Eloise avoided speaking to Damien until the carriage reached the market.

When the carriage stopped, Damien exited first to offer his hand to Eloise.

Eloise stared at Damien’s hand and contemplated waiting for Aiden, but she didn’t want to set an annoyed Damien onto Aiden.

Eloise placed her hand on Damien’s and stepped out of the carriage. "Thank you," she spoke softly.

"You’re welcome," Damien replied. "Where do you want to go first?"

"To anyone who makes dresses most suitable for the palace," Eloise responded.

Eloise thought they should bring Jane along since she was the one with the most insight.

At the moment, Eloise didn’t have a friend to seek advice from when it came to grand social events.

"We can walk around, and if any dress shops capture your attention, we will go there. You can buy all the dresses you fancy, and decide on the perfect one on a later day," Damien suggested.

"What if I love ten dresses? Would you allow me to buy all of them just to wear one at the palace?" Eloise asked, though she knew the answer.

The kind of dresses suited for the palace were not cheap.

"I do not mind because you would wear them to other gatherings. You still spend little in comparison to Jane, so spoil yourself. It won’t put a dent in my pockets," Damien said, prepared to give Eloise a nudge at every shop.

"I will use my allowance. I was fortunate not to have used too much of it when I was with Millie, but I will let you spoil me," Eloise said, knowing it was Damien’s intention. "I will enjoy what you decide to buy me."

"It is hurting you inside to think of how much money I might spend, isn’t it?" Damien asked, knowing from Eloise’s expression.

"A little. I am slowly getting used to how you are fortunate to spend my family’s yearly budget within one day. I try not to question it because your upbringing was different, as you were never without money. Unfortunately, I cannot help thinking of ways to save money at times," Eloise confessed.

"It is a habit I never expected you to lose so quickly. If you had grown a sudden interest in spending all of my money, then I would have been concerned. While my family is wealthy, if we are to remain fortunate for years to come, my siblings should take a page out of your book," said Damien.

"Why don’t you offer your brothers their inheritance, and if they spend it, that will be the end of it? While you are blessed to have wealth, life can take an unexpected turn. No one should waste money even if they have too much of it now," said Eloise.

"Kyle loses most of his money to gambling-"

"Damien!"

Eloise turned around to see which lady had addressed Damien so informally.

Behind them was a lady walking with a maid who shielded her head with a parasol.

"I thought it was you," said Charlotte Thompson, a childhood friend of Damien. "And you must be the new Lady Hawthorne. Ellie?"

"It is Eloise," Eloise corrected the stranger.

"Eloise, this is Charlotte Thompson, an old friend of mine," Damien introduced Charlotte.

"It is nice to meet you," Eloise said, her walls remaining up though Charlotte was a friend of Damien’s.

"Likewise," Charlotte returned the greeting. "I was wondering when I would be so fortunate to meet your wife, and when you would come to personally tell me the news. Did you not think of informing your dear friends?"

"The town did it for me," Damien replied, seeing no need to personally deliver the known news.

"Hmm."

Charlotte opened her fan to cover her mouth. She fanned herself and examined Eloise’s appearance.

Eloise was quite simple. She was far from being a lady suited for Damien.

Charlotte lowered her fan and said, "You surprised me with this one, Damien. I always assumed that Quinn would get married first, but then you went and did this. Then, you didn’t have the decency to invite me to your wedding after you were one of the first to receive an invitation to mine."

Upon hearing of Charlotte’s marriage, Eloise noticed the ring on Charlotte’s finger.

At first glance, Eloise thought Charlotte was one of Damien’s admirers.

"It was a small wedding. It was only for the family to attend. You are disturbing my time with my wife," Damien said, losing interest in the conversation.

"It is quite an odd sight to see you going around the town like this. Are you here for business or to shop?" Charlotte asked, wanting to join Damien.

"You know I am not one to share my plans," Damien replied.

"Indeed, you are not. If you are here to help your wife search for suitable dresses for all the social events of the season, I would have time to spare. My husband won’t be coming for another hour or so. Wouldn’t you like for a lady to accompany you, Lady Hawthorne?" Charlotte asked, her gaze settling on Eloise after avoiding her.

Eloise’s appearance was unsightly to a lady like Charlotte.

"No. My husband finally has time for an outing around the market, so I want to enjoy this time alone. I thank you for the offer, but your help is not needed. I would hate to keep you busy," Eloise said, rejecting the offer.

Despite knowing Charlotte was married, it didn’t change Eloise’s thoughts that there was some affection for Damien. It might not be strong since Charlotte was married, but some of it lingered, which led to how Charlotte looked down on her.

Eloise held no interest in fighting over Damien since he was already her husband. Still, she made the ring on her hand noticeable to remind Charlotte of who had claimed Damien.

"I see. Then, I won’t keep you from enjoying your day. My invitation to help you still stands, Eloise," Charlotte offered.

"Lady Hawthorne," Eloise corrected Charlotte. "You are familiar with my husband, not me."

"Oh, yes. How could I make such a mistake? You’ll have to excuse me. I say his name because we have always been close. I see Damien as family, so I address him as I do. I will do better not to be careless with how I address you both," Charlotte promised.

"It was wonderful meeting you, Lady Hawthorne," Charlotte said and curtsied. "I must be on my way. I do hope we cross paths again."

Eloise kept silent since her choice of words would not be pleasant. She watched as Charlotte walked away with her maid close behind her.

"She has feelings for you," Eloise said, addressing the matter head-on. "You should never expect me to sit with her. I don’t like ladies who smile and hide their true feelings. She would try to belittle me when you are not at my side, and I will not stand for it."

"Charlotte and I are no longer close. I would not suggest a friendship with her as I did with Rosalie. You have my word," Damien promised.

"Hmm," came Eloise’s short response.