My reflection blinks at me, showing a man with faint lines on his forehead, an unfulfilled look in his eyes and a despondency about his posture. Once again, I am standing before myself in front of the mirror, attempting to dispel thoughts of failure and disappointment. I cannot let these emotions take over me – I have sabotaged my relationship with Eloise enough. I cannot allow myself to lose control tonight and push her away again. I must stop forcing her into positions where she must choose between our daughter's happiness or safety. We must find a balance, for the sake of Ella, if not for anything else.

Sighing, I look down at the box resting on the dresser. The lid is removed, revealing a velvet cushion with two corsages sitting on it. One for Eloise, one for Ella. The white orchid flower is stark against the red velvet, glistening with purity. The smaller one, meant for Ella, is pink, symbolising pure affection for the little one who has stolen my heart. They are simple flowers, yet they mean so much. They will tie us together, as a family, in public. The entire village will see us not as separate, but as one.

I look back at the mirror, adjusting my suit. It is white as snow, the long tails lingering just past my knees. The trimming at the edges that is usually gold and consists of loops, is instead made of pastel pink thread and in intricate patterns similar to Eloise's dress. The trimming is also present on the cuffs of the sleeves. Lillian has made the suit snug, showcasing the contours of my body.

Taking a deep breath, I close the lid of the box and then stride towards the door of my suite. It is time to see Eloise and Ella.

As I walk the now-familiar roads to her home, it is as though my feet are treading on clouds. Tonight, Eloise, Ella and I will be able to be a real family. We will stand together, as a unit, donning our garments as impenetrable shields against the words that will surely be shot around the ballroom like bullets.

The mother whose husband is never present, with the bachelor from out of town? It will cause a riot, yet I cannot bring myself to care. The only thing that I may deem worthy of my attention at this moment is proving to Eloise that even if not in the way that we thought, I will be there for her and our daughter. I will stand by them for as long as I live.

With one hand closed tightly around the corsage box, I approach the gate to the house. Pushing it open, I chuckle at the sight of the well-kempt garden, the memory of uprooting thousands of weeds flashing in my mind.

The house itself is silent, except for the sound of rustling from the kitchen. Eloise must be in there. I am cautious of my steps, wanting to surprise her. I wish to see the exact expression on her face when she realises my entire suit has been designed to match perfectly with her dress. I hope she will like it.

The door to the kitchen is open. Eloise is facing the doorway, wringing her hands, her eyes brimming with distress. At the table, facing Eloise and therefore away from me, is a man with a head of dark hair.

The man's build is unmistakeable. A shuddering spike of fear pierces through me.

"Do you have anything you wish to tell me?"

The voice confirms it. Emmanuel. He is here.

My hold on the box loosens. Dread seeps into my veins, crawling up my throat and suffocating my breath. My jaw is slack. Even the act of blinking feels sluggish – it is as though I am drowning in a pool of invisible sludge, unable to act or think or even speak. Why is he here? Why did he have to come tonight?

Eloise looks up and the blood drains from her face as she registers my presence. She stands straighter, her breathing shallow. Her gaze darts from me to Emmanuel and back again. Tears are pooling in her eyes.

I long to rush to her side and comfort her. I want to hold her. I want to tell Emmanuel to leave and never return. A part of me wishes to confront him and punch him in that maddeningly smug face of his. A darker part of me wishes to do more than just that.

Eloise looks at me and then jerks her head to the side.

She wants me to leave? Why? I can help her. Why is she choosing him over me again? Why must he always come before me?

A hand latches around my wrist and pulls me to the side. Not expecting this, I jump and drop the corsage box. As I am dragged towards the lounge, there is nothing I can do but look back at the box lying abandoned, in the middle of the kitchen doorway.

Just like that, everything I dreamt this night would be is shattered.

I look down at the hand encasing my wrist. I pull it back, wanting to turn and go back to the kitchen, but the grip of the hand is steadfast. I look up to meet Mary's gaze.

There is a fire in her eyes that I have not seen in a long time. Without a word, she pulls me towards the front door, letting it click shut behind her. As she marches me down the street, I find my voice.

"What is happening? Why is he here?"

"Damon, I know as much as you when it comes to his return, which is nothing. All I am certain of is that he cannot see you."

"Why?"

Mary continues to make large strides, barely glancing in my direction as she speaks. "Is it not obvious? I fear what will happen to you if he does."

"I am not afraid of him, Mary!"

"You should be. That man has an empire at his feet and an army at his fingertips. One wrong move could be devastation."

We approach a row of houses, all of them three storeys high. A few doors down, Mary swings open the door into an airy lounge. Two armchairs and a chaise circle the fireplace and behind them is a dining table for six. An archway leads through to a hallway, which in turn, appears to open up into the kitchen.

"Welcome to my home." Mary says, brushing past me to retrieve cleaning rags left on the sofa.

"This is where you live?" I question, looking around, taking in the high ceilings and the barely furnished surroundings.

"Yes. It is. This whole house is mine, Damon. All three floors of this building belong to nobody else but me. What luck I have been bestowed with, a handmaiden with her own home. The family next door have three children, two maids and a butler. Their living quarters are confined to the first two floors and their help have the third floor. I do not have that problem. Every corner of this house is mine."

I can hear the pride resonating in her voice and smile. "It's beautiful, Mary."

"Thank you. Now, I think it is best that you stay here for the foreseeable future. I think that I should spend the night at Eloise's house to support her, in case he decides to spend the night."

At her words, fury is building in me, the white-hot flames of rage licking at every fibre in my body. My fists clench, shaking against the urge to lash out at something. He has taken enough from me already and everybody wishes for me to sit still whilst he sabotages my life yet again? They want me to stand by and bow down whilst he stakes his claim on the woman I love?

"Spend the night? Spend the night?! With what right? Mary, the thought of him terrifies Eloise. How has she even spent all these years with him? I saw her, with tears in her eyes. She was scared of him. How can I sit here and do nothing?"

"That is exactly what you will do."

"Mary!"

"Damon. He will stay for some time and then he will leave again, I am sure of it. The only thing that you must do is stay out of his sight. Do you really think any good will come of him seeing you?"

"He ruined me. Do you really think I intend any good to come of it?!"

"Then you are foolish."

"No, I am not! I will protect her this time, I will save her from him. He is nothing but a devil walking earth and she has been plagued by him for long enough. It is time, Mary, we cannot let this sham continue any longer."

"Compose yourself, you blundering buffoon. Eloise does not need to be saved by you. She is a grown woman, she can take care of herself. He is her husband, for pity's sake! She has married him!"

Rejection shoots through me, flooding away all the anger with its icy touch. My shoulders slump and I swallow against the threat of tears. I look away from Mary, lest she see them.

"You – you are right. It is not my place anymore and I need to see that. He is her husband and me? I am just her daughter's father. I was getting carried away."

Regret is evident in Mary's eyes. "No. That is not what I meant, Damon."

"It is okay. I will stay here, if that is what Eloise wants. I just need to go and pack some clothes and essentials at the Lodge. I will be back soon."

Ignoring Mary calling my name, I stumble back out into the street and focus on directing myself back to the Lodge.

It is as though my life has come round in one big circle. Once again, I am battling my own emotions and watching Emmanuel blithering Colleton take the only woman who I have ever loved. Once more, I have to step aside and watch her choose him. Yet again, I have to accept being left behind whilst everybody else moves forward.

Can I do this again? I have let myself drift so far into love with her – can I pull myself back to shore? It took me so many years last time. The imprint she left on my soul was so strong that even alcohol could only dampen the effects of it. Thoughts of her were never far away when I was in that state, when I had only just left her and I could do nothing but spend every second of every day consumed by her shadow.

As I walk, I hold a hand to my aching chest. The familiar ache that I worked so hard to be rid of is ripping through me again. Can I be without her again? Can I let her go again? Blinking against the tears, I rake in sharp breaths of oxygen, attempting to calm myself as I approach the Lodge.

If Mrs Rawtenstall sees me like this, she will surely question me.

Plastering a smile on my face, I step through the doors into the foyer of Rawtenstall Lodge and head towards the desk to sign in on the guest register.

Mrs Rawtenstall is behind reception and looks at me warmly as I approach. "Good evening, Damon. Are you not attending the ball tonight? I thought you would have been there."

"Well, I was intending to go but I am feeling somewhat under the weather. I have come to collect a few belongings, I will be staying with a friend."

"Would you like me to deduct a night from your bill?"

"The rest of my belongings are still in the room, so no need."

"Go and retrieve them and then you can sign your name when you are ready to leave." Mrs Rawtenstall says.

"Thank you." I nod at her and then stride to my suite.

Opening the chest of drawers, I hastily pick out a few pairs of clothing that should cover me for the next few days.

Who knows how long he will stay? In the same home with her, all alone.

Shaking my head, I refuse to let my mind distract me. I must hurry back to Mary's home. As I stand, I catch sight of myself in the mirror. My suit gleams in the evening light streaming through the windows. I am reminded of the fact that at this minute, I am supposed to be escorting Eloise and my daughter to the ball of a lifetime. Eloise is supposed to be linking her arm in mine and Ella is supposed to be clutching onto my fingers with her little hand. I was supposed to finally have my family. Life was finally supposed to be on my side. Fate was supposed to finally favour me. Was it really too much to ask?

Keep it together, Damon. I cannot fall apart, not yet, not here. I must hold myself together, even if the shattered pieces of myself are spilling from my hands.

Wrenching my gaze away from the mirror, I dump the chosen clothes into the suitcase and then close it, leaving the suite to go back to the foyer.

Mrs Rawtenstall is waiting for me, a bright smile still adorning her face.

I try to send one back in her direction and then look down at the guest register to sign my name.

A name further up the list stops me in my tracks.

"Mrs Rawtenstall, forgive my intrusiveness, but who is this?" I point to the name.

"Victoria Colleton? She and her family just came to the lodge today. Her husband had some prior business arrangements to attend to, so she has just left with her three children to attend the ball. They are such a wealthy family, Damon. Their recommendations could bring so much business here. The husband has military links in his family, and he has forged himself a railway empire. I think his name is Emmanuel."

Emmanuel has another family?