It was Easter Sunday and the town was bedecked in flowers in commemoration of the most important day in the Christian calendar. Cinderella and Anastasia danced ahead of the rest of their family, skirting around the crowd as they made their way home. Raoul had insisted they walk into town to go to church each Sunday in order to give the servants some free time on what should be a day of rest. Drizella's shoes were pinching and she whined about this fact to Eve throughout their journey. Eve held onto Raoul's arm as they walked, Drizella clinging to Eve's free hand. In the bright April sunshine, Eve felt herself starting to enjoy life once more – the memory of her miscarriage still strong, but affecting her mood less and less with each passing day. She looked ahead at Cinderella and Anastasia and felt a twinge of pain in her heart – she still found it hard to accept that Cinderella had been her only support in a difficult situation.
When they arrived home, the girls retreated upstairs to continue their bible studies with Justine. Eve settled down at the harpsichord and started to play, her mood lightening with the music. Raoul walked up and circled his arms around her waist, kneeling behind her to rest his head on her back. Eve continued to play, leaning back into Raoul and relaxing as she felt his closeness. They sat like that for some time, neither wanting to break the mood. Eve finished the song she was playing and started on another. Raoul reached forward and took Eve's wrists in his hands, lifting her hands away from the keys and settling them into her lap. He nuzzled into her neck, kissing her lightly on the nape of her neck. Eve sighed happily. It had been some time since she was able to bear Raoul touching her like this and felt her old desire for Raoul rekindling.
"Father?" said Cinderella from the door. The mood in the room changed instantly, Eve sitting bolt upright and Raoul standing to greet his daughter. "Could you come upstairs and help me with my studies?"
"Of course. Run along and I shall be there presently." Cinderella darted out of the room, followed quickly by Raoul. In deference of the fact he was leaving Eve behind, he turned and mouthed "Sorry!" to her as he reached the door. Eve shrugged and turned back to the harpsichord, playing a melancholy tune to match her mood.
Drizella and Anastasia arrived arguing for dinner that night. Drizella was sure that her new dress was better than Anastasia's and was taking pains to make sure her sister was aware of that fact. Anastasia on the other hand had decided that her sister looked like a pig whatever she was wearing and was making her views equally well heard. Eve glared at the two of them as they entered the dining room still squabbling. They took one look at Eve's face, decided wordlessly that their argument was not worth bothering their mother with and sat down silently. Dinner was served even though Raoul and Cinderella had not appeared yet, the servants used to Lord Tremaine taking extra time with his daughter lately. He was trying to compensate for Eve's coldness towards the girl, but in doing so was effectively splitting the family in two. Eve ate in silence, occasionally staring menacingly at the door and daring it to open. Her daughters finished and looked to her for permission to leave. She waved a hand dismissively and Drizella and Anastasia left, picking up their earlier argument as soon as they left the room. Eve drummed her hand on the table and watched the clock for half an hour. The servants cleared the table around her, leaving the two place settings for Raoul and Cinderella. With no sign of her husband or stepdaughter, Eve stood and stormed off to the music room. She locked the door behind her and hammered out a Mozart piece on the piano to vent her anger.
Two hours later, a knock on the music room door interrupted Eve. She walked over and unlocked the door, leaning against it as she acknowledged her husband.
"Can I come in?" asked Raoul.
"It's your house," answered Eve. She turned and walked off to the fire, sitting down on the chaise and waiting for Raoul's apology. He walked up and sat beside her gingerly.
"Sorry," he said simply. "I didn't notice the time. Cinderella went through her bible studies and started asking me about our military history. Then we started on the classics and before I knew it, it was getting darker and dinner had been and gone. I'm sorry I didn't come down."
"It's alright. I understand you need to spend every waking minute with your daughter."
"That's not true – I try to spend time with you as much as I can."
"What about Drizella and Anastasia?"
"They have your company."
"But not yours Raoul. And they miss you far more than Cinderella misses me, I can assure you of that. You are at least pleasant to my daughters."
"While you are cold towards mine."
"I've told you I cannot help that," spat back Eve, tired of this argument. She could not – would not – forgive Cinderella for being there while she lost her child. Even if it was not Cinderella's fault.
"You will try to control your feelings in front of her," said Raoul, tired of the constant tension between his wife and daughter.
"Shall I try as hard as you do when you try to spend time with me?" asked Eve sarcastically, before standing and storming off to the window. It was dark outside and she could not see anything, but she had her back to Raoul and that was all that concerned her for now.
"You are the most important thing in my life Eve. You know that."
"Prove it!" she spun around, angry now as she felt that Raoul was lying to her. "Next time we are interrupted by Cinderella, send her away. Next time I want to do something and Cinderella disagrees, stick to my plans."
"No. You will not make me choose between you and my daughter!"
"You already have – and you've chosen her!" shouted Eve.
"Don't do this – I cannot win this argument without hurting either you or Cinderella."
"And God forbid you do the latter," snapped Eve. "Goodnight." Eve stormed out of the room and headed to bed. Raoul started to follow her, then stopped. He had spent his time feeling alternatively guilty then sympathetic for Eve's mood. He had endured her mood swings and temper tantrums for long enough. His patience was wearing thin and he was not going to spend another night apologising for being able to enjoy his time with his daughter. He picked a book from the shelf and sat down to read it on the chaise. As usual, Cinderella was unable to sleep and arrived downstairs to cuddle up to her father. Raoul let Cinderella curl up on his lap and stroked her hair as she fell asleep. He put down his book and checked the time – it was gone midnight. Raoul carried Cinderella upstairs and put her to bed, closed her bedroom door and headed for the room he shared with Eve.
Eve was sleeping flat on her back in the bed, breathing quietly. Raoul locked the door behind him and grinned in the moonlight. He removed his clothes quickly and crept forward to the bed, pausing to pick up a flower from the vase on Eve's dressing table. Slowly, he pulled off the bedcovers and looked down at the sleeping body of his wife. She had a fantastic figure. He reached down to unbutton her nightclothes, touching her chest lightly.
"Don't even think about it," said Eve without batting an eyelid. Raoul cried out in frustration and collapsed onto the bed next to Eve, throwing the bedcovers over them both in disgust. Eve smiled and curled onto her side, resting her head on Raoul's chest. He sighed and put an arm around her, pulling her close. This is some improvement at least, thought Raoul. Within ten minutes, the two were asleep in each other's arms.
The next morning, Raoul took Cinderella horse-riding on her new chestnut stallion. As Cinderella petted the horse in the courtyard in front of the house after the ride, Raoul looked up at the library window. Eve was watching him with a blank look, nursing Lucifer in her arms and flanked by Drizella and Anastasia. He raised a hand to wave at the window, receiving enthusiastic waves and grins from Drizella and Anastasia. Eve simply carried on stroking Lucifer, her expression unchanged. He hurried Cinderella into the stable and helped her to rub down the horse.
Raoul had arranged for Justine to take the girls into town that afternoon so that Eve and himself would have some time alone. As the girls were bundled into the carriage he watched while Eve gave another set of instructions to Justine about how the girls were not to be spoiled with treats this time. He went to Justine's rescue, pulling Eve back and holding onto her arm. Justine told the girls to wave goodbye as the carriage left, Raoul and Eve waving back until the carriage was out of sight. Raoul turned to Eve.
"Alone at last," he said lecherously, pulling her close for a kiss.
"Not here," Eve replied, pushing him away.
"Where then?"
"What makes you think I've forgiven you?"
"Your eyes."
"They're lying."
"No they're not. What do I have to do for a kiss?" he asked, stepping back and kneeling down. "I'd offer to marry you, but we've already done that. Hold on," he said, standing up. "As your husband, I order you to kiss me!" He waited, arms crossed for her response. Eve held her hands behind her back, looking at Raoul with interest.
"I'm sorry, did you expect that to work?" she asked mockingly. Raoul took a step forward and Eve backed off. "You've given the servants the day off Raoul – so you see I have far too much to do around the house to have time to fool around with you." Raoul took another step forward and Eve backed off again.
"I wasn't fooling around," pouted Raoul, reaching forward to hold Eve but finding her just out of arms' reach. "What do I have to do?"
"Catch me," whispered Eve, darting off behind the house. It took Raoul a few seconds to realise what she meant, by which time Eve had a considerable head-start. He grinned as the distance between them closed, catching up with her at the back of the house in the orchard. He caught her around the waist and pulled her down onto the grass. She laughed as the two wrestled for a moment on the lawn, then gave up.
"Welcome back," Raoul whispered, kissing her lightly.