"No worries, work''s been pretty light today anyway."
"Have you lost weight?"
Isadora touched her face, feigning surprise. "Really? Maybe it just feels that way —you haven''t seen me in almost a month, that''s all.”
Eleanor frowned, studying her with concern. "It''s not just that you''re thinner-yourplexion looks off, too. That won''t do. When we get home, I''m making sure you eat something nourishing."
They returned to the old family estate.
As soon as they arrived, Eleanor asked the housekeeper to unpack her suitcase and bring out the gifts she''d brought back-a small parade of jewelry, quirky trinkets, and all sorts of treasures, nearly a dozen in total.
Every single one was for Isadora.
In the past, whenever Eleanor traveled, she always brought back gifts, though most were for Prescott and Pearl.
Now, looking at the collection spread out before her, Isadora could tell that Eleanor was trying to make up for lost time.
"Mom,e sit down and rest for a bit," Isadora said gently. "There''s something I want to talk to you about."
Eleanor was too busy unwrapping a brooch to notice the serious tone. "What is it? Look at this brooch-don''t you think it''s pretty? The tour guide in Europe said four-leaf clovers are supposed to bring good luck, so I just had to get it.”
She held the clover-shaped brooch up to Isadora''s chest for effect.
Isadora was dressed in a blue sweater today, its hem loose and curved over a
pleated skirt in the same shade, giving her a youthful, rxed look.
Pinned to her chest, the brooch stood out-charming and bright.
Eleanor nodded, pleased. "It suits you."
Isadora hesitated for a moment, then dropped a bombshell.
"I''m pregnant."
Eleanor had just picked up a ne, ready to fasten it around her daughter''s neck. At those words, her hands froze, and the ne nearly slipped through her fingers. She blinked, stunned. "What did you say?"
Isadora repeated herself, her voice steady. "I said... I''m pregnant."
This time, the words sank in. Eleanor''s anxiety spiked. "Pregnant? By whom? Is it that Fitzgerald boy?"
Isadora''s tone was calm but firm. "It doesn''t matter whose it is. I want to keep the baby and see this through."
Having made her decision, Isadora knew she needed to think ahead for herself and for her child. There was no hiding a growing belly, and Eleanor would find out sooner orter.
One look at Isadora''s face, and Eleanor guessed the truth: it had to be Victor.
Her expression darkened. "And what do the Fitzgeralds have to say about this? You''re carrying their child-are they willing to marry you? Raising a child alone is no small thing, you know. We''re people of standing, too. If society gets wind of this, you know what the gossips will say."
The barrage of questions left Isadora speechless.
As silence stretched between them, Eleanor thought of the Fitzgeralds their rigid traditions, their old-money pride. Her heart began to sink.
Of course it wouldn''t be that simple.
Isadora reached for her mother''s hand, meeting her eyes. "Mom, I''ve already made up my mind. Trust me I can do this, even on my own."
Eleanor let out a long, weary sigh. She did trust her daughter. Still, the thought of Isadora''s pregnancy bing the subject of society''s whispers was unbearable.
No, she couldn''t just let it go. She needed answers.
While Isadora was at work, Eleanor made up her mind. Behind her daughter''s back, she paid a visit to the Fitzgerald estate to seek out Mrs. Fitzgerald herself.
When the butler informed Deanna Fitzgerald that Isadora''s mother hade to call, Deanna agreed to see her.
It was Eleanor''s first time setting foot in the Fitzgeralds'' imposing ancestral home. Despite having grown up in privilege herself and visited many grand houses over the years, she couldn''t help but be awed by the sheer gravity of the ce.
Deanna sat on the main sofa, her gaze icy and disdainful as she regarded her visitor. "Eleanor. I''m curious-what brings you here today?"