"Don’t look. It’s not polite to stare at couples having an intimate moment. Unless you are into watching others," said Damien.

Eloise became flustered. She pulled away from Damien, no longer enjoying the sweet moment between them. "I do not! I cannot help that I looked down and saw them. Oh, they are running," she noticed. "Do you think they heard us?"

"Or someone else startled them. The palace knights will search the garden, so the couples down there must run around so as not to be caught. If they are caught, the knights won’t save them from shame," Damien explained.

Eloise watched as the man chased the woman. "It must be exciting for them to think of getting caught. What?" she asked, noticing Damien’s gaze. "Did I say something wrong?"

"No. I was just curious if that is what you secretly feel. Do you yearn to experience the thrill of almost being caught?" Damien asked, willing to participate.

"No," Eloise answered, not wanting to put ideas in Damien’s head. "We weren’t speaking about me. We were speaking about the couples down there. If you think I will do that with you right here, you have thought wrong."

"Not here, but elsewhere. I will remember this," Damien said, leaning forward to kiss Eloise’s cheek. "Unfortunately, we are already being watched."

"Where? I haven’t noticed anyone," said Eloise.

Eloise observed her surroundings but still didn’t see anyone.

"You are always watched in the palace, Eloise. There are secret spaces and passages all over the palace. That is why it is silly to run around the garden to meet with a lover. Those secret meetings always get exposed," Damien explained.

"Oh. Thankfully, nothing happened between us here. We should return to the ball. Our hour is going by," Eloise said, ready to join the crowd.

"Is it not better to be out here and be alone?"

"It is, but if I wanted to get dressed up and be alone with you, I could have stayed at the estate. It is only for an hour, Damien. You will survive," Eloise said, holding Damien’s hand to comfort him.

Eloise led Damien back to the ballroom, and just as she stepped inside, she collided with someone.

"Oh, Eloise," Rosalie said, excited to see Eloise. "I was hoping to see the two of you tonight. Have you seen my husband?" she asked, tiptoeing to look at the balcony. "I lost sight of him after meeting with my parents."

"No, I have not seen him," Eloise answered. "Do you need us to help you search?"

Eloise ignored the poke from Damien.

"No," Rosalie shook her head. "I don’t want to disturb you. With my luck, I am certain I have been walking past Cole while he searches for me. I’m sure I will see him soon."

Still, Rosalie didn’t like being away from Cole for long.

"I do not think Victoria has arrived. If you want, you can join me where my family gathers. My father will scare away most of the guests. Even the royals," Rosalie whispered.

"Damien will enjoy the peace, but we have already spoken to the royals. I was a bit nervous, but Damien did well to speak on my behalf," Eloise shared.

"You spoke already? How did I miss that you were approached? I must have been searching for Cole. I wish to hear all about it. I must warn you that having spoken once doesn’t mean you won’t be approached again," Rosalie spoke softly.

Rosalie worried about the queen or the princesses approaching Eloise. It would surely spoil the night for the couple.

Rosalie reached for Eloise’s hand to hold. "You must stand with my family. My father will do all the protecting while you get to enjoy the ball with Damien. My family won’t question or judge you, especially since they love Damien."

"Then, we will join you-"

Eloise’s response was cut short by a woman colliding with her, spilling wine over her dress.

"Lady Hawthorne! It was a mistake," the stranger apologised.

Rosalie gasped, horrified by the sight of Eloise’s beautiful dress being spoiled. "How was that a mistake when there was plenty of room for you to walk?"

Damien grabbed the stranger’s hand before she could leave. He got a good look at her face and determined who her family was.

While the woman before Damien annoyed him, he knew who the real culprit was behind spoiling Eloise’s dress.

"You should pay for spoiling Lady Hawthorne’s dress. The ball has only just begun, yet you are so careless as to spill your wine. I should spill wine on your dress and say it was an accident," Rosalie said, looking around for a filled glass.

"My dress is dark, so it won’t be seen, but I need to wipe it off. It won’t spoil my night," Eloise said, trying to calm the situation.

Others were starting to stare, which Eloise knew was the reason for spilling wine on her dress. Someone was trying to place negative attention on her.

"You must wash it out quickly before it dries. It must be uncomfortable. Damien," Rosalie said, forgetting to properly address him. "I know where I can help her to clean the dress. You must come with us quickly."

Damien released the woman’s hand and walked with Eloise to tend to her dress.

Rosalie led Eloise away from the crowd to a small chamber open to guests.

"Wait outside," Rosalie ordered Damien. "We cannot have anyone locking us inside. I will help her as quickly as I can."

Eloise offered Damien a smile before entering the chamber with Rosalie.

Damien remained alone, guarding the door. He was still upset and had plans to not let the incident go unpunished. He turned around to keep watch for guests lingering.

Damien folded his arms as Rosalie’s time helping Eloise took longer than needed. Still, he welcomed it since they would still leave within the hour.

"Do not follow me."

Damien looked to his right after hearing a familiar voice. His brow raised as he found the sight intriguing.

Damien enjoyed the growing look of horror on the pair’s faces as they surely didn’t expect to see him.

"Lord Hawthorne," Victoria greeted Damien.

Cole stood behind Victoria.

"Your wife is searching for you, and your friend is awaiting your arrival. How interesting that you were together all along," Damien said.

"Mr Presley stumbled upon me a moment ago, and we were on our way back to the ballroom," Victoria said, putting distance between herself and Cole.

Damien didn’t respond.

Instead, he knocked on the door to get the attention of the one who needed to see the pair together.