Episode 122
The charity auction hosted by Baroness Harold, which Sasha was to attend today, was an annual event held every summer in turn by the members of the ladies’ association. The event was not limited solely to members of the association; their families, and even their acquaintances, could take part quite freely. After all, the more people attended, the more the main event—the “auction”—could shine. However, those who submitted items had to be members of the ladies’ association.
Each participant was required to bring one item to be auctioned, and the proceeds thus gathered were, without exception, donated in their entirety to whichever place was in greatest need that year.
This was not Sasha’s first time at the event. Before the Dowager Duchess had fallen ill, Sasha had accompanied her and attended faithfully every year, so it was not particularly unfamiliar to her. The difference was that Sasha would now be participating in the Dowager Duchess’s place, but all she had to do when her turn came was go up onto the dais, offer a brief greeting, and introduce her item. There was nothing especially difficult about it.
The last time they had attended, the Dowager Duchess had submitted a brooch she treasured, and the proceeds raised from that year’s event had been donated to the slums in the south, which had suffered severe damage from flooding. By a remarkable coincidence, this year’s auction proceeds were scheduled to be donated to nearby orphanages.
It was not that the hosts had decided so with any particular participant in mind. It had already been stated in the invitations sent to members several months prior, so it truly was nothing more than coincidence.
This year’s charity auction was to be held at Longton Manor, owned by the baron and baroness. It was a quiet place that could be reached only after a full two-hour carriage ride from Erishall, where Sasha was staying.
When she stepped down from the carriage, a summer villa that looked refreshing at first glance greeted Sasha. Near the intricately carved stone arch, flowering shrubs showed off their beauty as they welcomed visitors.
As Sasha descended from the carriage, she looked toward the road lined with oak trees. Today she was wearing a dark gray silk dress, which looked suitably formal without appearing too somber.
“Miss Grayson, welcome.”
Baroness Harold, who had been standing atop the broad marble steps, came down at once the moment she spotted Sasha and greeted her. Sasha gave her an elegant curtsy.
“Thank you for inviting me, Baroness. The last time I saw you was at the birthday party. Have you been well?”
“Oh, of course. Of course I have. Come in quickly. The sun is far too strong out here!”
Sasha gladly accepted the baroness’s invitation and followed after her. She felt grateful for the baroness’s kindness in welcoming her so warmly and gently, no different from the last time they had met, yet at the same time she felt sorry.
“On my way here, I noticed there seem to be particularly many guests this year.”
Sasha spoke as she recalled the procession of carriages she had seen turning in a line on the road. The baroness, who had been chattering away about the party food, grew very quiet at that moment, then soon turned to Sasha with a face that looked unmistakably apologetic.
“……Oh, yes. This year, in particular……. Many have come even from far away. But Miss Grayson, it is all right. We politely refused and sent back everyone who had no acquaintance with the members.”
Even though the baroness must have seen that special report as well, she unfailingly addressed Sasha as Miss Grayson. Sasha felt truly grateful for that. At the same time, she felt bitter.
When Sasha only smiled without answering, the baroness stopped walking ahead and drew close beside Sasha. Then, as if in support, she linked arms with her.
“There are… a few reporters. But as you know.”
“It’s all right, Baroness. Reporters from the local weekly papers always used to come, didn’t they? More importantly, thank you for being considerate. Truly.”
The baroness looked at Sasha for a moment without being able to respond. Her face was complicated, with several emotions tangled together. She pitied Sasha, yet at the same time she was worried, and she also wanted to ask whether it was true.
They had already entered the interior of the villa. Passing through a corridor decorated with walnut paneling, they were walking straight toward the banquet hall where the party would be held.
The baroness had to return to the entrance to greet the next guests who would arrive. Sasha slipped out of her linked arm with a courteous smile.
“Thank you very much, my lady.”
Then, after offering a polite greeting, she entered the banquet hall alone.
There was still a long while before the event began. It was a time when plenty of people had yet to arrive. Nevertheless, nearly a hundred people had already gathered in the banquet hall. Sasha understood why the baroness had hesitated so much. There were quite a few unfamiliar faces. Many of them looked like people who would never ordinarily have shown any interest in this charity event.
The people near the door looked at Sasha the moment she entered, as if they had been waiting for her. Those standing farther away, when it seemed the person beside them had not noticed, hurriedly tapped their arms or shoulders and even jerked their chins toward the entrance, telling them to look over there.
That strange attention spread to everyone like a wave. Barely ten seconds had passed since Sasha opened the door and stepped inside before everyone there was looking at her.
Because she had already experienced such a scene once before, it was somewhat easier to endure. With a composed face and without revealing any expression, Sasha looked out at the assembly.
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Before long, the event began. And by then the hall was packed so tightly with people that there was hardly room to step; compared to last year alone, the number of people seemed to have nearly tripled.
Though it had only been for a moment, everyone who had been staring intently at Sasha soon immersed themselves in conversation with one another as if nothing had happened. Fortunately, that subtle atmosphere did not last long. After about ten minutes, Baron Harold went up onto the dais and gave a brief address announcing the start of the party, then introduced the daughter of a certain noblewoman, a girl who looked as though she might have just turned fifteen.
The girl smiled shyly and greeted everyone, then sat down before the piano placed in the corner and began a small congratulatory performance. Naturally, people’s attention turned in that direction.
“She plays very well, doesn’t she?”
Miss Lytton, who was standing beside Sasha, said. Yes. Miss Lytton was now beside Sasha.
As the duchess’s most loyal lady’s maid, she had approached Sasha and greeted her the moment Sasha entered alone, as though they had arranged to meet here in advance. Naturally, the members of the ladies’ association who had been about to speak to Sasha had no choice but to turn away without even opening their mouths.
Sasha smiled as she listened to the girl’s clumsy and lovely performance.
“She does. More importantly, Miss Lytton, through whose introduction did you come?”
Miss Lytton answered with an unruffled smile.
“It turns out Baron Harold is related to my aunt by marriage. I shamelessly asked whether I might attend as well.”
Sasha looked at her and smiled without saying anything.
Miss Lytton also smiled back at Sasha.
“Oh, yes. In truth, it was arranged by the duchess. You look as if you had already guessed as much. Don’t worry, Miss Grayson. I did not come here to investigate the truth of that rumor.”
“Then why did you come?”
“Because the duchess specifically asked me to look after you, Miss Grayson. She sent me because she was ‘concerned.’”
“Is that so? Is that all? You did not come to take me away as soon as this event ends, did you?”
At Sasha’s direct question, Miss Lytton smiled without looking particularly flustered.
“That is also true to some extent. The Dowager Duchess wishes to have a long conversation with you about that matter. Ah, but it is not compulsory. She is merely suggesting it.”
Before Miss Lytton could say anything more, the piano performance ended, and the baron went back up onto the dais.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we will now begin today’s highlight, the charity auction. The funds gathered today will be donated to orphanages in Goldington and the surrounding areas.”
The people quietly listened to the baron’s words.
Miss Lytton, too, quietly closed her mouth.
Behind the dais was a fireplace, and beside it the items to be auctioned were displayed. Antiques ranged from a tea set to a jewel box brought from a distant foreign land, even a crystal vase made by a famous craftsman whose name everyone would recognize. Among them lay the old violin Sasha had brought.
“The first person to donate an item is the Countess of Sumberland.”
With the baron’s introduction, an elderly lady who was clearly advanced in years went up onto the dais. When she offered a brief greeting, servants moved soundlessly and brought over the display stand from the back on which a diamond brooch had been placed, setting it beside her.
“Good day, ladies and gentlemen. I am Eleanor Marcy, Countess of Sumberland. This brooch was a gift my maternal grandmother received when she visited Goldington….”
As the old lady began to explain the item in a hoarse voice, a woman nearby approached Sasha and said,
“Miss Grayson. You are third.”
Just as Sasha was about to nod, Miss Lytton wrapped an arm around Sasha’s shoulders and said,
“Is there any need for her to go out at all? Leave the introduction to someone else. The main purpose is the ‘auction’ anyway, is it not?”
The woman looked back and forth between Sasha and Miss Lytton, a little taken aback by Miss Lytton’s blunt obstruction.
Miss Lytton, on the contrary, gave the woman a sidelong glare as though irritated by her lack of tact.
“They will treat her as a spectacle to her face. Surely you understand the special nature of the situation, my lady? In consideration of Miss Grayson’s circumstances….”
“No.”
Before Miss Lytton could cross the line under the guise of taking care of her, Sasha cut her off.
“I will proceed as planned. Please don’t worry.”
“But, Miss Grayson.”
Without even looking toward Miss Lytton, Sasha said,
“This is an event that has been prepared for months. I cannot cause trouble now. It would be truly improper toward the baron and baroness, who have welcomed me so warmly.”
Miss Lytton’s face, which had been crumpled as if full of worry and concern, became expressionless at some point. Sasha paid it no mind and unlinked her arm from hers.
“I should go stand nearby in advance. It was brief, but it was pleasant meeting you, Miss Lytton.”
“…….”
“Please give my regards to the duchess as well.”
Shameless though she might be, Sasha did not use the title “Aunt” again.
Whether Miss Lytton answered or not, Sasha turned away and followed the woman to the other side.
When she stood near the dais, the first auction was already coming to an end. The Countess of Sumberland’s brooch was sold for three hundred ond.
Then came the turn of the second participant. Sasha sat in the chair a servant had prepared and calmly waited for her turn.
It felt as though hundreds of eyes were watching her as she sat there. Even though the one who had gone up onto the dais and was receiving everyone’s attention was someone else, she had the illusion that people were looking only at her, as if asking, Do you truly intend to go up there?
……Perhaps it was not an illusion.
Dizziness threatened to rise again. Sasha clenched both hands and took a deep breath. Even so, far from calming down, her heart only beat faster.
She felt that the moment she went up there, someone would point a finger at her as if they had been waiting and call her a fraud.
That could not happen.
……No, perhaps.
“Miss Grayson.”
Experiencing it once did not make her bold the next time. Yes. To some extent, it was more bearable than before, but she could not become that shameless.
Sasha lifted her head.
“It is your turn.”
The baron spoke as he looked at Sasha with eyes that seemed apologetic even for bringing it up.
“Are you all right? I could move your turn back….”
“No. I am all right. Thank you for your consideration, but I am fine.”
Sasha rose from her seat. Then she slowly headed toward the dais.
And at last, she stood before the hundred or so people waiting only for her to open her mouth.