Eloise held Iris’s hand. "I will be able to cut off your family, but it will not be so easy for you. You will still have your mother, and eventually, your brother will return to town."

"I am thankful you want to help, and that you have come here to me, but I wish for you to be quiet in this matter. I don’t want any harm to come to you, or for you to be at odds with your family because of me," said Eloise.

"I have a right to be angry with them. My father killed your father. How am I to quietly sit amongst them while knowing this? My family will never be the same after this. I cannot look at them as I did before," Iris said, unable to be quiet as Eloise wanted.

"I know. I am not saying you must forgive them, but I know, despite your anger, you love your mother, and you will want to be near when she is without your father. Let her keep her anger towards me. I don’t want you to be at odds with her because you are openly siding with me," Eloise explained.

"But Eloise-"

"It is awful to lose a parent," Eloise said, unintentionally squeezing Iris’s hand. "It hurts even more to lose both. I know you, Iris. I know what you shall need, and I don’t want you to experience losing both at once."

"But," Iris said, her eyes filling with tears. "You would be alone."

"I am not alone. I have Damien, and I still have you. We will be able to see each other again, but for this period, I urge you to stay quiet. Do not speak to the court. Do not repeat what your parents ask of you. I will do my best to keep you protected from gossip," Eloise promised.

Iris’s heart ached for Eloise. "My mother is trying to tarnish your name around the town."

"I have already addressed it with her. What she is doing is wrong, but I will not allow it to get to me. I will be well, Iris. Until you marry, you will be in your mother’s care, so I don’t want to make life difficult for you," said Eloise.

"I will never forgive her for enabling my father," Iris said, wiping the last of her tears.

"And you don’t have to. I am not saying you must be kind to her or forget what has happened, but I know you will want to take care of her, and I don’t want you to regret your actions now," Eloise said, thinking of Iris’s future feelings.

"I feel like a fool for how I acted before. Even now, you think of my best interest, while I was so fast to push you away. I am sorry," Iris apologised once more.

"You were right to feel as you did. I showed up before you with the man you wanted to marry, and we were engaged. If I were in your shoes, I would be angry too. I will never try to make you feel as though you were wrong for feeling as you did," Eloise assured Iris.

Iris tapped Eloise’s hand and said, "It was wrong of you. A little notice would have been wonderful. I should have known a love would blossom between you two when he stopped to speak to you. He had never acknowledged my presence, but he stopped to speak to you."

"I have come to realise that I was never in love with Lord Hawthorne. The two of you were friends while I was merely admiring his appearance. I was no better than my parents in yearning for a man only for his status than for love," Iris said, admitting her faults.

"It is not unusual for ladies to fall in love with a man’s appearance or status. Some snap out of it while others don’t. You have realised you don’t have feelings for him and can now find a gentleman you love," Eloise said, helping to pat Iris’s cheeks dry.

"I cannot," Iris slowly shook her head. "I must marry a man who can help my family."

"Iris," Eloise said, surprised by the decision Iris came to.

"This is my reality, Eloise. My family is in debt, and unless I help, we shall lose all that we have. The money my brother sends won’t be enough to help us. Even if my mother and I were to work, we would not pay it off in due time. My marriage can save us," Iris said, setting her feelings to the side.

"Iris, you cannot put yourself in a loveless marriage all to save the family," said Eloise.

"Marriage isn’t all about love, Eloise. I would be lucky if I could find a husband who could love me in some way and help with the debt. If I do not, then I shall endure it. You are right that I cannot abandon my mother. She is wrong, but I cannot leave her alone to suffer," Iris said, upset with herself.

"You would be sacrificing your happiness for the sake of others. There has to be another way. I could speak to Damien about helping to settle the debts-"

"No!" Iris exclaimed, worried about the position it might put Eloise in. "You mustn’t ask him for help. You haven’t been married to him for long. To ask for money might not sit well with him, especially when it would be to help my mother and me."

"I cannot leave you to face this burden alone. I am in a position where I can help you. Iris, I do not think you will ever be happy marrying a man to get your family out of debt. What if he holds it over your head forever?" Eloise asked, concerned.

"Then he would have a right to," Iris replied, accepting the cruel fate. "We are not little girls anymore, Eloise. I wish for you to be happy here, and do not concern yourself about the rest of us."

"This is my decision, and I will stick to it. I cannot stay for much longer because they will be searching for me," Iris said, pulling her hand out of Eloise’s hold before standing up.

"I know that you are well, and have apologised. I hope there will soon be a day for us to speak again. If you need me, please send me a letter, but use another name like Clara," Iris suggested.

"Iris, wait here for a moment," Eloise said, having an idea. "Give me a moment to speak to Damien and to find you a ride back home. Just one moment," she pleaded.

Iris was stuck in her ways and didn’t want Damien’s help, but to please Eloise, she replied, "Fine, I will wait."