The next morning they don't make it to the breakfast table till 9.
Jasper is clearly at fault for this because he started the morning by peppering her shoulder with kisses. And then from there went downhill. Literally. And she didn't bloody care if this wasn't supposed to be part of their arrangement, because it felt so good.
And if their butler was surprised to see them come down the stairs together, with Jasper's arm around her waist, he was far too well trained and far too discreet to comment upon it.
After breakfast, Liam turns up unexpectedly while Eleanor is sitting in the parlour reading the latest edition of Vogue. It's been nearly two weeks since she's seen him but it feels much longer and Eleanor fairly tumbles over herself to rush over to him and hug him.
Liam steps back from her with a bemused expression. "I love you too sis. What was that for?" questioning why she's just attempted to hug the life out of him so violently.
"It's taken you that bloody long to turn up here I was starting to wonder if Mum had forgotten to tell you I've been locked up here," Eleanor tells him.
Liam looks back at her apologetically. "Sorry sis. I've been a little tied up with engagements, and I've met a new girl too. I did mean to get down here earlier. But now I'm here, you can tell me what's news. Aside from the drunken vegas wedding and as yet unpublished sex tape, I mean, which I might add you really outdid yourself with," he adds, raising his eyebrows and shaking his head.
Eleanor lays back on the couch and drapes a hand over her forehead, looking and feeling sorry for herself. "Don't you start. I've had enough of that from Mum already. I'll admit it wasn't my finest hour. But Mum's keeping us locked up here like recalcitrant POWs who've been caught out trying to tunnel out of Alcatraz," Eleanor moans dramatically. "So when you see her again can you tell her to loosen her bloody leash and let us out of this house," Eleanor waves a hand towards the house and Liam surpresses a smile as he glances around the plush furnishings and cosy interior complete with a staff of servants which his sister seems to find so objectionable.
"And the worst thing is that..."
Liam never gets to find out what the worst thing actually is because the door clicks open and Jasper enters the room.
Liam's face lights up and he steps forward and shakes Jasper firmly by the hand with the other hand on his arm. "Welcome to the family, Jasper. It's good to have you with us."
Jasper returns Liam's greeting with a rare warm smile, because this reception is much better than the frosty one he received from his mother in law.
"Thanks. It's good to see you again."
Two seconds later, Jasper's arrival is eclipsed when the family's youngest member makes his way into the room.
"Aww, Prince Rufus, come here," Eleanor's face lights up.
The puppy trots over to Jasper first then towards Eleanor as she beckons him and introduces him to Liam.
"This is Liam Prince Rufus. He's my brother and even though he can be a little annoying at times, deep down he's a pretty good sort."
"Liam, this is Prince Rufus. He likes bacon and chocolate and short walks in the park," Eleanor lists off some of Prince Rufus' favourite things.
Jasper rolls his eyes. "This isn't a dating website Eleanor. You're not match making them."
"No," Eleanor agrees. "But Liam is my twin and it's important they both get along."
Liam beckons Prince Rufus towards him. "He is pretty adorable," Liam tells her, running a hand over the puppies head, and smiling up at his sister.
"Isn't he just," Eleanor beams, sounding like a proud parent.
And even Jasper can't help but smirk when Eleanor takes a piece of the cake that's sitting on her saucer and gets Prince Rufus to jump up and beg for a little treat. The little guy is pretty cute and he's starting to grow on him.
Eleanor and Prince Rufus hold centre stage for a few minutes while she shows them how she's teaching him to roll over, and then gets him overly excited by having him fetch a ball and bring it back to her several times.
After that excitement dies down, Liam asks them to show them around their home, because its been over a decade since he's seen this place.
They spend the next three hours first walking around the gardens and then Eleanor and Liam take the two horses out to ride around the estate.
Eleanor finds herself telling Liam some of the things Jasper told her yesterday, and Liam almost looks impressed that she's taken enough of an interest in her new home to know something about it.
When they get back to the house, Liam shoves his hands in his pockets and tells her he has to go back to London but he promises he'll be back in two weeks for the weekend.
"And I will tell Mum that you're behaving yourself and you want to be let off the estate. And that you and Jasper have survived a whole week together without killing each other," he adds with a twinkle in his eye, and his mouth quirks into a flash of a smile.
"The thought did cross my mind," Eleanor tells him. Because there have been a number of times in the past week when she's just wanted to strangle Jasper until he stopped breathing. Although in the past twenty four hours she's let him put his mouth to better use than not breathing.
"But he has Prince Rufus for protection," she adds.
Unaccountably although he didn't cosset and pamper the puppy like Eleanor did, Prince Rufus had taken a strong liking to Jasper. And it seemed the liking was returned because she'd even seen him slip him a piece of bacon. The very same behaviour he told her was completely unnecessary.
Liam steps towards the car. "I have to go now. Be good," he tells her, grinning.
"Aren't I always?" Eleanor bites back, flippantly and Liam shakes his head, "if only."
And before he gets the door open, Eleanor impulsively throws herself towards him and hugs him tightly. "Come back soon. Promise," she demands.
"I promise," Liam submits to her hug for a minute and then extracts her from his arms and gets into the car.
Eleanor hears a couple of yaps coming from the back of the house, and follows towards them to find Prince Rufus dashing back and forth running amongst some of the ducks which have emerged from their pond.
After watching him exert himself for a few minutes she scoops him up in her arms. "That's enough excitement for now. It's time for lunch," she tells him.
They go in via the back door and Eleanor pushes open the door to the lounge.
She was going to head for the kitchen to top up Prince Rufus' bowl but the scene that meets her makes her stop in her tracks.
Her husband has his face affixed to their new maid who has her arms wound around his neck.
"Jasper," Eleanor breathes, staring at them both.
Up until now everything had seemed to be going perfectly today.
But in one moment it feels like her world is suddenly falling apart and there's no reproach or anger in her voice.
Only shock. And the sound of her dreams being crushed.