"Did you truly think you could steal the man I wanted to marry and then I would trust you as I once did? You have hurt me, and even worse, you have come here with accusations about my father. I don’t want to see you," Iris said, turning her back to Eloise.

Eloise’s smile carried disappointment. She knew better than to expect Iris to believe her right away.

"I know I have done you wrong by going to Lord Hawthorne. I shall forever have to apologise to you for it, but I speak the truth about my father. He is gone, and soon, you will see your father fight for what is mine," said Eloise.

"I have done you wrong only when it comes to Lord Hawthorne. Please watch for the signs about my father’s home and all his possessions. I will gather my belongings so I do not disturb you," Eloise said, moving to find her bag.

Iris slowly turned to look at Eloise.

Was Eloise truly going to leave?

Where would she go when her family was here?

Iris was concerned about Eloise’s well-being until she thought of Eloise going to live with Damien. There was no need to be concerned for Eloise when she would now live on an estate, leaving them all behind.

"Why him?" Iris asked, gathering strength to look at Eloise.

"He will offer me the power I need to prove what happened to my father. I am sorry I have taken the man you wanted, but I will do what I must for my father. I love him most," Eloise answered. "It pains me that it will hurt you in the process."

"It wouldn’t have pained me if you had spoken to me first. I will leave so you can pack without guilt. I hope your new life is worth what you have lost with me, and I would greatly appreciate it if you don’t lie about my father. I don’t need you ruining my season more than you already have," said Iris.

Iris walked out of the room to leave Eloise alone, but she didn’t go far.

Iris leaned against the wall near the room and covered her mouth with her hand to cry in silence. It hurt not only because she had lost Damien, but now, she was going to lose Eloise

Away from where Iris stood, Agatha joined the men.

Agatha felt relieved seeing that Clive was not panicking, so the matter of Thomas’s death had not been spoken of.

"Lord Hawthorne, it is a pleasure to have you in our home. I hear that you have come with my husband’s niece, Eloise. Why is that?" Agatha asked, hoping there was a chance Damien didn’t seriously consider marriage.

"I intend to marry her. I would prefer if the wedding were held in a week or so. The sooner she can come live at the estate, the better," Damien answered. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Oh, so she is not living with you? My husband couldn’t find Eloise last night. Where is she staying now?" Agatha asked, curious.

"The paintings on the wall are quite good. Do you paint?" Damien asked, shifting the conversation.

Agatha glanced at the art. She didn’t have the slightest clue where they came from, and quite frankly, they didn’t matter now.

"No one here paints. I was hoping you could answer about where Eloise stays," Agatha said, pushing the matter. "We are her guardians, so we must know."

"I was hoping you could take a hint. Where is Eloise? You are not troubling her, are you? If she returns with any marks or any tears, I will return them to you tenfold. The water is quite refreshing," Damien said, picking up the almost empty glass.

Agatha looked at Clive for support, but he shook his head. "Has my husband not informed you that Eloise is engaged?"

"Percival is dead. Surely, you don’t intend to tie her down with the dead," Damien said, taking a sip of the water after.

Agatha’s eyes widened. How could Percival be dead when they just saw him at the ball?

"Enough with trying to get in the way of my engagement to Eloise. It will not be broken, and please, do not speak of your daughter. I never had any interest in her, and I will not be swayed by her now. Don’t bore me," Damien advised the pair.

Damien looked in the direction Agatha came from. He would rather be with Eloise, but he was stuck with two fools.

Agatha tried not to let her frustration show. "You have not been in my daughter’s presence long enough to fall in love with her. I urge you to talk with her now."

Damien’s lips curled into a devious smile. "You would have me speak to another lady when the woman I wish to marry is present? How awful of you! Is that what you allow in your marriage?"

"N-No. I am only-"

"Bring Eloise to me," Damien spoke over Agatha. "I am quite annoyed and impatient."

"Bring her," Clive instructed Agatha.

Agatha stared at Clive, annoyed that he was not pushing Iris forward. She thought of what the townspeople would say once they learned that Eloise was not only getting married before Iris, but she was marrying Lord Hawthorne.

Clive shouldn’t allow it.

Still, Agatha had to get up and go back to Eloise.

It bothered Agatha to the depths of her core that Eloise might go on to marry an eligible bachelor. A wealthy one at that, who had lands to his name and an estate. This was everything Agatha wanted for Iris, so her daughter would do far better than she did. So Iris could prove the town wrong about ladies from their low status.

Agatha’s anger grew when she saw Eloise walking with her bag. Eloise had the sense not to put up a fight about staying.

Agatha stormed over to Eloise with the intention of striking her again, but before she could land the second hit, Eloise dropped her bag and grabbed Agatha’s hand.

"I endured the first hit to not fight you before Iris, but you have gotten too comfortable. We are not in the same position as before, where you can mistreat me and I will be silent," Eloise said, keeping a firm grip on Agatha’s hand.

Agatha stared at Eloise, feeling both surprised and angered by Eloise speaking back to her. She pulled back her hand and thought of another way to punish Eloise. "You-"

The sound of skin colliding filled the quiet space.

Agatha palmed her cheek, her mouth slightly agape. "You, how dare you?"

"I have repaid the slap," Eloise said, lowering her hand, which stung from connecting with Agatha’s face. "It is what you deserve."