Chapter 253: Comforting [3]
"Are we truly well?" Quinn asked, trying his best to contain his excitement.
"We are not as we should be, but there is no anger in my heart, nor am I uncomfortable with you. I only seek honesty from everyone. I have always been honest with you, so I expect the same in return to avoid these moments," Eloise explained.
"It will not happen again. I am waiting for Damien to offer my apologies. I hope that if there is ever a time either of you is angry with me, that you let me be the one to leave the estate."
"Why? I like leaving you here to take over Damien’s duties as punishment. It makes you have to work and to appreciate his presence a little more. Fortunately for you, I do not intend to leave the estate anytime soon," Eloise said, a smile reaching her lips.
Quinn sighed, the tension in his shoulders easing. "I think that next year I am going to be leaving the estate. Not because of you," he added quickly, before Eloise could misunderstand. "I am going to take part next season to find myself a wife. Before then, I want to be on my own, to survive without Damien."
Quinn continued, "I must see that I can run my own home, and I can survive with what wealth I have. I do not always want to rely on Damien or you."
"Well, I think it is a good idea. Before you take anyone as your wife, you should realise who you are as a man. I think it will be a good journey for you. I only hope that it is true you are not running from Damien or me," Eloise said.
"It is not the reason. Before our conflict, I made an agreement with Rosalie that we would work together by taking part in the next season. I am not against finding a wife. I just did not think I was ready before," Quinn admitted, his gaze dropping briefly as he thought of past hesitation.
"Well, Damien and I will support the decision you make. I only ask that you fully commit yourself to doing it first. Do not take part, and at the end, pull away when you have given some young lady hope. Do not waste anyone’s season," Eloise pleaded, her heart aching at the thought of another’s disappointment.
"I would not be so cruel to do so. I am surprised you are all for it, because you would be left with Kyle and Jane. Jane is eager to marry, but she has some time. Kyle is not interested in getting married. In fact, he is most interested in the business," Quinn shared.
"Well, as long as he is doing what he loves. I would rather he wait until he is ready to get married instead of jumping into it. I also think he has some learning to do. Perhaps the business will help him to grow," Eloise said, keeping hope alive for Kyle. Her thoughts warmed by the idea of his eventual maturity.
"I hope so too. How do you feel about Camille and Jane? Kyle spoke of what happened to me. Camille was already riled up after her talk with the countess-"
"What countess?" Eloise inquired, hearing of this for the first time. "Was it Viola? Was Viola here with Camille?"
"She came to see you, but you were not present," Quinn shared. "I was not with them when they spoke, but I know that it did not go well."
"The countess appeared quite protective of you, and my aunt might not have been expecting it. All I know is that my aunt returned inside flustered, and she is not fond of the countess any longer."
This news did not surprise Eloise. "Viola has always treated me as though I were her family, and she does not hold back. I wrote to her too late about being away from the estate, so she came here. Viola means no harm," Eloise promised Quinn. "She will only react if you poke at someone she loves. I will write to her."
"I do not think she was in the wrong. My aunt needed to see that you have someone on your side. We all needed to see it, as we might think all you have is Damien. Do not scold her," said Quinn.
"I would never scold Viola, especially in this instance. She knew your parents as well as my father. I used to run around her home while my father worked," Eloise shared, her voice softening with fond memory.
"And she took you to her side? You seem to have a talent for making your father’s employers fond of you. First, my mother and then the countess. Are there any more surprises? Any visitors I must watch out for?" Quinn teased lightly, though curiosity flickered in his eyes.
"No. I am still close to the other people my father worked for, but not as close as Viola. She is special to me. My father’s parents are dead, and only my grandfather from my mother’s side is alive, but he is distant. I do not know where he is," Eloise said.
"Do you want to find him?" Quinn asked, willing to do so for her.
"No," Eloise shook her head. "My mother has been dead for a long time, and not once has he come to see me, even when I was a little girl. There are certain people you should not go searching for, no matter how curious you are. I might end up heartbroken."
"I am surprised. I thought you would have been open to speaking to him. You seem to be the type to want a big family," Quinn said, genuinely surprised. "Then again, with what happened with your uncle, I can understand."
"Well, my uncle indeed confirms why I do not want to, but I have never been curious about my grandfather. I love being surrounded by family, but only those who respect and care for me. I will not be so desperate for love again that I allow others to mistreat me," Eloise said, having learned her lesson.
"You must not. I should be that way with our relatives, the ones who nag us about money at times. It is not as though they are poor. I have been kind to them because we are family, but I should have been more like Damien," Quinn said, regretting being so kind. "We should all be like Damien."
Eloise chuckled and nodded. "Yes, we should. Then we would not have too many problems."
"Should we bother him by acting as he does? Do you think he would catch on to what we are doing?" Quinn wondered with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"I do not think today is the day we should trouble Damien. I might get away with it, but I do not know about you. The wise decision is to save it for another day," Eloise suggested as she was certain his talk with Camille would upset him.
"That would be best," Quinn agreed.
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