"Your uncle said he could not find you. Did he not go to Millie’s home?" Damien asked, curious as to how Eloise avoided being caught.

"I was sleeping when he knocked on her door, but luckily, we had spoken about what to do if he showed up. She told him that she hadn’t seen me and sent him on his way. She told me when she woke me in the morning," Eloise explained.

"Millie is a bit of a chatterbox, but she is well respected by the neighbours. She promised to tell the neighbours what to say if Clive came looking for me again. She is a bit scary when she is angry, so I don’t think he would push for an answer," said Eloise.

"Are you comfortable there? I have a friend who would take you in until we are married, but the choice is yours. You would have a room to yourself," Damien offered.

"That is kind of you, but I find comfort in being with someone I know well. I am still mourning the loss of my father, and Millie is helping me with it. Though we don’t share blood, she is family to me. I want to stay there," Eloise said, rejecting the offer.

"Very well," Damien replied, leaving Eloise with her choice. "I have a feeling she wouldn’t allow me to visit you without her being near."

"No, she wouldn’t. She knows that we are to get married, but until the wedding happens, we are not to be alone. I assure you that you will love Millie once you get to know her," Eloise promised.

"I’m afraid she might come to hate me for stealing you away soon. Your uncle and his wife won’t let us get married without interruptions. I say we act fast so he cannot speak of being your guardian," Damien suggested.

"You wish to get married in a week. Such a fast wedding will stir up gossip," Eloise pointed out.

"Now is not the time for you to think about your reputation," said Damien.

Eloise frowned. "My reputation? I don’t have one to worry about. I am a simple woman, but you are Lord Hawthorne. I was concerned for you."

Damien’s eyes widened as the realisation struck him that he had misread her actions."You are concerned solely about me? Not yourself?"

"Yes," Eloise nodded her head. "Why does it seem that you find it hard to believe? Do you think I can’t care for you? We were once good friends."

"I didn’t think you would be so concerned so soon. Would you like to get married tonight?" Damien abruptly asked.

Eloise stared at Damien, finding his rush to be suspicious. "Aside from being ahead of my uncle, there has to be something you seek from me. Why are you in a rush to get married? Is it because your family has been bothering you about taking a wife? It is about time that you marry."

"That is half of the reason. I will wait for you to figure out the other half. You are a smart woman, so it won’t be long before you find the answer. You did not answer us about getting married tonight," Damien said, needing an answer quickly.

"It seems you don’t care about gossip, and it is true that my uncle will use the fact that he is now my guardian. Damien," Eloise said, being informal for a moment. "Though we are friends, I have never been from your world. I have always been the groundsman’s daughter. Would I be protected?"’

Eloise wasn’t afraid to marry Damien to receive help concerning her father, but once that was settled and the smoke went away, could she survive in his world?

"You will survive it and certainly surpass expectations. Fortunately, if anyone tries to trouble you, I have a few holes yet to be filled," said Damien. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Eloise sighed. "Your jokes must become better, and didn’t we agree you would not mention bodies to me? We are not off to a good start."

Damien wanted to correct Eloise about what he said being a joke, but he decided not to scare her. "We agreed on not speaking about bodies. You didn’t mention empty graves."

"Surely, anyone would expect it all to tie together. Let us not speak of graves and bodies. Nor anyone you wish to kill," Eloise clarified.

"You have wonderful timing since I have two new people to add to my list."

Eloise didn’t have to guess that it was Agatha and Clive. She didn’t feel sorry for them, but she still did not want to hear about who Damien wanted to kill.

"I am not confident that I will manage sharing a room with you. Would it be possible for me to sneak into another room when your siblings are asleep?" Eloise wondered and imagined herself sneaking around.

"And what happens in the morning? You will sneak back to my bed?" Damien questioned, disliking the idea.

"When you say it like that, it is far too much work. I will have to find a way to endure it."

"Endure?" Damaien laughed at Eloise’s choice of words. "I tease you now to take your mind off your family. I won’t always be like this."

"Damien, your appearance might have changed, but you are still the same boy who likes teasing others or making them uncomfortable. I quite enjoy it because I am reminded of our past, but I am also worried. Still, thank you for trying to distract me," Eloise said, grateful.

Eloise looked out the carriage window at the courthouse coming into view. "I am a bit nervous to speak to the men in the court. All I have is my word against my uncles’. I know they won’t punish him for rushing ahead with burning my father. After all, he is the next male in the family."

"Still, there is an order to how he is to handle your father’s burial. If you can prove that he changed your father’s will, then it would add validity to your claim. I shall take care of this part," said Damien.

"You know who Clive could use to change a will? Have you done it before?"

"No, but I know there is a very small risky business for it. I will be at your side to help you should you become afraid, Now, before we go," Damien said, reaching into his pocket. "We must make this official," he said, revealing a ring. "May I have your hand?"

Eloise offered Damien her hand as she stared at the ring he had prepared. It was grand and befitting of the future Lady Hawthorne, but something else stood out to her. "Is this your late mother’s ring?" She asked, finding the design to be familiar.

"She was fond of you," Damien said as he slipped the ring onto Eloise’s finger. "She would have been excited to have you join the family."

"It is very beautiful. Are you certain?" Eloise asked, not wanting to take a precious reminder of the late Lady Hawthorne. "I do not mind having a common ring."

"If not on your hand, it would sit in a box with all her old belongings. You gave me reason to finally set foot in her old bedchamber, which I had avoided since her funeral. It is special to me," Damien said, his gaze moving from the ring to Eloise.