The Possessive Lord's Contract Wife

"So, did you enjoy your time with Jane? Did you two bond, and there will be no more arguing?" Eloise asked, wrapping her arms around Damien’s neck to pull him closer.

"Jane used this day to empty my pockets, but it was evident she enjoyed having my attention to herself. She was kind enough to buy gifts for you as well. Books, shoes, and bags," Damien listed off what he had paid for. "I’ve become well-loved by the shop owners."

"That was kind of Jane. And of you," Eloise said, smiling sympathetically at Damien. "You should spend time with all your siblings. Time doesn’t wait for anyone, so enjoy their presence while you can."

"There’s only so much I can stomach of those three. Right now, I am going to give you all my attention. Besides your encounter with your friend, what did you do all day?" Damien questioned as he bent down, hooking his arms under Eloise’s legs to lift her.

Eloise chuckled, delightedly surprised by how easily Damien lifted her. "I laid around in bed, listening to the birds. Then I went to the garden and might have made the gardeners uncomfortable. I helped to prepare dinner before coming back here to read. It was a lovely day."

"Hmm."

Damien set Eloise down on the bed. "Do you prefer to live here or in the capital?"

Damien’s question caught Eloise by surprise.

"I don’t. Wait," Eloise said, pressing her hands against his chest. "What has brought this on?"

"We can all see that you have been happier since coming here. The guards noticed it as well. From the moment you got out of town, your mood has been better. Do you find it better to live here?" Damien questioned, studying Eloise with an anxious expression.

"I do like the quiet life here, but it isn’t home for me any more. My life is in the capital with you and my new family. I might not have seemed happy, but I was. I still am," Eloise assured Damien.

Eloise touched Damien’s face, the warmth of her palm steady against his cheek.

"Here, I get to think of the fond memories I share with my father. There, I think about how my uncle hasn’t fully paid for his crimes. I am slowly starting to feel like my old self and come to terms with his death, so bear with me a little longer," Eloise pleaded.

Damien nodded, unable to voice a word.

"Were you going to offer to move here if I said I preferred it?" Eloise wondered, searching his gaze for his honest reaction.

"I can’t move here," Damien said, his voice no higher than a whisper.

Eloise frowned, realising what Damien had intended. "Then, were you going to let me go?"

"No. I could have let you remain here in the manor and travelled between the lands frequently. If the capital weren’t making you as happy as you are here, then I wouldn’t force you to be there. Your happiness comes first to me," said Damien.

"Damien, I enjoy our life at the estate. I would be unhappy living away from my husband, knowing he had to travel a long distance to see me. Do you wish for me to cry? Is that it?" Eloise questioned, followed by laughter.

Damien rested his head on Eloise’s shoulder, his chest vibrating as he laughed. "I understand. No need to be dramatic. I am glad you didn’t mention what the town would think of us living apart. You’re getting better."

"It took some time, but what the town thinks doesn’t matter. After how Peter acted, I see that people are set in their opinions, and no matter what you say, they will believe what they want. I am happy. I would rather focus on us than concern myself with what the town thinks," Eloise said.

Damien noted that the man’s name was Peter.

"This trip is turning out to be quite successful," Damien said, kissing Eloise’s lips. He kissed her again, making up for the hours they had been apart. "Next time, it must be just the two of us. We can make ourselves quite comfortable in the home without being disturbed."

Eloise’s cheeks felt warm. "Is that all that occupies your mind these days?"

"What occupies my mind? Are you having indecent thoughts, Eloise? You ought to be ashamed of yourself," Damien said, playing innocent.

"You cannot fool me, Damien. Still, I wouldn’t mind a trip to ourselves. If you are open to it, you can leave Millie to watch over Jane. She would keep your siblings in order and have the estate spotless," Eloise said, imagining Millie with her broom. "She’s got a good arm."

"I might have to employ her properly," Damien considered.

Damien lowered himself to press his lips against Eloise’s neck.

"Speaking of trips, after getting well acquainted with the servants this morning, I was reminded of the gathering your family holds. You know, when you all get together. Will we have to attend?" Eloise asked, trying to concentrate as Damien’s lips distracted her.

"You don’t have to attend if you don’t want to. It’s mostly about the estate and having to hear about my parents’ deaths. Before, they would question me about marrying. Now they would question you about an heir," said Damien.

"I will attend only if you want to. I can stomach all those questions for your sake. If you don’t want to attend, we can have our own little gathering at the estate. Just the two of us," Eloise suggested.

"You are quite lovely," Damien said, rolling to his side and pulling Eloise along so she lay on top of him.

"So I have been told," Eloise replied. "One day, we must also have a talk amongst ourselves about your heir."

"Not now. Speaking of children and what is expected can sometimes dampen the mood. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it," Damien said, not wanting to make Eloise feel pressured.

"Well, then, I must disappoint you by no longer resting on you. You’re," Eloise stopped, unable to say it.

"You are the cause. After last night, you still manage to be shy. You were face-to-face with-"

Eloise clamped her hand over Damien’s mouth to silence him. "I think it is time you had your bath and got an early dinner. I will go and tell the maids to prepare warm water."

Damien loosened his hold on Eloise so she could escape this time.

He leaned on his side, propping his head up with his arm, watching as Eloise got off the bed. She fanned herself, most likely ridding herself of her indecent thoughts.