Chapter 680

Eleanor waved Henry away. Did he think she couldn't see the disdain in his eyes? The more he loathed her, the more she wanted him to remember that he and Grovehill Estate would forever be her subordinates.

Once Henry left, Eleanor summoned Florence. "Henry is coming tonight. Light the lamps early, and don't forget the incense. Also, ensure he drinks the herbal tonic before entering the room."

"I understand, Your Highness," Florence replied.

Eleanor closed her eyes, her expression uncertain. Florence hesitated. "Your Highness, you've never been fond of intimacy with the prince consort. Why force yourself?"

Still with her eyes closed, Eleanor sighed softly. "I just suddenly thought of someone."

"Lord Henry is who he is, and that other person is simply that. Every time you share a bed with the prince consort, you never seem happy," Florence pointed out. Having been her wet nurse, Florence held a high position and could speak frankly.

Eleanor opened her eyes, a hint of mockery in her gaze. "Do you think I should keep lovers to amuse myself?"

"That's not what I meant. I only worry about you," Florence said, waving her hands dismissively. She sighed. "You and Lord Henry can't stand each other. You even avoid looking at him most days, yet you still share a bed. It's truly unfair."

Eleanor straightened. "Do you think I can still have children?"

Florence gasped. "You still want children? You said you wouldn't bear any more after the incess' birth." (Note: "incess" seems to be a typo. Consider replacing with the intended word, if known. Perhaps "incest"?)

Eleanor said softly, "I used to think so, but if my elder brother succeeds, who will inherit my family's legacy? Jessica has no children. Wouldn't it all go to the Marquis of Ironridge's family?"

"If you want children, then why make the prince consort drink the herbal tonic?" Florence asked, confused.

Eleanor pressed her fingers to her temples. A cold smile curled her lips, and her eyes filled with disdain. "As if I would bear his child! If I had a son to inherit the family legacy, there's no way I'd let it have any connection to the Marquis of Grovehill's family. Of course, a superficial relationship is necessary to maintain my reputation. I would never bear the child of any man other than my husband. However, Henry knows the truth, as does the Marquis of Grovehill's family. And in time, my future son will know as well."

"Do you really want to find a lover?" Florence asked, slightly taken aback. For so many years, Eleanor had never entertained such thoughts. Why now?

Eleanor looked up. "Do you know Daniel Sinclair?"

Florence's heart sank as she shook her head. "I don't. The Sinclair family doesn't have many members serving in the court. Is Daniel a rising star?"

"He's not. He's been trading outside the city with his father. He only returned to the capital this year. I've met him once."

"And how is he related to Hector?" Florence asked cautiously.

Eleanor examined her orchid-painted nails. She replied nonchalantly, "In a way, he's Hector's cousin. They share the same great-grandfather. In Hector's line, Rya is the only male descendant left. Daniel is 27, the youngest in Hector's generation."

"Have you taken a liking to him? What makes him stand out?"

Eleanor scoffed. "Stand out? Nothing."

She twirled a strand of hair, her tone contemplative. "If I had to say he had one redeeming quality, it would be that he resembles Hector quite a bit."

Florence sensed where this was going. "Your Highness, the Sinclair family is known for their pride. I fear he wouldn't want to become your lover."

Eleanor laughed derisively. "What good is pride? But I suppose it's good that he has it. Besides, I don't intend to seek his consent. I'll have someone bring him here by force. Once the drug takes effect, I'll look like a goddess in his eyes."

Florence was shocked. "You've already brought him here? With the Emberfest Festival approaching, there will be high priests and various ladies visiting. If he's not kept under strict watch, things could easily go wrong. And if he disappears, the Sinclair family will surely come looking for him."

This cleaned-up version addresses grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure issues. It also maintains the original tone and style of the passage. The ambiguous "incess" remains; context is needed to replace it accurately.