Eloise swiftly pulled the coat over her shoulders. "Duke Raymond!! Wait!!" she rushed after him and griped his hand. "Wait a bit, I'll get ready."
Raymond glanced at her with a soft blush... "okay... I'll wait.." he obediently sat down.
Eloise chuckled and ran back to her room hurriedly.
"oh my..... Looks like things have progressed a bit too soon," madam miller whispered with a stunned look.
Her only daughter, who was the apple of her eye, was visibly being swayed away by this person. He was the most powerful young duke known in their time.
'I have to check whether he is serious about my dear Eloise...'
She subtly glanced at him whist sipping her tea. "Young duke. What are your thoughts about marriage?"
"oh... I—I..... I have no wish to marry anyone..." he whispered with his head lowered.
Madam Miller frowned deeply. "Don't want to be rude, but what is it that you wish to have with my daughter?"
Raymond glanced up in shock. "I....."
"Duke Raymond you are still a young man, I don't think my Eloise will suit your varied 'hobbies'." Madam Ayles directly said to his face. "Please, if you are done with your tea, take your leave,"
Raymond placed the cup on the table and glanced at intently. "I not sure what I feel for her yet... but I know that I'm not the one for her. I—I am not a good person." he softly pinched his trembling hands. "I don't deserve her at all.... so I wish to stay her friend.... is it possible?" he glanced up at her the stern-looking lady for permission.
Miller Ayles peered at him until the tea went cold. She slammed it on the table loudly. "How can you assure me that my darling won't fall in love? She is a young girl who so full of dreams of love. If even give her the sparkling of attention, she might just give you her heart."
Raymond flinched. "y—yes you are right. Then I shall take my leave." he bowed to her and left the room.
Miller Ayles watched his slumped back and sighed. "It would have been great if he can overcome his problems. He would make a great husband for my daughter after all."
"Where is he?" Eloise ran out of her room in a hurry. "Did he leave already? Aishhh I told him to wait!!" she ran to the door but her mother gripped her hand swiftly.
"Duke has a lot of work to do. Don't disturb him." she gently caressed her soft cheeks. Only then did she notice her shot hair. "What happened to your hair! Why is it short!!! Oh my god!!!! Odette!!!!!!!!"
"Madam, what is wrong!! Who is hurt!!" Odette panicky ran out of the room.
Eloise hugged her mother softly. "Mum, calm down I just gave myself a haircut..."
"What is wrong with her hair, Odette it looks like a beast mauled it," madam Ayles hurriedly pulled her over to the mirror and made her sit in front of it. "Who cuts their own hair? Eloise Ayles, what were you thinking!!"
"hehe...." Eloise just giggled.
Her mother had no knowledge, did not know anything about her kidnapping either. As of now, she did not tell her mother about her brave escapade.
'I'll tell her later. If I do now, she might fall sick again..'
"Mum, this is just a haircut. And short hair is the trend." Eloise smiled brightly. "If I have to admit I did a worst job at trimming my hair. I was thinking of asking Odette when I woke up.." she played with her shoulder length hair.
Madam Miller frowned. She sat next to her and gently held her hand. "Eloise, are you going through any difficulty? Tell mom, I will be there for you at any cost."
"No, no.... I'm not...."
"Don't lie to me, Eloise. You treasured your hair so much. Even though people mocked it, you personally loved it. You would never voluntarily cut it unless... you had a reason to,"
Eloise froze. "Can... can I tell you later... I don't wish to right now."
"Okay...." her mother hugged her tight. "You can share anything with me my dear."
"Yes, mother," Eloise chuckled softly. "Now please correct this horrendous hair. I think Duke Raymond might have gotten scared and ran off by my beastly look."