In the Presley home, Victoria ordered the maids around to gather her belongings as she prepared to return to the comfort of her father’s home.

Victoria had overstayed her welcome and now needed to find a spouse as fast as possible.

"You are all moving too slowly. Is this how you treat Rosalie?" Victoria snapped.

"No, ma’am," the maids apologised.

Victoria pinched the bridge of her nose. "I helped to make your work easier by organising my belongings during the night, but then you came in, made a mess, and now I will be here longer. Get more maids to help you."

Victoria wished she had the authority to fire a maid or all of them.

"Do your work and do it fast. I would hate to have to report all of you to the head maid," said Victoria.

"Yes, ma’am."

Victoria rubbed her temple.

It felt as if everyone was trying to keep her in the mansion while she was desperate to leave. She could not endure one more awkward dinner.

"Victoria!" Rosalie’s voice made Victoria tense up.

"Are you almost done?" Rosalie asked when she entered the room. "I wanted us to sit down for one final time before you leave. Allow me to give you a proper send-off. Will you join me?" 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

"I must help the maids put my belongings in the trunks," Victoria said.

"Nonsense," Rosalie said, reaching for Victoria’s arm. "The maids are perfectly fine without you. We must have a good drink. I am thinking of sneaking out a bottle of wine from Cole’s secret storage."

"You shouldn’t. You wouldn’t want to cause tension in your marriage," said Victoria.

Rosalie laughed at Victoria’s concern. "Over wine? It would not be the first time I have taken one, and if he is upset, I will apologise and then replace the bottle. Fortunately, Cole doesn’t get upset with little matters."

"Are you certain? Perhaps with your illness, he has been easy on you and hiding his feelings," Victoria suggested.

Rosalie frowned. "Please leave us for a moment," she ordered the maids. "Can one of you be so kind as to bring me a glass of water?"

"Yes, Mrs Presley."

Rosalie waited for the maids to hurry out of the bedchamber. "Has Cole spoken to you in private? Is he angry with me?"

"No, I was only curious if he is upset, and you never notice it. You must forgive me for jumping ahead with my assumptions," Victoria apologised. "You know your husband better than I do."

"Still, you are a close friend looking in at our marriage. You will notice what I do not. I do worry that he might have gotten tired of caring for me. I wasn’t able to do my duties as his wife for a month. What if it were to upset him?" Rosalie asked, worried her marriage was heading down a dark path.

Victoria touched Rosalie’s hand to comfort her. "Cole is not that kind of man. I do advise you to give him all your attention instead of worrying about the season or me. Now that you’re better, give him your time."

"I know you enjoy having me near, but my absence will allow you to be close to your husband again. It would be even better if you were to take a trip out of town," Victoria suggested.

"A trip would be too soon since I have only just gotten better. My father would not allow it, but I will take your advice to give Cole more of my time. I know he yearns to be a father, but as of late, he has been asking me to take my time," Rosalie shared.

Victoria looked down for a moment before raising her head to meet Rosalie’s gaze. "Why isn’t he eager? Is it because he thinks your body is still weak?"

"I do not know. I want to have a child now," Rosalie said, desperate to be a mother. "Why are all the ladies who wed after me already pregnant with their first child? I want to experience it."

"It will come to you," Victoria assured Rosalie. "You only have to be patient. Cole must be thinking that you need a little more time to be healthy. He wouldn’t want to lose you."

"I understand, but I still think it is time for us to have a child. I have seen so many marriages ruined because there are no children. His mother asks me about her grandson each time I visit her. I wish I could cover her mouth," Rosalie sighed.

Rosalie released Victoria’s arm and walked to the bed to sit down. "I wish his parents weren’t so involved. I try to keep my father out of my marriage."

"You should speak to Cole," Victoria suggested.

"I don’t want to be the wife who whines," Rosalie replied.

"This is why I enjoy your company. You offer me a distraction, but I know I can’t hold you back. I look forward to when you are married, and our husbands are close, so we can all be friends," said Rosalie.

"I do not know how soon that day will come."

"You are a beautiful woman, Victoria. Any man would be lucky to have you. When you set foot in the palace for the ball, I know you will have many eyes on you. I only hope you are well enough to be social," Rosalie said, worried about Victoria’s health. "You must see the doctor."

"No," Victoria rejected the offer.

"Why are you turning away the doctor? We called upon him during my gathering, only for you not to see him. He is the best in the town. Since he works closely with my father, his silence is bought," Rosalie assured Victoria.

"I don’t want to see a doctor because I am better now. If I weren’t, I would be honest with you now. I am quite excited about the ball, and I must thank you for getting me an invitation. You will see then that I am well," Victoria promised.

"Very well, but if I for one second see that you are unwell, I will have my father get the palace doctor. Now, did you put away the dress I had made for you?" Rosalie asked, observing the mess in the room. "It’s meant for the winter ball."

"Isn’t it too soon to make dresses for the winter? What if it cannot fit then?"

"Why wouldn’t it fit? You are always the same size, which is why I envy you. I did make it a little big, so it won’t be tight. Oh!" Rosalie gasped, realising what Victoria meant. "Do you think you would be married and pregnant by then?"