Damien helped Eloise out of the carriage and walked beside her to the court.

Eloise unconsciously squeezed Damien’s hand as she found the courthouse to be intimidating. It was far more intimidating than going to the town guards since the men in the court worked for the palace and were always said to never have time for the little people.

"Most of them are bald men who sit on their buttocks all day. Don’t allow them to scare you," Damien whispered, in an effort to bring Eloise some comfort.

Eloise chuckled. "It sounds as though you have had quite a few run-ins with the men here. Is it because you are a lord?"

"I don’t frequent the court since there is no reason for me to come here, but I do see a few of the men in passing when I visit the palace. I am close to a few," said Damien.

This brought Eloise comfort.

"That is good. You will have someone to offer advice," Eloise said, relieved.

Damien looked at Eloise, deciding if he should tell her that he had been lying. Seeing how relaxed she was now, it wasn’t the right time.

Eloise entered the court, still holding onto Damien’s hand.

Before Eloise could make it far into the courthouse, a sword blocked her path.

"State your reason for entering the courthouse."

Damien placed his index finger on the sword and pushed it away. "Hasn’t your mother told you to be careful with pointy things? Who carries around swords these days?"

"You," the guard’s brows furrowed as he glared at Damien.

"Me," Damien joined in the fun. "And this is Eloise Wilkins. She has come to speak about her father’s passing and inheritance. Is Nathan Sutton present? We are visiting him."

The guard reluctantly moved the sword. "I will see if he is taking visitors. Wait here."

"Perhaps I am mistaken, but it appears the guard did not like you. Did you cause trouble here?" Eloise asked, sensing there was a story to be told.

"I can’t think of any reason," Damien said, pretending to think. "Oh, yes. He keeps making the mistake of pointing sharp objects in my face, so I gave an example of why you should be more careful."

"What kind of example?" Eloise asked, starting to be wary.

"The next time I saw him, I held a knife, and it accidentally slipped. His shoe happened to be in the way of where the knife fell. I never got to ask if he kept his toe," Damien asked, watching how the man walked. "I should ask now."

"No, no. Now is not the time to be kicked out of the court. Did you not face any consequences?"

"No, it was ruled an accident," Damien responded.

"An accident? Didn’t anyone question why you were walking with a knife? Who walks around with a knife other than people who want to start trouble?" Eloise asked, certain that Damien came with bad intentions.

"I happened to be peeling an apple. As I said to them, it was awful timing. It is mostly his fault since he startled me," Damien said, maintaining his innocence.

Eloise didn’t see it as an accident. "I must remember never to point any sharp accidents in your direction. I like having my toes."

"There are far more exceptions for you. Care to have me list them?"

"No. He is returning," Eloise said, grateful for the guard’s return. "Do not mention his feet or knives."

"Yes, dear," Damien replied.

"He will see you, but all weapons must be left at the door," the guard named Henry said.

"I do not have any weapons," Eloise said and stepped forward when Henry allowed her.

"You," Henry said, staring at Damien. "I know you have a weapon. Leave it here."

"I didn’t come with any. Only my guards have weapons, and they will remain at the door. Excuse me," Damien said, ready to move, but before he did, he peered down at Henry’s feet. "Good shoes."

Eloise smacked her face. "We must get out of here quickly," she muttered. "Are you happy with yourself?"

"I complimented his shoes. I made an effort to make amends," Damien innocently said.

Eloise shook her head. "You know what you were doing. Please do not put me in a position where I must stop you from getting arrested. I don’t know what it takes to free someone from the town guard, let alone the court."

"I have been on my best behaviour," Damien said, and held Eloise’s hand again. "It is this way," he said, leading Eloise to Nathan.

Nathan Sutton, a man working in the court, stood outside his door to greet the visitors. His gaze went to Damien’s hand, which was holding onto the young ladies’. "What have you done now?"

"I am not here for me. This is Eloise Wilkins, my fiancée. She needs your help regarding her father’s death and her uncle trying to claim what has been left behind. We should go inside to speak," Damien said, wanting to avoid prying ears.

Nathan didn’t move since he was more focused on the news that Damien was going to get married.

"Please tell me that you didn’t get this poor girl pregnant before you were married, and now you are rushing to conceal it. I warned you and many others about this very predicament," said Nathan.

Eloise blushed.

This was exactly what she told Damien the town would think.

"No, I did not. I am not a bastard," Damien said, insulted by the assumption.

"Last time I spoke to you, you lacked interest in the season. That was three days ago, but now you show up with a fiancee and you want me to believe she is not carrying your child?" Nathan said, not believing Damien had fallen in love.

Eloise raised her hand, bringing attention to herself. "I am not pregnant. We, I mean," she looked down at their hands and pulled away. Eloise stepped away from Damien. "We are not that close. We are not engaged for that reason."

"Truly? I apologise for the crude assumption," Nathan apologised. "But if he has troubled you and it resulted in a marriage, you must be honest with me."

"Eloise has known me far longer than you have. She knows what she is in for. Now, if we could kindly get back to the reason we are here. You were rude to skip over what I said about her father and inheritance," Damien said, needing the conversation to change before Eloise changed her mind.

Nathan cleared his throat. "How rude of me. Come inside so we may speak in private," he said, ushering the pair inside.

"Don’t touch me," Damien said as he walked by Nathan. He was quite upset that Nathan made him sound awful.