Lucy hardly got the last pin secured in Eliza's curls before she dashed off to find Colin in the garden. Birds chirp loudly as the sunshine blinds her on the patio and she's glad she went with the boots and not the flats as the morning dew coats her feet as she dips into the plush grass.
The garden is a maze with tall hedges and colorful shrubs creating pathways. A small sparkling pond sits in the center with stone bird baths placed around it. She hopes Colin isn't too far in the maze as it's rather easy to get turned around once the hedges hide the patio from view.
She finds him tucked away on a bench hidden by hedges near the pond and she can hear the fountain behind them pouring sparkling droplets into the wide basin. She slows her unladylike pace to a stroll once she spots him.
"My lord," Eliza calls out and Colin spins around to face her with a coy smile on his face. He pats the open spot next to him on the stone and she gingerly sits, eagerly awaiting his reasoning for calling upon her so early in the day.
"My darling," he says before placing a gentle kiss on her forehead. "How are you? How are your nerves?"
Surprised, Eliza answers, "A bit haywire at the moment I'm afraid. I'm about to face my reality and my mother-in-law. Both seem a bit frightening at this hour." Colin tucks Eliza's hands into his as he replies, "My mother is not so frightening once you get to know her. And she only wants what's best for me which is you, so...she'll adore you as I do."
"Will she adore my traditional values and mindset? That I want you to myself. I do not see monogamy as a mere suggestion and I do not see having children as merely a duty. Our children will not be seen as an heir and a spare. I do not want that pressure placed upon them as soon as they are born. Lady Henry has made it well known that your mother will want me to have more freedoms than most wives are accustomed to."
"My, you do have a lot of thoughts at this hour," Colin laughs and then adds, "You may find yourself enjoying some of the freedoms my mother fights so viciously for, but you might also remember she married for duty as well. There are still some traditions my mother hasn't figured out how to weasel out of and I guarantee you she'll be thrilled for a litter of grandchildren." Colin gives Eliza a warm, reassuring grin but nerves are still somersaulting around in her stomach. Eliza takes a deep, calming breath in but before she can add anything to Colin's last remarks he says, "I know my parents are arriving today, but I fear I have some business to attend to before I have to face them."
Eliza's posture dips and Colin catches her grimace.
"Not for long though."
"What is this business?"
"This Rose business. I need to go speak to go with the Duprees about what happened last spring. This whole seance business is starting up rumors."
"I was wondering how you were coping about the seance, I had no idea it had rattled others as well."
"I do not know if Madame Bouchard can in fact speak with the dead, I do know, that she has said enough to cast suspicion upon an unsuspecting family. If she is a fraud, I fear her trickery has serious consequences."
Eliza sighs, she does not want an evening of fun to turn into something more sinister. Everyone seemed to enjoy the entertainment. Eliza did not know Madame Bouchard's words had the power to open up a murder investigation.
"Let me join you in visiting the Duprees. They may be more receptive to the duke's family calling upon them than a detective."
Colin shakes his head, "Eliza, I cannot bring you in on my investigations. One murder was plenty for you."
"Why not? I helped you with Poppy and you said yourself that I gave you details you would have overlooked. Please, I do not wish to sit around here anxiously awaiting your mother's arrival. This will help take my mind off things. Mrs. Dupree may also be more forthcoming with a woman about Rose. We're known for being a bit gentler and sympathetic when staff moves on or passes."
Colin frowns and gives Eliza a curious stare, "I fear you will give me any reason to accompany me today simply to get you away from the chaos. And won't my aunt miss your input on preparations?"
"Everything was done yesterday. It's now merely up to the staff now to execute. All I have to do is stuff myself into a proper dress and frost myself with jewels. That can be done in minutes. Please?" Colin's eyes dart between his fiancée's green anxious ones as she pleads to come with him. "I am already in my walking boots and it's warm enough that I do not need my cape. I can leave with you straight away."
"I worry I will regret bringing you as I am unsure how appropriate it is to have you aiding in a murder investigation."
"Aiding in another murder investigation. I can be your Watson." Colin laughs and then shakes his head.
"Fine. I will allow you to visit the Duprees with me as you may have a point about them being more open with you and not a detective. They were hysterical enough last night."
"I got the impression that Mrs. Dupree cared for Rose. It will be interesting to find a motive to murder your kitchen staff."
"I'm more interested in finding out the motive for reopening this case. Someone doesn't think it was an accident and the question there is why?"
"Oh, two different motives there apparently. Well, I can't wait to get started." Eliza gives Colin a wide shiny smile and pushes herself to her feet. "But before I can leave here, one last thing remains on my mind," she says as she watches Colin rise. He tilts his head as she reaches for his hand.
"How are you? With the whole Tristan stuff."
Colin sighs and then looks up at the clear blue sky. Eliza notices he is now dressed how he used to dress in London. Simple wool suit and a dark vest. No fine fabrics or accessories adorn him today as he is now in detective mode, leaving marquis mode here at the castle.
"I was a bit rattled. The nickname was not common knowledge. But, if it was Tristan, he seemed just at ease in death as he was alive. Always smirking and up to some mischief. He approves of you just as I knew he would."
Eliza rubs a gentle hand down Colin's arm and finds a small smile to give him. Colin shakes his thoughts away and then Eliza says, "Well, if Madame Dupree was able to communicate with Tristan so clearly, maybe that gives us reason to suspect she may be right about Rose."
"That's what I worry about," Colin replies as he pulls on Eliza's hand and drops it in the crook of his elbow to escort her out of the garden. "We're relying on a French entertainer to garner details of a murder. How will that hold up in court?"
"Her words may open up the case, but it will be evidence that determines if it's legitimate or not. What evidence will there be months later?"
"That my dear, is what we are about to find out."
