Chapter 212: Shocking secrets [3]
Teressa stared at Eloise, seeing no resemblance between them. "This is my first time seeing her. I should have known she was a Hawthorne with all the guards and that carriage."
Teressa stared at Eloise, watching as she stepped inside a small shop with Rosalie, the faint jingle of the doorbell marking their entrance.
What first crossed her mind was the night she had shared with Quinn Hawthorne.
’Is that why he was so upset?’ Teressa wondered, recalling his behaviour. ’Was he troubled because others would say he bedded a woman like his brother’s wife? Or was that his intention all along?’
"Teressa, we must go."
"You go ahead without me. There is a task I must do first," Teressa said, sending her companion away with a dismissive wave.
The memory of Quinn tossing her from his chamber lingered bitterly. She had been wounded that he hadn’t given her a proper chance.
Had Quinn been so smitten with Eloise and used someone who resembled her to satisfy what he missed, then Teressa would have endured it. She could have endured it as long as she became his mistress.
Teressa stepped forward, hoping for another glimpse of Eloise and the chance to speak to her.
Had Quinn treated her with more care, not cast her from his townhouse, Teressa would not now feel so tempted to approach Eloise about their supposed courtship.
Teressa lingered outside at a distance where the guards would not grow suspicious or order her to move on. This might be her only chance to expect Quinn, so she couldn’t miss it.
As she waited for Eloise to return, Teressa questioned whether it was right to speak of what she had done with Quinn or whether silence would spare her ruin. The Hawthornes could easily turn their wrath upon her, making her life a living hell, despite Quinn being the one at fault.
Teressa’s head lifted at the sound of Rosalie’s voice, and her feet moved before she could finish weighing her choice.
"Lady Hawthorne!" Teressa called, catching Eloise’s attention. It was too late to go back now.
Unfortunately, she also caught Gage’s attention, and he stepped into her path to block her from Eloise.
"I am not here to harm you, Lady Hawthorne. I must speak to you about Quinn Hawthorne. I am an acquaintance of his," Teressa said, her tone urgent, hoping this would capture Eloise’s interest.
Eloise paused, her gaze falling on the woman straining to get past Gage. She was persistent, and her voice carried too loudly.
"What do you have to say about Quinn?" Eloise asked, curious if Quinn had found himself in trouble and concealed it. "You have a small moment of my time to tell me."
Teressa’s lips stretched into a wide smile, relishing the chance to expose him. "He is an awful man, Lady Hawthorne. After a night of drinking, he took me to his bed and, after having his way with me, discarded me in the morning, forgetting all his promises."
"I have kept this secret not to tarnish his name, and even now, I shall only speak of it to his family so you know what he has done. I won’t run to the town with this," she assured Eloise. "I only ask that you have a word with him so it doesn’t happen again."
Eloise’s breath caught at the claim that Quinn had bedded a woman and cast her aside. When did this happen?
Quinn had been so private during Eloise’s early days at the estate that she struggled to imagine when this might have occurred. Was this common for Quinn?
"This is a matter you should bring to Lord Hawthorne or to Quinn himself," Rosalie interjected, displeased that Eloise was being dragged into it. "Speak to the brothers."
"I would, but it is not easy to approach Lord Hawthorne. I also felt a duty to reach out to Lady Hawthorne because my time with Quinn involved her. I believe that in his drunken state, he courted me because he thought I bore some resemblance to you," Teressa revealed.
Rosalie’s eyes swept over the woman from head to toe. To her, this stranger looked nothing like Eloise. It seemed a strange plot against Quinn, with Eloise pulled into it simply because she was easier to reach.
Eloise remained silent, her thoughts circling the notion that Quinn had entertained a woman who looked like her. She saw no resemblance, but perhaps it was because she was clinging to the hope that the tale was false.
"We do not look alike," Eloise said firmly. "Whatever the reason Quinn has not continued to entertain you, you must seek the answer from him. There is only so much I can do."
"Dress me as you are now, and, in a drunken state, I could be mistaken for you. Now I know why more men have sought my company. They are curious about Lord Hawthorne’s wife, and they are using me. I see you don’t want to believe me," Teressa pressed, reading Eloise’s expression.
"Then I welcome you to ask Quinn about me and see how he reacts. You will get the truth from his response. I’ll admit I only wanted to be the mistress of a wealthy man, but now I understand why he approached me and then pushed me away," Teressa continued.
Teressa laughed bitterly. Quinn could have had it all, but that stubbornness of his was going to be his downfall with his brother. Surely, Lord Hawthorne wouldn’t let the matter rest.
"I have business to tend to, so please excuse me. I apologise for spoiling your day with this news, but I felt you had to know-"
"No," Rosalie cut in sharply. "You said he cast you aside. If any of this is true, you are only speaking now because you didn’t get the ending you wanted."
"Rosalie," Eloise said gently, touching her arm. She turned to the woman who had not yet introduced herself. "What is your name?"
"Teressa," Teressa replied. "I don’t wish to fight with the Hawthornes. I am a simple woman."
"There won’t be a fight. Whatever the reason, I thank you for sharing it with me. Have a good day," Eloise said before turning back towards the carriage. She didn’t want this becoming so big that a crowd gathered.
Rosalie followed, surprised Eloise hadn’t pressed for more answers. "Eloise-"
"I want to return to the estate," Eloise said, her gaze fixed on the window. "I apologise for ending our trip so soon, but I wish to go home."
"Very well," Rosalie agreed, climbing into the carriage beside her. "I don’t think he did it."
"I hope so," Eloise murmured, but there was uncertainty when she knew of Quinn’s past feelings.
