The Possessive Lord's Contract Wife

Damien returned to the bedchamber with a platter of food. He knocked on the door, making his presence known before entering.

Eloise sat by the window, admiring the gardens behind the estate. "So much has changed on the outside, but I still remember our days out there. Why did you bring so much food? Are you going to eat here?"

"This is for you," Damien said, sitting down beside Eloise. "You need to eat."

"And I intend to, but this much food feels as though you are fattening me up. Is that the truth behind why you are sending me for new dresses?" Eloise questioned, eyeing the food.

Damien flicked Eloise’s head with his finger. "You still think the same way. I never said you need to eat all of it. Eat what you like, and I will take back what remains."

"Oh," Eloise said, wearing an apologetic smile. "I have heard strange things about men and what they like to do with their wives."

"Why did you think I would want to fatten you up? To eat you?" Damien asked, curious what went on in Eloise’s mind.

"I do not know, and I wouldn’t like to find out. You might think I am crazy, but some of the tales about husbands and wives have proven to be true. I am fortunate that you appear to be normal," said Eloise.

"Appear to be normal?"

"Yes. I could be wrong. Though you look normal, there might be a secret within you," Eloise replied.

"Like what?" Damien inquired.

"Well, there was a man who wouldn’t let his wife wear any other colour than green. There was another couple who took joy in hurting each other. It is all very strange," Eloise said, yet to understand the interest.

"Well, some people are fortunate to find their people who go along with their madness. I assure you that I won’t ever force you to wear green," Damien promised.

"Good to know," Eloise said, though she already knew Damien wasn’t odd in that manner.

"I am more fond of red," Damien added.

"See, this is why I will keep these stories to myself. You may leave now that you have brought my food," Eloise said, taking the plate from Damien’s hand.

"I am quite comfortable where I sit," Damien said, resting back to admire the woman beside him. "Do you think I would hurt you?"

"No, if you wanted me dead, you would have killed me already. I am still suspicious as to why you married me so easily, but I won’t question it out loud anymore. You can eat some," Eloise said, offering the plate back to Damien. "It is far too much for me."

Damien parted his lips, waiting for the food to come to him.

"Damien, I suggest your hand get acquainted with the fork because I am not going to feed you. How is it that you are the oldest and manage this estate when you act this childishly? It cannot be that you act this way every day," Eloise said, refusing to believe so.

Damien’s siblings appeared to be afraid of him, so he had to be strict.

"Why am I the unfortunate one to see your playful side?" Eloise asked, seeking someone to share the burden with.

"Because you love this side of me, but you won’t admit it. Weren’t you the one who used to try with all your might to get me to play with you? This is all your karma," said Damien.

Eloise sighed. "Perhaps it is."

Eloise quietly ate the rest of the food with Damien, and in the Wilkins household, the table was quieter.

Clive tugged on the collar of his shirt, waiting for the right moment to share the news about Eloise’s marriage. He was too afraid to speak of it last night when he returned home.

Before Agatha and Iris heard it from others around the town, Clive wanted them to hear it from him.

"Iris, pour your father some water," said Agatha.

Iris stood to get the jug. "You must rest, father. Give yourself a break."

"He would not be like this if not for Eloise. He has been running around trying to bring her home, but he has not succeeded. Iris, I hope you learn from this. I have done my best to guide you and would not like to see you be led astray," Agatha said, expecting Iris to stay on track.

"Yes, mother," Iris replied.

"I have been meaning to speak to you both since I returned last night. You should sit down, Iris," Clive said, taking the jug from her hand. "It is important you hear this from me."

"Clive, you’re scaring us," Agatha said, worried.

Clive waited for Iris to return to her seat. He looked down at his plate since he couldn’t bear to look Iris in her eyes. "Eloise has gotten married to Lord Hawthorne. They acted before I could get the court to bring her home."

Agatha laughed, finding humour in what Clive shared. "Am I to believe that Eloise is already a Hawthorne? Is that what you want me to believe?"

Iris shared her mother’s sentiments since she couldn’t believe Eloise was already married. "Why are they moving so quickly?"

"I told you to act fast to put an end to that union. You were running all over the town doing nothing, and it allowed her to get married. Are you certain a wedding happened? They might be trying to fool you," Agatha said, certain the wedding couldn’t have been planned quickly.

"I have checked with the court, and there seems to be a record of their marriage. I could not pry any further because I had already bothered the men in court with many visits. The wedding has happened, and we must accept it," Clive said, speaking specifically to Agatha.

Clive didn’t hold any power to change what was already done. He was already fighting a losing battle for going up against a man like Damien.

"Accept it? How could you say that before our daughter-"

"Mother," Iris spoke up. "We must accept it. Lord Hawthorne loves Eloise. Many ladies approached him, but have not succeed to become his wife."

"He is acting fast with Eloise, so he must love her. I never had that with him. We must move on. Please," Iris pleaded.

Iris had already calmed down from the previous news and accepted that there was never a chance for her to be with Damien. He never so much as glanced her way, and the one time he spoke to her, he had bumped into Eloise.

Iris moved on from Damien. Losing Eloise was what hurt the most.

"I no longer care about Lord Hawthorne. There are other men," said Iris.

"You fool," Agatha insulted Iris.