Chapter 303: Perfect life [1]
In the estate, Damien entered Eloise’s private chamber after he had been informed she was alone.
"Has your fun with Iris come to an end?" Damien inquired.
Eloise looked up from her book. "For now. She wished to speak to Jane, so she left. I thought I’d enjoy a book while I was alone and didn’t want to disturb you. Did you need me?"
"No. I simply wanted to be near my lovely wife. It seems I must arrange hours to be with you, since there is always someone at your side. I need more than just the night and the morning," Damien said, sounding almost possessive.
He walked further into the chamber and sat beside Eloise by the tall window.
"Night and morning is plenty of time," Eloise replied, closing her book with a gentle thud. "But I shall try to come to you more often. You were inside your study for most of the morning, so I didn’t wish to disturb you. Is there trouble?"
Damien reached for Eloise’s hair, running his fingers through the strands. "There is always trouble. I heard about Camille hosting a gathering."
"Jane informed me," Eloise said. "She is likely doing it to upset Jane. I don’t mind being left out, as I won’t need to present myself to people who might judge me. I welcome the escape from such events."
"That is precisely why she is going after Jane," Damien said, seeing through Camille’s actions. "But I do not doubt that you will become a topic for conversation. I am tempted to release locusts near her home to spoil it."
Eloise shook her head. "Leave it to you to think of such a strange idea. I shall never be able to stop others from speaking my name or judging me, so there is no need to spoil the gathering."
Her gaze softened as she added, "Besides, if they waste their time speaking of someone who is not present, then that is on them. I shall enjoy my time here with you."
Damien smiled. "Hmm. Would you like us to have our own little gathering?"
Eloise’s brow arched. "You would invite others to the estate?"
"No. I meant a gathering for those within the estate. You brought back all those lanterns, so why not show them off with a little picnic or dinner outdoors at night? It is up to you," Damien said, giving her complete control.
Eloise thought about it. "It would be lovely to plan a small gathering for everyone here. With Quinn planning to move to his townhouse, the timing might be perfect. I shall do it," she said eagerly.
What Eloise intended would never match Camille’s or the ladies of her status, but she would do her best to make it special.
"If you wish, you may invite Reece," Damien said, knowing she would enjoy the company. "That is, if he took my advice to leave town and return to his wife. Once I saw that my mother was stubborn, I would have long left to be with my wife and unborn child. He is not very wise."
"He is, most of the time," Eloise countered. "He merely thinks it is his responsibility to tend to his mother, and he fears that if he leaves, Iris will face all the trouble. I’m sure he will leave."
"I hope he leaves soon, before he comes up with a foolish plan concerning his mother. I don’t want anyone pulling you into their troubles."
"He won’t," Eloise said firmly. "Even if Reece were to devise a bad plan, it would be up to me to decide if I wished to follow. I would not. I try my best not to offer an opinion about Agatha or Clive when they are mentioned."
She paused, noticing Damien’s troubled expression. "What is it?"
Damien hesitated, then spoke. "I have been meaning to share news about your uncle. He was stabbed while imprisoned. The wound has become infected, and he will not receive the best care where he is."
Eloise’s breath caught, her fingers tightening around the book in her lap. "And this wound, did you have anything to do with it? I know he is there and you are here, but still..."
Eloise couldn’t shake the feeling that Damien held some involvement.
"I asked Zayne to have it done," Damien admitted without remorse. "I also put his uncle on notice that I don’t care for Clive. His time imprisoned should not be peaceful. Now that Iris is here, are you going back on your word to dispose of him?"
Damien’s eyes searched Eloise’s, hoping she had not softened.
"No," Eloise said, shaking her head. "This story will always end with Clive dying. I only worry now about Iris finding out that Zayne had a hand in passing along the plan. Wouldn’t that affect their courtship?"
"It might," Damien answered honestly. "I didn’t think Zayne and Iris would ever cross paths. This was before we knew of them knowing each other."
"I am not upset with you," Eloise said, rubbing her temple. "I already suspected that you and Viola were devising ways to rid us of Clive. I only worry about Iris’s reaction upon learning that Zayne passed on the message. It could ruin their courtship."
"Must you tell her?" Damien asked.
"I do not know how she will take the news. If she is angry now, then she would be far angrier if she discovered it years from now," Eloise explained, her heart heavy with the weight of truth.
"I shall take responsibility for it so Zayne doesn’t lose her. I don’t mind if she forever hates me," Damien said, his only interest fixed on Clive’s death. "He might die long before he is set to be released. We might not need to lift another finger."
Eloise reached for Damien’s hand. "It might be for the best that it happens this way. We won’t have to think of him, and the town guards wouldn’t suspect you. If he dies quietly and in pain, we can move on with our lives. I want my past to stay in the past."
Eloise didn’t want Damien further entangled in Clive’s fate. It was long overdue that they moved on, and in this way, Iris wouldn’t have to hear of Clive meeting some gruesome end once he was released.
"I hope it all ends with this, and Iris won’t be too upset," Eloise whispered, her chest tightening at the thought of losing Iris when she had only just found her.
"Your father was killed by her own," Damien reminded her. "Surely she knows that despite how much you love her, you would want to avenge her father."
"She knows," Eloise replied. "But it is still a sad position to be in."