The Possessive Lord's Contract Wife

In the dining chamber, Eloise greeted Zayne and sat down.

Eloise took a sip of water and tried not to question why Zayne was staring at her.

Fortunately, Jane was always talkative.

"Why are you staring at her? My brother won’t like it if he comes here and sees how you are watching his wife. Why are you here?" Jane asked, puzzled by Zayne’s presence. "I heard you were dead."

"Who said that? Wait, you heard I was dead and didn’t come to look for me?" Zayne asked, disappointed.

"I was going to ask Damien, but then I got distracted by dresses. Besides, if you had died, then Damien wouldn’t have been in the estate or in the mood to get married," said Jane.

"At least you notice how much your brother cares for me. Now, onto bigger issues. What happened to Kyle?" Zayne asked, unable to focus due to Kyle lying his head on the table. "Is he sleeping?"

"Kyle took over Damien’s duties for the day, so he is tired. You should let him rest a little bit more before Damien comes to wake him," said Eloise.

"Hmm. How does a sweet woman like you end up with a man like Damien?"

"Are you trying to say my husband isn’t sweet? The very man whom Jane just said would be at your side if you were unwell? I think he is sweet. Maybe it is you who annoyed him, and he reacted as he should," Eloise said.

"You even defend him when he is not near," Zayne said, shaking his head. "I cannot believe that bastard got married, and he didn’t invite me."

"He almost didn’t invite us," Jane muttered.

"I apologise. It was all on such short notice, and to not get the attention of the town, it was a small wedding. I am certain that if we had time for a larger wedding, you would have been invited," Eloise said in an effort to cheer up Zayne.

"You are only saying this to make me feel better, and I accept it. I am starting to remember a little girl running around, though your face is a blur. I do remember liking you, but not as much as Damien did," Zayne shared.

"You as well?" Jane asked, surprised by the news. "How many boys did you have smitten with you?"

"I do not know. I didn’t think there were feelings involved," Eloise confessed.

"And you did not know it? How did you manage to do it? You must tell me," Jane requested.

"I do not know. I was a little girl simply playing with friends," Eloise replied, uncertain of how to help Jane.

"Oh, don’t say that. You were young, but you can’t convince me that you didn’t notice Damien had feelings for you. Did it not occur to you that he treated you differently compared to all the other girls?"

"It is his personality. He didn’t warm up to everyone easily. At that age, I did not think of whether anyone liked me. Why is this talked about now?" Eloise muttered, confused as to how they got here.

"Then, answer this. Did you at any point like our dear Damien then? You can be honest with Jane and me. Well, Kyle as well, but I think he is dead, not sleeping," said Zayne.

Damien entered the dining chamber, his eyes going right to Zayne.

"Wonderful timing, Damien. We were just asking your wife if she liked you when you were children. You get to hear the answer," Zayne said and pointed to Damien’s chair.

"I said I would send for you when I am ready to have you at dinner. What are you running from?" Damien asked, certain there was trouble.

"Nothing. I just missed you," Zayne replied.

"I would not be fine with another gentleman saying this to my husband. Do you love my brother?" Jane asked, hoping nothing sinful was at play.

"As a friend, yes. I like to bother him, though I don’t think I should tonight. Did someone already upset you, Damien? Who did it?" Zayne asked, annoyed that his plans were spoiled.

Eloise knew it had to be Quinn. ’Why are they still fighting?’

It was uncomfortable to be part of the reason Quinn and Damien were at odds with each other.

’Why is Quinn so upset?’ Eloise wondered. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

There was no reason for Quinn to be far more unwelcoming than Jane was, considering they had a friendship in the past.

Damien sat down beside Eloise, and without warning, he hit the palm of his hand against the table, startling everyone, but waking up Kyle.

"Must you all be so loud?" Kyele groaned as he woke up. "Of course it was you, brother."

"The day isn’t over, so it isn’t time for you to rest," said Damien.

"Am I not allowed to have a bit of rest at dinner? You don’t work at dinner," said Kyle.

"But you never witnessed me sleeping at the table. We eat here, not sleep. If you are tired, go to bed," Damien said.

"I will!" Kyle exclaimed as he stood up. "I need a good night’s rest. I will skip dinner tonight."

Eloise watched as Kyle left the dining chamber. "So, I have won the bet."

"Indeed, you have."

"Won what? Why is it that I am always the last one to know what is happening in the estate?" Jane asked, looking at Eloise and Damien.

"If it makes you feel better, I do not know about a bet," said Zayne.

Jane side-eyed Zayne. "You don’t live here, so why should you know? And no, it doesn’t make me feel better."

"It is a silly bet I had with Kyle to make him a bit more serious. That is why he was left in charge of the estate for the day. Your brother overworked him," Eloise explained.

"I see. I see that you two left me in the hands of my most careless brother. I could have died," Jane said, annoyed.

"It might make you feel better to know that tomorrow a dressmaker will come, and you are to join me to select dresses. Your brother asked her to bring dresses for you," Eloise asked, trying to bring peace.

Jane looked at Damien, surprised that he was rewarding her. "I will have new dresses? And you will be there? Not a maid?"

Eloise didn’t understand why a maid would be present "Yes, I will be present. I will see the dresses she has prepared for you, and watch you try them on. I will stay while the dressmaker is there. Do you not want me to?"

"You can stay," Jane said, looking down at her plate.