Every Thought, Every Love, Is You

The Hill and Newton families had a marriage contract between them going back years. Ellis Hill, who runs the Hill family, was known in the capital for restraint and a cold manner, and nobody put his name together with Claire Newton's. Claire did not put them together either. Ellis was based abroad and came back about once a year. The two of them almost never crossed paths, and when they were in the same room Claire kept out of his way. The contract, which had looked close to lapsing, came down to Ellis and Claire. They registered the marriage. After the certificate was issued Ellis began doting on her openly, in front of the same people who had never connected their names.