Chapter 307: New rumours [3]
Eloise saw Rosalie off, and rather than disturb Damien while he was trying to get to the bottom of the matter, she walked quietly to Iris’s chamber.
Eloise acted as normal, pretending not to notice the maids hurrying around her, though her ears caught every whisper of movement. She knew they couldn’t let the servants realise they were aware of a spy, as too much suspicion would make the culprit hide.
Eloise thought of what to do now.
Should she inform Iris now to let her be prepared for what would eventually reach her ears?
Eloise had long accepted that gossip was inevitable. That there would always be someone eager to twist words into poison. Even those she had never spoken to seemed to find delight in tarnishing her name. It was the bitter price of living in town, where envy and idle chatter thrived.
She stopped before Iris’s door and knocked softly.
The door opened, and Iris’s face brightened with a smile. "Didn’t you go to read a book?"
"I did, but I went for a walk with Damien, then saw to a guest. May I enter?" Eloise asked, seeking permission first.
"Of course," Iris replied, stepping aside with a graceful sweep of her hand. "After all, this is your home."
Eloise entered the bedchamber. "But this is now your chamber. You don’t have to allow anyone inside if you don’t wish to. That includes myself and Damien."
Iris closed the door, her expression shifting to one of concern. "Very well. What has brought you here?"
"Rosalie just left the estate. She came to share rumours with me. Some about myself and marriage, while others involve you. I feel awful that you have been dragged into my troubles," Eloise said, apologetic. "They twisted how you spoke with Damien, claiming an affair."
Iris froze, surprised this was the news. "That isn’t true. Why would anyone do such a thing?"
The thought of being painted as a mistress sickened her. It wasn’t merely Eloise’s marriage being tarnished, but it was her own dignity being shredded.
Iris pressed her fingers to her temple, trying to ease the pounding ache. "I don’t understand how anyone would know that I spoke to Damien, or even that I am here. Neither of us has announced it. Reece wouldn’t have any reason to speak of it to anyone. Would he?"
"I don’t believe this is Reece’s doing," Eloise replied, taking Reece away from the list of culprits. "There must be someone lurking around the estate, sending tales back to others, and then twisting them. My troubles with Quinn were twisted, and then they invented a story about Jane."
"I see. It will be difficult to uncover who it is, since there are so many servants. Could it be your maid?" Iris asked, her thoughts drifting to Hannah.
"It couldn’t be. She wasn’t near when you and Damien spoke. Besides, she warns me when there is trouble in the estate, and I trust her," Eloise answered.
"I don’t recall seeing her at that moment," Iris murmured, her mind searching for another possibility. "I don’t know the servants well. If only I had come in as your servant, not your cousin, then I would have heard it all. The gossip flows freely among the maids while they work."
"I would ask Hannah to find out, but no one might speak with her near. I should have gathered more maids to learn what is being said within the estate. This has taught me a lesson," Eloise admitted with regret.
She continued, "Damien has gone to find this person, as it must be one of the servants working on the second floor while you two spoke. I will do my best to clear this up quickly so you are not affected."
"I am only concerned about you and what Zayne would think. I might have erred in sharing that I once pined for Damien," Iris confessed, embarrassment colouring her cheeks. "I shouldn’t have said it, but I never thought I would be courted by him."
"I’m sure Zayne would understand and not think anything of it. Believing Damien would entertain an affair with you is foolishness. Not that you are not wonderful," Eloise added quickly, realising her words might wound Iris.
Iris laughed. "I also think it is foolish to believe Damien would suddenly entertain me. I spent longer than you did trying to gain his attention and failed miserably. Why would anyone think that now, when he is happily married, I would succeed?"
"I do not know why people think the way they do. I would never believe that the two of you would betray me," Eloise assured her cousin. "I fear it won’t be long before Damien explodes from anger. Too many people have been troubling him."
"This might not be what you wish to hear, but I am eager for him to explode," Iris admitted. "Perhaps then he will silence those spreading these rumours. They may be running rampant because he has been in bliss. Married life is too good."
"I won’t hold him back concerning this, since it affects more than one person. I suspect it is the work of his aunt, all because of that one incident. She is going so far as to demand an apology. And here I was, determined not to speak of any troubles in her life," Eloise said, now swayed to do otherwise.
"No," Eloise whispered, shaking her head. "I will not rejoice and have karma return to me. If this is Camille’s doing, she will get what is coming to her."
Eloise sighed, her shoulders aching as though burdened by invisible weights. "May I lie on your bed for a moment? Once Damien is alone, I will return to him so we can continue our talk."
"You may rest on the bed, and if you fall asleep, I will wake you so you can go back to him. Let me tidy it," Iris said, hurrying to smooth the sheets. "Working for Zayne gave me some talents."
"Do you think Damien can find the person we need?" she asked, as though the walls themselves might betray them.
"He is the master of this estate, so I am certain he has his methods. For the right price, some of the maids will speak. It is done," Iris said, settling onto the bed and patting the spot beside her.
Eloise sat down, the mattress dipping beneath her weight. For a moment, she allowed herself to breathe, and the tension in her chest eased slightly. "I am trusting him to settle this while I keep a better watch of the maids-"
"Oh!" Iris exclaimed, startling Eloise. "A maid was sneaking around that day. It only just came back to me."