Chapter 220: Trouble at the door [2]
"No, no," Millie tapped Eloise’s arm, her fingers trembling. "You have a new marriage and a life to adapt to. You couldn’t have kept coming to me. We had already spoken at the funeral, and you were so kind to invite me to your wedding. I do not mind that you didn’t get to come to me."
"I will come more often, especially now that I know Leonard is coming around to trouble you. I will send him away and then return to tidy you. I won’t let my guards come in to see you in this state," Eloise promised, not wanting Millie alone.
Millie clutched Eloise’s sleeve, grateful for her presence. The kindness Eloise showed now snapped her out of the foolishness Leonard stirred. Though she was glad to see her son, knowing that he was only present to use Eloise left a sour taste in her mouth.
"Try not to move too often," Eloise said, holding on to Millie until she was fully settled on the bed. "Excuse me," she said.
At the front door, Eloise found Leonard still attempting to convince Aiden that he was a close friend. The sight of him, so brazen and careless, made her stomach tighten. He did not care for the mother he had abandoned.
"Leonard, you have been asked to leave. If you do not do so quickly, I will be forced to have my guards move you, and you don’t want it to come to that," Eloise said, her gaze unwavering as she looked down upon him, making him seem small in her eyes.
Leonard straightened his coat as its fabric creased from the guards’ grip. "This is my mother’s home, Eloise. You don’t have any right to step in and tell me what to do. Weren’t you the one just arguing with your uncle about your father’s home?"
"Considering that you struck your mother, the town guards and court would understand why she placed me to send you away. The mark under her eye would prove that you struck her, and all for what? Because she wouldn’t take you to me?" Eloise demanded, her voice rising as the memory of Millie’s bruise burned in her mind.
"I recall my family helping you a few times when your father first came back here with you," Leonard reminded her with a defensive tone.
"Your mother helped me. I won’t ever deny that in my life, but I don’t know you very well. When I settled down here with my father, you abandoned your mother to run off and get married. You were ashamed of her then and only come now to use my name," Eloise replied with disdain.
"I might owe your mother for her kindness, but I most certainly do not owe you. If not for the few times I saw your face, I would not know who you are now. How dare you seek to use my marriage to climb your way up and hurt your mother?" Eloise asked, her hand twitching as though tempted to give the order to strike Leonard.
Leonard deserved to feel the pain he had inflicted on his mother and more. Yet Eloise knew Millie, though slowly realising her son’s cruelty, might not be pleased if she sent him to be harmed.
"It is not good to be greedy, Eloise. Wait!" Leonard exclaimed as Aiden’s sword rose, its cold steel pressing against his chin. He dared not swallow.
Eloise’s eyes narrowed. "I am greedy? You harmed your mother because she would not take you to me. Even if you were around more often, I would not have been foolish enough to help you. You must rid yourself of these thoughts that I am to aid you."
Eloise stepped forward. "Listen to me very carefully."
"Are you coming to threaten me?" Leonard asked, feigning indifference. He knew the life she had lived before becoming Lady Hawthorne. "Oh! Are you planning to send your husband for me?"
"No," Eloise shook her head. "I wouldn’t bother him with insignificant, greedy little men. I would deal with you myself. From now on, there will be a Hawthorne guard stationed outside your mother’s door with her permission. Should you try to force entry, he shall inflict great pain on you."
Eloise’s voice dropped to a chilling calmness. "It will not end with me giving you another warning. No. It will end with no one ever seeing you again. I urge you to leave while you are still able. I am quite tempted to have one of my guards give you a bruise that mirrors your mother’s."
Leonard glanced at the two guards before him, each taller and broad-shouldered. He planned to return with the town guards, believing Eloise had no right to interfere in his family affairs. But he kept his silence. Eloise would eventually need to return to the estate, and then he would act.
Leonard slipped out quietly before matters escalated further.
The coachman followed, ready to intervene should Leonard dare to turn back.
Eloise exhaled, her chest easing with relief that Leonard was gone for now. Damien would not need to intervene.
"I will prepare a list of what I need from the market. Millie will need medicine for her bruise. I would go with you, but I must care for her and tidy the home. Aiden, would the coachman be willing to buy what is on the list while you stay here?" Eloise asked, the anger in her voice gone.
"He will, Lady Hawthorne. You don’t need to worry about the money. Will you need help inside?" Aiden asked, his brow furrowed with concern for Millie.
"I do, but I know Millie well. She would not want anyone to see her in this state. Thank you for offering. Please inform me right away if Leonard returns. Why must some families be like this?" Eloise murmured, her eyes following the path Leonard had taken. "She has been waiting to see him."
Aiden had no answer.
"I want to surprise Damien with a warm dinner when he arrives, and hopefully it will give Millie the strength she needs to feel like herself again. I will also prepare enough so that you can have a share. I think we are all in need of a home-cooked meal," Eloise decided.
"You are most kind, Lady Hawthorne," Aiden replied, bowing his head.
"I shall prepare the list in a moment. Excuse me," Eloise said, returning inside to aid Millie.
Aiden turned his back to the door, his jaw tight as he wished Leonard would return so he might have a good reason to strike him.
