At the Hawthorne estate, Camille arrived to visit Jane and have a talk with Eloise about an outing.

"Quinn, dear!" Camille called, her voice carrying through the entrance as she waved her hand to catch his attention. "Are you going to speak to your dear aunt?"

Quinn halted as he looked down at where Camille walked. "I didn’t see you there, Aunt Camille. Forgive me."

"You are forgiven. I am glad I came in time to see you. Isn’t it about time we talked about your future bride? I’ve had plenty of mothers approach me with their lovely daughters, each eager to see her child become your wife," Camille shared, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.

"I am not going to take a wife this season. Perhaps next season I will be fully invested in it and take part in all the events. I will let the focus of this season remain on Damien and Eloise," Quinn said, a tinge of guilt pricking at his chest like a thorn.

"How kind of you, but you don’t want your future wife waiting too long. What if she is currently taking part in the season, waiting for her dear husband, yet you are not going to her? You can take part in the season and not pick a wife," Camille suggested, trying to sway him.

"See, this is why we like to avoid you. The more you try to pull us into the season, the more we wish to run away from you. You must let us decide when we are ready. What use is it to join the season and not have my heart all the way in it?" Quinn asked, unwilling to do it for Camille’s sake.

"I can’t help it that I want to see all of you find your happy endings. I worry that you and Kyle might be so distracted that you end up having a bastard before a legitimate child. There is nothing sweeter than marriage," Camille said, hoping both boys would follow Damien’s lead.

Quinn had questions about Camille’s own marriage, but stayed silent to spare her. "I will marry eventually."

"The estate is quieter than usual. Where are your siblings? Where are the Lord and Lady Hawthorne? Is there word of an heir yet?" Camille asked, curious.

"Jane and Kyle are somewhere around. It is too soon for there to be an announcement of an heir since they haven’t been married long. You must be careful not to mention an heir, as Damien might think you are pressuring Eloise," Quinn warned, trying to protect Camille.

"Fortunately for you, Damien and Eloise are out of the estate. I made a grave mistake which resulted in them both leaving."

"They are gone again? Didn’t they just return from the countryside? Why is Damien leaving the estate so frequently? What happened?" Camille asked, worried that Damien’s duties were being forgotten.

"I shouldn’t speak of it to add more people to the mess, but I assure you the matter is being handled. I only need to apologise to Eloise when she returns. She left, and Damien followed her," said Quinn, his tone heavy with regret.

"She is the one who left? Heaven help me," Camille said, placing her hand on her forehead. "I should have come sooner, so this wouldn’t have occurred. Lord Hawthorne cannot be away from the estate so frequently. I am surprised Damien has followed her."

"Surprised? It shouldn’t come as a surprise since Damien is in love with Eloise. Completely and utterly smitten, so I suggest we stay out of it. I have learned my lesson, and I am still trying to get back into their good graces. Don’t be foolish," Quinn advised her.

Camille tapped Quinn’s arm. "I have to be more stern than all of you since I worry about the future of the estate. The relatives are already restless because they weren’t invited to the wedding, and rightfully so. They would become even more of a bother if they learned he is away from the estate."

"Damien is away, but Kyle and I have been working in his place," said Quinn.

"Yes, but you are not Lord- oh!" Camille covered her mouth with her hand, her cheeks flushed from embarrassment. "Forgive me. I didn’t mean to be rude. I only meant to say that there are some matters which Damien has been taught to deal with. Lord Hawthorne cannot be away."

"It is not as though they will be gone for too long. Besides, Damien keeps the estate in such good order that nothing has happened in his absence. It has only been a day so far, so don’t work yourself up," Quinn said, patting Camille’s hand with a reassuring gentleness.

"You know that all I do is worry, Quinn. This is a matter of the estate. I will still need to speak to both when they return. I feel my hands are forced to come here more often to help guide Eloise. Jane’s concerns were reasonable. Where is Jane?" Camille asked, certain Jane would share the gossip.

"She is in her bedchamber," Quinn answered. "Eloise is assigning a governess to Jane, so wanting to be a perfect little lady, she is getting back to her studies."

"A governess? I have already offered to have Jane use mine. She is quite talented and hard to come by. Jane would get to be with her dear cousins. I have been waiting for Damien to accept the offer, but he hasn’t responded," said Camille.

"Well, you no longer need to worry. Jane seems eager to use the woman Eloise has selected, so we should leave her be."

"I am glad Jane is getting a governess so she won’t be behind her peers, but I worry about who Eloise shall choose. With what you have told me, it feels as though Eloise needs her own governess so she doesn’t run off," Camille said, deciding to involve herself further.

Quinn scratched the back of his head, his expression weary. "I don’t think it is wise for you to interfere. Take it from someone who is trying to crawl back into their good graces. Eloise seems to be doing well with Jane and as Lady Hawthorne."

"She hasn’t been attending gatherings she must show her face at. Even I find them to be a bit of a headache, but it is expected. I like Eloise, so I will take my time to guide her," Camille decided.

"Good luck," Quinn wished her. "I know she doesn’t want to attend many gatherings, and Damien isn’t forcing her. Eloise’s duties are not a matter I would want to get caught up in, but I leave it to you to decide."

"What is it?" Quinn questioned a maid approaching them.

"There is a Countess Tompkins here for Lady Hawthorne."

"Countess? Allow her in," Quinn said, walking to the door to greet the guest.