Eliza got lucky when they returned home. Margaret said she'd discuss the events that led Eliza into the woods in the morning since she could tell Eliza was cold, hungry, and needed rest. Eliza quickly filled a worried Lucy in on what happened at tea when they were back in the safety of her room and informed her that Colin had no interest in Miss Cameron. Lucy then relayed what Margaret said about the other women being wearier of the actress than they were of Eliza's actions. Apparently, they didn't find Eliza's behavior nearly as scandalous as Cecilia coming to tea in the first place without a formal invite from Lady Whitman. Eliza felt a bit less anxious after speaking with Lucy but still was unable to fall asleep with ease.
Eliza felt more refreshed when she woke the next morning, feeling like speaking to Margaret might not be as difficult as she had thought. Colin and Eliza spoke briefly when they arrived back at the stables about how they should approach the delicate situation. He seemed like he was fine with her speaking the truth about what caused Eliza to lash out as he didn't want to feel responsible for starting a web of lies. Lucy also made her feel more comfortable about how Margaret felt about the incident, so the knot in her stomach loosened as she waited for Lucy to come help her with her bath.
Eliza pushed away from the thick covers and noticed the fire in her room was dwindling. It appeared that no one had been in her room to refresh it yet. It was not like the staff nor Lucy to be late on starting their work and she wondered what could be keeping them. She decided to start on her morning routine without her maid's help, so she went to wash her face and brush her teeth before fixing the velvet ribbon keeping her braid together. When she waltzed back into her room, her door was surprisingly still shut. She wondered if she woke earlier than she thought, so she walked over to the gold damask curtains and threw them open, allowing the sunshine to spill all over the large room. She continued whipping the curtains around the room open and from how bright the room now was, she knew she didn't wake much earlier than usual. Perhaps Lucy thought she was going to have a late rise since she returned home so late.
She's just about to pull the string that sits next to her bedframe to call for Lucy when her bedroom door flies open. Eliza watches Lucy burst into her room and she looks flustered when she finds her mistress waiting near the vanity.
"My lady," Lucy says, catching her breath. "My apologies for making you wait. There was a bit of a commotion downstairs this morning."
"A commotion?" Eliza asks, intrigued at what had Lucy busy this morning. The flustered maid continues to the wardrobe and starts combing through Eliza's clothing as she says, "Yes. Mrs. Davies rounded up the staff to question them over a late-night visitor that came in through the servant's entrance." She spins around to face Eliza, now holding onto a periwinkle walking dress, and asks, "Shall I draw your bath?"
Eliza stares at her anxious maid and asks, "In a moment. I'd like to know more about this visitor. Why was Mrs. Davies concerned?" Lucy drops the gown over the dressing partition and strides towards the bathroom. Eliza can tell Lucy is focused on her morning tasks, but she would rather her stop striding around and relay what happened. "Lucy darling, please. My bath can wait, please tell me what happened."
Lucy stops at the threshold of the bathroom and spins around to face Eliza. Her pinched brow has Eliza curious and after a quick glance to her feet she nervously answers, "Apparently, a woman managed to make it to His Lordship's chambers last night. Yet no one knows how she was able to make it inside."
"A woman? Was in Colin's chambers last night?" Eliza asks in shock.
Lucy nods and then starts twisting her hands together, "Yes my lady. Brandon discovered her in the hallway. Mrs. Davies wanted to know how she was able to get there since according to his lordship, he was unaware of her coming to Elsick House."
