As they walked, Anaya couldn't help but stare at Eve, noticing the woman's beauty. Usually, the woman was dressed as a governess, but this evening, there was something very soft yet sharp with how Eve looked. But it was the beauty inside the human that she knew had caught Noah's attention. Noticing the she-wolf stare, Eve asked,
"Is something on my face?" And she touched her temple and cheek.
"Oh, there's nothing. I was just seeing how beautiful you are, Eve," Anaya openly complimented Eve, which made the mermaid smile.
"You are too generous with your compliments, Anaya. I think you look lovely in that grey dress," Eve complimented the young woman.
"And you are too kind," Anaya smiled and raised her head to look at the chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. "This is a beautiful mansion, so old yet so neat with the details," she admired it, "How has work been?"
"It has been the usual. Allie has been able to pick things up much faster," Eve replied as they continued to walk past the guests.
Anaya slowed her footsteps and whispered, "I was supposed to meet you to discuss your gown, but with the sudden invitation, I was unsure about what to do. I am hoping that you will let me complete the gown that is meant for you?" It was because the she-wolf had heard how notorious and odd Vincent Moriarty was when it came to doing things his way, and she could tell when she met him last time that he was in love with Eve.
"Thank you, Anaya. I am not sure if I will be able to wear it any time soon, but I would very much appreciate you working on it," Eve responded, and Anaya nodded.
"I am relieved to hear it, and also see that you are doing better than I imagined. I am sure the Duke holds the same concerns," Anaya let Eve know and added, "I hope God blesses you with the strength that you need to pass through this storm."
Eve was grateful for Anaya's kind words. She said, "Noah is lucky to have you next to him. Has your and Noah's family decided when you two will be getting married?"
"We haven't decided yet. Probably next year, but definitely not this one," Anaya smiled. She found it ironic how the woman Noah was in love with said he was lucky to have her when his heart belonged to the human. She wondered if things would be different if Eve knew about Noah's affection towards her. It would not be the way it was, Anaya thought to herself.
Eve finally caught sight of Vincent, surrounded by a few council members discussing matters related to the Council work. Sensing her gaze, Vincent's gaze shifted to look at her from a distance. When no one was looking at them, he sent a wink in her direction, and it threatened a smile from her lips.
With the little hide and seek, that action of his had Eve's heart skip a beat. She raised her hand and tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear. Even though she knew what she was going to witness was going to be hard, it was because it was Vincent that she was calm now.
"Milady, drink?" One of the servants offered them a tray of drinks. When Anaya picked up a glass, Eve did the same, and she took a sip of the sweet drink.
Outside the Moriarty mansion, the Hookes finally arrived in their carriage, which stopped at the mansion's entrance. The coachman opened the carriage door for Marquee and Marchioness Hooke.
Rosetta finally stepped out of the carriage where she was going to have a nervous breakdown. It was because she had to drag herself out of her room, into the carriage, and now out of it. She didn't want to get engaged to Vincent Moriarty! This was nothing less than a nightmare for her!!
"Straight back, Rose. Don't slouch when all eyes are going to be on you tonight," Lady Aurora instructed her daughter, placing her hand on Rosetta's back.
"Yes, mother!" Rosetta replied.
"From today onwards, even though there are days to get married, you will officially be Vincent Moriarty's future wife and he will be your husband. At least that is what everyone will know," Lady Aurora said in a low voice to her daughter, who walked next to her, while she walked between Rosetta and her husband. She said, "All you need to do is stand next to Vincent and smile. Your father and I will take care of the rest of the things."
But Rosetta's smile was far from natural; it looked like a spirit had taken home and was smiling from within.
"Good evening, Marquee Hooke and Marchioness Hooke. Your daughter looks lovely," people started to greet the trio.
As they continued walking through the front hallways, Lady Aurora's eyes fell on one of the men, and her eyes widened in alarm. She turned to her husband and whispered, "Walter, what is Mr. Estbury doing here?!"
"You must have mistaken someone for him, dear," Marquee Hooke answered as he smiled at the guests in the hallways.
"On the far right, look there!" Lady Aurora didn't look at Mr. Etsbury, the man from whom they had taken the money and had to return by selling their land properties. She questioned her husband, "Did you send the invitation to him?"
When Marquee Hooke's eyes finally fell on the man, his throat turned slightly dry, and he said, "Of course, I didn't! You must have sent the invitation to him."
"Why would I ever invite that man here," Lady Aurora gritted her teeth while she flashed a smile. "Do you think the Moriartys are acquainted with him? Or maybe he works in the Council?" Because there was no way for that man to be here out of the blue when no one knew about their poor financial state!
"Did he perhaps come to collect more money?" Marquee Hooke questioned with a frown, and Lady Aurora couldn't help but guess that it could be the reason the man had followed them here.
