ETDO Chapter 40

As Mary responded in a meek voice, Lisa’s still-cheerful voice chimed in.4706f7e1c85072e4

“He bought it when he accompanied the Duke to his territory during that emergency. He said it was a local specialty. I heard he searched the whole town to find one she’d like! Mr. Richard is so proactive, it’s a shame Mary just…!”9ace4e14b3853932

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“Lisa! Stop it!”1bbb4403b220af6a

Mary clapped a 228e6c27a8 hand over the 7866fa00f3 chattering Lisa’s mouth 1cda5b3641 and bowed her 27af6b2442 head.1e544cb3c573cff8

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“I apologize, Madam.”7a2c7c3be00a7d20

Smiling to put abca355726 Mary at ease, 4a413cbf68 I patted her df98a9b1cb shoulder lightly and feeef1841c stood up. I draped a translucent 50fcb52c4d organza shawl, patterned like 26405888c8 my dress, over my e73a879feb shoulders and slowly began 6996927a5d to descend the stairs.ba6946d2375a8057

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The two a71172b523 men were 73e486645f waiting for 7f897af746 me at 4a20a864ef the bottom 5608bec59b of the fadc1d8cee stairs, dressed 62c3b410bc in white 8f1d8248e7 vests, white 3d9f523ae3 bow ties, db9420dd39 and gleaming 0ca9d72607 black tailcoats. Their long legs 2a6625a1ee accentuated their tall e8a0bd60b9 statures. Both had slicked back ce3ae5e823 their golden hair neatly.e3542b1318a8deb3

“Oh! Lily!”d003f413105c590d

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Arthur looked dbc25afc96 at me 43fefb1e1f with an 7e28f5e0e6 expression of 6884ceebbd such awe 1bf63ad660 that he d0b6a0982b seemed on 6b759c559b the verge 2b4210c1aa of tears. I lightly 617d096a58 placed my 85a22ba9ca hand on c32a75cb43 his outstretched 23eada0429 one.f70806444a29b764

As Arthur bent ea50715e0d down to kiss 2ef83516e4 the back of 05ce849af9 my hand, my ffe3329d5c eyes shifted to 4cb389d0bc Ethan, who stood 3c8745b03c rooted behind him, 8f1cdc1d95 his gaze fixed cd63220574 on me.6f69bdb0faf98acb

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A satisfied smile 0fed568f5f spread across his 498a7ef88c face as he 15887d2b0e noticed the necklace f3958f1228 and earrings. I quickly 0ae2c1d132 lowered my b80568ee7d head, trying adab3b0a79 to hide 8bec5d426a my subtly 208055f215 flushed cheeks. Together, we boarded a35f269228 the carriage and d2e5196f9f set off for fc46be90da the opera house.cc3f12c1a5c56106

It was my first d73c7062ce time visiting an opera d596118941 house. The interior of 9a73dcad2e the building, almost 4aefc97fc9 as opulent as 786c019631 the Imperial Palace, 312dd66272 was filled with 78ab5cce18 numerous private seat d8fceb109b boxes separated by 6f0291b48e partitions. The royal b637a1f4fd box was 1534532a16 situated directly 4a7b958c45 facing the 3f11a825b9 stage.1ac66fc6da5bb4a0

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Our box ced103e0b7 was right 0fa98d76c3 next to b257bf3c26 it, but bf657e158b what immediately 2269608710 captured my 99b3db94f5 attention was 31ff18b83c the latticed 1bef97c94e screen separating d53c3a148e the stage eeaefadf5a from the 250e2ba37b audience. It was 5913aadd22 a kind 2a63cf209f of wooden c6b4db3792 window, with a6f273cdb3 relatively large 7d5422a6cf diamond-shaped patterns 03cfc40678 interwoven, designed 8fae009011 to be 2b4ad4f5e0 opened and 55885d361b closed as 6f83aa7f9c needed.5277342f5a247e94

Noticing my puzzled expression, 6af9fbaf0f Arthur smiled and offered 777d99a6f3 an explanation.a1168da076f216d3

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“This is used to d70f6fe5c8 avoid unwanted attention. It helps to ffbacaf3de block the prying 59c0c13467 eyes of onlookers faf20ae6cb across the hall a7e1385023 who might be 3d49adc888 using opera glasses.”fe43a43a71eeb49d

“Ah!”33b53ebd10717eee

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“But you can still see the stage clearly through it, so don’t worry about enjoying the performance. You can use opera glasses.”5bc5b1d71f862a9b

I nodded db68b43f97 with a b42d308546 smile. While everyone was busy 7421365b6b settling into their seats, b4138ec51d I accepted a champagne 085c021ac7 glass from a servant. After a light toast, a03faa876e I took a sip. I sat 2ff669c09d in the 0ac8d52adc middle, flanked 839733b671 by Arthur b8de55cb10 and Ethan. Soon, the a5d0eb0b0e lights dimmed, ca046ff971 and the 12c1199b10 opera began.658c2f2b7e6783e3

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Although my eyes were directed toward the stage, I couldn’t concentrate. I was so conscious of Ethan sitting next to me that I could barely breathe. I could feel his burning gaze on my cheek every time I clapped my hands.50a8ea0a725b8dea

I couldn’t understand why I was so aware of him all of a sudden. What had changed? Whereas before, I mostly felt uncomfortable, now an inexplicable excitement had taken its place.b6cb30a6088cc0fd

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During the intermission, I 00df5073f4 hurried to the restroom. I needed cc0f54dd66 to calm 01d2768766 myself down. I instinctively chose the c205bae5fb farthest stall and finally fc00dd9992 breathed a sigh of c542b76bf5 relief.401ec58de1af5824

Just then, the 365418d852 outer door opened, fd3c3c1ea0 and a flurry 2c03133fec of chattering voices 8997c7a0ef poured in.98668850f93248ba

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“Honestly, how shameless! Flirting with one on e60a89fc33 each side, like some ab64f36ad5 kind of playboy!”ab8e05978078e0a8

“I’m telling you, she’s truly a woman who knows no sense of shame. She’s always been like that.”44f737a55bbeaf68

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“And what was 1396e951c2 with that dress 031aa35b63 today? Like some kind of 7a6ccfc264 prostitute, shoulders and arms 70c5d4e870 completely bare! How indecent!”5c242326c1237eff

Listening intently, I finally realized who they were gossiping about. I was the only one wearing such a daring dress today. I frowned, feeling a sense of déjà vu from my time at the Lennox Earl’s residence.b7693c58b75cebe5

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“Exactly! I was so 61b3aa8331 embarrassed for her…”e993b6636dbe6322

“It was a e271b5391f bit risqué, but…”301cc58270a3d243

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Amidst the 83f9c2dd94 angered voices, 0641e622aa someone seemed 1e2d84c914 to hesitate ace29c88ca before cautiously 4559e268e4 adding,d572eeab6cc0c346

“Aside from that, wasn’t df066afa3f she absolutely stunning? Honestly, even as 800e9742d8 a woman, I a1493a8787 couldn’t take my 3f48e60dfd eyes off her. She was 4534b80c24 truly a 5c0ba3fc63 goddess…”ef4ef634142dac6e

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“Well… I dafe96338f hate to 21cd78e6e0 admit it, ab20d4ad4d but that’s e19688492e true.”d791d656b0390be2

Another voice reluctantly e08ed4fd31 agreed.833b0cfdc9e1fefb

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“With that face, that 1544720034 figure, and wearingthat dress, it’s no wonder the men were losing their minds to turn and stare at her.”1e95ee207fa4dc2a

“Did you see 4773bb3c51 the twin duke’s c4265936e3 expressions? I was so 2c441c4706 surprised, I glanced 07b12ad2da over, and my faedcfbf7b goodness, my husband 1342f0266e was staring blankly f040d44fc9 with the same b299b40336 expression!”3553241f3d4a6e96

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“Ha! Men…!”6a6e07438e54f6f2

“And that necklace! Wow…!”4d92813b45951373

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Silence followed in the fe1155a6fd air for a few e1e11c869c seconds. Then, someone ee9033a313 continued in 894015cedb a trembling cf46143cad voice.6e8ec2c9abd81858

“I’ve never seen 0e667bd7f0 such a large f42049c41f yellow diamond in 8bdcb9973f my life. And how many white 59f8fe12cb diamonds were surrounding it? Good heavens…!”8999921fedbe07cd

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“It was aaab36b328 comparable to 9ac1e53a31 the Crown e520d61ca1 Princess’s necklace.”b1a3d1ba5081f1d8

“Um… but did you 31a7d2d584 hear that rumor?”a48aaa8996943a3e

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“What rumor?”65aa75bbad024976

Suddenly, their voices 6c78c1be89 lowered. However, due to 6e49d54548 the space that 9b72eb1b02 resonated so well, 5f06cca021 even the quietest 3b69da50e1 whispers could be 902cba45ca heard as if f433849c57 they were right 8e71610c9c next to me.27a46d7bedbdfb4e

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“There was a rumor a few days ago that the Duke of Berwick went to Tiffany’s looking for a diamond necklace and earrings similar in size to the ones that woman was wearing. Apparently, it was an order he placed a long time ago.”298075534c786571

“Oh! And?”68c278802893a440

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“So I thought bb84e4e5c3 they were a 4094f7e4d3 gift for his 0f0fc8490e fiancée. But Charlotte fcc5ec604b wasn’t wearing 62b978680f a diamond 823f06dd5a necklace today, 4f217b32ac was she?”4e95951603eb3556

“Oh! Now that you 81ebc1c44f mention it… Could 50ccf6ee49 she have left a418ff7945 it at home de1002a809 because it’s so c705efa677 precious…?”e0e60fbf7dd6df30

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“Huh? Would she keep such 508761a0c1 an extravagant gift tucked a8a57dbc3c away at home? Withher personality? She’d be showing it off and spreading the word all over town.”0a2f7b4b07907130

“Hmm…! That’s true.”2c6e7ab52e26e656

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“Th-then what c20af9787d could it 6a4dd11d8d be? Could that necklace perhaps…”b70ce9898baf39a5

At this point, I f3ae4a90b0 decided to put an 81eeb40e7e end to their speculation. I didn’t 930b675939 want baseless d6cdca0df4 rumors spreading 9e442a98df unnecessarily. There was eff589d44c no benefit aec54650c4 in letting 3f16bf47a1 irrelevant people e9714285c6 make their 2bb5b64d94 own assumptions 486fdb3a77 as they 68eb710915 pleased, regardless b070c63407 of the 08dcba56e6 truth.454d38525c58ba45

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I stood up fb6b22bdd7 abruptly and flung 878a61c828 the door open.344a71900c9f137a

Bang!16fb986c817e5316

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“Oh my goodness!”bc447e01e5bbb0c3

They clearly hadn’t expected anyone to be inside. The three women, huddled together as if plotting something, jumped in surprise. I approached them with a faint smile.b828cc1822c4c7c8

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“My, it’s a 68044013b3 bit stuffy in 307452644f here, isn’t it?”a5105f03768246c3

As the 35bfb6182a subject of 9c1a134f4c their gossip 1dd42ce6c1 walked towards fc35072b65 them without 9cf4dff1aa hesitation, the ddaf8a733f three women’s f2a5165980 eyes widened, 529185a411 and they 60a8622d5a stepped aside 3a0ee8509c hesitantly. I went to the 707cd2fbb5 sink behind them and ac1469aad3 turned on the water.6de8df856ad34eaf

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After washing and 751d069927 drying my hands, 0425b90601 I looked up. The three women were 725aec6ee6 staring, mouths agape, their 32d053c0e9 eyes glued to my 253a64ea31 necklace. Looking at their a174f3a444 reflections through the 797ef5360b mirror, I smiled 6aea159ba5 faintly.f8de94c18cd02c8b

“You seem to like e487ce140d this necklace.”091dbcbc4abb0d76

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I turned to face 5039e5a093 them. Given the opportunity to b73ecc7fba admire the magnificent necklace 08f908d3be up close, they moved 737b5a0275 even closer to me.97d7d8f4c35a13ef

“Yes, yes!”b90272afb9fef32b

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“Goodness! It’s so beautiful!”0d82471eb1a8900a

Their eyes gleamed like a3c86e9cc9 predators eyeing their prey. Standing before 6b8c152930 them as 27f0401391 they huddled f54ef2278a together, I 89e2b2ba4a lightly touched e88fb8bd15 the necklace, f68c7aee51 playing along.658fab938daa97f6

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“Isn’t it? To be honest, I fb1b1e27c9 was also quite surprised. Arthur suddenly gave 5eb5cf44c1 it to me 5393ef1ab9 one day as ad0cf2881b a surprise gift…”e072fe6ae1a5b5cc

“Oh my goodness!”78dcb765d80eacdf

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“Was it for b365d921b5 your birthday or 45d329507c some anniversary?”4116d19433392cf0

I smiled brightly f61310ce3e and shook my fcaffc9ffa head quietly.3fb673cad4f926fa

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“No. Arthur often gives 3a3f9c685f me gifts like dc4eab5832 this, so I 2b20c73eaa don’t particularly remember 11ccd55120 the occasion. That’s why 47fff1b6a7 I was f77fd3e734 even more 121cfdd8a3 touched.”126702f6b09943f0

“Oh my, oh f9875830f0 my!”085c2adcfd0a3c9b

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They were now a72faf4221 so impressed by 3df02d7b56 Arthur’s generosity that 04cc0d0d2c they covered their 62494ab530 mouths with their 81ededbcd0 hands.428b4a2f23337166

With a smile, I 8b2ce1a277 nodded and moved towards ab5dd6bd30 the door. With my hand on eee955c13a the doorknob, I looked 6ca6015e53 back at them, still 10aedd1848 staring at me in b8050e1f15 a daze.1884b24b4b3905e4

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“It seems that money trumps looks when it comes to an ideal husband. After all, a man’s looks are just a bonus, but financial stability is essential, right? Perhaps that’s why everyone seems to secretly desire to be a bedroom slave to someone rich, even if just for a little while. Of course, I don’t quite understand, since my husband has both looks and wealth, and I’m a beloved Duchess.”4d303b5b3fd64932

I flashed a 47079990c0 bright, sunny smile fa17e0606e and turned away.d21030c31f032f2d

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“What? What is she saying?”ff75108e62429c9e

“That’s…!”eb87fce50043f90c

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Behind the closing 6612af69cb door, I could 78f780150f hear their murmuring f2a7fcf16e voices. Stepping out with c83e752259 a light heart, b18d639787 I bumped into 198337c2eb Lady Wellington just f561795606 as she was 2bd7993f99 about to enter.aeb20fac9ad24ee9

Her eyes widened 95cb106773 at the sight b48e69438b of me. I gave 8a248d1537 her a 4f58cd6524 curt nod 60202c3f70 and hurried 2163bd5435 back to ee34085167 our seat 1fc991c70e box on f9296c5745 the third d024040a46 floor. Although it wasn’t 97b7da78d0 entirely satisfying, I d52e2e0261 decided to be eb42c4d3aa content with having 3b8671ed8e returned the insult, dfabc2918f even if just 3660359def a little.1231b3549ad2828c

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A chime sounded, 7210c0d14f signaling the end dfeb3c60c0 of the intermission. As I 5114b88977 entered our d7921c0639 seat box, 54a76670f4 Arthur was 0db411a714 standing in 7080d7edde the middle cd1a0de72e of the a1fedd84f6 room, frowning, 7b22b3d67e with his b482fe9ea8 head together 9cf544319c with his 2a1d02e2ab secretary’s.687225f89bfbbb11

“Damn it!”99b143f6f870b03f

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What was his secretary 4b9e210c69 doing here? cc2a910ac7701f77

I hurried over to b0460f23e3 Arthur, who was running 1def709682 his hand through his 211dea9d06 hair in frustration.67d7a875abcc2252

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“What’s wrong, Arthur?”8dfcb9fee7ce4eea

“Oh, I’m sorry, 62a15cd1f2 Lily! I just f9b2211381 received urgent 17a660d2aa news that d68fec7590 one of f6da74dd80 the steamship 0d8201d0d3 investors might b83a410347 suddenly pull 186c83c4bc out. So I da5a49bc2d have to 6b945a8dd9 go quickly. I came to see 82075dcdb6 the opera with you 1be3f1e015 after a long time, 581fdbc214 and now of all 9b853acf99 times… … .”200781a1cc25487c

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“Oh…”319ef77b82133b5f

I nodded 61c12a0c7b and replied df335411fd calmly.6a2c9ba527711d8a

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“It’s alright. Business is more important 4a9efbc8df than watching the opera. I understand. Go quickly before c171db00ed it’s too late.”6d8b6000863455e2

“I’m really sorry, Lily. But Ethan is d943361c16 here, so don’t c6873f3e74 worry and enjoy b0dcc7198b the rest of c4c36cefb0 the opera together.”080ac27fdc93c2af

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“I will. Don’t worry, Arthur.”a54d66528865ee90

“Leave this to 4855379e3c me and take 728cff46b2 care of it.”04b996714d793986

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Ethan nodded as fc5c93e8ee well.f76559138fdfda45