Eleanor typed her reply carefully. "No need toe all the way here. I''m swampedtely."


    And she really would be busy in the days ahead. She didn''t want to take up any more of his time.


    "I promised to treat you and Evelyn to dinner. I can''t break my word," came his response.


    Eleanor let out a soft sigh, replying, "We can have dinner another time. There''s no reason for you to make a special trip and disrupt your schedule.”


    "Spending my time on you isn''t a disruption. It''s worth it."


    She couldn''t help but smile, her lips curving despite herself. In the dimly lit car, the glow from her phone screen illuminated the amusement on her face.


    The air inside the car felt thick, and Evelyn sensed the tension. She nced up and saw her father watching her mother with an unreadable expression. Curiosity flickered in her eyes. "Daddy, why do you look sad?"


    Evelyn, distracted by her toys, rummaged through Eleanor''s bag and pulled out a small figurine to y with. Ian kept his eyes on Eleanor, who was still focused on her texts.


    Eleanor kept trying to convince Mansfield not toe, urging him to focus on his work with the military.


    "I wanted to go with you to Drexford on your business trip, but my request for leave to go abroad was denied," Mansfield messaged her.


    Eleanor paused, her fingers hovering over the keys.


    He was a soldier-he couldn''t just travel overseas as he pleased. Besides, thest thing Eleanor wanted was for Mansfield to take risks on her behalf.


    She needed to make that perfectly clear, so nothing like this would happen again.


    Engrossed in her messages, Eleanor didn''t notice the pair of eyes fixed on her, the emotions behind them impossible to decipher.


    Evelyn tugged at her sleeve, "Mommy, where''s the present I''m giving Daddy?"


    "It''s in the suitcase," Eleanor answered.


    "Oh! Mommy, my doll''s hat is missing. Can you help me find it?" Evelyn held up the toy hopefully.


    Eleanor quickly recorded a voice message for Mansfield: "Can we talkter?"


    He replied with a voice message of his own. In the quiet car, Mansfield''s smooth, maic voice came through the speaker: "Sure, I''ll call youter."


    Eleanor set her phone aside, switched on the backseat light, and rummaged through her bag until she finally found the missing hat. Evelyn snuggled up beside her, content with her toy.


    When Eleanor moved to switch off the light, Evelyn protested, wanting it left on. Eleanor, exhausted, reclined in her seat and let her eyes close, finally stealing a moment''s rest.


    Since they''d gotten in the car,n hadn''t once caught her gaze.


    He watched her tired profile, his Adam''s apple bobbing as he swallowed. Then, reaching over, he gently pulled his daughter to his side.


    "Let Mommy rest for a bit," he said quietly, then leaned across to switch off the overhead light above Eleanor.


    He turned on the reading light on his own side instead, letting Evelyn y quietly in hisp. She sat contentedly, not disturbing her mother.


    When they arrived at Cloudcrest Manor, Eleanor stirred awake. As the driver unloaded their suitcase,n reached for it first, offering, "Let me walk you both upstairs."


    "That''s not necessary," Eleanor replied coolly.


    "Bye, Daddy!" Evelyn called, waving enthusiastically as she skipped toward the entrance, Eleanor trailing behind with the suitcase.


    His phone rang. It was Gavin.


    "Hello?"


    "Mr. Goodwin, the Secretary of State''s office just sent word. There''s a small private dinner in Kingston in three days, and you''re on the guest list."


    "Got it,"n replied.


    "I checked the list-Dr. Windsor and Miss Sutton are invited as well," Gavin added.


    Eleanor and Mansfield had been exchanging messages nonstop, clearly enjoying each other''spany. The Ellingtons were treating Eleanor with an unexpected amount of respect. From the looks of it, if Eleanor did want to marry into their family, they wouldn''t care about her past.


    The thought maden''s grip tighten around his phone.


    Back at home, Joslyn would take care of Evelyn''s dinner, so Eleanor headed to her room for a shower. Afterward, feeling refreshed, she heard her phone ring from the sofa.


    She picked up. "Hello? Who''s this?"


    "Is this Ms. Eleanor?" The voice was a man''s, speaking wless English.


    "Yes, this is she."


    "I''m calling from the Secretary of State''s office. We''d like to extend an invitation


    for you to attend a private dinner in Kingston three days from now. The Secretary is looking forward to meeting you."


    Eleanor blinked in surprise. "Could you tell me the exact time?"


    "This Friday at 7 p.m., at the Kingston Grand Hotel. We''ll arrange your flight and amodations," the assistant replied, polite and efficient.


    "All right. I''ll be there," Eleanor agreed.


    She hung up, still reeling from the unexpected invitation, when her phone rang again this time, it was Mansfield.


    "I just heard you''re invited to my dad''s dinner party," Mansfield said, his voice bright with excitement.


    "You didn''t set this up, did you?" Eleanor asked quickly. She wanted no part in any backdoor favors.


    "No, not at all. This is something my father arranged himself. I checked the guest listn will be there, and so will Dr. York Windsor."


    Eleanor breathed a small sigh of relief. "Okay! I''ll make sure I can attend."


    "I''lle pick you up," Mansfield offered suddenly.


    "That''s not necessary-" she began.


    He cut her off with a cheerfulugh. "Don''t worry about it. I''ve got some time off!"


    "Really, you don''t need to go out of your way," Eleanor insisted.


    But Mansfield was undeterred. "It''s no trouble at all. I''ll be there first thing the day after tomorrow."


    "So, we''ll finally see each other this time," his tone softened. "I''m really looking forward to it."