"Still, I am quite the catch."

"Oh, yes. How could I forget that you are ever so charming and have a long line of ladies who cannot forget you? I am sure it will be quite hard for her to move on from you," Eloise spoke with sarcasm.

"That tone doesn’t suit you, Eloise. I was merely telling a joke," said Damien.

"I fail to believe it was all a joke, but she will indeed take some time to move on from you. Iris had her eyes set on you for some time now, and it wasn’t all because of her mother’s wishes. It is unfortunate that we are in this state over a man," Eloise said, upset with the situation.

"I mean you no offence," Eloise said, realising she might have insulted Damien.

"I am not offended," Damien replied. "While we ride to the court, let us decide on the wedding. It should be done quickly."

"I shall let you take the reins on it. I prefer a small wedding, but you might have many guests to invite. You need to think of my finances. At the moment, I do not think there is a dowry I can claim, and I am unwilling to sell my mother’s jewellery," said Eloise.

Damien’s brow raised as he wished to hear more of Eloise’s thoughts. "Do you think I am poor, Eloise?’

"Poor? No, you and poor do not go together. Why?"

"I seek an explanation for why you think you would need to sell precious jewellery to pay for our wedding. I can afford it and more. If you wished to have a large wedding, I would allow it, but I am hardly in the mood to face a crowd," said Damien.

"I do not doubt what you can afford. I simply would like to contribute to my wedding so it doesn’t appear as though I am leeching off your wealth. Somehow, I will take care of my daily expenses so I do not trouble you," Eloise said, realising there was plenty to consider.

"Eloise."

"Yes?"

"You are making me feel like a man who cannot provide, and I don’t like it. You will be cared for as my wife. It wounds me that you concluded I wouldn’t take care of your expenses. I have the money for it," Damien said, feeling a bit insulted.

"I don’t want to trouble you. It is not as though I have plenty to buy. I can live quietly," Eloise said, content with her current life and small expenses.

"The Eloise I remember was anything but quiet. You are no longer in your uncle’s home, where you felt the need to stay quiet because they took you in-"

"Then I will accept the money," Eloise said, catching Damien off guard. "I was trying to be polite, but I need the money if I am to give my father a proper send-off. Remember well that you pushed to provide for me."

Silence fell upon the carriage, but Damien’s laughter soon filled it.

Damien enjoyed that it didn’t take too much more convincing for Eloise to accept his money.

"I assure you that I won’t forget. You can’t possibly spend more money than my siblings do. Which reminds me. As you should know, they will be living with us until they marry, but should you find yourself bored with their presence, I shall take care of it," Damien offered.

"How? You would take me to your countryside mansion?" Eloise jokingly asked.

"No, I would send them away. Why should we be the ones to move?"

Eloise stared at Damien, trying to decide whether he was being serious. "Surely, you wouldn’t be so cruel. I would never ask you to send your siblings away. They are your family."

"After today’s events, you are not convinced that relatives can cause a headache? I won’t need you to ask. I will send them away when they bother me, as I have always done. With the wedding and finances sorted, now is the time for your stay at the estate. You will stay in my bedchamber-"

"Why?" Eloise exclaimed, thinking it unnecessary. Eloise cleared her throat since her reaction was too loud. "You live on an estate. You cannot convince me that there are not enough rooms."

"If my siblings did not live with me, then I would assign you a separate room. If we do not share a bed, it will open questions about our marriage, and I do not want them to know about the bodies. I trust that you will not touch me while I sleep," Damien said purposely to tease Eloise.

Eloise stared at Damien, waiting for him to be serious.

"Very well, I shall allow it," Damien said, pushing Eloise’s buttons.

"I do not want to touch you. I did not think we would have to share a bed, but I understand the circumstances. It must be a large room, so I will make do with it. I can rest on a chair," Eloise decided. "Is that all?"

"You do not have any requirements for me?" Damien asked, curious what she would need.

"No," Eloise shook her head, but then something came to mind. "I would not like for you to tell me about who you have killed. It is not the kind of life I want to be tangled in. You can keep your private affairs to yourself."

"Are we not to speak?"

"We are. I am only asking not to hear about that side of you. I am not a good liar, and if the town guards question us, I fear my face will have you arrested. I won’t pry into that side of your life, and luckily for you, my life is quite boring, so there is no reason for you to pry," said Eloise.

"Your uncle killed your father so he could claim his home, and burned the body to hide what he had done. I would say your life is quite exciting. I want to test how bad a liar you are. During the years we did not see each other, did you think of me once?" Damien asked and studied Eloise’s expression.

Eloise stared at Damien, but before she could answer, she avoided his gaze. "No," she answered.

"You are an awful liar, but I like it. You should stay an honest woman," Damien said, wanting Elosie to remain as she was until the end.

"My father raised me to be honest. Did you think of me during those years?" Eloise asked, testing if Damien would lie.

"Yes," Damien answered. "I was curious if you were still stumbling around."

"Why do I bother with you?" Eloise muttered and turned her attention to the window.