The Black-haired Noblewoman, Who Disguised Herself, Seems To Have Been Doted On While Serving As The Caretaker For The Duke Who Dislikes Women - Episode 58

He gazed straight at me, slowly approaching. His blue eyes were calm, as if gently wrapping around me.

And.

My husband, who had come right in front of me, gently pulled me close with a completely natural gesture.

Something warm touched the top of my head, which was snugly nestled against my husband’s chest. I sensed Amanda, who was right next to me, gasp.

“What are you doing!? Lord Lloyd! Please ignore that person and come back here. We are still in the middle of our conversation.”

I can hear the voice of the extremely desperate Lady Bracey from over there, but my view is blocked by my husband, so I can’t see anything.

My husband gently releases my body, places his hands softly on my shoulders, and bends down to look into my face.

“Their stories are probably full of lies and deceit, aren’t they?”

“Y-yes…”

“I’m telling you not to lend me your ear!”

My voice answering my husband’s question is overlapped by the hysterical voice of Lady Bracey.

“Tell me one thing. How many days after you left the Count Everly’s house did we meet in that forest?”

“It was that day, my lord. I was thrown out of the Everly Count’s mansion with nothing but the clothes on my back, and I ended up in that forest… And then, I met you, my lord.”

When I honestly answered like that, my husband nodded slightly. Then, as if to protect my shoulder, he hugged me close and turned to look at the long table.

“What on earth do you think you’re doing, holding the maid like that? Everyone is watching, you know. It could lead to all sorts of misunderstandings. Please stop it.”

The Marquis Bracey’s daughter had somehow stood up. Then, with her lips twitching and veins bulging, she reproached her husband.

However, my husband held me even tighter and boldly declared.

“Why should I take orders from a complete stranger like you? You should be the one to watch your mouth. You’ve been making baseless assumptions and snide remarks for a while now, and it’s truly unbearable to listen to.”

“Wh…at!!”

At the words of my husband, who bluntly stated so, Lady Bracey opened her eyes wide and furrowed her brows deeply. However, my husband, showing no sign of concern, continued to hold me close and called out to the last seat.

“Countess Everly. I have something to ask you.”

“!! Uh… Anything you need, Your Grace the Duke of Harrington.”

Suddenly, when Lord called out to Countess Everly by name, she flinched for a moment and then quietly responded, trying to cover up her surprise. Padma, who was sitting next to her, was also staring intently at Lord’s face.

“You were just saying that you had been raising this Michelle with great care, but the day she left your mansion and met me in the forest, she was dressed in a way that made her look nothing like a noble lady. She was wearing a worn and dirty servant’s dress, and her beautiful hair was pitch black, as if she were a completely different person. It was as if she were deliberately hiding her hair color for some reason.”

The faces of Countess Everly and Padma stiffened. At the same time, a slight murmur escaped from the women around them.

“Even the attendant who was with me mistook her for a beggar because of her appearance. Moreover, when we brought her back to this mansion and immediately showed her to a doctor after she lost consciousness, she was diagnosed with severe malnutrition. The doctor said at that time that Michelle probably hadn’t had enough to eat for a long period of time. …What on earth does this mean?”

“Th-that is……”

Countess Everly’s eyes began to dart around conspicuously. No one was looking at me anymore. All the gazes in the salon were now directed towards Countess Everly.

I saw Padma swallow hard. The Countess was moving her gaze restlessly, clearing her throat softly, and slightly parting and closing her lips.

“I… I don’t understand. We thought we were providing a life without any inconveniences, but…”

“I see. Well then, that’s fine. I’ll hear the rest of the story from Michelle.”

“Lord Lloyd!!”

As my husband started walking towards the door with me, the high-pitched scream of the Bracey Marquis’s daughter was hurled at him. When he tried to ignore it and leave the salon, the former Duchess of Harrington called out to him softly.

“Lloyd…”

“The tea party is over, Mother. I’ll leave the greetings to everyone to you.”

My husband turned around and said that, then stepped out the door while still holding my shoulder.