Chapter 14

Susan's condition showed no improvement; she lay in bed day after day. The only consolation was that her spirits remained relatively high. As the weather gradually cooled, indicating the end of the harsh summer, Susan felt a bit more comfortable. Leaning against the bedpost, she said to Mike, "This child will be born in the fall, and the increasingly cold weather will welcome him. It's worrisome."

She used male pronouns, eagerly hoping for a boy.

Mike nodded agreeably. "He will be well taken care of, I assure you."

But Susan hadn't called Mike over just for this.

The Hild family hadn't received any letters from Luther for a long time. Jennifer had long since given up hope. "He doesn't seem to love me. It was probably just a whim or a joke," she said. Fortunately, she had no deep feelings for Luther and wasn't too disappointed.

However, the baroness thought differently.

"Luther will honor the engagement," she said with great certainty, as if she could already see their wedding day. Perhaps due to her illness and spending all her time at home, Susan had become somewhat mystical, often holding the hands of the young ladies and saying strange things. Jennifer and the others, initially worried, had grown accustomed to it and no longer took their mother's words seriously.

"Just consider it nonsense," the young ladies had privately told Mike.

But Luther was indeed on his way back.

"He's coming back, Mike. It's just a matter of days," Susan said excitedly upon receiving a letter after so many days. "They must have the wedding here, at Hild Manor!"

"But your health..." Mike began, but Susan cut him off. "It doesn't matter!"

"I want to see Jennifer get married while I'm still alive. Dear cousin, you must fulfill this dying woman's wish!"

Susan's eyes had a wild look that frightened Mike. "Please, don't say such things!"

"My dear cousin, I promise you."

"As soon as Luther arrives, I will do everything in my power to facilitate his marriage to Jennifer."

After this exchange, Susan seemed finally at peace. Mike left her room and, closing the door behind him, let out a long sigh.

If he had been hesitating about whether to tell Susan about Baron Hild and Vincent, he now decided to remain silent.

She could bear no more burdens.

Before Luther arrived, Mike visited the town priest to discuss some related matters. He also found Baron Hild at Mrs. Green's house. Though the baron had seldom been home since Susan fell ill, he was still concerned about his eldest daughter's marriage and promised to fund a respectable wedding.

"Oh, Mike, you and Mr. Thomas... hmm?" After discussing the important matters, the baron gave Mike a knowing look, the kind men share when discussing secrets.

Mike's face instantly turned cold.

"Hahaha!" The baron laughed heartily. "Gentlemen have a tacit understanding about such things. Many have had same-sex affairs before marriage; there's no need to feel embarrassed."

He patted Mike's shoulder firmly, like a father to his son or a brother to his sibling.

"Mr. Thomas is young and handsome, set to inherit a dukedom, and very gentle with his lovers. You two probably had a quarrel. Men need their diversions, after all. You, being a man, should understand."

The baron continued his unsolicited advice.

Mike's expression grew even darker.

Luther arrived on a rainy morning.

He looked as handsome as ever, with raindrops on his cloak appearing almost like tiny jewels. "Good day, Mr. Roshar," Luther greeted warmly, his manner familiar as if he had never left the manor.

"Good day, Mr. MacLeod," Mike responded politely, adding apologetically, "Baron Hild had some urgent business to attend to. I'm afraid you won't be able to see him until this evening."

"That's quite all right. After all, we'll soon be family," Luther replied without a hint of displeasure, expressing his desire to visit the baroness first. Informed of his arrival, the baroness brightened up and decided to freshen up, sending a maid to ask the two gentlemen to wait in the small parlor.

Mike also had the maid notify the young ladies.

"The morning rain was quite heavy," Mike said, assuming the role of host in the baron's absence.

"Yes," Luther agreed with a smile. "Fortunately, there was some shelter, so I didn't get too wet—just a bit of spray."

"How is your mother's illness?" Mike inquired, his tone serious.

Luther's smile faded, replaced by a somber expression. Mike straightened in his seat, sensing the gravity of the situation.

"She was too ill and has passed away," Luther said heavily.

"Oh, my goodness!" a woman's voice exclaimed.

Both Mike and Luther stood up as the baroness entered the parlor. Her hair was neatly done, and she wore a black dress that accentuated her prominent belly. Her maid, Lucy, carefully supported her. "Madam," Mike moved to assist her, but Luther was quicker, gently helping her to the sofa.

"Oh, Luther, I am truly sorry," the baroness said, dabbing at her eyes with a handkerchief. "May God bless her soul."

"Yes, madam. My mother is now in God's grace," Luther replied solemnly.

Due to his mother's sudden passing, Luther had been preoccupied with funeral arrangements, hence the long silence. Now that everything was settled, he had returned to Hild Manor to fulfill his engagement.

"May I ask, is your father not coming?" Mike interjected, somewhat brusquely.

Luther apologized, "My mother's death was a great blow to my father. He couldn't bear the journey. He is very eager for me to marry soon and bring Jennifer home."

"Of course, that is understandable," the baroness agreed, though Mike felt a pang of sorrow. Jennifer was his most beloved niece, and he hated the thought of her moving so far away.

However, such sentiments couldn't serve as an obstacle.

Jennifer and Luther's wedding plans were set in motion.

After meeting Luther briefly, Susan returned to her bed to rest but remained in good spirits. The doctor noted an improvement in her condition. Baron Hild returned home to oversee the wedding arrangements. Everything seemed to be moving in a positive direction.

Hild Manor began to host a stream of guests, with Mike, as the baroness's cousin, sharing the hosting duties with the baron. Vincent visited briefly, but Mike, swamped with responsibilities, exchanged only a few pleasantries with him. Vincent did not linger.

It seemed their affair had completely ended.

On the eve of the wedding, Andrew proposed to Vivian. He had been courting her for a long time, but Vivian had postponed their marriage until after Susan's delivery. Perhaps inspired by Jennifer's impending nuptials, Vivian finally accepted Andrew's proposal.

Andrew's father was a chief justice, wealthy and socially prominent. Overall, Andrew was an excellent match.

"I am so happy, truly," Susan said from her bed, her face glowing. "If only Andrew had proposed earlier, they might have had a double wedding!"

"I am so happy, Mike."