At the hour for dinner, everyone began to gather in the dining chamber.

Eloise and Damien were the first to arrive, taking their seats at one end of the long table.

Rosalie entered second, not wanting to be late as a guest. She paused, surprised to see Damien seated to the right of Eloise. "Damien, isn’t your chair at the other end of the table? You cannot bear to part from your wife for even one hour?"

"If you value having a place in this estate, I advise you to quietly find your way to a chair. You seem to be in good spirits now, so I am considering sending you back to your father," Damien replied, his voice edged with a threat.

"It would be cruel of you to send me back so late in the night. You would sever family ties over one moment, and trust me, you need my father at your side more than ever. In your absence, there has been trouble in the palace. The king wishes to call upon all the nobles," Rosalie shared, missing the reaction she got from Eloise.

"Let him call upon them. He will have an empty chair where I am meant to sit," Damien responded, annoyed by the mention of the palace.

"I do not think it wise for you to ignore him this time. He is searching for men to send off to war. Or perhaps it is something else. I was not listening very closely. You know the king would send you away because you rebelled," Rosalie said, fearing Damien was playing with fire.

"Rosalie, let us refrain from frightening my wife with talk of me leaving. We should have a pleasant dinner with only topics that lift the mood," Damien said, ending the conversation firmly.

"Oh." Rosalie placed her hand to her mouth, her eyes softening as she looked at Eloise with an apologetic expression. "I apologise, Eloise. Nothing I said is certain. I only heard fragments."

"It is fine. I am certain Damien is not leaving town," Eloise replied, unwilling to dwell on what was unconfirmed.

"Well, I have been thinking of a way to repay you for your kindness in welcoming me here. If you have time to spare, I would love to take you around the town to spoil you tomorrow. It would all be my money spent," Rosalie offered, noticing Damien’s sharp glance. "Of course, not spending your money would catch your attention, Damien."

"It does." Damien nodded, his lips curving faintly.

"We can go looking for dresses, books, and even ask the ladies if they have seen your cousin. We can search in places men cannot enter. Do not feel pressured to attend. I am content to leave in the morning and return to my father’s home," Rosalie said, giving Eloise the choice.

"I do not mind joining you since I have no plans for tomorrow, but I have not had the best experience shopping in town. I usually have a dressmaker come here," Eloise admitted, uncertain how the day would unfold.

"Well, that was when you were shopping alone. Shopping with me shall be a different experience," Rosalie promised with a smile.

"Very well. As long as we are back by noon. There is someone I must meet then," Eloise said, recalling her plans with Viola.

Eloise twirled her wedding band around her finger. She thought of Viola’s intention to meet Agatha alone.

’How will that go?’ Eloise wondered, almost wishing she could be present.

***

Early in the morning, Agatha sat on the chair near the front door, awaiting Reece’s return with the money.

Agatha bit her nails, furious with herself for not taking the money and hiding it. She could have handed it to Iris’s future husband to secure the marriage. She could have paid the debts or fled far from town if she had known Reece would act as he did now.

Now Agatha was back to having nothing, as the marriages she arranged would likely collapse.

She rose from the chair and began pacing, her skirts brushing against the worn-out floorboards. It was the only thing that calmed her mind.

There was no reason for Reece to be away so long unless he had returned to his old life, abandoning his mother and sister to bear the debts alone.

A knock on the door jolted her, bringing a flicker of relief as she believed it was Reece. She approached, but when no familiar voice spoke, dread settled in her chest. She assumed it was the men demanding their money.

Agatha backed away, feigning an empty house.

"We know you are inside," came a man’s voice.

’Is it the court with more news about Clive or Iris?’ Agatha wondered, her mind spiralling. She prayed the visitor was here for Iris. To provide answers, not to burden her with more troubles.

Agatha marched to the door and flung it open. A man and a woman she did not recognise stood there.

She eyed the man from head to toe. With one glance, she judged him a servant. Perhaps the coachman for the carriage waiting outside. But the woman he stood behind was unmistakably a lady, her fine dress and poised posture declaring her rank.

While Agatha tried to place who they were, Viola examined the cramped home Eloise had once been sent to. Rather than see Eloise confined here, Viola would have gladly taken her in.

"Countess Viola Tompkins has come to have a word with the owner of this home."

Agatha froze, stunned by the title. "A Countess? You must forgive me," she said quickly, smoothing down the front of her old dress. The fabric was not for such a meeting, but she had not been given notice to prepare.

"Please, come inside," Agatha said, stepping aside.

Viola entered with grace, her eyes sweeping the modest room with uncertainty. She was accustomed to such small homes, but this one didn’t appear to have been cleaned for days. For Eloise’s sake, she would endure it.

"Wait outside," Viola ordered her servant. "This will not take long. Thank you for inviting me into your home." 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"Would you like some tea, water, or perhaps wine? I should still have an unopened bottle somewhere," Agatha offered nervously.

As Viola looked around, Agatha hurried to open the windows for the first time in days, making the house appear lived in once more.

"No, no. You must not trouble yourself," Viola said, adjusting the glove on her hand. "I came to speak of an important matter. One you may wish to sit for."

"Important? You must have heard my daughter is missing, but forgive me, I do not recall ever meeting you before," Agatha said, trying to place where she had seen Viola "Are you truly a Countess?"

Viola turned sharply, offended by the doubt. "Are you the woman who hurt Eloise? I see now where the jealousy stems from," she said, her gaze going toward Agatha with disdain.