Eloise took a deep breath and stepped into the room where she heard Agatha ushering Iris to get dressed. She knocked on the door to bring their attention to her.

"Eloise!" Iris cheerfully greeted Eloise. "I have been waiting ever so patiently for you to arrive. See, I said she would come," she said, leaving Agatha’s side. "Did you see your father?"

Eloise smiled as Iris held her hand. "I did see him. Thank you for what you did for me."

"It was dangerous of you to run away when your uncle was away from you. Not to mention careless to wrap Iris into your plans. I hope that overnight you have woken up and will not be so careless again," Agatha said, placing her hands on her hips.

"I have woken up from the dream I seemed to be living in. Iris, could I speak to you alone-"

"You dare to request privacy in my home with me standing here? After what you did last night, you have lost the chance to have a private talk with my daughter. Stay out of her way for now. I won’t have you ruin her chance to meet with a good suitor," Agatha said, going back to search for a suitable dress.

Iris wished her mother would be silent. "I want to hear what it is you have to say. I have been worried sick about you travelling alone."

"Iris," Agatha scolded her daughter. "I don’t want to hear any of it. It is time you focus on yourself. Step out of the room at once, Eloise. I shall deal with you once Lord Hawthorne leaves."

"I have come here with Lord Hawthorne. He has come to speak of our engagement," Eloise said, getting the confession out. "That is why I wanted to speak to Iris in private. I can explain it all to you."

Iris laughed and pulled her hand out of Eloise’s hold. "You jest. Tell me that this is one awful joke. You cannot marry the man I have spoken about since you arrived. You wouldn’t do that to me."

"I do apologise, and I assure you that I have my reasons," Eloise said, her chest aching as she saw Iris’s look of betrayal. "I did not intend to hurt you."

Agatha, who had been still after hearing the news, snapped out of the shock and walked over to Eloise. She raised her hand and brought it down fast to strike Eloise across her face.

"You rotten girl! I knew there was good in bringing you into our home," Agatha said, seething with anger. "I always knew you would try to steal what belongs to Iris."

Eloise endured the pain in her jaw. She clenched her fist, wanting to strike back at Agatha, but she held back for now. She held back only for Iris.

"Didn’t you know? Stealing runs in this family," Eloise said, staring back at Agatha with defiance instead of cowering as she always did. "Iris, I did not do it to hurt you. They-"

"But you knew that it would hurt me," Iris said, not wanting to hear Eloise’s excuses. "You knew that I wanted to marry him. I spoke of my plans to you, and you had been right there cheering me on. I believed you were truly happy for me."

"I did not intend to accept any proposal last night, but a gruesome secret I learned has pushed me to this. My father was killed, and the one behind it is your father. Your mother knows as well," Eloise said, watching Agatha’s face morph from anger to horror.

"N-No," Iris shook her head, refusing to believe Eloise’s tale. "It is not true. I do not enjoy this joke."

"I would not lie to you, Iris. He is gone, and your parents are plotting to take the home for themselves-"

"Stop!" The demand came from Agatha.

Agatha approached Eloise and grabbed her by her shoulders. "You must stop speaking these lies before you ruin this good family."

"Then, you say it. Swear now that my father is alive and your husband didn’t bring him any harm. Swear to her that you two didn’t speak of what my uncle did last night at the ball. That you two weren’t plotting to send me off to Percival. Swear to her now that it didn’t happen," Eloise said, giving Agatha one chance.

Iris looked to her mother for an honest answer. Eloise had to be wrong. Her father would never harm her uncle or try to take the home.

"I swear that none of that has happened. This is the last day you shall stand in this home. Have your bags packed by the time I return," Agatha said and stormed out of the room.

As much as Agatha wanted to pack Eloise’s bags herself, she had to see Clive.

If Clive were left alone with Lord Hawthorne and these accusations were brought up, Clive would panic and reveal his actions. They could not stumble now.

Tears slipped down Eloise’s cheek. "Iris, what I say is the truth. I overheard your father confess to killing my father, and when I went to my father’s home, I found his ashes. He has robbed me of the chance to allow a proper burial for my father."

For the first time in her life, Iris experienced heartbreak. Iris could not look at Eloise

Eloise was the last person Iris would ever think of betraying her.

Iris’s sight became blurry due to her tears.

Eloise stepped forward, wanting to hold Iris. "I would not lie to you, and I certainly didn’t intend to hurt you with the engagement. I had no one to turn to other than Lord Hawhorne in that moment."

Iris’s head whipped around as she couldn’t believe the words Eloise dared to utter. "No one else to turn to? Then, what am I? Did I not help you?"

Iris’s right hand trembled as she restrained herself from lashing out at Eloise just as her mother had done. "Here I was worrying about you like a fool, while you were placing yourself at Lord Hawthorne’s side. Not only do you steal the man I intended to marry, but now you accuse my father of a heinous crime."

Iris peered down at the floor and wiped her teary eyes.

"I speak the truth about your father. You must believe me," Eloise said, desperate for Iris to believe her. She had never lied to Iris before, not to be believed now. "He has killed my father, and I have the ashes to show he burned the body to hide what he did."

Iris shook her head. "I don’t know what you think you heard, but my father is not a murderer. Perhaps losing two parents has troubled your mind, but it is not fair of you to blindly accuse anyone."

"Iris-"

"I beg you to stay away from me, Eloise. I do not recognise the woman you are now, nor do I want to be associated with you. You betrayed me after all my kindness, and I hate you for it," Iris said, deciding to follow her mother’s guidance. "I must think of myself since caring for others only wounded me in the end."