HOMA18CL 13

Chapter 13: The Lingering Smile

At the mention of his acquaintance with the Countess of Rendmond, the complexions of Thomas Clarke and his wife noticeably darkened.

“No… no. You must be mistaken. How could you have visited Lady Rendmond? The Lady I know is not someone of the status that a person like you would know…”

“Doesn’t the Countess have two large moles below her right ear? And a small one on the right side of her chin, too?”

When Sir Daniel Burke accurately described the Countess’s physical features, Thomas and his wife clamped their mouths shut. Seeing their expressions, Sir Burke chuckled loudly.

“Hahaha. Judging by your faces, I must be right. Actually, Lady Rendmond is a distant relative of my father. We lived close by before she became a Countess, so we visited often.”

Thomas’s eyes grew wide.

“Wha—what? A relative? Is that really true?”

“Yes. And there’s one more very interesting fact.”

“?”

“Lady Rendmond actually offered the position of Estate Superintendent to my brother and me last year when it became vacant. My brother firmly declined. I also declined. We both felt we lacked the competence to properly carry out the duties of such a large estate superintendent. I told the Lady that it would be better to find someone else, and for that person to be Thomas Clarke… Haha. What a strange turn of fate.”

A subtle smile appeared on Tae-oh’s lips. In the 18th century, just as in the 21st, the power of personal connections was extraordinary. Those with great power, like an Earl, held not only management rights over land and farms but also various appointment powers. If they so desired, they could bestow land or positions under the guise of patronage. For this reason, many people clung to the powerful to secure that connection, and Thomas was one of them.

But now, the relative of Lady Rendmond—the pinnacle of his connections—had appeared before Thomas. Thomas and his wife, who had swaggered in like predators to claim their prey, had become the fox that walked right into the tiger’s den.

A small groan escaped Thomas’s lips.

“Ugh…”

The tables had instantly turned on Thomas and his wife, who had been arbitrarily wielding an unseen sword of power. That sword was now firmly grasped in Sir Daniel Burke’s hand.

Sir Burke looked at Baron Clarke, who was lying in bed, and continued.

“I heard from the Lady that the position of Superintendent varies greatly depending on the location of the estate. I was told that the area Mr. Thomas Clarke is taking on is under very good conditions.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“Yes. But neither my brother nor I had ever held such a high-ranking position, and managing and supervising the entire estate is no small feat, so we firmly declined. But to think that the position has now gone to your nephew, Father, what could be a greater blessing? Hahaha.”

Baron Clarke nodded and looked at Thomas.

“Indeed. For the Lady to offer such great patronage, you are truly blessed, Thomas.”

“Ah… yes. Th—that’s right.”

Sir Burke suddenly turned back toward Thomas.

“I believe the house provided to the Superintendent is also incredibly grand, even larger than most London townhouses? Isn’t that right?”

Thomas had a forced smile, but his eyes were not laughing. Seeing Thomas’s expression, Tae-oh scoffed internally.

‘Heh heh… Thomas Clarke is feeling a strong fear of Sir Burke.’

Fear is the instinctive emotion that appears in preparation for something outside one’s control. After the death of his uncle, Baron Clarke, the remaining daughters were merely easy targets for Thomas to deal with. And the prospective son-in-law brought by the eldest daughter, judging by his attire, was assumed to be no different and was treated with contempt. On the other hand, Lady Rendmond was someone Thomas had to revere even more than his Lord. The appearance of her relative as a potential son-in-law instilled a truly tremendous fear in Thomas Clarke.

Thomas’s plan was to immediately kick out the five daughters and renovate the house to rent it out as soon as his uncle passed away. He already had a much bigger and better house and land, sponsored by Lady Rendmond, and he would be respected as the Manager/Superintendent of the Earl’s estate.

“What… what did you just ask?”

“I asked if the house the Lady is bestowing is an exceptionally fine one.”

Sir Daniel Burke was no longer smiling. The cold face of the smile-less Sir Burke was a warning that carried more meaning than words to Thomas.

‘If that fellow were to run to the Lady and tell her that I plan to seize the house and kick out all the daughters the moment the Baron dies…’

Cold sweat ran down Thomas’s back. In this era, reputation and rumors were the most important virtues for nobles. This was even more true for a Manager/Superintendent overseeing an Earl’s most important assets.

‘How much effort have I put in to secure this Superintendent position?’

Thomas had practically groveled before Lady Rendmond. The Lady viewed Thomas as a moral and compassionate man and had given him the Superintendent position. However, the moment this potential son-in-law revealed what had happened here, the enraged Lady would undoubtedly strip him of the honor and wealth he had so painstakingly acquired.

Thomas nervously darted his eyes around, trying to figure out how to escape the situation. Although this mansion and land were worth a good amount, they paled in comparison to the benefits he would enjoy as the Manager/Superintendent of the estate sponsored by the Lady.

‘I must keep my wits about me! Hesitating here means the end. If I don’t show a clear sign of compassion right now, it will be impossible to recover later.’

He quickly calculated that even if that fellow were to run to the Lady today and badmouth him, showing a decisive action here and now could serve as a sufficient excuse to counter the claims. But he had to act immediately. Only then could he retaliate by claiming it was a misunderstanding caused by the potential son-in-law.

Thomas lowered his voice and addressed the Baron.

“Ahem-ahem, Uncle. The truth is, the reason I dropped by without notice today was because I had something urgent to discuss.”

“Is that so? What is it you have to tell me?”

Everyone, including Baron Clarke, focused their attention on Thomas.

“Ahem-ahem. By law of inheritance, I am the rightful heir and will have authority over this house and land in the future. So, I hurried here to convey my firm intentions regarding that authority.”

“….?”

“I am soon to begin work as the Estate Superintendent for the Earl. Since there are many benefits, as well as a fine home, bestowed by the Earl, this mansion and land hold no great meaning for me. Therefore, I intend to rent this house out for free so that my younger cousins can continue to use it comfortably—at least until all the girls are married and leave the house.”

Mrs. Thomas Clarke, who had been listening silently next to him, was so shocked that she shrieked.

“No, you! Are you cra—Aargh!”

Thump—

Thomas stomped hard on his wife’s foot to silence her and continued speaking.

“In fact, I had an architect look around the house the other day because I was preparing to give a small gift to the children who will have to live here for a long time. Oh, and I will, of course, arrange for all the harvest from the land to cover their living expenses.”

“……”

Baron Clarke and his five daughters stared blankly at Thomas, their eyes wide with surprise.

At that moment, Sir Burke smiled and offered a suggestion.

“Mr. Thomas Clarke. These young ladies here love to read. Since you’ve already decided to renovate the house, I suggest you also build a wonderful little library for them.”

“Uh… huh? R-right, ahaha… that’s… a good idea.”

Sir Burke then said to Baron Clarke.

“Father, I will relay this generous event exactly as it happened to Lady Rendmond. I was planning to visit the Lady myself next week to invite her to my wedding, anyway. She is a very compassionate woman by nature and will be delighted to hear this beautiful story.”

It was Sir Daniel Burke’s final, decisive move. His words weighed more heavily on Thomas than a stack of legally binding contracts.

Baron Clarke clapped his hands in agreement.

“Yes, yes. Be sure to do that. Be sure to boast to the Lady about our Thomas’s generosity. How could there be such a happy turn of events? Ha ha.”

Thomas and his wife, who had entered feeling elated, were now dejected, while the Baron’s family was filled with great joy. The five sisters were relieved of the fear of having to leave their beloved home for a difficult life, and Baron Clarke put down his worry about his daughters being left homeless after his death.

‘Heh heh. To think the Lady was a close relative of Sir Burke. I simply brought two compatible people together, but things are working out so providentially, like fate.’

Tae-oh couldn’t help but smile at the sight of Thomas and his wife walking out with slumped shoulders.

◈ A Month Later.

In late February 1776, a rare warm day.

Daniel Burke and Sarah Clarke’s modest and beautiful wedding was held quietly at a country villa. The Countess of Rendmond, delighted at the news of Sir Burke’s marriage, lent him one of her own villas for the wedding and covered a significant portion of the expenses.

Many acquaintances attended the wedding, including Baron Clarke, who endured his ailing health to be there. Of course, Tae-oh, the key figure in the marriage, was also present. Thomas and his wife, who attended the wedding, were constantly on edge, worried that their past behavior might be revealed whenever Lady Rendmond spoke warmly with Sir Burke.

Towards the end of the joyous and happy wedding ceremony, the day’s protagonists, Sarah and Daniel, ascended the center of the stage, hand-in-hand. To the accompaniment of sweet music, they began to dance slowly, gazing into each other’s eyes.

♪~♬♪~♪♪~♬~

Baron Clarke wiped away tears, overcome with emotion at the sight of his lovely daughter and son-in-law, while the younger sisters sincerely wished their eldest sister a happy future.

Five Days Later.

Baron Robert Clarke’s Bedroom.

The five daughters surrounded Baron Clarke’s bed, their eyes filled with tears, looking down at their father. Below the bed, the family’s butler and servants, along with a dozen acquaintances, including Tae-oh, Lord Carrington, and Viscount Monson, kept watch with grief-stricken faces.

“…Father.”

Sarah, kneeling, called out to the Baron with a trembling voice.

Baron Clarke offered a faint smile.

“Yes… my eldest daughter. You were truly beautiful like an angel on your wedding day… This father now has no regrets… even in death.”

“Sob—Father…”

Baron Clarke loved to read and had always said that he wanted to be reading even at the moment of his death. Remembering this, his daughters decided to gather and read a book to him on his last day, just as they had in their happier days.

Sarah wiped her tears and signaled to Elizabeth, the second daughter. Elizabeth nodded and began to read a passage from Locke’s “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding,” a book the Baron had always loved, her voice slightly trembling.

“The understanding, like the eye, whilst it makes us see and perceive all other things, takes no notice of itself… The last resort a man has recourse to in his conduct is his understanding. Sobs…”

As Elizabeth read in a voice choked with tears, Baron Clarke’s lips were silently mimicking the words. Throughout the reading, quiet sobs could be heard echoing around the bedroom. At the phrase “last resort,” tears streamed down the eyes of all five daughters.

“Daniel… Daniel…”

Baron Clarke, short of breath, called his son-in-law’s name.

“Yes, Father.”

As Sir Daniel Burke rushed to the bedside, the Baron squeezed his hand with his last bit of strength. He struggled to utter the words in a frail voice.

“Daniel, I… I am proud of you. Thank you… for becoming my son-in-law. Please… please take pity on my daughter… and my precious children… and look after them… in my place… I will never forget… your kindness… even in Heaven.”

“Don’t worry, Father. I will take responsibility for my sisters-in-law… to the very end… in your place.”

The Baron’s lips parted slightly, but he seemed to lack the strength to speak further. He gazed into the distance for a moment, then looked at his acquaintances standing below the bed one by one, giving an almost imperceptible nod. Finally, his eyes met Tae-oh’s, and he mouthed something with a faint smile.

Tae-oh bowed his head, paying his deep respects.

A moment later…

“Father! Father!”

“Waaah!”

“Daddy! No!”

“Master! Sob—“

Five days after successfully completing his eldest daughter Sarah’s wedding. Baron Robert Clarke quietly closed his eyes, surrounded by his loving daughters, son-in-law, and acquaintances. Loud wails erupted everywhere, and Sarah collapsed, weeping bitterly. Sir Burke held his wife close, comforting her. The 8-year-old youngest daughter kept trying to push herself into her father’s chest, and the maids struggled to gently pull her away, choking back their own tears.

Amidst the surrounding grief, Tae-oh’s gaze rested on the corner of Baron Clarke’s mouth. When he first met the Baron, his smile had quickly vanished, buried by worry and anxiety. But today, a faint smile lingered until his very last moment.

‘His greatest worries… are all gone now. That’s a true relief.’

The worry and anxiety that had always weighed down the Baron’s heart since his terminal diagnosis had vanished, allowing him to close his eyes peacefully with a smile.

A final moment comes for every human being. And witnessing it is never easy. But for this man, Tae-oh sincerely thanked God that he could be sent off with a little happiness in his heart.