Back in town, Eloise finished up her shopping with Millie.

Eloise found it easy to ignore the stares and focus on getting what she needed.

Now, Eloise headed to Millie’s home to drop her off before she returned to the estate.

"Oh, no. There’s someone there," Millie said, being the first one to notice Thomas’s door was open. "They must be going in to see what you left behind. Until the courts handle this matter, it is not right for Clive to go inside the home to remove anything."

"I took the valuables I found, but you are right. There are still more portraits in there, and I want all the furniture. It is Agatha," Eloise said, watching as Agatha walked out the door. "I will send one of the guards to the court."

The carriage came to a stop before Millie’s gate, and on the outside, Agatha remained to watch who was getting out.

Agatha’s eyes were filled with jealousy upon getting a glimpse of Eloise when the carriage door opened. This was the life she imagined for Iris, but Eloise was reaping all the benefits.

And for what?

All because Thomas used to work for the Hawthornes?

Had Agatha known that working for the Hawthornes in the past would be helpful today, she would have encouraged Clive to take the job Thomas offered him.

Agatha never wanted Clive to work for any family she had placed for Iris to marry into.

Agatha watched as Eloise stepped out of the carriage with the help of a man. She smirked, finding humour in how simple Eloise was dressed.

Eloise’s name changed, but she was still a simple woman who didn’t belong in the Hawthornes’ world. Iris was more suited.

"You are not to be there," Eloise said as she walked toward the gate.

"I can go where I want to," Agatha replied, a smug smile forming on her lips. "My husband is about to have ownership of this home."

"Not while I am alive," said Eloise.

"I am surprised to see your face around the town. Have you no shame, Eloise? Haven’t you heard what is being said?" Agatha asked, certain the gossip had reached Eloise.

Eloise entered the gates, much to Agatha’s dismay, and examined the garden. "Do you mean the rumours you started about me taking Damien from Iris?"

"Me? How wrong of you. Iris is-"

"Iris is brokenhearted, but I know she wouldn’t run to the town. This is your doing. Take pride in it," Eloise said, seeing through Agatha’s act.

"Very well. I shall take ownership of the gossip just as I will take ownership of this house. Surely, you did not think you would come here, ruin Iris’s season, and I wouldn’t do anything about it. Did you think you could steal her man and live a happy life?" Agatha asked, viewing Eloise as delusional.

No matter how hard it might be, Agatha was going to make every day hell for Eloise.

Agatha frowned, puzzled by Eloise smiling.

"I have never cared about what this town says about me. It is you who has always cared about how the town views me because you thought I was going to get in Iris’s way. You are the one trying to build a competition between Iris and me," Eloise accused Agatha.

"I am not," Agatha denied the accusation. "You are always trying to act innocent. That is why the town sees you for who you are."

"I thank you for running to the town with the story about Iris and Damien. You have placed great attention on this family. The town will be watching us carefully now as it continues to poke around for more gossip. When it is revealed he killed my father, you will have ruined yourself," Eloise pointed out.

Eloise didn’t mind the attention now. She could bear it, but Agatha, who craved attention, wasn’t going to handle it well when the town turned on her.

Agatha chuckled. "You have become a little bold, Eloise. Was it hard to play the role of an innocent young lady during your stay with us? I am confident Lord Hawthorne will soon cast you from his side when he sees the real you."

"You have married the oldest son of the Hawthorne family. He will need an heir. Are you not afraid that, since you were raised without a mother, you would lack the warmth of knowing how to be a good mother? Eloise," Agatha said, pitying Eloise. "You jumped into that world without thinking."

"I would rather be without my mother than be raised by a woman like you. You are pushing the life you could not achieve for yourself onto Iris, and one day she is going to snap. Knowing how much you love her, it will break you," said Eloise.

Eloise looked around the garden, which was in dire need of work. "This fight for my father’s home is between my uncle and me. You are just his wife and have no place to act. Leave."

"I am not leaving," Agatha said, unwilling to move at Eloise’s request. "You are still a weak little lady. Don’t let the power of the Hawthornes get to your head, Eloise. They will never accept you. You can end all of this by dropping the claims and letting go of your father’s home."

"Gage," Eloise said, ignoring Agatha.

Gage entered the gates and stood behind Eloise. "Yes, Lady Hawthorne?"

"Could you remove her for me? She is standing where she doesn’t belong," Eloise said, her gaze fixed on Agatha.

Agatha’s smug smile fell into a frown. "You wouldn’t dare. This is to be my husband’s home."

"You didn’t frequent my father’s home when he was alive, but now you would come here to rip his memories from it. You have misunderstood me," Eloise said, drawing closer to Agatha. "I have not become bold. I was a guest in your home, so I acted as my father taught me. I was grateful for a warm bed and a roof over my head."

Eloise came to a stop less than an arm’s length away from Agatha. "I was kind despite your little jabs and attempts to send me away when you wanted to parade Iris. I gave my father his wish to be well-behaved while he recovered, but then your husband went and killed him, and you supported it."

Agatha stepped back. "I didn’t support anything."

"The court might not get you for encouraging my uncle, but I will. I will rise to be a lady who keeps you in the small box you built for yourself. Agahta Wilkins will never matter to anyone in this town besides Iris and Clive," Eloise said, making a promise with Agatha.

"You," Agatha’s hand shot up, but Eloise captured it before the blow could land.

"Now look who dares to be bold," Eloise said in a mocking tone.