There was real excitement in Delmez.
A whole month had already passed since the sudden wedding of Saint Genevieve, and the townspeople, languishing with boredom, greedily grabbed at any fresh gossip.
And if it was about the Saint and the Duke of Blanchard - that’s it, attention is guaranteed. Well, if we add resurrection and a miracle to this, the effect spread throughout the Empire like wildfire.
In every salon, at every reception, as soon as at least two people gathered, the conversation inevitably turned to Adaline Bertrand.
Opinions were divided.
“This is absurd! Another trick with a double!”
“The saint cannot be questioned! This is a real miracle! To deny the obvious is blasphemy!”
But such conversations remained behind closed doors. To publicly express doubts about Adaline’s “resurrection” means openly speaking out against those who recognized her as real.
[Adaline hoped that there would be at least a few brave ones who would tell the truth. People who are able to resist the influence of paid newspapers and draw reasonable conclusions.]
[But certainly not the Duke who pays bribes to journalists for the right headlines.]
[And not high-ranking persons who, understanding everything perfectly, pretend to believe in the theatrical performance of the Saint.]
[Society does not need blind fanatics, but people with a backbone. People who can tell the truth.]
“That’s why Green-Windsor is doomed...” she muttered out loud.
“Are you implying that he will fall by your hand, lady?” - Lloyd responded calmly.
"Lloyd, could you at least try to be subtler?"
“Alas, I have no one to follow as an example.”
Adaline let out a fake sob, but Lloyd, as always, remained unperturbed and continued with his business.
“I asked you not to lie on the sofa. Move over, I need to clean up.”
“Someone else will clean up.”
“This is my job. And besides, faster. Mister Jeff will be here soon."
"Again? Do we need to buy anything else?”
“If you want to prepare a wedding in a month, then yes, that’s all you need.”
"The world has become cruel..."
Lloyd snorted loudly, not hiding his irony.
“Didn’t my brothers doubt it for a second?”
“They hired me as soon as I said I was here because you were coming back.”
"That's suspicious too."
[However, everything was suspicious here.]
[Adaline still couldn't believe that Gregory, Emma, Patrick and Jeff took the story of the Saint's miracle seriously.]
[They could believe it in shock. They could succumb to emotions. But like this, without a shadow of a doubt?]
[They weren't naive. And yet no one even hinted at skepticism.]
Adaline sighed heavily and sat up, looking up from the sofa. [It was time to get up, although not at Lloyd's insistence.]
[Ten days have passed since Shane kidnapped her. She spent only eleven days in Delmez, but she felt as if she was again living the same life that she left five years ago.]
[Although, strictly speaking, she has become less busy. Emma and Gregory, worried about her health, declined all invitations. No salons, tea parties, charity receptions.]
[But this did not mean idleness.]
[She spent every day, from early morning until late evening, endlessly shopping. It seemed that she had already bought everything that existed, but Lloyd always found something else.]
[A world without factories, but things like an endless stream.]
“Adaline, can I come in?”
"You're already in."
[What's the point of asking when opening the door?]
"Politeness." - Jeff laughed.
“Then be polite to the end and knock first.”
“Are you hiding something?”
“What can I hide...? There are more eyes here than in the Royal Palace."
Adaline muttered this as she glanced behind him.
Jeff didn't answer. He just smiled mysteriously.
[Does he suspect? Or not? Damn, he's never clear about anything.]
[It's like walking on thin ice.]
“Adaline! You are especially good today!
Madame Harper, the owner of one of the most famous fashion shops in Delmez, appeared before her with a radiant smile.
[Five years ago, Adaline used the services of another studio, but she heard the name Madame Harper. She had a reputation to match: high prices, high clients and an even higher nose.]
[But now it turns out that Madame Harper is Jeff's longtime partner.]
[It was he who gave her the first capital, and until now remained the largest investor.]
[I thought he was just traveling and selling trinkets...But it turns out not at all.]
Adaline realized how little she knew about the Bertrand family.
[In the original novel, they only appeared at all when they fell into the abyss due to the "evil daughter".]
Madame Rachelle Harper spoke matter-of-factly.
“Today we will simply clarify your measurements for the last time. Time is short, let's start immediately."
“So, everything has already been bought?”
This question was answered not by her, but by Emma standing in the doorway.
“What are you saying? There’s still a mountain of things to do!”
“Mom... have mercy...”