The Possessive Lord's Contract Wife

Elsewhere in the estate, Rosalie walked the halls, taking in the views she hadn’t seen in years. She missed the times when the Hawthornes would host balls. When the estate was loud with music and laughter. She could admire its splendour.

While Rosalie was still close to the Hawthornes, it felt far too long since she had set foot inside their home.

"Mrs-"

"Don’t," Rosalie stopped the intruder. "Rosalie is just fine, Quinn. You have grown quite well. A little bit more and you’ll catch up to Damien. I have seen you at gatherings, but to see you up close reveals how much you have grown."

"You are about to become one of the most eligible bachelors in the town. Do you have any plans of taking a wife soon?" Rosalie inquired, drawing closer to Quinn.

"Is this a proposal to get ahead of the other ladies?" Quinn asked, a faint smile tugging at his lips.

"No, no. I am not going to rush into another marriage, and while you are handsome, you are not the kind of man I am interested in. You are any other Hawthorne male, that is. I want to be alone for a moment," said Rosalie.

"You seem to be a social butterfly. I don’t see you staying alone forever."

"Well," Rosalie thought differently. "Prepare to see me alone for a while. There would have to be a wonderful gentleman to make me rush into it so soon, but even then, I am going to be cautious," she decided, choosing to follow Damien’s advice. "I am going to focus on me."

Quinn came to a stop beside Rosalie and stared at a portrait of a flower. "I am surprised you haven’t given up on love as well. On marriage." 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"Just because my first marriage failed doesn’t mean marriage is awful. I just picked the wrong husband. I look at my grandparents’ and parents’ marriage. They found their person, so I can do the same," Rosalie said, certain her husband was waiting for her. "Look at your brother’s marriage."

"Damien does appear to be happy with Eloise," Quinn admitted.

"And Eloise with him. All around me, some couples prove to me that marriage isn’t the issue, so I won’t run away from it. I know some people are avoiding me because they expect me to talk down on marriage, and they don’t want that. I wouldn’t ruin it for anyone," Rosalie promised.

"It’s either that or they are avoiding me because I am about to be without a husband. They look at me like I’m weak for not fighting for the marriage and giving him a second chance. What is annoying is the people around you, not marriage," Rosalie said, wishing everyone could disappear.

"Well, I now know to avoid the crowds when I find a wife. Thank you for the advice," Quinn said in an effort to cheer her. "I have not put too much thought into it, but I hope I can find my person. I remember bits of what my parents had, and I want that."

"I remember your parents. What they had was lovely. The anniversary of their deaths is approaching with winter, right? It must be hard for your family then," Rosalie said softly.

"It is. It is even harder on Damien. It will be the first time Eloise witnesses how he spirals," Quinn said, certain Eloise hadn’t been told the tales yet.

Rosalie looked from the portrait to Quinn. "Spirals? Does he do something bad? I can’t imagine Damien not being composed and keeping everyone in order."

"It is the one time you see his weakness. We try not to leave the estate on that day because he worries about our safety. He was the oldest then, so he took part in planning their funeral. The news of their deaths affected us, but it was different for Damien," Quinn said, his voice heavy with memory.

"He became Lord Hawthorne and had to plan their funerals. Their chamber remained untouched for weeks, and it was the first time I ever saw him drink. No one knows that he left and was found by a man from the court. Damien still visits him from time to time," Quinn shared.

"I see. I hope that you may all be well, and since Damien now has Eloise by his side, I believe that he shall face the day better. I won’t be far away if you need help," Rosalie offered.

Rosalie wanted to repay the debt of being at Eloise’s side when the time came.

"I hate what has happened to you, but I do hope you find the right person. Why don’t we make a deal with each other? By next season, you might be searching for a husband and I for a wife. We should keep an eye on who the other entertains," Quinn suggested, offering his hand to Rosalie for her to shake on it.

"I know what you are doing, and you won’t need my help in finding a wife, but I shall keep an eye on you to make sure you don’t entertain a lady not suited for you," Rosalie promised, shaking Quinn’s hand. "All you need to do is look at the couples around you."

"What do you think makes Damien’s marriage to Eloise so successful thus far?" Rosalie asked, curious.

"They were friends first. Perhaps that is why I don’t find courting to be exciting. I am now getting to know all the ladies, while Damien has known Eloise since he was young. Maybe we must both search for someone who is a friend first, and then a spouse second," Quinn suggested.

"I thought that was what I did, but it turns out that I was wrong. You know the men around the town better than I do. Are most of them unfaithful?" Rosalie asked, hoping it wouldn’t be so.

"Many of the men I know are loyal to their wives. Some brutes that had arranged marriages let their gazes wander. When you decide to find a husband again, I won’t let the brutes get near you. Wait, you have brothers," Quinn recalled, remembering the three older brothers. "Let them help you."

"Help? If my brothers could have their way, I wouldn’t marry again. No man would be good in their eyes. It is better to work with someone who will be taking part in the season. Someone who understands the men and won’t get in the way. I look forward to us helping each other," Rosalie said, having something to look forward to.

"As do I. I want to marry a woman I love, not a woman chosen for duty. I have high hopes for us both," Quinn said, peering down at Rosalie. "And if Cole hates it, I should get to punch him."

"You would have to beat me to it," Rosalie said, followed by laughter. "I missed the Hawthorne estate," she added, her voice warm as she admired every moment. "It feels like a second home."