Chapter 280: Bonding [1]
Hours later, Zayne and Viola departed from the Hawthorne estate, leaving Iris to settle into her bedchamber.
Viola parted after speaking with Eloise again in private, confirming that she would be well without her.
Damien sat at the table in their chamber, papers spread before him detailing the estate’s storage and accounts. His eyes skimmed the papers for errors, but his attention went elsewhere when he caught sight of Eloise lying upon the bed. He lowered the paper, his gaze softening.
"Are you unwell now?" Damien asked, setting the paper aside. He worried that Eloise had overworked herself and made herself the one now ill.
"No, only a little tired," Eloise replied, too tired to move a muscle. "There was so much moving about and talking today, but I enjoyed it all. I only need to close my eyes for a moment."
She rested her head against the pillow, inhaling a faint scent of lavender.
Damien rose from his chair to join Eloise on the bed. He sat beside her, reaching for her legs to place them better on the bed. He lifted them onto his lap, fingers starting to fasten her shoes. The soft thud as they fell to the floor echoed in the chamber.
Damien began to rub her feet, trying to soothe any pain she might have felt. "You were up and down all morning. Did your talk with Viola and Iris go well?"
"It did," Eloise murmured, her eyes half-closed, enjoying the warmth of his hands easing the ache from her soles. "Viola has invited us to a ball, and on another day, she wishes Iris and me to visit her home. I told her I wasn’t certain if you would want to attend the ball. We haven’t been to one since the palace gathering."
"If you wish to attend, I will join you," Damien said, willing to provide the company. "I cannot let you go alone. I will need the name of the host so I can prepare."
"Hmm. Join me," Eloise whispered, tugging lightly at his shirt, drawing him closer with a playful insistence.
Damien obeyed and laid beside her. He brushed strands of hair from her face, his fingers lingering against her temple. She wasn’t too warm, so he didn’t need to worry about her being ill. "Are you happy?"
"I am," Eloise nodded, opening her eyes to look at Damien. "Iris is back, and once Reece arrives, there will be no reason to worry. I must find Jane’s governess."
"That can wait," Damien said softly. "You mustn’t rush. We must be careful about who stands at Jane’s side. Send for them the day after tomorrow, as you will want more time with Iris."
Eloise inched closer, her body seeking his warmth. "Viola swore she had no part in the fire. She claimed ownership of Clive’s home, which is why Agatha dared to set it ablaze. It frightens me that we’ve heard nothing of Reece since then. He must return to his wife."
"I would like everyone to settle their troubles so we can focus on us," Damien confessed as the distractions took away their time from each other. "Each time we find a moment alone, something new intrudes."
"We must learn to tune it out," Eloise said, but it wasn’t easy. "I suppose I am the one who knows how to do it. Once I know Reece is safe, nothing else shall distract me."
After a pause, Eloise said, "I didn’t speak a word of children to Iris."
"She is quite occupied with thoughts of Zayne," Damien remarked. "I wish the best for them. I hope they find the ending they deserve."
Eloise’s gaze drifted to the rings upon her finger. "I might be mistaken, but are the servants moving furniture from the chamber beside us?"
"I was quite serious about preparing," Damien admitted.
Eloise chuckled, amused by how quick Damien was. "What happened to keeping it a secret? When you empty a chamber without explanation, it will be their first thought. I admire your eagerness, but if you don’t want anyone to suspect, you must be more discreet."
"We must come up with a use for the chamber," Eloise suggested. "Perhaps I am preparing a private room for myself, a place to retreat when I wish to be alone. They won’t question it. I only ask that you don’t furnish it in a way that betrays its true purpose. Promise me."
"I will make no such promises," Damien said as he fully intended to furnish the chamber once he found the right furniture.
"You are acting so quickly to prepare a chamber when we have not been... quite active in what brings a child here," Eloise teased, though her fingers toyed nervously with the sleeve of his shirt. "I placed Iris’s chamber far from ours so this side of the estate remains private."
"It sounds as though you’ve arranged it so we may make proper use of the entire floor," Damien said, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Shall I order the servants not to come here?"
"No!" Eloise exclaimed, pressing her hand to his mouth. "That was not my meaning. I only meant that nothing would be overheard. I want to look Iris in the eye, and don’t you dare get ideas about the floor. Your family has a habit of walking into chambers without knocking."
"Then I will make it known at dinner that they are to knock," Damien said, lifting her hand to kiss it.
"They will not listen," Eloise sighed. "If urgent news arises, they will come running to our chamber, disturbing us. It shouldn’t be done, but I have grown used to it."
"It will end today," Damien vowed. "The only one who might disturb us is Kyle, to speak of business. Are you certain you wish to work with him?"
Eloise nodded. "He has worked hard to find a location. It would be wrong of me to withdraw now. Let us see what he has prepared."
"Hopefully, he will remain patient and not be cheated out of his money," Damien said, worried Kyle would be swindled. "It has become a trend to fill young men’s heads with promises of business, only for the schemer to vanish."
"That is dreadful," Eloise whispered, a yawn escaping her lips. "I’m sorry. You are not boring me."
"Rest," Damien urged, stroking her hair. "I will work here while you rest. If Iris comes, I will tell her you are sleeping. Don’t fight it."
"Don’t leave yet," Eloise murmured, clutching his shirt with fragile insistence.
"I won’t leave until you fall asleep. I promise," Damien said, pressing a tender kiss to her forehead.