The Possessive Lord's Contract Wife

"Your cheeks are flushed. Should I bring you some water or open a window?" Damien asked, solely intending to tease Eloise.

Eloise broke eye contact with Damien. "I am well."

"Good. I don’t need you dying of shyness. I have some time to spare from my duties. Would you like me to personally give you a tour of the estate to freshen up your memory? I notice you have been getting lost," Damiene said, offering his right hand to Eloise. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Eloise cleared her throat, taking a moment to calm herself. "I would," she responded by placing her hand on Damien’s. "I thought I knew my way around, but some of the rooms have changed, or I am remembering the estate wrong."

Eloise stood up with Damien’s help, and awaited when he would release her hand, but he didn’t. "You have claimed ownership of my hand. It seems I will need to get used to making use of only one hand."

"Or, you can ask for my help. When are you going to stop pretending not to like my touch? I know you better than you notice," said Damien.

"I do not hate it, but sometimes I like my hand being free. Perhaps it has changed for me to be the one who likes my space, while you secretly enjoy others’ company. You just won’t admit it, but I will keep your secret," Eloise said teasingly.

"I see some of your uncle and aunt’s delusions have rubbed off on you."

"Damien!" Eloise gasped and playfully tapped his arm. "It is not funny."

"Then, why are you laughing? A little bit more and you could have been just as delusional," said Damien.

Eloise shook her head. "I pray I have the strength to keep up with your antics. Would you be so kind as to take me to the garden? I found an urn for my father. I need flowers to give him a proper send-off, but I don’t know what to do for the burial."

"We didn’t speak much of what to do if he passed, but I know he would have wanted to be buried beside my mother. Do I bury the urn or place his ashes in a casket? I do not trust leaving the urn in the graveyard," said Eloise.

"Give me the name and directions to the graveyard. I will take care of it for you," Damien said, knowing what to do.

"I want to be involved in laying him to rest," Eloise said.

"I will involve you. I will only take care of the grave. For now, you should move his ashes from the vase to the urn. Isn’t there anyone you would like to invite to his burial? Friends or family? You will need to give them proper notice so they can attend."

"I did not think so far ahead. The people who cared for him should know he is gone and be able to visit. Thank you for reminding me. I will write to everyone when we return to our bedchamber," Eloise said, starting to think of the names.

"During our tour, look for a room you enjoy most, and I will have it turned into your private room. No one will be allowed to enter without your permission. Consider it your little corner for peace in the estate," said Damien.

"Truly? Thank you," Eloise replied, accepting the gift.

"I’m surprised. There were no objections to it. You are learning quite fast."

"It would be a bore to be stuck in our bedchamber all day. A change of scenery to the garden or to another room would be helpful. Besides, there is no point in saying no to your gifts. You will not stop until I accept them, and in the end, I will enjoy them," Eloise said, no longer bothering to deny them.

"You understand me quite well," Damien responded and stepped closer to Eloise to close the distance between them.

"I understand how we could run around this estate and not get tired as children, but as an adult, do you not find yourself out of breath?" Eloise asked, curious if she was the only one struggling.

"No, because I am fit. I will consider this for the future," Damien said, making note of Eloise’s confession.

"For what?" Eloise asked, sensing Damien was speaking of something more.

"It is this way to the garden," Damien said, avoiding answering Eloise.

"I will find the answer. Since you are not telling me now, I know it must be improper. And here I thought you were a gentleman. Oh!" Eloise gasped, startled by missing a step on the stairs.

Fortunately, Damien caught her in time so she wouldn’t tumble down the stairs.

"You were saying?" Damien asked, helping Eloise to straighten herself.

"I spoke too soon. How wrong of me. I’m sorry," Eloise apologised.

Damien clasped his fingers with Eloise’s to keep a better hold on her.

There was silence all the way until the garden.

Damien let go of Eloise’s hand so she could go free to explore.

To Eloise, the Hawthorne garden was still beautiful and grand. It was better than she remembered.

The garden was large, with different sections. There used to be one portion off-limits to everyone except Lady and Lord Hawthorne and the gardeners. Another was for guests to walk around to admire the flowers and the fountain. Lastly, there was the maze, which Eloise tried her best to memorise.

"We used to spend hours out here while our parents were busy. I wonder if I can still find my way out. Would you wait here and watch me? If I get lost, I might need you to save me just as you did many times before," Eloise said, eager to relive a moment from her childhood.

"I will watch you, and when you do get lost, as I know you will, I will come get you," Damien promised.

Damien remained at the top of the steps, where he had a good view, and watched as Eloise hurried down to the maze. He was curious if Eloise remembered it was the maze where he had first met her. She disturbed his time hiding from others and stuck by his side since then.

Away from where Damien stood, Camille had stepped outside the estate in search of the pair to say her goodbyes.

Camille approached Damien with a maid trailing behind her. "What is he doing standing there?" She wondered.

Camille tried to follow Damien’s gaze, and inside the maze, she got a glimpse of a person moving. She assumed it was Eloise.

Camille stopped walking so she wouldn’t disturb the couple. Her gaze went back to Damien and took notice of his expression. It was an odd sight from Damien, but still a sight that was welcomed, as it brought good news for the estate.

’He managed to fall in love,’ Camille realised, a newfound happiness coming over her. She had been so fortunate to witness Damien opening his heart to a young lady.