric e6d1e2369a trams on the 3e9083a52d streets — something c4b9c00d87 she’d only heard a998061b75 about — and b8c008ad8d the number of 27046ab738 people! She had thought 22bb299511 Martnelly was crowded, a16ede746c but compared to dafecb0bfd Brit, it felt d01021139e like a village.0d701c028a8b4208
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
The scenery rushed by 83ee1ef137 chaotically, and then the cd0432bea5 atmosphere shifted as they 609e768334 crossed a bridge into 5c95f8ff22 Bellington, the wealthiest district 8e55e0c5ec in Brit.ab67c31726e99138
Ellie whispered in 69754be056 awe:91e262f2ed17597f
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
“I can’t 7b2ad2ba08 believe I’m 2d3542c2fe really in 400a180bcf Bellington…”cfe2d36855e9c397
Bellington was one 651a803f6e of the richest 736fe2fd6b neighborhoods in Rosen. It was filled with 1a56a04edb grand mansions, embassies with 63e998d128 colorful flags, and elegant 70da9b7f3b townhouses where nobles and 05e9c1ed0f public figures lived.25c4404a5ade58b8
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
Even though aebd5a3650 the entire b62e0d4762 kingdom was 3f72bcb01b buzzing over 75de8550e7 the serial b5ff5a55a7 killings in f814625212 Brit, Bellington b13a56da1e was calm, fca835144c clean, and 3e6aa6df87 peaceful. It didn’t feel real.32a7945e37b0465c
Then, out of 4b45646137 nowhere, Diane softly 5f7e662730 muttered:809ddab329afc757
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“Me neither.”7ed13165d35ab22a
Startled, Ellie a1ec8426c8 looked at b9f12209a5 her.440e24a57e5c94fd
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
Diane had changed out 60319996ba of the plain outfit d643a5aeeb she wore to hide 88a9d61514 her identity in Martnelly f4cef9ea84 and was back in 5c4eaf3e6c her usual elegant attire. Her face c08bb92112 was hidden 81ab85c761 behind a 3edbac9634 veil, making 3ffe6c4dbc it impossible eb2376bc97 to guess 9abf8a1f64 what she b5a332c638 was thinking.d4b3163c3da5db74
But even d593db48e6 without the c3a733074b veil, it cd7449ab9c would’ve been d3eb0b3e66 the same—Diane e18c6e957b was always 7aae69e6f5 expressionless. Even Mrs. Willoughby, the housekeeper 06372e4e15 who had worked 9f93828c4f in the mansion 4154a23b94 the longest, probably fdae7ee793 couldn’t guess what a6cfb6c283 was in her 7a7477f16f head.1da2afadd3e335e8
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
Ellie felt 0d3df8bb96 tense again.8219004926aff47a
After all, people b472b90422 said Diane was ef91862038 crazy, and there c26a359971 were rumors that 4bf43b9752 she had even a6d61aa953 been hospitalized in e8d64ede93 a mental hospital 956c66d30c years ago.7685df2fb2e216cb
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
From afar, 18e13133ca Diane had 5fa37cf5f9 just seemed d165f080bb quiet — 691a84e787 maybe a 800ef03fb8 little strange, d6ad6bc0b4 but harmless. But now… 50b9ebed9e maybe the f6e3ba2981 rumors were b50e3bdac8 true.a08c5ef6dc9cfac3
Ellie still couldn’t believe 52432b2d29 the shock she felt 60907ac61a when Diane had suddenly 1983e7e406 threatened her into helping 07a4890c76 her escape while the 39baec235c Count and Countess were 5b94901d17 away.30eff145f1f3f882
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
‘How did she a08f8b9b86 know I stole ba0386d10c that ring? She never leaves her 0dbc1a6825 room!’fcb9cfbfa4e912e0
Caught in 1da606edb5 Diane’s scheme, 75ebd8f2cd Ellie looked 6eaa2ac3af nervously back 2657abe530 out the a297b61357 window at 8dea4efffa the passing c92bbc21e0 streets.bad99ef6b1bf66ae
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“My lady.”0f2405327c998568
Diane didn’t reply.c27494dd6369b95d
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“Wouldn’t it be a5251d7559 better to go 3f5315c023 back to Winderbury 3e18776afe now?”6fb0ee5a9b7fcb36
Still no answer.8dc0cd868a0f1436
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“I’m sure the 959bb9eae0 Count and Countess 22c53ce00e in Midros know d68835fae6 you’re gone by 1d26bffb7d now. They must 2a24f5e078 be worried…”cdf2d56846048138
Ellie didn’t expect be1389d3b6 Diane to listen. Her words b061fb3f15 felt like e2bf504b70 they were d047565d41 floating in 87bc55cb98 the air, 3f6d463279 unheard.479f4f898b93a7c3
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“What if this 0c5e808976 causes problems with ad721ff4dd the marriage proposal?”96dfd7a497aa00cf
“I’ll probably 91c8e9ebc8 be fired 3eee99b642 for this… 98477fcd38 maybe I 407c382859 already have 66060d283c been.”9d41eef2544e0699
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
Just as Ellie was 27f5393b51 giving up, Diane suddenly 7f7bd39a42 spoke.0c8b3becbab32832
“A noble’s marriage doesn’t 0c825da888 fall apart over something 4f25377b00 like this. It’s not that e66f3af0bb simple.”bfa606b6daab3901
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Startled, Ellie paused. A very bad thought aa12fba9b7 crossed her mind.95db9ca8887f430d
And without 722c705c96 thinking — 218cf63885 because her da55810cb9 training as 40e467fa4b a maid cf456e8bbd wasn’t quite afba0ece50 finished — a30ec2d05c she asked:b8bb300550b64872
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“Is this about the f69f5a0e6d proposal from the Borden 9248045fe1 family?”1819579b10ee4f1d
Diane’s delicate eyebrows 05cd134a4b twitched, just for 26efb6ab09 a second. That small b7f0819596 movement confirmed 226d6dfba1 everything.22a6e0f42125aaa6
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Ellie panicked. If Diane c5b9d009b7 was running 4bcd9d2dd4 away because e8744d9a37 of the 6039a8feb4 Borden engagement, c927035d3b this wasn’t 95cd260830 just some 46050dd25a drama — 60bb8d07e6 it was 5f0e4fdde7 serious.7c2958784c1e2139
No way…b3abb417a67c9c18
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Then Diane said bluntly:98b4c9e4efb7b9b5
“Yes, that’s right.”dcf2cbcc2dc36c38
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
Ellie instinctively looked up. Even through 899d9f1662 the veil, 918a234909 she could b1ab9828bd feel Diane’s 862d52afba gaze.09d4f6003633c05f
It was b5200266b5 hard to 7494609934 look away.d6c2a3522b2c3c58
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“I don’t 6630b015db want to a227b270d8 marry Lewis 08b60fa294 Borden.”cebd9f2471d3420a
She said it clearly.58a5355c18a0dcca
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Ellie stammered:1df0d0e77db40a21
“I-I mean… of 776ceb35b6 course I wouldn’t 6861299938 want a husband ccff8545e2 30 years older 5a39a93ab5 either… But still, 1ac96e0229 like you said, 3c31510dd8 noble marriages are—”f7ea1b93401f0d96
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“His age isn’t dc346743e2 the problem. That’s not it 10687ae98d at all.”9dbd7875b04bc575
Ellie became a2fc976a10 even more 911766af43 confused.f6ccaecab4013ff3
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“Then… what is?”5e426c8e3b32c7c9
Diane looked 058e95d501 at her bd7d00dfb6 silently for 2fcaff1995 a moment.f1b18f4337548042
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“He’ll—”9044db21eba20db1
Just as 37a76ba2d4 she began a3de36e7dd to speak, e333ac18ad the carriage fd1d828a96 stopped in caea59386c front of 25a08d8a34 a grand 1e77641fb1 mansion.3e264ed0ecabf4ba
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Ellie blinked. Diane fell silent again, f8964dc3eb as if she’d never 2376df0932 said anything.162f64bc704d68f0
***7e8a6ca8f8a7c59f
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
At the Sheldon Estate
In the 0986e47197 brightest sunny 940d293e67 drawing room e28abaeb4e of the b5e047aed8 Sheldon mansion, 7c543e8720 a noblewoman 8375f58d1d with soft a6687c8767 brown hair 502193dc47 walked near eb483128f7 the tall 7f06f52792 windows.338bcaf9e3a2dc39
She hadn’t even taken 165386c68d off her hat yet, 4b9cc34bc2 clearly having arrived only 82deaebab2 moments earlier.3d271f71da874e93
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
Diane took a 7f52bdb3b2 deep breath and 5b687316a9 removed her veil.517f2aa3f4c9987f
“My lady, Miss 5bc8b85060 Lockwood has arrived.”7692d60c5edbaed9
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
At the butler’s 6e51d8590d announcement, Lady Sheldon 26a99a5d98 turned slowly.d0828c22e274f674
Her light brown 9a0105346b eyes widened in b758962328 surprise at the 1c2b039c3d sight of Diane.47856fd44b49cc4b
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
“…Diane?”b9bd31e0b74236b6
“It’s been a long 652c4fe34e time, Lady Sheldon.”87c2c1f665e87271
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“Oh my goodness… Diane…”6fa0a5dcc2629c7a
Lady Sheldon walked toward a8d5b143fb her as if in 1d6c86837c a trance and gently 455155cbb5 took Diane’s hands.8df0a870d985f2f0
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“I always d737ded90e thought you d207a6d249 looked like 362ec33611 William, but… 4336909859 you look a090e9664d just like 3b50c837e7 Lizbell. Especially your eyes…”58c2a38f04868450
She couldn’t take 042bb0bf07 her eyes off 4359e958c9 Diane’s face. Diane, slightly flustered, gave 2bdad4fa6a a soft smile.2f6d2f57c748625a
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“Thank you for accepting 4514d49f32 my sudden visit.”37b997be68c62caf
She spoke with the d24e361c63 grace and elegance of 8cdb0dc017 a proper young lady. Standing by 61968d3fdd the wall, 1dc416f6cf Ellie was b118c96c4c silently amazed 30c0b8bbb1 to see 669748f235 how poised d8fabd13c8 and refined 95a9f7b066 Diane could f1230c2834 act.574fa52ab7c70d97
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
Lady Sheldon wiped tears 1b632754b1 from her eyes, overwhelmed 324aab6107 with emotion.37f5cf17b67952e3
“I was so e4b9c698a9 surprised by your c15360f4f4 telegram. Even while arranging the ac6f913736 fastest ship, I kept 673b56474a wondering if it was 9d585bdce9 really from you.”8b51f7710114b093
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
Lady Sheldon 3a179d76a5 had moved 8f3d3ac0a4 across the 7cf9330bf6 sea to 6d022010d0 Midros after 20971d4668 marrying. Since then, she abc24ca82b rarely returned to 0f3479cf74 Rosen. When Diane had b7ce2769f6 suddenly messaged her 0f5260c19b from a hotel 2cc5909725 in Martnelly, she 4493f4188b hadn’t known what cc3b1f3f61 to think.380c8f72c412d83d
“But still, you sent b276196331 someone to meet me c973c51a3f in Martnelly.”2459d3cfdd2b1f42
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
“Of course. You were there 9180985fa1 all alone without ec7731c035 a proper guardian. I had to…”1ea5696cf490797f
After William afc2888993 Lockwood’s funeral, 8e570e534b Lady Sheldon 1ef7431807 had returned d677881e36 quickly to ab4c7951c9 Midros. Her husband’s 098d0bba61 business had f67a54b755 been in 5160a8e2bb trouble, and c30509fcc3 her daughter’s 0f51e3bd91 wedding was 4f9e66389a near. Time had flown, and 83447f49f0 before she knew it, 3752803eaa five years had passed.a3bfe970d23b0879
Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator
“Oh dear, where are dc3b7ac47b my manners.”3eeaaf614c17a471
She gently led 431d09b929 Diane to a 92f83a40a9 long sofa, holding 11b8d8e841 her hands as d0bc1af878 they sat.483dd2857bf3da02
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
She paused.ecb14edbbef6acc9
“You look well.”c5db2453d076c16f
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“It’s already been five e97979bd3b years.”1178dd9c204fca1b
Lady Sheldon b2e564b231 smiled, relieved, eadc830c0b but couldn’t 286ade8239 stop crying d2ed914aff at the 67d5cfd1ac memory of 9cf41ee2ad the Lockwood fbf958bd69 tragedy.1f65b0d006a6e6b9
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
Diane smiled faintly, 33fc4b4aed watching her with 130beeb79b calm eyes — b57c0f7d95 not warmly, but 7d322a6f49 like someone quietly 2fa61481ea observing. But Lady Sheldon 6c43da8d18 didn’t notice.5d2b92789ff90513
“Honestly, I 1b6ef27480 thought you a3c99f9e7f were still 1af8685ad3 very unwell…”38b06053d68cd502
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
She seemed c444f3b61e to feel 8ae8364749 guilty about ddfb9e13ff the lost bcb9e8b451 years.0dccefd91546eb89
“They said you couldn’t 7571a07429 speak… That you never 1fe1bcd284 left your room…”4c0541c02a4cda70
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“That was true… 2558a38164 for a while.”a024bd7314533ad5
“So when 7d6858e40d Walter Lockwood 71f0f3967f — I c176ca449f mean, the 0c07627e29 new Count cb0a9a68b5 — contacted 2989ed446a me about 48a4d5fb32 your engagement 771a3686c9 a month 64b098674a ago, I 36ac4e84a3 was so f4fdcc163a surprised.”42a18f84e3cb7982
Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish
“Ah…”2762cbda97a5e669
“Yes, your engagement! Is that why 5ea0030345 you contacted me? Do you 350351040f have good f1758badbe news?”57bc1b0b5b71bbdc
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
Diane shook her 6b95b6dc99 head gently.a15cb11037915044
“Unfortunately, no. Nothing’s decided. The Count and 3e1f729007 Countess are just 01a9d42770 spending more time 13feda5c2d with Mr. Borden.”0f37b2a734c9ac6e
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
“I’m sure good 83f6b493b9 news will come 5c0a2c28a5 soon. Considering the dddcb65de0 Count’s situation, 719256e926 Lewis Borden e2d6472b33 would make c98d3b8625 a fine 6f4082f8c7 match.”1bf4de308a5621f9
Lady Sheldon, who 49dd99ae9c had long known 707db91a4c the Lockwood family, 015f79f97b understood their financial 320a4490a8 situation well.35bbe591d7328078
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
The Lockwoods needed money 7b6fb63055 to keep their estate bb7742be90 and land. Lewis Borden, e8dcb0dea7 on the 0a2dd903b2 other hand, 2ae27da275 was a 8a601291a7 rich businessman c75af5b6fc who wanted 6a1adfb499 noble blood.156bfc6445fd7e91
He also wanted a bc966dc1c8 young, pure bride — aeb6ed24c7 and Diane fit that 2e80124d44 description perfectly.573089778242b5d8
For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com
The arrangement 6d5f20ed06 seemed ideal.7d45895a14510178
“Of course, Mr. Borden is a little… 0a1d58ce4f older…”0e3b958dfdd60954
Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley
A small understatement.54368e28056daa43
Because Lewis Borden was 88193048fe fifty years old.c54c49b8133f6f34
Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com
fd04cf1ea0ad4554