The Possessive Lord's Contract Wife

In the dead of the night, Damien was awoken by Eloise snuggling herself closer to him. He laid still, allowing Eloise to make herself comfortable.

Twice now, Eloise had made the bed her own once she got deep in sleep. Worry about being too close was no longer a concern.

Damien remained still, even though his arm had lost feeling after letting Eloise rest on it all night long. He dared not wake up to spoil the moment between them.

Damien closed his eyes after Eloise’s fingers scraped his chest. It was a behaviour shown during the first night. It seemed that in her sleep, Eloise reached for him because she needed to know she wasn’t alone.

Seeing how Eloise was now with her walls down and her vulnerability evident, Damien felt inclined to go to great lengths to protect her and give her the life she deserved.

Damien moved cautiously to shift fallen strands of hair out of Eloise’s face as they seemed to tickle her. Her braid was messy, and once again, he thought of her need for maids at her side.

Damien lowered his hand and shifted his body ever so slightly so he could stare at the ceiling instead of at Eloise. He thought of what Eloise would need to face, and despite how much he wanted to shield her from Clive, Eloise needed the interaction so she would not for a second think of forgiving Clive or Agatha.

"Damien," the soft call of his name from Eloise’s lips was heard.

Damien’s eyes widened as he eagerly looked towards her, but found Eloise still fast asleep. He wished she had been awake so he could hear her voice, but he settled for knowing she called out for him in her sleep. It should always be that he was the one she trusted to save her.

Damien got one last look at Eloise before closing his eyes, joining her back in slumber.

In the morning, Damien and Eloise got ready to face the court.

The carriage came to a stop before the court. Gage opened the carriage door and offered his hand to help Eloise out.

"Thank you, Gage," Eloise said, accepting the help. She turned around to wait for Damien, and once he was out, she reached for his hand. "We are early. Will Nathan be present?"

"He might not be present because of our ties. Others will say he is biased, so another man will handle the case. It doesn’t matter who sits before us since we have him," Damien said, pointing to Orlo.

Eloise examined the man who was tied up with a rope and his mouth stuffed so he could not speak. She thought Damien would keep Orlo hidden so the town guards would not misunderstand.

Since Damien was not worried, Eloise didn’t bother to question it. She avoided looking in Orlo’s direction as he seemed to be trying to get her attention for help. She would never take pity on a man who helped Clive.

"We should have brought a parasol," Damien said, placing his hand above Eloise’s head to shield her face. "Do you not like the hat I offered you?"

"I do, but it is light, so it is often lifted by the wind. We should go inside so we do not end up being late. Until we are ready for him, he should be left outside so Clive may dig his hole further. Gage, please do not allow him to get out of your hold," Eloise pleaded.

"I will not," Gage promised.

Eloise left Orlo within Gage’s hands and entered the court with Damien.

"Stop. You!" Henry exclaimed, glaring at Damien. He pointed his sword at Damien.

"See," Damien said, stepping before Eloise. "He never learns, and it has cost him a toe. You used your last chance to point your sword at me. Do it again, and you shall lose a finger."

"Threatening a court guard can have you tossed into a cell, and I know some men in the court who would be glad to keep you in there forever," Henry said, tempted to arrest Damien.

"I’m shaking," Damien said, toying with Henry. "I am glad you can work in the court after the incident. It gives me the pleasure of ruining your day. Tell me, is it true you broke off a piece of a branch and tried to attach it to your foot to replace the missing toe?"

"My toe isn’t missing," Henry responded, agitated.

"Oh, was it just split? I would ask you to show it, but I don’t want to scare my wife. It must be difficult for you to take your shoes off around ladies," said Damien.

"You bastard," Henry said, raising his sword to get rid of Damien once and for all.

"Gentlemen," Eloise said, interrupting the feud. "You may try to take each other’s toes another day, but as for now, I have business in the court which I would not be late to. If I miss this important meeting, then neither of you shall know peace."

"He is the one who pointed his sword at me," Damien said, throwing the blame onto Henry.

Henry lowered his weapon. "There are to be no weapons allowed in the court. You are to declare all weapons that are on you."

"I do not have any weapons," Eloise replied.

"I have two," Damien answered. "Right here," he said, showing his hands. He found joy in Henry’s irritated expression. "You said to declare them."

Henry gripped his sword. "One day, Lord Hawthorne. One day, your actions will have consequences, and I will be at the front of the men cheering for you to be imprisoned and hanged. I eagerly await the day you will face punishment."

Damien feigned concern. "You will spend your life waiting for me to be imprisoned? That’s a bit pathetic. Don’t you have anything to do with your time? I’d hate to think the reason you are this focused on my life is that you are smitten with me."

Eloise palmed her face and shook her head.

Without a doubt, Damien might be imprisoned by the end of the day.

"We are going to be late. Since we are without weapons, can we go ahead so we can get to our meeting? We are here to hear a will be read," Elosie said, putting an end to the bickering.

Henry lowered his sword, keeping a watchful eye on Damien. "Follow me," he said.

Eloise found relief in the guard moving on. She looked at Damien, scolding him with her gaze.

"He started it with the pointing," said Damien.

"You are no different from a child," Eloise replied.

Henry led the pair to the room where they were expected and opened the door. "Lord and Lady Hawthorne," he announced.

Eloise entered the door first, and inside the room, Clive was already seated alongside Agatha.