Chapter 292: Moment alone [4]
Damien laid beside Eloise, her head resting on his arm.
The chamber was silent, with nothing said between them for a moment as the couple enjoyed the silence around them.’
Eloise pulled the blanket closer to her chest and gazed at the ceiling. "I think we are late for breakfast," she murmured, turning to face Damien. A laugh escaped her lips.
Damien smiled as breakfast was the least of his concerns. "I can have the cook prepare more food for us. They should already know to leave something behind and warm it. Stay with me a moment longer."
Damien’s hand found hers, his thumb circling the ring on her finger. "Aside from your father’s home, this is the quietest morning we have had."
"All because I told the maids not to let anyone disturb us," Eloise replied, proud of herself. "Though I am led to believe you didn’t have a proper talk with your siblings."
"I did," Damien said. "I said it nicely. That lies my problem. I should have been sterner."
Eloise tilted her head, studying him. "While I do seek these moments with you, it is sweet that when there is trouble, your siblings run to you. If they aren’t spoiling a moment like this, then I don’t mind the intrusion. You are their comfort."
Eloise thought back to her youth. "I spent more time in my father’s chamber than my own when I wasn’t resting. I must have bothered him."
"You did," Damien agreed, though he didn’t have the faintest idea what her father felt.
Eloise tapped his chest in a playful manner. "Must you be so honest? I think you secretly enjoy it when your siblings come here when they truly have a reason to. Not the other times when they simply pester you."
"One day, when they are out of the estate, you will still be the person they run to. Even when they have spouses. My first thought was always to run to my father’s home. I think it would be quite sweet for a little one to run to us," Eloise said, her voice softening as she imagined it.
Damien’s brow furrowed. "We must lock that door," he muttered, realising the source of their troubles.
Eloise laughed, the sound filling the chamber and adding to the peace. "I was speaking of our future children. We’re going to have our moments alone. I enjoy them far too much, and we need them for the sake of our marriage."
Her gaze drifted back to the ceiling, eyes tracing the flickering shadows.
"Do you think there is trouble in our marriage?" Damien asked, almost hesitant.
"No," Eloise said firmly. "Our marriage is wonderful the way it is. I no longer think of it as perfect, as there will always be a few troubles, but we care for each other, and we talk. That makes it wonderful."
She rolled onto her side, her hair spilling across the pillow like silk. "I’m not going to compare our marriage to anyone else’s. We are not those people. I won’t help anyone to be like us. I hope we can stay like this forever. True to ourselves, not trying to become like anyone else."
Damien’s chest tightened at her words. "I would not like to make my life a bore. Being Damien Hawthorne and having you as my wife, that is a life I would never replace. I shouldn’t have let Camille get so close to you," he confessed, regret flickering in his eyes.
"It is not as though you invited her here and you cared for her then. No one could have predicted we would be in this state now. I don’t regret speaking with her then. I am glad you saved me from going to her children," Eloise said.
Eloise poked his chest again. "I should have listened to you then, as you knew best. Perhaps you should give me a little pinch when I don’t listen."
"Or you could simply listen," Damien replied dryly.
"I should try to do better," Eloise whispered, realising her fault. "I hate to spoil the moment, but I need food. I should have thought ahead and asked Hannah to send our breakfast here. Could you do it?" She fluttered her lashes, feigning innocence.
"That is not as cute as you think it is," Damien said, though he sat up.
"It was enough to win you over," Eloise teased. "Offer our apologies for not joining the others. Oh, it slipped my mind to tell you that Reece is here. Not to stay, as he is staying with a friend, but to speak with Iris. They will need time together."
"I am not against the two of them speaking. I don’t mind either of your cousins these days. As I told Iris, I only worry about their mother coming around," Damien admitted.
Eloise’s eyes widened in surprise. "You spoke to Iris? When was this? Did it go well?"
"It doesn’t require your excitement," Damien said, though his lips twitched at her eagerness. "I crossed paths with her when you were resting. We spoke briefly. Since Iris will be living here, it is only right that I get to know her. After all, she will always be in your life."
Relief washed over Eloise. "It is good that the two of you have spoken. I don’t want awkwardness between you over her past interest. Iris is good, and so are you. I like knowing you get along."
Two of the most important people in her life were finding harmony, so her heart swelled with quiet joy.
"As for her mother," Eloise continued. "I don’t believe she would bring Agatha here. She has been trying to convince Reece not to take on the responsibility of settling the debts, urging him to move on."
"He should," Damien said, annoyed it was taking Reece so long to realise. "How much longer will he be away from his wife and unborn child? He might lose his family if he lingers, chasing after a mother who cares only for herself."
Eloise propped herself up, her eyes searching his. "Could you speak to him? I know you have little interest, but hearing it from a man might wake Reece up. I don’t want his wife to feel abandoned, nor for him to be caught in Agatha’s troubles."
"I will speak to him," Damien said, though the promise was made more for her peace than his own conviction. "Rather than Iris, I suspect he might be the one to bring trouble."
"He might be," Eloise agreed softly. "He cares for his mother and believes he must shoulder her burdens because he is the eldest. I only hope he is wise enough not to be fooled by Agatha because he will ruin not only his life but others as well."
"I’ll put some sense into him," Damien vowed. "But if I can’t, he’ll leave the estate."