The Possessive Lord's Contract Wife

An hour into the gathering, Damien decided it was time to leave.

"Already? It feels like you have only just arrived. What a pity, but I look forward to seeing Lady Hawthorne again. I hope you have good thoughts about me, and you are interested in becoming a dear friend," Rosalie said, approaching Eloise for a hug.

"I truly look forward to meeting with you again, and getting to know you as well, Victoria," Eloise said, happy that Victoria was well.

"It was a pleasure to meet you, Lady Hawthorne. And to be in Lord Hawthorne’s presence," Victoria said, her head slightly bowed. "I regret that our first meeting was spoiled by my illness, but I look forward to sitting with you another day."

"I will send an invitation for when you are to return, and that invitation will solely be for Lady Hawthorne. There are to be no husbands," Rosalie said, looking at Damien. "But I will allow your guards to enter to watch over your wife."

"Lady Hawthorne, if your husband ever troubles you, come to me," Rosalie suggested.

"And what can you do?" Damien asked, deciding to humour Rosalie.

"Run to my father for help. What use is there to have a duke for a father if I don’t seek his help when I need it?" Rosalie asked, proudly admitting to being a daddy’s girl. "Lord Hawthorne might have riches, but he cannot go up against a duke."

"Rosalie," Cole interjected. "I fear you might be starting a fight between Lord Hawthorne and your father. The two houses must remain close."

"I was only joking," Rosalie said, surprised she was being taken seriously. "My father wouldn’t fight with Damien. He views him like a son, which upsets me since Damien doesn’t see me as a friend. I should visit the estate more often."

"I don’t allow visitors inside. Tend to your guests and leave us be. I must get my wife home," Damien said, reaching for Eloise’s hand to lead her back to the carriage.

"If not for the affection you show to your wife, I would not think you have a heart, Damien. I urge you to be careful this season. My father tells me that there is trouble brewing around the town. He won’t speak of it to me, but I am certain he would inform you," said Rosalie.

"I will write to him," Damien replied, making note of it.

Cole placed his hand over Rosalie’s head to shield her from the sun. "It is time that you return inside. It is too warm out."

"I enjoy the sun. That is why I selected my gathering to be in the garden. Goodbye," Rosalie said, waving at Eloise for one last time. "We should all go back," she said, reaching for Victoria’s hand to pull her along. "I sent the bouquet and the flowers Lady Hawthorne picked to your carriage."

Eloise enjoyed her time with Rosalie, but with her foot starting to ache and all the countless stares, she was ready to return to the comfort of the estate.

Gage brought the carriage forward and opened the door for the couple.

"Is there blood on your hand, Gage?" Damien asked, his eyes going to a stain. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Gage hid his right hand behind his back, not wanting Eloise to see the blood.

"Someone got carried away with searching your carriage and didn’t know I was inside. I gave him good reason not to do it again. I hit him with my fist," Gage quickly spoke after realising Eloise’s stare. "He was looking to steal while the owners were away."

"Was it a servant of the Presley family or a guest?" Eloise asked, curious who would be so bold.

"It was a guest," Gage answered. "I handed him off to the guards."

"It was foolish to try stealing here. They must have been drunk. Thank goodness Gage was here," said Eloise.

Damien didn’t like Eloise’s praise of Gage. "So, you’ll accept that violence, but not mine?"

"He didn’t kill anyone. Did you?" Eloise asked, realising she didn’t ask.

"I only struck him once, and he was still breathing when the guards arrived. I do not think he shall remember what happened to him unless he is told," Gage replied.

Gage closed the carriage door as Eloise and Damien were seated, and went to his seat at the front.

"So, violence is allowed as long as the other person remains alive? That is not very wise. They could run to the court," Damien said, watching as Eloise covered her ears with her hands.

"We are going towards a topic which we agreed not to speak of. I would rather make use of your shoulder so I may rest, and while these shoes are pretty, they are uncomfortable," Eloise said, lowering her hand from her ears.

Eloise leaned forward to remove her shoes, but Damien beat her to it.

Damien moved to the other side of the carriage and reached for Eloise’s right foot to remove the shoe. He kept her dress down and set the shoes to the side. He noticed the red bruises on her feet.

"Next time, you must speak up sooner if your shoes are hurting you. It would have given us a good reason to leave long ago," Damien said, setting Eloise’s feet onto his lap.

"We were not there long, but I do agree to speak up next time. When I selected the shoes, I had not considered how long I would need to stand in them. Maybe they are uncomfortable only because they are new," Eloise concluded.

Eloise tried to lower her feet from Damien’s lap, but he held them captive. "Do not complain to me later that you touched my feet. I’m sure they are sweaty, and with the pain I endured, there might be some blood."

"I am not afraid of a little blood. Smelly feet, sure, but not blood," Damien said.

"Hmm. If you do not mind, one day I want to prepare dinner in my father’s home and have you there as the only guest. I would cook for you," Eloise offered, wanting to treat Damien.

"You know how to prepare food with a taste? Or, will I be tasting food that is flavourless and have to force a smile?"

"I know how to cook. Everyone should know how to cook. Even you," Eloise said, a plot forming in her mind. "I am willing to teach you. That is, if you want to learn. You will always be surrounded by servants, so there is no need, but to know the basics would be wonderful."

"I am willing to learn," Damien accepted the offer.

"Wonderful," Eloise said, ecstatic to be Damien’s tutor.

"When we return to the estate, I must leave you for a few hours. I have a friend to visit, and business elsewhere in town. I will be back long before dinner," Damien promised.

"Very well," Eloise replied, her gaze going toward the window.