Clive palmed his head, trying to calm himself as guilt plagued his mind. "I cannot do this any longer, Agatha. I cannot look at our daughter and lie."

"Would you prefer for her to suffer? You have a family to feed and a daughter to find a suitable husband for. What good man would want to marry a young woman whose family cannot present a dowry? Clive," Agatha reached for Clive’s hand. "No matter how wonderful our daughter is, she won’t have a chance unless you do this."

"We are lying to her," Clive said.

"We are doing what is right for this family. Our son has travelled far out of town to find good work so he can send money to us. Would you not like for him to return to us? To live here so he could find a decent woman to settle down with?" Agatha asked, yearning for a better life.

Agatha had the burden of not just one, but both of her children were yet to find a spouse. It wasn’t fun to have to listen to the other mothers speak of their children getting married and starting families.

"Clive," Agatha said, her voice carrying a desperate plea. "We owe it to our children to have them marry into good families. I am certain Iris can find herself a suitable bachelor and take care of us. This feeling shall pass, so you must stay focused."

Seeing that Clive was not able to calm down, Agatha moved her hand. "I will not allow you or anyone to spoil Iris’s season. Keep your emotions together until she marries. Stop thinking of yourself and think of Iris."

"I know," Clive quietly said.

"From now on, Eloise’s name isn’t to be said in this home. It disrupts our quiet life and turns our daughter against us. In time, Iris will thank us for what we are doing now. We are thinking of her future while she thinks of silly friendships," said Agatha.

Agatha pushed back her chair and stood up. "I could never forgive my sister if she rushed to marry the man I had my eyes on. Young ladies like Eloise are sly and will eventually reach their downfall."

"They are family, not friends," Clive corrected Agatha.

"Not anymore. I am going to keep a close watch on my daughter. Thanks to you, I will need to get ahead of the gossip. By noon, what Eloise did will have spread. Eat and return to the court," Agatha instructed Clive. "You mustn’t lose that house."

Agatha noticed movement in the corner of her eye. She walked over to the hallway where Iris had walked off to go to her room.

Agatha was surprised not to find Iris lurking.

Believing it was all in her mind, Agatha returned to the dining room to continue her talk with Clive.

Away from the door leading into the dining room, Iris stood pressed against a wall with her hand covering her mouth.

Iris lowered her hand after hearing her mother’s voice back inside the dining room. She was safe for now.

Iris couldn’t shake the feeling that Eloise was right. Not just about Thomas’s death, but about Clive wanting the home to settle his debts. All answers were pointing in that direction, even though Iris hoped that it wasn’t true.

Iris moved away from the wall before she would be caught. If she were caught, there was no doubt in her mind that she would be forbidden from leaving home without her mother escorting her.

’I need him alone,’ Iris thought. ’Father won’t speak with mother near.’

For now, Iris could only wait patiently.

***

An hour later in the Hawthorne estate, Eloise was ready for her outing with Millie.

Eloise sat on a chair near the front door, waiting for Damien to return with a hat he spoke of. She didn’t need one, but didn’t object since Damien was hellbent on taking care of her.

Eloise learned fast to no longer reject his offers. He was being kind since he had gone through this mourning period before, and with younger siblings, it was only natural that he sought to take care of others.

Eloise smiled, finding his attentiveness to be cute.

Damien wasn’t like the gossip about him, but then again, he seemed to reserve this side for his family.

"Kyle!" A male’s voice rang through the estate, startling Eloise.

Eloise had been so deep in her thoughts that she hadn’t realised the door opening, and a young gentleman walking inside.

Eloise looked up just as the guest noticed her presence.

"Good morning," Eloise greeted the stranger.

"Good morning to you, too. I did not know they were having company, and a beautiful lady at that," the stranger said as he walked over to where Eloise sat.

Eloise’s lips folded into a thin line. She knew the man before her was being flirtatious. She wasn’t in the mood for it.

Eloise looked away to the stairs, hoping to see Damien, but he was not present.

"Do not be shy. I am Samuel Coleman, a friend of Kyle. And you are," Samuel said, offering his hand to be shaken. "Married," he said, noticing the ring. "Quite bold of you. I know you are not one of the Hawthornes, and you can’t be one of Jane’s friends since I know them well."

Samuel suspected the woman before him to be a visitor of one of the brothers.

"I am-"

"Why waste your time with men who leave you alone? If you were with me, I would spend every hour of the day with you," Samuel said, admiring the beauty before him.

"If you would let me finish, you wouldn’t make a fool of yourself. I am Eloise Hawthorne, Damien’s wife," Eloise introduced herself. She dared not offer her hand to Samuel.

Eloise knew her introduction wasn’t believed because of the smile forming on Samuel’s lips, followed shortly by laughter.

"Damien’s wife? You were better off claiming to be Quinn’s wife. None of the brothers could have possibly gotten married and not send me an invitation. You’re a delusional lady who has come to bother them, aren’t you? Get up," Samuel ordered Eloise.

Samuel took it upon himself to move Eloise so the Hawthornes wouldn’t be bothered. It was a miracle she made it so far beyond the gates.

Samuel moved to grab Eloise after she wouldn’t stand, but fortunately, Kyle came just in time.

"Samuel, what are you doing? Are you trying to get me in trouble?" Kyle asked, his life flashing before his eyes. "You’re going to have me strangled. Don’t touch her."

"This woman claims to be Damien’s wife," Samuel said, confused as to why Kyle held his hand.

"She is his wife, you fool. My brother got married last night. We must leave before he-"

"Kyle," Damien’s voice was heard.

Eloise looked at the stairs where Damien finally returned with the hat. She sighed in relief, thankful that Damien had come just in time.