Chapter 214: Confrontation [2]
Quinn’s smile vanished at the mention of Teresa’s name. "How do you know that name?"
"It doesn’t matter how I came to know it. When you apologised, and I accepted it, I asked if that was all that needed to be settled between us. I allowed you to put everything in the open so we could address it, only to hear a shocking accusation," Eloise said, her anger rising.
Quinn reached for Eloise’s hand, but she stepped back.
"Do not touch me. Do not touch me until you have promised me that you did not bed a woman simply because you thought she bore some resemblance to me. Tell me that did not happen. Please," Eloise demanded, her eyes glistening with restrained tears.
"It is not as you think. There was a kiss, but I pushed her away. I was drunk, and she admitted to coming to me knowing the state I was in. I sent her away in the morning because entertaining her was never my plan," Quinn assured Eloise, though her expression told him she did not believe him.
"I asked you if there was more you needed to tell me. Did this happen before or after you said your apologies?" Eloise asked, taking another step back.
"Eloise, I don’t think either option makes it better. I couldn’t tell you about it because it would make you feel uncomfortable, and we have been doing so well thus far. I promise you it was never my intention to court someone who looked like you," Quinn swore.
"To court is already strange, but to bed her takes it to another level that I cannot ignore. You did not answer my question," Eloise pressed, needing her answer.
"It was before you and Damien left for the countryside. Eloise, it was a mistake that would never have happened if not for me being drunk. I didn’t purposely entertain her when it came to bedding her. I will admit that I had no excuse when it comes to kissing her," Quinn confessed, his words heavy with shame.
Eloise shook her head, disappointed and angry with Quinn. "I gave you the chance to speak of it, but I had to find out in one of the worst ways possible. From her, and with Rosalie beside me."
Eloise raked her fingers through her hair. "I can’t have a moment’s break here. It is always one trouble after another, and quite frankly, I feel drained. I don’t want to speak to you any further than this, and I don’t want you near me."
"Eloise," Quinn stepped forward, causing her to retreat again. "I don’t feel for you in that way. I don’t want to share a bed with you. It was one foolish mistake that I didn’t have control of because I was drunk. Had I been a bastard, I would have continued to pursue her, but I did not."
"This is an uncomfortable position for me," Eloise said, a strange, unsettling chill passing over her. "I don’t want to feel discomfort, but standing next to you doesn’t feel safe. I feel uneasy standing next to you in a place I call home. That is what this has created."
"Stop coming closer to me!" Eloise exclaimed, her voice cracking, not yet ready for Quinn to touch her. "I can’t take all these troubles at once. I’ve been trying my best to fit in here and face my family troubles, but there is always something to test what I can endure."
"I’m sorry," Quinn apologised, acknowledging how strange it had to be for Eloise. He hated to see her, fearing that she was not safe in his presence or feeling uncomfortable in her own home. More guilt filled him upon seeing Eloise’s tears spill down her cheeks.
Quinn longed to hold her, to comfort her, but he knew that would only deepen her discomfort.
"I’m sorry," Quinn repeated. "It was wrong."
Eloise turned away and wiped her eyes. It was not only the news about Quinn that overwhelmed her, but everything leading up to this point. She had been doing so well to smile and hold it in with everything she faced since stepping into the Hawthorne estate, but today she could not hold it back.
Kyle, who still wanted to speak to Eloise, slowly approached. He had been listening to the conversation, waiting for the right moment to step in.
Seeing Eloise cry, Kyle knew the matter was bound to grow far worse, for Damien was still home, and once it reached his ears, Quinn would not escape his fury.
Eloise noticed Kyle’s presence and quickly wiped her eyes. She wasn’t in the mood to speak to him about business or what she had discovered about Quinn. She only wanted to be alone, and though the estate was large, that was impossible.
Turning her back on both Quinn and Kyle, Eloise decided to leave the estate. Fortunately, she had somewhere that was entirely her own. A place of comfort and quiet.
"Eloise!" Quinn called after her, unwilling to let her go alone. He heard footsteps rushing behind him and turned to see Kyle quickly approaching.
"Let me," Kyle advised, moving ahead to speak to Eloise. "Eloise, wait! Speak to me."
Eloise wiped the last of her tears as she walked away, ignoring Kyle. He had not upset her, but since the siblings rarely listened, she did not want to speak to him.
The carriage was gone, as she had sent Rosalie off to her father with it since Rosalie’s carriage had left the day before.
"Aiden," Eloise quickly called to her guard. "Prepare a carriage for me. I must leave the estate urgently."
"Yes, Lady Hawthorne," Aiden replied, bowing slightly before hurrying off.
Kyle caught up and touched her shoulder. "You mustn’t rush into leaving without finishing your talk with Quinn or letting Damien know you are leaving. It’s messy to leave things like this, and you know it. Just take a deep breath for a moment."
Eloise kept her eyes forward, her jaw tight. "Kyle, I suggest you take your hand from my shoulder and do not speak. I have only asked for time alone. I will send someone to inform Damien of where I am going, but I want to be alone."
"Damien’s going to be furious-"
"That is not my problem. I have to think about myself, and right now, you are bothering me, Kyle. Since I arrived, I have listened to you and everyone else. I have put up with it when you have been out of line. Just this once, I am asking to be left alone," Eloise pleaded.
Eloise did not want to linger at the front door, listening to Kyle’s pleas, so she walked away, following where Aiden had gone to ready the carriage.
Kyle moved to follow her, but stopped short. He turned back, deciding instead to find Damien so he could intervene.
