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Eve gently closed the door behind her and started to make her way back to the table where Noah was waiting for her.

But on the way, her eyes fell on a head full of dark silver hair, and she didn’t need to see the person’s face to know who it was.

Why was he here?

As if sensing someone’s gaze, Vincent, who was talking to the woman of the inn, turned his head and met Eve’s eyes.

As Vincent had earlier guessed, this woman had mentioned the inn to his little sister Allie. He turned his body completely to face her and remarked,

“What a pleasant surprise to find you here, Miss Barlow.”

But Eve wasn’t surprised but shocked. She had hoped not to see any Moriarty family members today, but here she was with Vincent Moriarty.

“I didn’t know you knew about this inn,” more importantly, she didn’t know someone like him could come to a place like this.

“Lily’s inn is a popular place, you know how word moves from one person’s mouth to another,” Vincent’s voice drawled, and his eyes briefly moved to her neck before looking back at her eyes.

“It is indeed,” Eve murmured, “The cakes here are famous.”

The inn’s woman proudly chimed in their conversation, “This gentleman here has already packed all types of cakes we have.”

Eve’s eyebrows rose because she had never pegged him to be someone with a sweet tooth. She nodded, “I see. I should get back to my table.”

Vincent only stared at her before his lips subtly twisted, and he questioned, “Came here alone, Miss Barlow?”

“I have company. What makes you think that I would be here all by myself?” She asked him back. By now, the woman of the inn had left the place.

“For a woman who visited a night inn alone at the Hollow Valley, I just thought you enjoyed your company a little too much, which is why you are single,” replied Vincent, slipping his hands into his pockets and mirth evident in his eyes.

Eve was conflicted if Vincent was complimenting her independence or throwing shade at her for being unmarried even at the age of twenty-four. Her eyes slightly narrowed before she proudly said,

“I am with company today, Mr. Moriarty. In fact, with the same person whom I spoke about having excellent manners.”

“That’s a relief to know. It would have been a pity if you said you were here by yourself,” commented Vincent, the corner of his lips pulling up. “But I wouldn’t be surprised, because most of the governess often dedicate their lives teaching others’ children.”

Though annoyed by his words, his words were true.

Women who had their own families couldn’t leave them behind to work as governesses. It was frowned upon by society as it was their responsibility to look after their house, as people believed doing both believed that they would jeopardize both home and work. Which was why a governess often quit her job after getting married. Or forever pursuing only to be a governess, who would one day be fired by the family, who didn’t enjoy elderly governesses’ presence around their children, believing the woman to be incapable.

Right now, she and Vincent weren’t in the Moriarty’s mansion, and as she wasn’t working for him today, Eve didn’t see a reason to hold back her thoughts.

“Your company today must have a high tolerance towards people,” remarked Eve, and Vincent’s eyes glowed, yet the smile on his lips remained.

“She’s an absolute delight,” replied Vincent before deciding, “Won’t you introduce me to this gentleman?”

“Maybe some other day,” Eve quickly rejected his idea and bit her tongue.

Vincent cocked his head to the side, a devious smile appearing on his lips, and he chuckled, “What a pity, you don’t want us two to meet? A simple peek shouldn’t do any harm.”

Vincent, who was already bored with the company he had brought here, decided to find amusement elsewhere—which was in the misery of others. He walked towards the end of the corridor, and Eve quickly followed him. The private seating area was separated by a glass that kept the voices from both sides from being heard.

“Isn’t that the new Duke of Woodlock? Seems like you found a suitable man for you to settle down with,” said Vincent, and the smile on his face widened. “I should have known after how you praised him and look at him now.”

Eve corrected him, “We are only good friends.”

Vincent rolled his eyes, “It is very rare for a man and a woman to be just friends, Miss Barlow without a single speck of intention behind it. Especially having meals together during such lovely day. There’s no need to be shy,” he continued to irk her with a slight smile.

“Seems like you failed to have a good friendship with women, Mr. Moriarty. Mr. Sullivan is a man of honor, and we were supposed to have lunch with my family, but my aunt fell sick and she decided to stay back and rest along with Eugene.”

“How convenient,” Vincent turned away and said, “Oh, I do have one or two friends, thankfully they live far away. Because ones who get close only end up being charmed and get annoyed after it. Do you understand what I mean?”

Eve shook her head as she tried to imagine who could be attracted to Vincent Moriarty. But then people had various tastes, and who was she to judge?

“It seems like I gave too much credit to your brains. Go on, we don’t want your love interest to be stolen by someone,” Vincent tried to shoo her.

“I do not love him and I do not look at him funnily. Also why am I arguing with you about it?” Eve asked herself in a slight frustrated voice. “I hope you enjoy your meal, Mr. Moriarty and let me enjoy mine.”

Vincent didn’t comment on her words, but he did watch the human glare at him before walking away from him.

“So amusing,” he murmured under his breath. When he returned to the private room, he saw Miss Rosetta had already arrived and had taken a seat at the table.

Eve, who made her way back to the table, took a look at the spot where she had been standing earlier with Vincent. The man had disappeared. A sigh of relief escaped from her lips. The last thing she wanted was him bringing up about the night in the inn with Noah.

Sitting in her chair, she apologised, “I am sorry for taking this long.”

“Don’t be,” Noah smiled and said, “You are just on time for the food.”

Once they finished their meal, Eve and Noah stepped out of the inn before thanking the woman for their delicious food. Eve in the meantime, couldn’t help but look over her shoulder as Noah’s coachman went to bring the carriage to the front of the inn.

“Everything alright?” Asked Noah, looking in the direction of where Eve looked at. “Did you want to pack something more to eat?”

“Oh, no! I think you packed plenty for Eugene and Aunt Aubrey,” replied Eve with a slight bow. “Thank you.”

“It would be rude to send you back home empty handed. After all, they were supposed to join us too,” said Noah with a polite smile.

Back inside the inn, Miss Rosetta refused to take a single bite from the food that was brought to the table by a maid, and she looked at it wearily.

She watched Mr. Moriarty eat the food, and her face scrunched further. When the enticing-looking cakes were brought to the table, she couldn’t look away from them. For some reason, they oddly seemed pleasing to her eyes.

“Won’t you try it, milady?” Asked the woman who was serving food.

“No,” came the sharp reply from Miss Rosetta, who continued to sit with her arms crossed. “I shall die before I eat anything from here.”

But after fifteen minutes, Miss Rosetta couldn’t resist and had ended up eating the cakes. Not stopping at one but making her way through the fourth cake.

Vincent pulled out a little vial from his pocket and poured the red liquid into his tea. He stirred it with a spoon and then said,

“I hope you are aware of the Moriarty family tradition, which is sacrificing the first bride.”

Miss Rosetta suddenly stopped eating and looked at him, “You are joking…”

“Why do you think my father was married the second time? Hm?” Vincent took a sip from his teacup while the spoon from Miss Rosetta’s hand fell on the floor with a clatter.