"You are to speak to no one of the letter you received. Your uncle and aunt are quite busy with matters of their own concern to trouble them with this news" Soojung instructed when she finally caught up to the siblings.

"But I do not wish to leave! Uncle might be able to persuade Mama!" Sanghyuk insisted.

"I shall write to your Mama and ask her to let us extend our stay. But you must promise to behave" Soojung made the young boy promise. Sanghyuk nodded, running off to the kitchen to give the help the good news. He had made friends with the servants, a thing Soojung intended to remedy quickly.

"Perhaps it is best we do not overstay our welcome" Minah said cautiously.

"Nonsense. Now is the time you are most required here at Primrose Cottage. I will not hear of your removal" Soojung said firmly.

"What do you mean?" Minah asked, suspicious at her governess' intentions. 

"Now that Sooyeon is spoken for, it is no doubt that Kim Jinsil will encourage her son to find a suitable match for himself. You are by far the most suitable in the countryside for him. It is a fact everyone is aware of" Soojung explained. Minah was young and naive after all. After her marriage she would pick up the ways of the world soon.

"I pray you do not joke about such matters. Wonshik does not love me!" Minah insisted.

"Love is secondary dear one. Marriage is not dictated by love but by propriety and societal rules" Soojung shot back. "You have clearly forgotten your instructions. Tomorrow we shall begin lessons again."

-

"I must confess that I don't know how I feel about all of this my dear" Hyunshik said, sitting down by the fireplace. the day had finally settled into night and the wind had grown colder. For the first time in many nights, Hyunshik had asked for a fire in the rooms. 

"I feel humiliated and deceived. I also felt sympathy for our daughter till I came to know that her ruin was her own doing" Minjun said angrily.

"She was only a child. I am no doubt sure that she was blinded by love and hence decided to support Jaehwan. She may even have been unaware of his changing heart, naive as she is" he consoled her. Though it was said more for himself.

"Young and naive? Why she is fast growing older than marriageable age! I was most certainly not naive at her age" Minjun protested.

"Perhaps my dear, we have been too neglectful of our daughter's education. We gave her a free reign and let her grow up in an idealistic world, a bubble far away from reality" Hyunshik said thoughtfully. 

"What are you suggesting?" Minjun asked him.

"Perhaps letting her grow up in the countryside was wrong. We should have sent her to the city for her education and finishing school" Hyunshik suggested. "and maybe it still isn't too late. Perhaps we can write to my brother and propose that Haneul stay in London for the season this year."

"I do not think it would be appropriate. They hardly have any love for us. Haneul is another burden on Sanghyuk and your dear sister in law has never let me forget this fact" Minjun told him. 

"But maybe she would benefit from a change in company. Perhaps, I can write to my kinsmen in Exeter" she added.

"An excellent plan dearest" Hyunshik agreed. The faster Haneul was removed from society before Jaehwan's wedding and the neighbourhood ridicule, the better it would be. And perhaps if he was out of sight then Haneul's heartbreak would be out of mind. And Exeter had better men than the impudent child. She just might find someone who would be richer and would love her more. His daughter was an angel after all.

"We won't speak to her till we have a reply. I have no doubt she would be easily persuaded to leave" Minjun said.

-

"Haneul, would you like to come out for a walk? A constitutional would do wonders for your mind. It is a rather pleasant evening outside" Minah said. Dinner had been a silent affair. Haneul had taken her meal in her room, claiming exhaustion. She hadn't talked to anyone since morning and Minah was starting to grow worried. 

"I think I shall turn in early" Haneul said, turning her back to her cousin.

Minah closed the door and locked it before stepping up to Haneul. "Despite what Aunt Minjun said, I think you did the right thing in supporting Jaehwan" Minah said firmly.

"Minah..." Haneul trailed off. 

"No. You didn't love him. I knew this from the start. And he clearly did not love you any longer. It would have been a terrible union" Minah argued.

"I know this" Haneul replied and said no more. 

"Do you regret letting him go?" Minah asked, pressing for more information. Or anything that would get her cousin to talk. Her prolonged silence on the matter made her uneasy. There was never any way to tell what Haneul was thinking.

"No. I was unhappy in this engagement" Haneul said.

"Then you did the right thing. And if you are so unfortunate that you shall not be married then you shall always be welcome at home. We can grow to be old maids together" Minah promised. Haneul snorted making Minah smile. At least her sister was in better spirits now.

"Don't stay out too long, you shall catch a cold" Haneul instructed, tying Minah's bonnet for her.

"I shan't" Minah promised. 

"Good night dear sister" Haneul greeted.

"Good night."