Transmigrated as Jane’s Ghostly Godmother - Chapter 29

Chapter 29: The Information Broker and Stealth Activities — Facing a Worrisome Secret…

Only two hours after the fourth day of trading began, Lin Zhao noticed a new presence in the trading firm—a person dressed in heavy, concealing layers sitting at a distance that was neither too close nor too far. They watched her constantly but never approached to trade.

Sensing trouble, Lin Zhao left the firm early. As expected, she heard the sound of following footsteps behind her, with an unmistakable trend of drawing closer.

This person seems determined to tail me; they’re probably after my cloak, she estimated the distance, then swerved into a less-populated side street.

Today, many people had suggested she remove her cloak for transactions. After all, as business grew, more guarantees were needed to increase one’s “credit value.” She had brushed them off at the time, but this person had appeared shortly after. It was hard not to be suspicious.

Lin Zhao wasn’t worried about physical harm, but she couldn’t give the person a chance to confront her face-to-face. Her mysterious persona had been hard-won; a single rumor could ruin everything.

Twisting through narrow alleys, she eyed the junk piled along the road. At a corner, she kicked out, sweeping a pile of debris across the ground and causing her pursuer to stumble. In that gap of less than thirty seconds, she unfastened and ditched the cloak, leaning back deep into the shadows.

“D*mn it, where did he go?” The pursuer dropped the act entirely. Scanning left and right and seeing no one, he grew exasperated. “Mr. Harrison should have sent more men.”

Harrison?

Lin Zhao arched an eyebrow, breathing a sigh of relief at this long-awaited turn of events. Edward Harrison had indeed not missed such a massive business opportunity. If her voice could be heard, she would have played the mystery to the end right then and there. Pity she couldn’t.

She stepped out from the corner, slipped a pre-written note into the pursuer’s pocket, and left the alley, leaving his grumbling behind.

Should I head back and find Jane now?

Just as the thought arose, a familiar face appeared nearby. The clerk from the trading firm was looking around anxiously, searching for something.

Ah, likely looking for me again. News, perhaps?

She had to postpone seeing Jane once more. She crept back to the alley to retrieve her discarded cloak. The pursuer was gone. Once she put it back on and stepped out, the clerk spotted her.

“Mr. Lint!” He waved, looking delighted, and lowered his voice as he approached. “An invitation for you.”

Knowing she didn’t speak, he explained carefully: “You likely know there is a ball on the island in three days. The host deeply regrets missing the best opportunity to invite you and Mr. Giannette. They hope you won’t mind this late invitation.”

He pressed the letter containing the invitation into her hand—strictly speaking, onto her glove. Lin Zhao didn’t miss the flicker of suspicion on his face as she gripped the letter and pulled her hand back.

“Then, we look forward to your arrival. I won’t disturb you further.”

The clerk had communicated with her about their interactions on her first night at the firm. Even without a response, his attitude remained respectful as he bowed slightly and turned to leave.

Lin Zhao wasn’t entirely certain about being invited. No matter how loud the reputation, no one had seen anything concrete, and many remained skeptical. She hadn’t thought rumors alone would convince the top-tier gentry. But if she had an invitation, she needed to take further action.

She looked down at her cloak. The merchant William she met on the first night was right: she truly was wrapped up like a Gypsy swindler. It sufficed for gathering shady intelligence, but it wouldn’t work for a ball. She needed to find a way to get a more appropriate, decent set of clothes.

Sorry, Jane. I’ll apologize properly when I’m done, Lin Zhao thought. She felt guilty, but she knew that finishing the task at hand was the top priority. She couldn’t let Jane lose a friend at an age where she was powerless to stop it.

While Lin Zhao was researching clothes, Jane changed into the simplest, most rustic set of her old clothes and stood outside a foreign door. She quickly reviewed her plan in her mind, took a deep breath, and knocked on Julian’s door.

“Pardon me, Mr. Harrison.”

They hadn’t gone out that afternoon, and the reading session was a last-minute arrangement; no one had notified Julian yet. He had to be in his room. If only Lin Zhao were here, she could just phase inside and look for clues.

No. I can’t rely on others for everything.

She shook her head to clear the thought and knocked again in the silence. “Mr. Julian Harrison. Mr. Julian-Eleanor’s-brother-Harrison…”

“What is it?” The door opened to the increasingly ridiculous titles, revealing an expressionless face.

Jane was startled and took a half-step back, staring at him. Truthfully, Julian had inherited his mother’s good looks; his features were well-proportioned. However, he also inherited his father’s excessive stiffness. On his thin face, the skin clung tight to the bone, making him look a bit like an Egyptian mummy from a storybook under that stern expression.

The mental image of the mummy dissipated Jane’s nervousness. She coughed, suppressed a smile, and said solemnly: “I am here regarding a matter of the Harrison family. I hope I won’t take up too much of your time.”

Julian’s face shifted from cold to frigid. His thin lips parted: “Miss, no matter how polite the phrasing, prying into the private affairs of others is ultimately ill-mannered.” Meaning: Don’t even think about it.

Jane gave a polite smile. “Forgive me for giving that impression. No offense intended, but I merely wished to seek your advice regarding the support project for Whalewood that Mrs. Harrison mentioned. After careful consideration, I plan to decline this generosity, but I do not wish to hurt her feelings.”

“I wish to draft a thank-you letter. If you could spare a moment to read it and ensure my wording is sufficiently proper, it would be a great help. After all, I want your mother to know how much I appreciate her kindness.”

People immersed in business cared deeply about profit. Jane believed Julian would be willing to spend a little time if it meant saving the family some expense. And she only needed a small chance to pry open the Harrison family’s secrets.

“That does require careful deliberation.” His gaze swept over the faded hem of her dress. His expression softened, but before stepping aside, he looked down the hallway instinctively. “But as for etiquette…”

He likely wanted to call someone else over to avoid any potential rumors. Jane saw through him instantly and immediately faked a stumble, twisting her ankle: “Oh!—”

He instinctively flinched back. Fortunately, Jane was faking; if she had actually relied on him for help, she’d be in trouble. She staggered up, taking in his belatedly awkward expression.

“Apologies. I’ve been standing a while before knocking; my legs are a bit stiff,” she offered him a face-saving excuse.

Julian’s attention was diverted. “Your health does indeed require more attention,” he followed up, no longer worried about etiquette. “Then, please come in. We shall make this quick so as not to delay the other ladies’ outing.”

Jane assumed a look of humble trust and followed him into the room. Before he could turn around, she scanned the interior. The layout was similar to theirs, but the desk was covered in papers—perhaps documents or letters—which made Jane certain she could find something here.

“I’m a bit unsteady writing while standing,” Jane said apologetically, naturally moving toward the only large desk in the room. “Sir, may I use your desk? The light is better here.”

Julian seemed unsettled after letting her in. He instinctively wanted to refuse, but glancing at the paper in her hand and wanting to get it over with, he eventually gave a stiff nod. He walked to the window, looking out as if checking for something.

“…You can just tell me the parts you feel are lacking; there is no need to actually write it,” he added distractedly, trying to keep her away from the desk.

Jane suppressed the smile that threatened to break out—in reality, she had no intention of writing a rejection letter; she was holding the schedule Lin Zhao had first given her. She bet that a man eager to get rid of a nuisance wouldn’t have the patience to actually scrutinize the letter’s content.

She looked down at the paper, using her peripheral vision to peek at other things on the desk. “I wanted to know if Mrs. Harrison has been providing support continuously, as that would affect my wording…”

“Lina and the others haven’t left yet, have they?” Julian cut her off, his tone blunt. He wasn’t listening to a word she said. In any other situation, Jane might have refused to answer because of his attitude. But right now, this was exactly what she wanted. She leaned over, pretending to circle and edit the paper, and replied casually: “No, sir. She and Betty went to find Mrs. Harrison.”

A perfectly natural answer. Julian asked nothing more. Then, he finally noticed that as Jane leaned over, her gaze could sweep across half his desk. He frowned slightly: “You—”

“What is it, sir?” Jane straightened up immediately, her face wearing a look of confusion as if interrupted by a burst of inspiration. She pointed at the paper in her hand, speaking before he could flare up. “Ah, do you have any thoughts on the sentence I just composed? ‘Your continuous acts of kindness are like a warm current’… Is the wording too exaggerated?”

Julian didn’t care about her words at all. He realized he had lost his composure several times before her. With her interruption, his previous wariness felt like making a mountain out of a molehill. After a moment of silence, he finally regained some decorum: “No. Write it as you have it. Please be quick; it is nearly time for dinner.”

He turned back to the window, with no intention of approaching her. He had given up.

In that brief moment, Jane had quickly checked the documents on the desk. Most were commercial papers with terms she didn’t yet understand, but she found one distinct document. It was a guest list for a ball, with a handwritten note in the margin saying: “Memorize all.”

And among the neatly printed names, one was circled and labeled: “Betrothal Target.”

Ernst Ford.

It was a clearly male name. This wasn’t a note for Julian.

Jane withdrew her gaze. Having obtained the key information, she had no reason to stay. She stood up. Julian turned his head at the sound, the suppressed impatience in his eyes extremely obvious.

“Thank you, sir. Your advice was very helpful. I believe Mrs. Harrison will understand my gratitude.” Without waiting for his pleasantries, she curtsied and left.

Once outside, Jane couldn’t wait to start deducing. To whom did that betrothal belong? Miss Constance? Was Mr. Harrison still insistent on marrying her off? Was that why Eleanor was sad? She felt like something was being overlooked. She shook her head, planning to ask Beatrice if she had found anything.

Before going to the restaurant, Jane went back to the room to change. As she opened the door, she met an incredibly urgent gaze.

“Jane! Come in quickly!” Beatrice was pacing the room with her arms crossed, calling out as soon as she saw her.

“Was she waiting for me?” Jane closed the door quickly and stepped forward to ask what happened. “Where’s Lina?”

Beatrice shook her head. “She’s still with Mrs. Harrison. But as for Miss Constance… we were talking for just a moment when Mr. Harrison sent someone to call her away. I… I followed them and heard what sounded like an argument. But soon after, many other tourists appeared in the hallway, so I had to come back.”

Miss Constance and Mr. Harrison had an argument?

Jane pulled Beatrice to sit on the edge of the bed and shared what she had seen.

“You mean—Mr. Harrison might have found a match for Miss Constance here?” Beatrice’s first reaction was the same as Jane’s. She murmured, appearing slightly dazed. “But didn’t Miss Constance say she isn’t supported by him, and that he can’t influence her decisions?”

Jane caught the key phrase. She suddenly grabbed Beatrice’s hand, her face scrunching up at the words that followed: “Wait, wait. You’re right—she isn’t supported by him. But Eleanor is.”

Beatrice didn’t follow her logic, repeating with confusion: “Lina? Naturally she is…”

“No, no, Betty. I can’t help but suspect that this marriage is for Lina. Come, let’s go find her.”

Jane realized she had noticed clues pointing to this possibility early on. Why had Julian, who usually followed Mr. Harrison for business, uncharacteristically joined them for fun since arriving in Madeira? In reality, he wasn’t there for fun; he was watching Eleanor. Just now in his room, his restlessness only eased when she said no one was going out. This level of surveillance looked less like worrying about an accident and more like worrying that Eleanor would do something “out of line.”

The more she thought, the more alarming it became. Jane sped up. Beatrice stumbled as she was pulled along, but Jane’s face looked so terrifyingly grim that the girl caught her anxiety; her own unease expanded, and she couldn’t bring herself to ask anything.

They hurried silently through the corridor and reached Mrs. Harrison’s door. Before knocking, they both heard the sound of suppressed sobbing from within. It was unmistakably Eleanor’s voice. Jane’s eyes sharpened. Without hesitation, she bypassed any inquiry and opened the door.

“Lina! We’re coming in—”

Jane and Beatrice practically burst into the room. Eleanor was alone; Mrs. Harrison was nowhere to be seen. Eleanor was startled and looked up sharply from the bed. Her eyes were red and swollen, and tears were still streaming down. Seeing it was her friends, her heart ached more, and she cried harder.

“…H-how… why are you… here?” she asked between gasping, broken sobs.

Closing the door, the two girls rushed over in a flurry. One hand grabbed a quilt to wipe her tears, while another clumsily stroked her back.

“What about you? Why are you crying like this? Where is Mrs. Harrison?” Beatrice couldn’t bear to look at her, turning her head slightly while softening her movements.

The concern of her friends made Eleanor’s heart ache; her tears soaked a large patch of the quilt. Despite this, she refused to let her guard down, trying to defend herself: “It’s nothing… I was just… reading a very moving novel…”

The girls looked around cooperatively. Not only was there no one else in the room, there were no books.

“There isn’t a single book here, Lina.”

Eleanor’s shoulders slumped. She stopped speaking, tears welling in her eyes. Jane and Beatrice exchanged a look of helplessness. Jane put down the quilt, placed a hand on Eleanor’s shoulder to meet her eye level, and spoke sincerely: “Seriously, Eleanor, don’t hide it from us anymore. We are very worried about you.”

Eleanor still shook her head. She looked deeply at Jane and even forced a smile. “Really, it’s nothing… I was truly reading with Mama just now.” She adjusted her breathing and knitted her brows in fake annoyance. “Right, we agreed to have a reading session—why are you only coming now? Mama went to get a new book for me.”

The words were airtight. Jane had no way to argue. She felt Eleanor’s state was strange and very familiar. She had seen it somewhere before, but she couldn’t place it. This sense of dissonance made her suppress the thought of throwing out the betrothal news directly. Intuition told her that asking that way would yield no results.

Beatrice took over as Jane went silent. “Sorry, we went to chat with Miss Constance for a bit. What book were you and Mrs. Harrison reading?”

The smile on Eleanor’s face stiffened. She answered hesitantly: “…You know, that book actually wasn’t very interesting. I can’t remember the title for a moment.”

“You just said it was very moving?” Jane frowned, trying to find a crack.

“Well… not that moving. It might just be because I haven’t been resting well lately.” Eleanor’s eyes were red, but her smile was becoming as bright as it was on any ordinary day. “Mama said I’ll adapt slowly. Many things are like that…” Her voice suddenly hitched and stopped, her eyes drifting as she recalled something.

Jane felt that Eleanor’s attitude when mentioning her mother this time was subtle. Was my feeling about Mrs. Harrison wrong? Could she be the reason Eleanor is like this? Jane stared at Eleanor’s smile; something was stirring in her mind, needing only one key clue.

Just then, Beatrice broke the silence. She didn’t understand why Jane was so solemn, but Eleanor’s concealment was obvious. “What are you afraid of, Lina? You have the same expression you had the night before the competition when we argued in the dormitory.”

Ah… Jane slowly moved her gaze to Beatrice’s face. Thanks to that sentence, she finally knew where this sense of dissonance came from.

“What fear? Aren’t we just chatting?” Eleanor was still smiling, denying it quite flatly.

Jane felt her mood become incredibly heavy, sadder than her previous speculation about the betrothal. She looked at Eleanor, recognizing the forced nature of that face—it was almost identical to their brief cold war period. How had she not seen it until now?

“Lina, I’m sorry. Compared to you, I am truly a negligent friend.” She almost wanted to weep with her.

“Don’t say that, Jane. I don’t want you to feel that way.” Eleanor shook her head again. She stood up, pulling Jane and Beatrice down to sit. “Fine, I do have something I’m hiding from you, but it’s not a big deal. Father plans to arrange a marriage for me, but I won’t meet the person until the ball. That’s why I didn’t tell you.”

Her voice was no longer trembling; her tone was quite nonchalant. Jane turned to look at her closely. The forced look she had seen earlier had vanished—as if she truly didn’t think much of it.

“…So Mr. Harrison really did arrange a betrothal for you.” That sense of unease crawled back into her heart. Jane hesitated but asked one more thing: “Do you really think it’s nothing?”

You’ve been distracted for days and secretly cried twice. Even Beatrice said you were afraid.

Jane suppressed the latter half of the sentence and looked at Beatrice, praying she had noticed something Jane hadn’t. But this time, Beatrice accepted the explanation quite easily.

“If you haven’t met him yet, you really couldn’t have told us. But I think Mr. Harrison will pick a good match for you.” She smiled and joked with Eleanor. “After all, Miss Constance caused him quite a bit of trouble.”

Eleanor sniffled and agreed: “Yes, Mama often says not every woman can be like Auntie. I think I’m just a little afraid of meeting that person. But I’ll adapt slowly.”

Beatrice took her hand and patted it. “Such feelings are normal; it feels better to say them out loud.”

They began to talk about the betrothal, the unknown gentleman, and the upcoming ball. Jane had no desire to join the conversation. She drifted off amidst the voices, her heart feeling empty.

Was I making a mountain out of a molehill? She had gone so far as to lie to Julian, thinking she’d found some unspeakable secret to share with Eleanor. But it sounded like Eleanor had her own considerations and simply intended to talk to them later.

If Lin Zhao were here, what would she say? Jane inevitably thought of her ghost lady. She felt the other would surely say something entirely different to clear her confusion. Something strong enough to make her firmly interject and make her friends understand the unease in her heart.

Lin Zhao’s nose twitched. The hand holding out a slip of paper froze; she suspected someone was talking about her. Likely Jane. She suppressed a sigh and focused back on the person across from her.

But now, it was the person opposite who became hesitant. A shadow loomed over the table. Through the gaps in the fabric, she saw the man who worked for Edward Harrison standing by her table.

“Would it be convenient for you to come with me, Mr. Lint? My master has a matter to consult you on.”