Millbrooke

Before leaving for Millbrooke, Eliza stopped by the asylum for a short visit with her mother. Although, she hardly acknowledged her daughter who sat beside her, holding her frail hand. Mitch and Sabrina enjoyed their reunion at a cafe nearby.

"Mother. Won't you at least look at me?" She lightly shook that hand that didn't return her grip. Angelina Girard still didn't pay her any attention and focused on watching the birds pecking on the glass of the window.

Peck. Peck. Peck.

Eliza frowned at the incessant chickadees and left the bedside to open the window and shoo them away in annoyance. A slight gust of wind pushed inside, ruffling Eliza's skirt and then brushing against Angelina's expressionless face. The breeze disturbed the loose hair that had fallen out of her hairdo and tickled her nose. She reached up to rub out the itch and only then realized who was sharing her room.

"Elizabeth." Angelina whispered this name to herself while her daughter dealt with closing the window again; then dusting off her palms with two claps. Each loud disturbance brought Angelina closer to understanding her surroundings. She swallowed and tried speaking louder, "Elizabeth?"

The young woman looked her way in shock, then a single tear dripped from both of her eyes as she began to smile in shock.

"Mom…" She cautiously approached her frail mother whose eyes were finally clear.

"Don't cry." Angelina reached up and collected the new tears beaded under Eliza's lashes with her fingertip. "My daughter… You're so tall now."

Eliza pressed her mother's hand to her cheek and nodded, "I'm already 20 years old this year. Georgia is nearly 17 and Josephine 13."

Angelina raised a brow in confusion, "Josephine? Who may that be?"

"Pardon?" Eliza laughed as though it was supposed to be a joke, but her mother seemed truly at a loss.

"She's your daughter and the third youngest." Seeing no spark or acknowledgment in her mother's similarly green eyes, Eliza felt her heart clench in sorrow. "How is it that you have forgotten your own child?"

"I am sorry. I just don't understand. After going through the birth of Georgia there's no way I would have…" Angelina's voice trailed off and the whites of her eyes enlarged as though she were witnessing a horror over Eliza's shoulder. Looking behind there was nothing to be alarmed over.

"Mom? What's wrong?" She held those chilly fingers with both hands now while Angelina seemed to be reliving something. Maybe it was the thing that broke her mind, to begin with. Her white lips trembled, and tears slowly slipped down her sallow cheek. Her eyes that had finally regained their livelihood gradually returned to that dull green from before.

Before she completely fell back into the abyss, Angelina whispered to her frightened daughter that was still only a young girl in her eyes. "That man… his stench. It's foul… Before it's too late–" She fell unconscious before finishing her message and Eliza called for the nurse while sobbing.

…

– Two Weeks Later –

Once again, ever since that night Eliza was visited, her nights weren't insatiable, and she didn't feel that impulsive need anymore. She even considered it to be a bad dream that she wouldn't need to worry about anymore. So long as she never wished for it, that odd demon shouldn't appear in her bedroom again.

Despite that, she was still exhausted and did not feel enthusiastic about making small talk with the daughters of gossipy, and nosy mothers.

Eliza let out a big sigh, "Ah, I really wish I kept my big mouth shut and never proposed a tea party at our home."

"Don't say that I think it'll be fun." Georgia sat across from Eliza during breakfast and heard her elder sister's muttering. "We can help finish the preparations for you."

Josephine nodded in agreement and held up a handwritten list of all the ladies attending her event tomorrow. Eliza looked it over and already knew that she was inconsiderate of the relationships between the people attending. The postman had a feud with the butcher, the baker's wife accused the patisserie of stealing her lemon custard pie recipe, and so on. Not to mention, people were mailing the house saying they were excited about the party, even those she never mentioned it to.

"This town surely lacks activities to the point nearly everyone will be coming." She pointed out different names and told Josephine who they would likely bring in order to get a more comprehensive list.

After watching the list grow and grow, Georgia's eyes widened and she started to feel regretful as well, "This will be an expensive event."

"Indeed, it will be. Now you see our predicament." Eliza tapped her finger across her pursed lips and felt an incoming headache. 'I can look over our accounts and sort it out later this evening'. "For now, let's at least enjoy ourselves and do some shopping today. Georgia dear, I'm sure you already noticed that William Chandler will be in attendance. Why not pick out a new dress at that new boutique on Main Street?"

The younger sister blushed and looked down at her lap, "Well, only if you insist."

…

The three Girard sisters, along with Susan took the carriage towards the city. It was old but Mitch took special care of it so its age wouldn't be obvious to others. After all, it's already strange for a commoner family to afford a horse and carriage. Even their estate was comparable to a low-tier noble.

The carriage came to a stop after a short trip to the shopping district and Mitch assisted them when exiting the carriage. He was respectful to each lady but when helping Susan, they held each other's hands for a fleeting moment more. Their eyes met and the maid looked especially demure in her bashfulness.

Eliza spotted this from the corner of her eye and was amused. She had long since known of the romantic affairs between the two youngsters and found it entertaining to watch over with faked ignorance.

"Sister, where shall we go first?" Georgia was practically vibrating out of existence while holding in her excitement.

Eliza pointed in the direction of the shopping district, "You may go ahead with Susan to pick out your gown. Josephine and I will go ahead to the market–" She felt a tug on her skirt and paused to see her youngest sister pouting about the arrangement. "Oh dear, would you also like a new gown?"

Josephine smiled brightly and her amber eyes sparkled in response.

"Well alright, go on and join them, I can go ahead alone."

Susan looked worried hearing this, "My lady, that's rather dangerous. I can escort you instead."

"It will be alright. I'd rather you help those girls, so they don't pick out something too gaudy. You have a better eye for fashion than a certain someone." She looked pointedly at Georgia who whistled while adverting her eyes.

With that, the party separated, and Eliza enjoyed the freedom to go at her own pace. The town was settled on the outskirts of the big city, but they had all the amenities necessary to be fully functioning. The shopping district was located at the heart of the town and lined Main Street with charming boutiques and cafés. On a Friday morning, this place was bustling with locals and city commuters. She acknowledged those she knew with a nod and tried to ignore the men that titled their hats her way.

The town's lively atmosphere helped her relax and enjoy the experience. She felt at ease up until a presence started to creep up behind her. It stuck around longer than usual until it was hard to write it off as a coincidence. Feeling anxious from this, she turned around and found no one who looked suspicious. The streets weren't empty, but no one was entirely too close to her.

While shopping for tea blends at a market stand, she felt that same presence and leaned in closer to the female shop owner.

Maintaining a calm expression, she paid for the items and then asked politely, "Ma'am, I have had a strange feeling I am being followed. Do tell me, is there a strange or suspicious person looking at me?"

The owner was a kind-looking woman who curiously surveyed the busy street to find that suspicious person but shook her head after a moment, "Sorry dear, I don't see anyone who seems suspicious. Oh but there does seem to be a tall dashing man watching you since before."

'So the exact definition of a suspicious person?' Eliza raised her brows but tried not to look too alarmed, "I see. Would you mind describing him for me?"

"Hoho certainly. Hm, he has lovely black hair and is rather tall and built- oh my, he's coming your way!"

"Ah-hah thank you, I will excuse myself now. Good day!" She put the tins of tea in her basket and rushed down the street, being careful not to run but still moving faster than the crowd. She could tell that there was definitely a person following right behind her but didn't want to spare the second to look back. Slowly, the crowd started to thin out when reaching the housing streets and her heart felt like it was racing. Deciding it was time to commit to losing him, she took a sharp turn down a narrow alley. Picking up her skirts she ran as fast she could down the uneven cobble road. Since it was the summer, her dress was lighter, and she could move in it easier. Making it out on the other side, she swerved right and ran straight into a lantern post.

"Bloody-!" She stumbled backward and two strong arms wrapped around her waist to catch her. She slammed her back against a hard torso, but they didn't even seem fazed. About to scream for mercy, a chuckle she recognized rumbled through the chest of her captor. Her heart dropped and she instantly knew she was done for.

"Well, you sure know how to get me alone."

That voice, that condescending tone, and the overly familiar grip he held her with.

Eliza tried to wrestle out of the demon's arms, but he spun her around instead until she faced him. Even though it was shadier on this side of the street, she finally got a clear look at his face. Like before, he was far too handsome for a human and stronger than any average man. There wasn't a single imperfection about this man's appearance, everything was chiseled to perfection as though Michelangelo did it himself. And she couldn't help but look at all of him.

He watched her with amusement and winked, "Did you already forget what I looked like? I certainly haven't forgotten you though. He tucked a stray hair behind her ear and trailed his finger along her jaw to eventually tilt her chin.

Eliza fell under a trance as soon as they made eye contact and watched as those dark irises slowly morphed into deep violet. They drew her in and clouded her better judgment.

"I'm heartbroken that you never called for me." His face got nearer before she knew it and he placed coy kisses on the corners of her mouth. She blinked at his touch and started to regain her senses once his lips had touched down on her neck. Slowly, her surroundings became clearer, and she first acknowledged that they were in public, albeit the street was abandoned during this time of day.

With a gasp, she shoved him away and he didn't hold her back. He raised his hands and grinned, "Sorry about that, I couldn't resist for a moment there."

Eliza pressed her hand to her pounding heart and noticed that without her realizing, this bastard had undone the top few buttons on her dress. Something fell around her shoulders and trailed down her back meaning he had even taken out the pin holding up her hair as well.

She saw that he was holding the ornamental pin with two fingers, "Trust me, you shouldn't keep your hair up for the rest of the day."

With widening eyes, she rubbed a spot on her neck that felt suspiciously sore and felt a boiling rage within her. Snatching back the pin, she sneered, "Bastard. Just where do you think we are?"

"I'd say we're alone." He nodded towards the abandoned street and Eliza took a wary step back. He frowned and ran his hand through his hair, "Alright, I'll let you go for the sake of my reputation."

Leo reached over and placed a gentle kiss on the back of her hand before leaving the way they came. All before Eliza could question why he was concerned about his own reputation. Her hand tickled where his lips touched, and her heart had admittedly skipped a beat.

"… Pervert."