The very evening Eloise went to visit the duke with her prototype toilet bowl. This time because of Odette's insistence, she had to draw it out on a piece of paper. The prototype measurements were also taken using an old measuring tape. All she had to do was find a potter to make this design.
Implementing the toilet bowl was not just not enough
The draining system for the duchy has to be prepared as well. She had to request a map of the duchy, so she can design it and calculate the finances required. for this, she had to count on the duke. it would be a huge undertaking, taking up a lot of time and money.
Of course, duke Raymond would help her out but they also needed a lot more business partners.
'Maybe a charity ball? Do they have them here?"
She gazed back at Odette who was walking behind her with poise. "Have you heard of charity balls before?"
"What ball? Is this a ball for the poor people? I've never heard of something like that,"
"Ah then, we must create a trend for that as well." She mumbled to herself.
On the way, she noticed Fred standing by that corner corridor that was deserted. It was close to Dom's room. Seeing that he was busy, she did not disturb him.
She walked right up to duke Raymond's study.
To her surprise, she saw a line of young men waiting out there. Joyful sounds of laughter as heard from inside.
She stood there, confused as to what to do.
"oh miss Ayles. It's such a pleasure to meet you here. are you here to meet highness? You can walk right in."
"Yes…" she bowed to him awkwardly and walked in. Inside, three men stood around the duke talking in hushed tones.
As soon as they saw her entering the study, their shimmering gazes fell on her.
Eloise was so tempted to just walk out of there and go back to her room.
'no, I can't do that, my business partner is waiting in here and we still have a lot of planning to do right now.' gritting her teeth silently, she walked up to the duke.
"miss Ayles this is young viscount Richard, and this is marquis Trent." Raymond curtly introduced them.
"Nice to meet you, gentlemen." Eloise bowed to them slightly. Her anxious eyes fell on Raymond for a second. 'so, what now?'
They remained silent.
"miss Ayles don't you think the weather is pleasant this evening? Why don't we go for a promenade on the deck?"
"it's too cold... and I haven't brought a shawl with me."
"I have brought one for you, miss." Odette silently draped a shawl on her Housler from behind.
Eloise glanced back at her with a frown. 'Odette, get a clue. I'm trying to reject the man.' she smiled awkwardly. "I'm a delicate woman. I can't handle the cold weather much."
"oh, is that so, then why don't I get you a cup of hot eta? It will warm you up." the young man excitedly ran to the other table in the corner of the room and started to make English tea.
Eloise questionably gazed at the duke. 'Okay dude, this is creeping me out. You have to help me out here.' she sent signals with her looks but weirdly the duke had a cold look in his eyes.
No, his eyes looked empty and lifeless.
'What is up with him? He doesn't look good. is it okay for him to be surrounded by so many eyesores, shall I send them away for him?'
She smiled at the young man close to the duke. "Viscount Richard, is it?"
"Yes, miss…. What do you have in your hand? shall I have a look?"
"Oh yes definitely," Eloise showed him the floor planning for the draining system she was planning.
"What is this supposed to be, miss? I'm not that well-articulated in art. Please spare me the embarrassment."
Eloise smiled at him. "it's not art. Rather, it's a floor plan for my business venture."
"Business? Oh my, what has urged you to get into manual labor, miss." The man looked at her, baffled.
Eloise ground her teeth. "I just want to make a few changes. Why is it not okay for a woman to get into the business?"
"it's not encouraged, but if you do wish to, it's okay." The viscount said with a thoughtful look.
the marquee who went to fetch tea came back with a cup. He held it to her delicately. "a working woman? Oh, poor you, it's hard for a woman to manage such a venture."
"I have no trouble managing such a feat. And it's okay for a woman to become independent and to earn her own. Don't you think so?" the young men were ticking her off. They looked at her as if she is a little bunny rabbit that had hoped in the middle of a busy road. They looked at her with pity!
She hated it.
"Even if a woman worked and made her keep, in the end, the money will only go to her husband. in a way some men might like it," the marquise said with a sidewise grin.
Eloise froze. "What do you even mean by that?"
"of course, you won't know? a woman can't own anything. Everything belongs to the husband because he is proving for their wife. It is our custom and I don't like it when people try to stray from it." the marques bowed and walked out of there.
As for the viscount, he simply bowed and stood there along with the duke.
This was a splash of reality for her. She thought she could make a living and live alone with her mother, but she didn't realize that everything and anything she owned will go to her husband. A woman can own anything.
'Its… it's so unfair." She whispered as she took a sip of the tea.'
"Unfair it might seem, but this is life. this unfair system you mention has been helping our society progress for a very long time." The viscount silently added.
Eloise felt numb to this. "I-if you will excuse me." She rolled up the floor plan.
Raymond, who was silently observing this, followed behind her.
She briskly walked into the deck and stood in the bright sun stiffly.
standing in the shade, Raymond just looked at her.
He could feel her pain. He could feel the restrain that society had put on her.
'I... I must not go to her… those men were rude…. They should have broken her spirit like that. they don't have any right to talk to her that way! They…' he gritted his teeth loudly.
Eloise gazed back at her. "This was your plan, wasn't it? letting me meet those men? Who put you up to this? Did my mother ask you to?"
Raymond remained silent.
"She did, didn't she?" she scoffed. "What is wrong with a woman living on her own? What is wrong with a woman owning her own money? Do they all think that we are all stupid women that will spend all our money on clothes and jewels? Is that what society thinks of us women!" she stormed up to him. "Is this what you think of me?"
"I would never think of you in that way, miss Eloise."
"Then why?! Why did you let me meet those men? Do you think I would have anything in common with them? find love and marry? What a silly notion, duke Raymond."
"Eloise..." Raymond stepped up to her but the bright sunlight made him freeze in his path.
Eloise backed away, standing in the evening sun. "You…what were you even thinking?"
"Your mother requested me to. I just wanted to help her. I didn't think it would offend you.
"Oh, it did. it offended me very much." She poked him with a finger. "Raymond… not all men will respect women as they should. To them, women are just pretty vases. I don't want to live like that. I will never live that. even if society spits on me, I will still live the way I want to."
Raymond ignored the burning sun and held her hand. "I'm sorry… I'm very sorry. Please forgive. I wasn't thinking properly. I should have at least given you a heads-up."
Eloise just stood there, peering up at him. "What are your thought on this topic, mister Raymond? Can women own money? Can women do business? Do women have a brain?"
Raymond didn't hesitate. "Women deserve the world. They deserve to be treated with respect and to live their life as they wish. I wish for you to live like that, free of societal constraints and filled with happiness. So, I thought marriage to a good man would help you. But didn't know that they held women to such disdain. I'm so sorry. I will never repeat that mistake"
Eloise started to tear up slightly. "You are a good man, Raymond. Not all men are like you. It's sad… very sad…" she silently pulled away. "can I have a moment to myself please…I don't want to be here..."
Odette ran after her into the farthest area of the deck.