Ella sits on the chaise beside me, her little hands deftly braiding a doll's hair. She hums in concentration, her focus entirely on her doll.

"Ella, you will have to teach me how to braid hair. I might be able to do yours like that one day." I chuckle, ruffling her hair.

Ella looks up at me, "Mister Damon, you are silly! Men do not braid hair, only girls do. All of my friends say that only their mummy braids their hair, not their daddy."

"Well, the last time I checked, there is nothing stopping any daddy from braiding their daughter's hair. Are you just saying that because you think I won't do it well?"

Ella grins and snickers. "Maybe."

I tickle her sides and she shrieks with glee, dropping the doll and squirming to get away from me. I loosen my hold on her so she can take some breaths and between laughing, she looks up at me with eyes identical to my own.

"Mister Damon, I like being with you. It is really so much fun."

"Thank you, princess. I very much enjoy spending time with you too."

"If I had a daddy, I wish that my daddy would be you." Ella mumbles, her eyes downcast, fidgeting with the seams of her dress.

At her words, a heavy shroud of sorrow cloaks itself around me. My lungs tighten with pain. I can feel my confession lodging in my throat, my heart urging my mind to tell her that she is not fatherless, that she can also have the experience that all the other children have with their fathers, that she is not different or strange. She is my daughter.

A shuffling noise makes me look up to see Eloise standing in the hallway, her eyes on Ella. The ashen expression on her face tells me she has heard Ella's words and is perhaps feeling the same emotions as me. Feeling my eyes on her, she shifts her gaze to me and I note the tears pooling in her eyes. In that moment, I realise just how much more profound her pain is in comparison to mine. I have known of Ella's existence for little more than a month, whereas Eloise has dealt with this for all of Ella's life. Eloise must have had countless conversations similar to this with our daughter, feeling the longing she has for a father, listening to the sorrow in her voice as she reflects on what she is missing.

Eloise wipes her eyes and then steps into the room, plastering a fake smile on her face, "Ella, Mamma Mary has a surprise for you in the garden. Go and have a look, darling."

Ella gasps. "Really, Mummy?"

She jumps up and hurtles out of the room, her melancholy mood forgotten in a second.

Eloise looks at me and then turns to leave.

"Eloise – "

"Damon, please. I know exactly what you are about to say." She interrupts. I feel a wall shooting up between us, one that she is erecting to protect herself, to hide herself from me.

"What is it that you think I am about to say?"

"You wish to ask me how I could do this, how I could separate Ella from her father for the sake of that man. You wish to tell me that I am pathetic and a bad mother and that I do not care about my child. Is that not what you wished to say?"

"No." I respond.

The coldness in her eyes fades, leaving curiosity and bemusement in its place. "Well, if not that, what were you going to say?"

Exhaling, I take slow, purposeful steps towards her. "You are Eloise's mother. You must have had countless conversations with her like this. I am sure she will have expressed her wish to have a father multiple times. What I wished to say is I know hearing her words today gave me an immense amount of pain, so I cannot imagine the suffering you have felt whilst raising her and knowing she feels the hole that a father is supposed to fill."

Eloise's eyes fill with tears once more and she nods. "You are right. It is heart-breaking to see her long for what she cannot have. As her mother, I cannot do anything about her pain and that is the most difficult thing."

"Eloise, do not take this as an attack upon you or your choices." I begin, hesitant about the effects my words will have upon her. "I know that when we... separated, you did not know that you were carrying Ella. Yet, would it not have been easy for you to find me? Even if it were just for the sake of our child, why did you not try to get in touch with me? Yes, you may love somebody else, that is none of my business. However, she is still my daughter."

"Damon. I do not have answers to your questions." Eloise is starting to pull away from me.

"Did he stop you?" I press. "Did he forbid you from contacting me? I understand if he did, Eloise."

"Please, I cannot explain myself or my actions, Damon. Please let it be."

I want to insist, but something in her eyes stops me. I know that if I am to uncover the reason behind our separation, I must pace myself. I must allow her faith in me to build. If I continue to interrogate her, she will push me away again and I cannot have that, not at any cost. I must find out the reality of what happened that day.

"Okay, Eloise." I sigh. "My apologies, if I went too far."

Eloise's shoulders droop. "I did not take offence. I know, Damon, that you have many unanswered questions. I know that you feel you have no idea why you have lived the last number of years the way you have and I cannot begin to imagine your torment. Yet, I am begging you, please, do not make me go back there. Do not ask me questions I cannot answer. I fear the repercussions greatly. I fear what will happen and I want you to be safe. It is already far too dangerous."

Even though they were meant to dissuade me, her words create a new tendril of curiosity in my mind. What does she mean by dangerous? Is she talking about Emmanuel? Will he hurt Eloise if he finds out I am here? Will he try to hurt me? Is that why she feels the need to keep me safe?

Collecting my thoughts, I give her a tentative smile. "It is okay. For the sake of your happiness and our friendship, I can leave some questions unanswered for a while."

Eloise smiles back at me. "Thank you, Damon."

"Let us take our minds off of this subject. I will accompany you and Ella to the market, how does that sound?"

"That actually sounds lovely." Ella's eyes glimmer, giving me a glimpse of the smile that she used to wear in our youth. If only I could see that more often. "I shall go and find Ella."

The market stalls are not crowded today, thankfully. Ella is clutching my fingers with her little hand, the warmth of her palm a comforting touch. Eloise is on the other side of Ella, also holding onto her as her eyes roam around the square, searching for the first bargain she can conquer.

Ella spots a trader who is selling a variety of nuts, grains and lentils. "Look, Mummy, over there! May we eat pottage tonight?"

"Of course we may." Eloise says, still seeming hesitant. "I am just not sure about that vendor, darling – I am sure he charged me more than necessary last month."

"Well, we shall all go together. He will not even attempt to take advantage of you in my presence." I assure her.

Eloise nods and Ella skips as we make our way over to the stall. The vendor appears to have a good selection of fare and Eloise begins sorting through them, selecting the best harvested ones. I keep my eye on the vendor, who shifts his gaze from Eloise and I, as though he is attempting to gauge our relationship.

"It is a rather nice day." I comment, my gaze and attention solely upon him.

He nods. "It is, sir. Spring is upon us now, after a long wait. It has been a hard winter for us folk, working outside in extreme climates. You look as though your work has you cosy and indoors."

"It can be a mixture. I own a brewery, so I am often outside the company warehouse travelling and searching for new recipes."

"She your missus?" The man nods towards Eloise, who shoots upright at his words, her fist tightened around a mound of grains she was scooping into a paper bag.

"It would be most kind of you to keep the questions to your wares. People who do not keep to their own matters are not much appreciated in this town."

My icy response has the man recoiling and he busies himself in organising his shop. Eloise glances at me and I see that she is hiding a coy smile. She hands me the goods she has selected and I gesture to the man, "We shall take these."

The other stalls do not seem to have much of value and Ella soon begins to tire, so Eloise and I separate to get around the market sooner.

I am looking over some fruits when I feel a hand on my shoulder. I turn to see a woman behind me, her face lined with age, weathered by freckles. She is familiar, but I cannot place where I know her from.

"May I help you?"

"It is me, dear, Mrs Hughes. We have met at these very markets once before."

I suddenly remember her in a flash of horror. The lady who kept prying for my identity when Eloise, Ella and I came to the markets last time. The one who wished to introduce me to her unwed daughters. Oh no, this is not good.

"Hello, Mrs Hughes." I plaster my face into a welcoming smile. "Are you keeping well?"

"I am, my child. You are just as dashing today as you were the last time I saw you!" She exclaims, her voice an octave too high for my liking. "I was just with my daughters, you simply must come with me to my home and meet them."

"I apologise sincerely, Mrs Hughes, but unfortunately I have some responsibilities to attend to. I am with – "

"No, no. If the responsibilities you speak of are to do with the child, she may find her mother. After all, you are not her father, an eligible bachelor like yourself has no duties towards the daughter of a fatherless child."

I bristle at her words, my jaw clenching. Ella holds onto my hand and I can almost feel the hurt and rejection through her touch. Reaching down, I pick a tearful Ella up and plant her on my hip, sending a defiant stare in the direction of the old lady.

"Pardon me, Mrs Hughes, but I love Ella very much and I am not shirking my responsibility to ensure her safety regardless of whether I am her father or not. The square is not a safe place for a child to roam alone. Being a mother yourself, I am sure you will agree."

Mrs Hughes' eyes are wide with shock and she splutters, "Well, of course, my child. I was not suggesting that you leave her defenceless. I was merely asking you to deliver her to her mother before accompanying me."

"Her mother is right here."

I turn to the side to see Eloise approaching us, her step purposeful, a fire dancing in the pools of her eyes. She hands me her basket and pulls Ella onto her own hip. Ella wraps her arms around Eloise and drops her head into the crook of her neck, her eyes squeezed shut. I feel a tug of emotion, wanting nothing more than to wrap myself around both of them and protect them from this world.

This world, this society, this woman. This is exactly what Eloise was talking about, this is what she wants to protect Ella from. In a flash, I understand. I understand her steely façade, her mask, her conformity to the rules they have placed before her. She has done it all for Ella, so Ella does not have to hear their taunts and their whispers, the gossip they spread like the plague, blackening their tongues with forbidden words.

"Is there anything you wish to say before me, Mrs Hughes, about my daughter being fatherless?" Eloise spits, the perfect picture of rage, energy spilling from her in electric waves of fury.

I step closer to her, allowing her to feel my presence, my silent support.

Mrs Hughes clears her throat. "Eloise. There is no need to be so prickly. The entire village is aware. Just because I am the only one brave enough to voice the truth, does not mean you attack me."

"Attack?" Eloise scoffs. "You wish to speak of me attacking you? In that case, it would be most gracious of you to explain where you were trying to grapple and take my friend to. It would be most gracious of you to explain how you had the courage to suggest he could disregard my daughter as though she is one of the wares being sold in this market. It would be most gracious if you could explain how you could dare to speak so disrespectfully about my daughter!"

"I did nothing of the sort! You will not speak to me in that way, young lady, I am old enough to be your mother."

"I had hoped you would have had the sense to match your age, Mrs Hughes."

I snort at Eloise's retort and then clear my throat hastily. Mrs Hughes glares at the two of us, shivering with restrained anger. I want to tip her over the edge and see what happens, see what ugliness falls out. I wish I could do that, but not in front of Ella. She has heard enough.

"Are you hearing this, dear? I am being slandered by this woman. My son, this is why you should choose your friends carefully. Come with me, my daughters are waiting."

"Mrs Hughes, are you forgetting I was here for the entire conversation? It is not slander if you did suggest that I leave a vulnerable child by herself in a public square full of strangers, which you did. The only slander I see being committed here is against Eloise and Ella, when you spoke so rudely." I stand to my full height, watching her expression wither. "I will stand by Eloise and I will stand by Ella, always. I will never tolerate anybody treating them unfairly. I am afraid I am not a suitable candidate for your daughters, you require somebody a little more narrow-minded for them."

"How dare you?!" Mrs Hughes screeches, drawing attention to us.

"Civilised people do not make scenes." I retort. "Goodbye, Mrs Hughes. As Eloise has said, I hope one day your sense matches your age."

I place a protective arm around Eloise's shoulder and lead her away, leaning down to kiss Ella atop her head.

She keeps her head burrowed in Eloise's neck and I sigh. It will take a lot of work for Ella to recover from the horrible words she heard. As Eloise's eyes meet mine over the top of Ella's head, I squeeze her shoulder. With both her mother and father together, I have no doubt that Ella will overcome the effects of what she has heard today. Eloise and I will have it no other way.

Our daughter will not be broken by this society.