Chapter 55

When Mr. Sullivan’s carriage entered Meadow town, Eve turned to tell him, “I had a wonderful afternoon today. Thank you for inviting me for lunch.”

“You have yourself to thank, Genevieve. I know you worked really hard to be a governess and that you have been looking for families to hire you,” Noah offered his never-ending encouraging words to her. “Not to forget, I did tell you that I felt bad for not being able to invite you to the celebration of me being a Duke.”

A smile spread on Eve’s lips, and she nodded. She was still grateful that Noah, who wasn’t just the Duke’s son was now a Duke, had taken time from his busy schedule to eat with her. She said,

“Next time I shall treat you, Noah,” stated Eve, and Noah didn’t reject the idea.

“I look forward to it,” he replied smiling and watched her. The golden blonde strands of her hair were no less than a ray of sun. Her face held a pure expression when she looked outside the window.

“I wonder if I should perhaps make a trip to the market. Eugene must have not left home so that he could look after Aunt Aubrey,” murmured Eve. She asked him, “Is it alright if I get down here?”

“If that is what you want, yes. I wish to accompany you, but I have somewhere to be,” Noah’s words were polite. Eve shook her head.

“It is just a few things. I should be fine by myself. I wouldn’t want to keep you from your duties,” Eve said. Noah leaned forward and tapped on the window to gain the coachman’s attention, who pulled the reins of the horses. She got down from the carriage and bowed her head at Noah, who had got down from the carriage. “Thank you again.”

“It was a pleasure as always,” Noah offered a slight bow. “I will see you around. Take care of yourself.”

Eve nodded and watched the man get back inside the carriage. A few women, walking towards the market in and out of it, had stopped in their tracks to take a better look at the gentleman.

Once the carriage rode away from the front side of the market, one woman Eve knew came towards her along with another curious woman.

“Genevieve, what were you doing with Mr. Sullivan to end up in his carriage? Do tell me,” Chimed the woman with great interest in her eyes.

“Isn’t he a Duke now?” questioned another woman, and Eve nodded.

“Yes. Mr. Sullivan is now the Duke of Woodlock,” answered Eve, and the women’s mouth hung open in awe before the first one said,

“It seems like you are indeed smart in capturing the man’s interest,” the woman stared at Eve in question with a slight regret in her voice.

“Don’t be rude, Sabina. The Duke must have come across Eve on his way and offered Eve a ride in his carriage. You must have been waiting to have your daughter betrothed to the Duke, he is a catch,” said the second woman. She then looked at Eve and said, “Once you get married to him, don’t forget me, dear. I would surely love to come to visit you at the mansion.”

Eve chuckled at their words and said, “Forgive me for disappointing you ladies, but the Duke and I are only friends and nothing more than it.”

Though Eve liked Noah and enjoyed his company, there were no romantic feelings involved, making it easier for both of them to converse with each other. Neither one expected anything from the other.

“If that is true, I would be grateful if you would put in a word about my Bessy. On how lovely and pretty she is and what a wonderful wife she would make next to him,” said the first woman.

“That would be ridiculous, Sabina. This poor girl needs to find a suitor and you want her to find a suitor for your daughter?” The second woman huffed.

The first woman frowned and questioned, “What is wrong in trying when Genevieve is not going to marry the Duke? Unless… she is lying and trying to hide it from us.”

“I will try to put in my best word about Bessy with the Duke,” Eve offered a bow with a polite smile on her lips. “Have a good day, ladies.”

“You too, Genevieve!”

When Eve was far away from the prying eyes and gossiping mouths of the mothers eagerly looking for wealthy and sound suitors to marry their daughters, she shook her head and smiled.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

She hoped that her ‘putting a word’ to the Duke would stop the men and women of the town from spreading any rumour about something going on between her and Noah. Especially after how the Duke had replied to the inn’s woman, she believed it was only proper to keep the friendship they had.

Returning home with the groceries and the parcel of food from Lily’s inn, Eugene opened the door for her.

“Welcome back home, Miss Eve,” Eugene took hold of the bags she was carrying in her hand, “Did you have a good lunch and time?”

“I did,” Eve replied, and she said, “The Duke bought some things for you and Aunt Aubrey, which you may eat now.”

“How generous of him,” replied Eugene, and he started to make his way towards the kitchen.

“How is Aunt Aubrey doing?” Asked Eve as she pulled the scarf from her neck as she was feeling hot.

“She is sleeping now. She fell asleep an hour and a half ago, and she sh—AH!” Eugene raised his hand to point at Eve. “W-what happened to your neck?!”

“Shh!” Eve shushed him and covered her neck back with the scarf. But Eugene had already seen it.

“What’s going on in the kitchen, Eugene?” Aunt Aubrey’s voice came from her room. “Did you break a glass? I can only tell Eve took after you,” the elderly woman sighed.

“I will explain. So calm down,” Eve whispered, and the expression on Eugene’s face was nothing less than a child’s beloved toy’s arm being torn.

“Did the Duke do it?” asked Eugene because he hadn’t taken a note of it earlier that morning, but then he asked, “Was it Mr. Moriarty?”

Eve shook her head.

But Eugene’s little scream had startled Lady Aubrey, having her wide awake. Eve then explained to both of them what happened.

“Did you place wet cloth on it?” Asked Lady Aubrey in concern, and seeing Eve nod her head, she said, “Good. Will you be alright working there?” The elderly woman was doing much better than this morning.

Eve nodded again, “Mr. Moriarty warned Mr. Morris not to repeat it, so it should be okay.”

“I see. I am glad that nothing bad happened to you. Let me show you something,” said Lady Aubrey, and she pushed the blanket near her legs and pulled her dress to reveal her bare feet, “Do you see the two toes?” Asked the woman.

Eve and Eugene stared at Lady Aubrey’s two missing toes on her left foot at the corner.

“These were broken by a vampiress who belonged to the higher society. It was during my initial days of being a governess, and the vampiress was a guest, not from the family I worked for,” revealed Lady Aubrey before pulling the blanket to its original position.

“What happened?” Asked Eve, her eyebrows knitting together.

Lady Aubrey looked as if she didn’t care about her two squashed toes and said, “The vampiress was in a bad mood and wanted to put her anger somewhere.” She then smiled, “The humans who belong to the lower and middle-class, and the creatures who are the outcast from the norm. Inside or out, we are never safe.”

“But you didn’t stop being a governess…” Eve’s voice trailed. To think of the pain Aunt Aubrey must have felt. She asked, “Do you remember this vampiress’s name?”

A thoughtful expression appeared on Lady Aubrey’s face before lying, “I don’t think I remember the name now.”

Eve was already looking for her mother’s murderer. Lady Aubrey didn’t want the girl to look for that vampiress who had hurt her.

Back in Skellington, Vincent had dropped Ms. Hooke at her aunt’s house before reaching his mansion. When he reached the entrance, the butler was quick to greet him,

“Welcome back, Master Vincent. W—”

“Find the little hamster and send her to the South wing,” ordered Vincent while dropping his coat in the butler’s hands.

“Yes, Master Vincent,” Alfie bowed his head.

Ten minutes later, Vincent stood in the deserted side of the mansion, which was the South wing. The servants of the mansion and the family members didn’t come here often. Allie ran through the corridor, stopping right in front of her brother. A look of anxiousness marring her face.

“What took you so long?”

“Sorry, brother,” the little girl bowed in apology.

“Here, stretch your hands,” and Vincent dropped the parcel box in Allie’s hands without notice, and the little girl quickly caught it. The little girl looked back and forth between the parcel and her brother, and he said, “You can open it,” he rolled his eyes.

Allie placed the box on the ground and opened it. Her eyes widened because there weren’t four but eight cakes in there. Her eyes sparkled at the very sight of it, and she hugged Vincent, but the very next second, she stepped away.

“Thank you, brother Vincent,” said Allie, who couldn’t wait to devour each of them. Now she would know how they tasted when her governess would explain to her about it tomorrow. “Do you… want one?”

“I am good. Go on now,” remarked Vincent.

The little girl picked up the box and ran away from there as if it was their little secret.