Chapter 396: Cutting ties [1]
"We have done it at last," Iris said, relieved that the planning had come to an end. "I am now nervous about planning a wedding."
"I shall help you, and you are quite fortunate since Zayne’s mother seems eager to plan it as well. I do not believe she would be against you giving her full control," said Eloise.
"Well, I don’t want to give away complete control. I want to have some input, but I know the work will be tiring. Perhaps we should have a small wedding. Many of the people I know won’t be coming," Iris said, thinking of her side.
"Why not? You have not asked them yet."
"Because I will not be inviting them. After what happened with my father, most of them turned their backs on me. There are a few whom I could speak to in private, so I will invite them, but not everyone will get an invite," Iris explained.
"That is fair. You don’t have to welcome them back now that they think your life is better. It could be a small wedding unless there are many people from Zayne’s side to invite. I was speaking of how many friends Damien has a moment ago," Eloise shared.
Eloise continued, "Does Zayne have many friends?"
"I do not know. I only ever hear him speaking of Damien. I have events to attend with his mother, so I might meet them then. There is plenty I must learn about Zayne, which is why I don’t want to rush the wedding," Iris said.
"So, would you cancel the wedding if you don’t know much about him?"
"No, I would simply learn more about him during our marriage. I only wish to understand him quite well before we say our vows. It doesn’t mean that I am not certain about our engagement now. I enjoy this slow pace," Iris said, poking her finger at the fruit before her.
"And Zayne would prefer it to be sped up. You are both quite cute. I enjoy having the chance to tease you," Eloise said, thoroughly enjoying herself.
"Where is your husband so that I might tease you or have him do it?" Iris inquired, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"After I told him that I am tired of hearing about Camille, he said he would go see her now to end her sending letters to him. She misunderstands what their relationship is now, and I worry about her reaching out to Jane if this goes on," said Eloise.
"I see. Was it wise for Damien to go alone?" Iris asked, fearing an argument would ensue.
"Quinn has taken the journey with him. He shall be the one to keep the peace between them. At least, I hope he can keep the peace. I know it won’t go quite well since Camille needs Damien’s support. She is so worried about how she is viewed," Eloise said, annoyed.
"Aren’t we all?" Iris asked, but she didn’t mean to take Camille’s side.
"Not to the degree she does. At this time, I would focus on my children, but she cares for her name and reputation. How the young ladies view her. She is already pitied because her husband killed her brother, but she’s seeking more from the town," Eloise explained.
"Well, I see where your issue lies. Putting on too much of an act might turn the town against her, and then she’ll have even more reason to reach out to Damien. Let us hope it all goes well today," Iris said, but at the back of her mind, she knew that it wouldn’t.
At Camille’s home, Damien arrived with Quinn.
"Didn’t you say she was going to leave town?" Quinn asked as he examined their surroundings.
"She was, but it appears she intends to linger around to cause trouble. To bother me when I don’t want to be disturbed. I would be so kind as to prepare one of the other homes if she would leave now," Damien said, ready to do it.
"I don’t think that would be kindness. That would be you getting rid of her. Where are our cousins? Perhaps I should entertain them for a moment so they don’t witness you two arguing," Quinn suggested.
Damien stopped to look at Quinn and said, "If you leave my side, I might end up throwing her down the stairs. Do you wish to see me arrested? What was the point of you joining me if you would wander away?"
"I didn’t know this was the extent of your feelings. I thought we were coming to tell her to leave us alone. There she is," Quinn said, looking at the stairs. "Is it me, or does she look a bit odd?"
Quinn’s eyes didn’t leave Camille as she hurried down the stairs to get to them.
Camille looked beautifully dressed as she always did, and she wore a smile now as she came towards them, yet Quinn couldn’t help finding her appearance to be a bit odd.
’She’s too happy,’ Quinn thought.
"I knew that you would come, and you brought Quinn. The timing is wonderful since I am to have guests coming today," Camille said, happy she had them. "You will only need to greet them when they arrive."
"We won’t be greeting anyone. You should have taken your children and gotten out of town. Where are they?" Damien asked, looking around.
"With their grandparents," Camille answered. "I am not in my right mind to care for the children."
"You have help with the servants. I am certain the children would rather be here with you than their grandparents. Their son is gone, and all they have left are Hayden’s children. Be wise and realise that they might try to keep hold of them," Quinn said, worried about his cousins.
"That is what she wants," Damien said, seeing right through Camille. "To let someone else take on the work of having to raise her children. You were not very good when it was you and your husband."
"It is quite difficult to do this alone-"
"You have a home full of servants, a governess and tutors. You are hardly alone, and when your husband was alive, did he not leave you to fend for yourself? Nothing has changed," Damien pointed out.
"I lost my husband. That is what has changed. You don’t understand what I face now and how it leaves me unable to raise the children," Camille argued.
"Since you are mourning the man who plotted to kill my father, why are you sending letters to me? I don’t care for him and, at this moment, I don’t care for you," Damien said, getting straight to the point of his visit.