Garden of May — Chapter 24

A FEW DAYS LATER

I UNDERSTAND THE SOLICITOR WAS CHANGED AT SOME POINT.

I'M LOOKING FOR OUR FAMILY'S ORIGINAL SOLICITOR...

LADY VANESSA.

DOES THE EARL KNOW YOU’RE INVESTIGATING THIS MATTER?

NOT YET.

BUT I PLAN TO TELL HIM SOON.

IF YOU COULD JUST TELL ME WHO DRAFTED THE VERY FIRST WILL,

I WON’T BOTHER YOU WITH ANY MORE CALLS.

I GIVE YOU MY WORD.

PLEASE HOLD ON.

YES, YES, I’VE GOT IT DOWN.

THANK YOU... TRULY.

ALL RIGHT, GOODBYE.

VISCOUNT B. DAWSON...

B. dawson

THIS PERSON

SURELY MUST KNOW SOMETHING.

I’LL HAVE TO LEAVE THE MANOR TO MEET WITH THIS SOLICITOR,

BUT WHAT SHOULD I TELL MY UNCLE?

I CAN’T ASK ROSALIND FOR HELP AGAIN...

VANESSA.

UNCLE.

IT’S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE’VE TAKEN A STROLL,

EVEN THOUGH WE LIVE TOGETHER.

YOU LOOK A LITTLE PALE.

I WAS FEELING A BIT UNDER THE WEATHER.

I’M FINE NOW, THOUGH.

WELL... I’M SURE YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.

OH, AND...

YOUR WEDDING HAS BEEN POSTPONED FOR THE TIME BEING.

PARDON?!

EARL RODEN’S REPUTATION IS EVEN MORE SORDID THAN I THOUGHT.

WE CAN’T TARNISH THE SOMERSET NAME BY RUSHING INTO THINGS.

I WAS PLANNING TO SPEND THE WINTER IN THE CAPITAL FOR BUSINESS ANYWAY,

SO THIS ACTUALLY WORKS OUT PERFECTLY.

YOU CAN EXPERIENCE THE SEASON IN THE CAPITAL BEFORE YOU MARRY,

AND IF YOU’RE LUCKY...

YOU MIGHT JUST SNAG A MAN WITH MORE MONEY THAN RODEN.

THE SEASON...

UM, UNCLE.

COULD YOU PERHAPS...

TAKE ME TO THE BOAT PARTY THAT’S HAPPENING IN A FEW DAYS?

A BOAT PARTY?

I SAW THE GUEST LIST IN THE NEWSPAPER.

OUR FAMILY'S NAME WAS ON IT.

dawso

AND THE SOLICITOR'S NAME WAS ON THE LIST, TOO.

WOULDN'T IT BE GOOD PRACTICE BEFORE WE GO TO THE CAPITAL?

I WAS PLANNING TO DECLINE, AS I HAVE ANOTHER ENGAGEMENT.

B-BUT...

IT'S ON INGRAM'S LARGEST CRUISE SHIP,

SO MANY GENTLEMEN WILL BE THERE.

THERE'S EVEN TALK ABOUT WHETHER DUKE BATTENBERG OR THE KING WILL ATTEND,

AND I HEAR PEOPLE ARE PLACING WAGERS—

AHHH,

DUKE BATTENBERG, EH?

GO WITH ROSALIND.

AND BE ON YOUR BEST BEHAVIOR.

THANK YOU, UNCLE!

MY NAIVE LITTLE NIECE

HAS LANDED A BIG FISH LIKE BATTENBERG.

HOW MANY DAYS HAS IT BEEN SINCE RIVER LEFT?

NOT A WORD FROM HIM...

AND ONCE I GO TO THE BOAT PARTY, IT'LL BE EVEN LONGER BEFORE I SEE HIM AGAIN.

I KNOW I HAVE TO GET USED TO HIM NOT BEING HERE,

BUT WHAT IF HE LEFT WITHOUT SAYING ANYTHING?

HE'S NEVER BEEN GONE FOR THIS LONG BEFORE.

THESE PATHETIC FEELINGS JUST KEEP WELLING UP.

THEN AGAIN... WE'RE NOT REAL LOVERS.

HE HAS NO REASON TO TELL ME BEFORE LEAVING.

?

STILL,

SUMMER ISN'T OVER YET.

WOOF!

WOOF WOOF!

VANESSA.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING OUT HERE?

WERE YOU WAITING FOR ME?