MWAMHR |CHAPTER 29

Chapter 29

Perhaps his talk with Derek had cooled his temper a little, for Count Leslie no longer kept Elissa locked away in her bedchamber.

Still, he did not lift her ban on going out. 

So when Elissa told him she planned to attend the Amore River boating festival with Derek Grenville, the count’s face lit up and he said:
“That day, you don’t have to come home.”

What in the world was that supposed to mean?

As Elissa stood there, dumbfounded, the count patted her shoulder and left. 

The countess, too, embraced her tightly, declaring it was wonderful news.

What on earth is wrong with everyone?

Baffled though she was, the days rolled by, and the promised date arrived.

The rendezvous wasn’t until five in the afternoon, yet from early morning the manor’s maids came to her laden with dresses and accessories.

“What’s all this?”

“My lady ordered us to make you as beautiful as possible.”

“There’s really no need for—”

“It’s the lady’s orders.”

Faced with that, Elisa could hardly refuse, even if she didn’t care for it.

The maids fussed over everything—not just the gown and jewels, but even her undergarments. 

Whenever Elisa protested that it was all far too much, they silenced her with the same refrain: the lady’s orders.

They’ve both got the wrong idea…

The count telling her she needn’t come home, the suggestive underthings—there was no doubt about it.

They were clearly imagining things.

Not that she was thinking of anything remotely like that. 

More like they were preparing tea before even deciding on the dessert.

Elissa could only shake her head. 

No matter what she said, they wouldn’t listen, so she gave up early.

Originally, Derek was supposed to pick her up, but a sudden business matter forced them to change plans—they would meet directly at the Amore River.

“Elisa, do well,” the countess said, gripping her hand tightly.

Do well at what, exactly?

Elisa swallowed the question rising in her throat and climbed into the carriage.

***

Count Leslie had asked for patience, but Ethan had no intention of sitting idle. 

He meant to keep putting himself in Elisa’s path, shaking her heart if he could.

And perhaps sensing that very intention, the count had not only placed Elisa under house arrest, but had confined her to her chamber as well.

It was misfortune for Elisa, but to Ethan, it was proof—proof that the two of them were at odds.

If she had truly been willing to follow the count’s wishes, house arrest would have been the worst of it.

That knowledge only made Ethan more desperate to see her.

If he couldn’t meet her in person, he would send a letter—but with the count watching her like a hawk, even that was impossible.

So he waited for an opening, half-ready to storm the count’s manor if it came to that. 

Then came a piece of news that was both a blessing and a curse:

Elissa was going to the Amore River boating festival—with Derek Grenville.

Surely… he wasn’t planning to propose there?

The thought unsettled him. 

Many couples chose the festival as the moment to pop the question, and soon Ethan found himself tormented by visions of Elissa accepting Derrick’s hand.

I have to stop this. No matter what.

His steely gray eyes burned with resolve as he fixed his gaze on Derek Grenville, just then climbing into his carriage after a meeting.

That last-minute meeting? 

That had been Ethan’s doing—his way of keeping Derrick from fetching Elisa himself.

Because if she were present, he couldn’t do what came next.

Ethan pulled a hood low over his head and covered his face with a mask. 

Gripping the reins tightly, he kept just far enough back not to be noticed, shadowing Derrick’s carriage.

When the carriage rolled along the riverbank, his hands tightened on the leather. 

Drawing a deep, quick breath, he drove his heels hard into his horse’s flank.

The thunder of hooves echoed down the road as the sun dipped low. 

Derek’s driver glanced back at the sound—only to see Ethan’s mount already surging past.

Then Ethan wrenched his horse’s head around and charged straight toward the carriage.

“W-what the—?!”

Startled, the driver yanked at the reins, but it was too late. 

The carriage lurched, swayed wildly, and finally tipped onto its side.

Without slowing, Ethan’s horse leapt clean over the wreckage. 

The arc of the jump was almost graceful—like a circus acrobat in mid-performance.

Reining in a short distance ahead, Ethan turned to look back. Through the haze of dust, Derek Grenville emerged, dragging himself out of the splintered carriage, a picture of undignified struggle.

A smirk tugged at Ethan’s lips. 

He wanted to rip away his hood and laugh in Derek’s face—but he restrained himself.

There were more important things to do.

It was enough for now that Derek would not be meeting Elisa.

Digging his heels in once more, Ethan urged his horse toward the Amore River. 

Behind him, the crimson sunset clung like a trailing banner.

She had only closed her eyes for what felt like a brief moment, but when she opened them again, the carriage had already arrived at its destination.

Through the window, the Amor River stretched out before her, alive with the festival’s splendor.

Though the sun had not yet fully set, lanterns had already been lit, their warm glow drifting along the water’s surface. 

The dance of shimmering lights and rippling currents formed a scene so breathtaking it stole the air from her lungs.

When she’d stepped into the carriage earlier, her heart had been heavy with reluctance. Now, faced with such beauty, she found herself thinking—perhaps it wasn’t such a bad thing she’d come after all.

And yet… she couldn’t help the pang of regret that tightened her chest. 

If only she had brought Noah to see this. 

The thought drew a deep sigh from her lips.

As she sat with that bittersweet mix of melancholy and wonder, gazing at the drifting lights outside, a knock came at the door.

She naturally assumed it was Derek Grenville—until she saw, instead, a boy in a brown beret standing before the carriage.

“Are you Lady Elisa Leslie?” he asked.

“That’s right… and you are?”

“I’m just a messenger, miss. Sir Derek Grenville asked me to give you this.”

Elisa accepted the letter he held out. Inside, Derek explained that his meeting had run long and he would be a little late. 

His familiar handwriting sprawled across the page, sealed at the bottom with his crest.

There was no reason to doubt it—but still, she frowned slightly. 

Derek had never once sent her a note through a mere errand boy. 

He usually relayed messages through his secretary, or, failing that, a household servant. 

And this… this was also the first time he’d ever been late for an appointment.

“He must be terribly busy,” she murmured, furrowing her brow. 

She wanted to send word back—tell him it was fine not to come if he was pressed for time, that they could meet another day—but the boy had already vanished.

Now what?

She was still debating whether to wait for Derek or hire another messenger when a familiar voice sounded behind her.

“Lady Elisa Leslie?”

She turned and saw Giselle Briana, shaded beneath the wide brim of her bonnet.

Reflexively, Elisa’s gaze flicked to her side—half-expecting to see Ethan with her. 

Relief washed through her when she didn’t. Hand to her chest, she exhaled quietly.

“Here for the boat festival?” Giselle asked, stepping closer. “Alone?”

“No,” Elisa replied. “I was going to watch with my fiancé, but he’s running a little late. I’m waiting for him now.”

“Your fiancé… would that be Sir Derek Grenville, the gentleman I met before?”

Elisa nodded, but her eyes once again swept the area. 

No sign of Ethan—and no one else accompanying Giselle, either.

“Did you come alone, Miss Briana?”

“Not exactly. I was with a friend, but something urgent came up and she had to leave. So now, the gondola I reserved will go to waste.”

Giselle heaved a sigh so deep it seemed to sink into the cobblestones. Then, all at once, her eyes brightened.

“Would you like to ride the gondola with me?”

“With me?” Elisa blinked.

“Yes. You’re waiting for your fiancé anyway, aren’t you? If you’ve got the time, join me.”

“Well…” Elisa hesitated, the reluctance plain in her tone.

But Giselle, far from discouraged, linked arms with her and pressed on with eager insistence. 

She was nothing like the timid woman Elisa had met at the exhibition—this was someone entirely different.

“You’ll come, right? Please say yes.”

“Uh… alright.”

The words slipped out before Elisa could stop them. 

Giselle lit up with childlike delight, slipping her arm more securely through Elisa’s as she led her toward the pier.

Compared to the bustling streets along the river, the pier was relatively quiet. 

Giselle produced the tickets she’d prepared in advance and handed them to the gondolier.

Moments later, the boat was ready. 

Elisa stepped aboard first… only to realize Giselle hadn’t followed. 

Instead, she stood on the dock, smiling sweetly.

“Miss Briana?” Elisa called, puzzled.

That was when someone burst from behind a nearby tree and leapt onto the gondola.