Chapter 251: Comforting [1]
Later at the estate, Eloise returned in search of Jane.
"Lady Hawthorne," Hannah greeted Eloise with a curtsy.
"It is good to see you, Hannah. Would you be a dear and take this pot to the kitchen? Have the cooks put it on low heat for me. I don’t want anyone meddling with it unless it begins to burn. I will come to finish it," Eloise said, offering the pot to Hannah.
"As you wish, Milady," Hannah replied, taking the pot.
"And do you happen to know where Jane is now?" Eloise inquired.
"Miss Jane is in her bedchamber," Hannah answered.
"Thank you. That will be all. Let the brothers know that I have returned and there are some belongings I brought back that need to be packed, but you don’t need to rush," Eloise said.
Eloise walked off, heading for Jane’s bedchamber with Aiden following closely behind her. "Are you not going to rest, Aiden?"
"Not until Lord Hawthorne has returned. There are matters not yet settled, and I don’t want to get in trouble for losing sight of you," Aiden explained.
"I’m not going to run off. Damien and I had already agreed to return to the estate today. We only came back sooner than planned. I can’t leave Jane when she is likely heartbroken by what occurred," Eloise said, her voice softening.
"Has something like this ever happened before? Never would it have crossed my mind that Camille would strike Jane," Eloise added.
Eloise could think of only one reason for the change in Camille’s behaviour.
"Aside from Lord Hawthorne once being stabbed, it has never happened before. The family cherishes Jane, but even so, it is out of their aunt’s place to hit anyone," Aiden explained, equally surprised by the events. "She is to share her issues with Lord Hawthorne for him to decide if there needs to be punishment."
"That I agree with. I wonder if it is all changing because of my presence. That wouldn’t be a good reason, but I would like for it to be said, so I know where I stand with certain relatives. I shall have my answer now," Eloise said as she came to a stop before Jane’s door.
Eloise knocked, but there was no response. She expected that Jane would hide away, not wanting anyone to see her cry or be upset.
"Jane? It is me, Eloise," Eloise called, knocking again.
After silence, Eloise thought Jane hadn’t heard her, but when she raised her hand to knock once more, the door opened.
Jane’s eyes were red, her cheeks flushed, and she sniffled as though she were coming down with a chill.
"May I enter, Jane?" Eloise asked, shifting to her right to shield Jane from Aiden’s gaze.
"You can," Jane replied, stepping back to allow Eloise inside. She had been waiting for someone to come to her.
Eloise entered and closed the door behind her. "Does your cheek still ache?"
"It stopped hurting long ago. I am not crying because of the slap," Jane said, wiping her eyes. "It is because it was Camille."
"Do you mind telling me what happened? Kyle’s letter did not say much," Eloise revealed.
"She came to see me, and I was happy to see her, but she was against you finding me a governess and wanted me to live with her. I love my aunt, but I don’t want to live with her. I couldn’t last the days Damien sent me there as punishment," Jane admitted, her voice trembling.
"You don’t have to go there if you don’t want to. It is up to Damien to decide where you shall go, and at the moment, he has no plans for you to leave. Was this the cause of her striking you?" Eloise asked, still searching for a reason in Camille’s actions.
"She was speaking of marriages and what I could be taught. I did not like how she spoke of your marriage when hers is not perfect. I know it was wrong of me to say so, but she upset me with her words," Jane confessed.
"She was angry because you took Damien with you from the estate, and I did not enjoy it. I have been looking forward to having my own governess and to reliving the joy I had in the countryside. I promise you I am not losing sight of having a good season," Jane added, fearing others would think it.
Eloise placed her right hand on Jane’s shoulder. "You must calm yourself, Jane. I am not the least bit concerned about your season. It is far away, so we mustn"t place pressure on you. I worry you are too focused on it and missing your youth."
"That is what I said," Jane murmured, wiping her eyes again.
"Perhaps she was deeply wounded by what you said about her marriage, but you are right to feel as you do about the governess and not wanting to leave the estate. You are young, so others will try to dismiss your feelings and impose their own desires," Eloise said, gently brushing away Jane’s tears.
"She will be angry with me," Jane sobbed.
"She might be, but this wasn’t handled well. I know it, your brothers know it, and so does Camille. Your brother watches over you. Camille shouldn’t speak to you alone about taking you from the estate. She placed you in a cruel position," Eloise said, disliking Camille’s approach.
"Do not take what I say as me trying to turn you against her. If you want to apologise for anything you said and move forward, then I will accept it. If you want distance, then so be it. I am on your side," Eloise assured her.
Jane surprised Eloise by resting her head on her shoulder. "I didn’t mean to cause trouble."
Eloise was stunned at first, uncertain what to do, but then she wrapped her arms around Jane, patting her back. "You didn’t cause trouble. I thank you for defending my marriage and wanting to stay here. You were placed in an awful position."
"None of us should ever make you feel forced to choose or try to pull you away from the only home you have ever known. This is where your parents raised you, so you cannot be pulled away from it. As long as you wish to stay, I won’t allow anyone to send you away," Eloise promised.
She allowed Jane to rest against her shoulder a little while longer.
"This shall all pass," Eloise assured her. "No matter what anyone says, you are a wonderful young lady, Jane. No one, not even your brothers, can say you won’t do well. I will make sure you enjoy your youth and be ready for your season."
"You can do both," Eloise said, determined to make it true.
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