When night came, the carriages and carts were packed and ready for departure.

Countess Viola arrived in her carriage, prepared to travel back with the group.

"Forgive my lateness. I had a few matters to see before I left," Viola said, catching Damien’s eye briefly to let him know she had received his letter.

"Was it your husband?" Eloise asked, moving to Viola’s side.

"No. I didn’t need to say any goodbyes. He will be joining me later, so I shall have his company for the journey home. The roads are growing too dangerous for me to travel alone. Did you enjoy your time here?" Viola asked, giving Eloise a quick look over.

"Very much. I was already planning the next visit before this one was over," Eloise replied.

Viola took Eloise’s hands in hers, her grip warm and firm. "Next time you come back, I want you to stay at my home. There will be no one to trouble you there."

"You must have heard about Peter, and all the rest of it," Eloise said.

"Jealousy never looks well on anyone. I am glad you didn’t let him ruin your time here. I am taking care of those rumours and whatever else he has done. Leave all of that behind you and look forward to going home," Viola said.

"I let go of it after the festival. I only wish you had come so we could have walked together, but at least we shall have time in the capital," Eloise said, already looking forward to showing Viola her new home. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"We shall indeed. Lord Hawthorne, might I borrow your wife until our first stop? I will send her back to your carriage then. I need a word with her in private," Viola requested.

"That is Eloise’s decision," Damien said, leaving it entirely with her.

"Wise man," Viola said, having asked in part to see how he would answer. She turned and gave Jane a reassuring look. "Don’t worry, dear. You shall have her back before long. Now, we should move. We don’t want to fall behind."

Jane climbed into the carriage wearing a pout.

Damien waited to help both Viola and Eloise into their carriage, then instructed Aiden to ride amongst Viola’s guards before returning to his own.

Inside Viola’s carriage, Eloise pressed close to the window, trying to hold onto as much of the countryside as she could whilst it was still there to see.

"I wanted to speak to you about your family. About what you intend to do when you return to the capital. Is your uncle’s wife still making trouble for you?" Viola asked, settling back against her seat.

"Agatha speaks poorly of me at times, but she isn’t much of a threat now since our paths rarely cross. Why?" Eloise asked, turning from the window to face Viola.

"Because you must deal with her now, or you will spend years managing this. I think of you as family, Eloise, and I am offering my help. You may be Lady Hawthorne, but in Agatha’s eyes, you will always be Eloise Wilkins. She will not be nearly so brave with me," Viola said with the confidence of someone who had never once doubted her own influence.

"I know. Agatha has always been careful about how she speaks around others. She is not so careful with Damien any more, now that he has married me. I know I cannot simply ignore her forever," Eloise said, aware that Agatha would only press harder if left unchecked.

"She did not kill my father, but she made herself useful once he was gone so she could secure the house. She was never fond of me and treated me very differently from Iris. I understand it, in a way, since I wasn’t her daughter, but she didn’t need to go as far as she did," said Eloise.

"So the only one in that house you truly care for is your cousin, Iris. Iris is perfectly capable of finding a husband and making her own way. She will be fine, so don’t let that be the reason you go gently on Agatha. Put a stop to this now," Viola said.

"I intend to, but I mean to start with my uncle. I told Damien there is no use waiting for the court to act. There is no evidence to be found, and Clive will never confess. He will have to be dealt with by death. It is the only answer," Eloise said, forced to change her ways.

"It is a sad thing that someone with your nature now has to think this way, but you are right that it must be done. Your father spent his whole life trying to keep the worst of this world from reaching you. If not for your uncle, you might have been spared it a little longer," Viola said quietly.

"I am grateful for the way my father raised me, but I am glad my eyes are open now. I cannot keep letting things pass and allowing people to go on speaking ill of me. Some would use Agatha’s stories to ruin me," Eloise said.

"Or use them to damage your husband. You are his weakness now, and what ruins you will ruin him. Many will believe Agatha simply because you once lived under her roof. We must silence her, and I shall do it for you," Viola offered.

Eloise’s eyes widened. "You will?"

"Of course I will. I will not sit by and watch anyone make your life difficult. How many times do I have to tell you that you are family to me? I sometimes wish you had been my granddaughter rather than those who do nothing but try to take from me. Let me handle this," Viola pleaded.

"Then your cousin will direct her anger at me instead of at you," Viola added, pleased with the arrangement.

"It isn’t just one cousin. There are two. I accept your help, but I also want to face Agatha myself and put an end to it properly. I have let her push me about for far too long. She needs to see that I am not the quiet girl who once lived in her house," Eloise said, determined to settle the conflict

"Wonderful. You have no idea how glad I am to hear you say that. It is a fine thing to have a husband willing to stand in front of you, but there are some battles worth fighting yourself, so others see exactly who they are dealing with," Viola said.

"When I became engaged to the Count, it was not a smooth beginning. The trouble didn’t come from his mother, but from his sister. She raised her voice to me once, and her hand too, though neither of them reached their mark. Mine did, and she has not troubled me since," Viola said, still proud of the moment she fought back.

"Did she ever apologise for what she did?"

"No. I frightened her off thoroughly, and she has not spoken my name since. It will not stop, Eloise. Not until you put your foot down firmly enough for them to feel it. Or your hand to their cheek," Viola said, and the laughter that followed filled the small carriage.