In the Hawthorne estate, Eloise sat in her bedchamber, looking over the preparations for her father's burial in the morning.
Though she had not received notice from many of her father's friends about attending, she couldn't prolong the funeral.
With the palace ball on the horizon, Eloise needed to act fast to start her dance lessons. If she held off the funeral, there would be too many distractions to prolong it.
Damien entered the bedchamber, returning from a lengthy lecture with his guards.
"I hope you didn't scold them too much," Eloise said without looking up at Damien.
"They aren't going to learn if I baby them. Now that you have been shown to the town, we must be more careful. There will be more danger," said Damien.
"I have been thinking about it for some time now, but why is there danger all around you? What is it that you have done or what trouble have you placed yourself in?" Eloise asked, curious.
