Eloise wasn't quite following Julius' thinking, trapped as she was in her thoughts of how to keep him warm. Later, perhaps, she'd scold him for prioritizing his duties to the ministry over his safety and family —

Except — His dining room?

Demands of an explanation nearly fell out of her lips before he pressed on with the supposed reasoning of his visit. In love with her, she knew that already, though she did love to hear him say it. Eloise had figured they were merely waiting out her mourning period before allowing their relationship to progress. She hadn't yet approached Uncle Lucius about the plan, but Eloise would follow through with it this time regardless of her uncle's thoughts.

"I as well," she answered genuinely despite being obviously bewildered by the turn in conversation. "I've loved you since we were children pinning on our prefect badges." Longer than that even, since before she could even understand what love was. "But Julius — you nearly died this morning. You ought to be in bed, resting and healing." Not here professing truths she already knew, not at the risk of his own health. "I'll have a room made up for you, okay? You'll stay here until the storm passes."

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