Belle lingered behind and didn’t immediately follow. She looked up at Eugene Jr.’s back, her expression dimming. She bit her lip and hurried after him.
Eugene Jr. carried the wine jar with ease. Seeing Belle catch up, he joked with a grin, "It’s so cold outside—why aren’t you wearing your rabbit fur scarf and cloak?"
Belle kept her head down, staring at her toes. "I’m dressed warmly enough. My clothes are lined with thick cotton. Madam said that clothes made with the softest duck down are especially warm, so she had some duck down brought in and stuffed my clothes with it. I don’t feel cold at all."
Eugene Jr. replied, "Duck down is even warmer than cotton?"
Belle nodded. "Much warmer than cotton. But duck down is scarce—it took a lot of effort to buy some, and there was only enough to make one piece for each person."
Eugene Jr. led Belle along, sharing some amusing stories. The atmosphere between them softened, and they left the courtyard together, chatting and laughing.
The hall door was open. Lily Evans sat at the table, flipping through the account book. She looked up and saw Eugene Jr. and Belle’s backs, and sighed.
Both of them are good people. Belle is Lily Evans’s most capable maid and housekeeper, while Eugene Jr., though young, is reliable and will surely become Uncle Arthur’s right-hand man in the future.
A young man and woman like them—whether in ability, talent, status, or position—are truly well matched. It’s just...
Lily Evans sighed again. She could tell that ever since Eugene Jr. arrived, he had looked at Belle differently. Back when Belle was struggling, Eugene Jr. helped her a lot, and he never changed his attitude toward her because of her misfortune.
But Eugene Jr.’s feelings for Belle—are they sympathy, mere politeness between friends, or is there something more?
Lily Evans pondered for a long time, but couldn’t figure it out.
Belle has already been hurt once. No matter what Eugene Jr. is thinking, Lily Evans made up her mind—she would protect Belle well, and never let her be hurt again.
Thinking about Belle, Lily Evans absentmindedly continued to review the account book, sitting in the hall and waiting for the two to return.
After a while, the two came back, still chatting and laughing. Belle reported the situation in the fields to Lily Evans, and said she had especially told Old Joe Zhou to keep an extra eye on Sam Evans’s Household.
Lily Evans listened carefully, then dismissed Belle and called for Eugene Jr.
Eugene Jr. entered and saw Lily Evans sitting at the table with a serious expression, deep in thought as if pondering something important.
Eugene Jr. respectfully cupped his hands. "Miss Lily, is there something you need me for?"
Although Eugene Jr. and Uncle Arthur’s family were staying at Lily Evans’s house, Eugene Jr. was, at heart, a member of the Warren family. Usually, Lily Evans wouldn’t give orders to him, so for her to call him over today—clever as he was, Eugene Jr. immediately guessed that Lily Evans had something important to say.
"Eugene Jr., close the doors and windows. I have something to discuss with you," Lily Evans instructed.
Eugene Jr. knew it must be something important. He quickly closed the doors and windows, and even Lucky, who always guarded Lily Evans, was sent outside to stand watch at the door. Lily Evans told Lucky she was discussing business secrets and no one was allowed near.
Once everyone had left, Lily Evans gestured for Eugene Jr. to sit. He sat opposite her, just as serious, waiting for her to speak.
Lily Evans looked Eugene Jr. in the eye and said, word by word, "Eugene Jr., I called you here today because I want to know—what exactly are your feelings for Belle?"