Chapter 380: Better mood [2]

After sitting with Iris, Eloise returned to her bedchamber to organise her belongings, which had been removed from the carriage. She hoped to have everything put away before Damien returned.

Lost in her cleaning, Eloise didn’t hear when the door opened, and Damien came inside.

"I have been searching for you," Damien said, wrapping his arms around her waist. He felt her jump as he startled her, and the sudden movement made him smile.

"I told Iris that I was returning to my bedchamber, and a few maids had been here not long ago. I wanted to put away my belongings before you came. These few are the last of it," Eloise said, setting down her shoe to touch Damien’s arm. "Are they well now?"

"They are in a better mood, but we should be cautious. They aren’t crying anymore. Thank goodness, since they were soaking my shirt with all their tears," Damien said.

"A shirt can dry. We should stay close to them throughout the day. Thankfully, the part you were most concerned about is over. I only worry about when the town knows, and they try to question your siblings about their feelings," Eloise said, her brow furrowing at the thought of gossip spreading.

"They merely have to walk away. I won’t allow anyone to get close to Jane. Kyle and Quinn can take care of themselves, and I will be at your side," Damien said, followed by a kiss on Eloise’s neck.

"I see that you are in a good mood. That pleases me. Can you loosen your hold so I can turn around to face you?" Eloise politely asked. She looked to her right, trying to catch a glimpse of his face, her heart fluttering at his closeness.

"Let me hold you like this a little longer," Damien answered, his voice low with affection.

Eloise faced forward, directing her attention to the view of the sky beyond the window. "What must you do now?"

"Regarding what?"

"I do not know. There is always a matter that requires your attention. Must you go to the court or must you speak to relatives? I only want to know what you must do now," Eloise explained.

"I only have matters of the estate to look at. My time now will only be taken by matters of our land and the estate. Why? Is there more I should be doing?" Damien inquired.

"No, no. I am glad that you don’t have pressing matters to focus on. My troubles with my family have passed, and now it is the same for you unless Camille stirs up trouble. I don’t know her too well, but I assume she would stay low for a while," Eloise assumed, though unease lingered in her chest.

"That is what I thought, but it seems my aunt has been seeking attention from her peers. Crying a river about losing her husband. Since his crimes have not started to spread, she must not have revealed them yet. It is all a plot," Damien said, hardly surprised.

"A plot to keep her position intact? But it concerns the death of her brother and his wife. I wouldn’t care what the town thinks of me now, trying to place myself in the role of a victim. Some people are so odd," Eloise said, shaking her head.

"I do worry sometimes that since you are all related, one day it will rub off on you," Eloise teased, her lips curving into a mischievous smile.

"You insult me, Eloise. I don’t care about the town’s opinion or entertaining them. It is her fault for always trying to present such a perfect life, and now she is struggling to keep it together. She is just like the rest of us," Damien said.

Camille wasn’t the first woman to become a widow, and she wouldn’t be the last to be so worried or embarrassed now.

"I hope to never be so caught up that this is what I worry about. Especially when learning that my husband wanted my brother dead. Her focus should be on the children. Which reminds me," Eloise said, deciding to follow part of Iris’s plan. "Can I see the chamber you emptied?"

Damien loosened his hold on Eloise. "Is there reason for us to start filling it?"

"No. If I were to ever find out that I am with child, I would tell you right away. Not plan a way to make you unravel it. Can we see it now, or is there a surprise you have there?" Eloise asked, her eyes searching his face for clues.

"There is a bit of a surprise. Allow me to finish what I am doing, and then I shall take you there. It is taking a bit of time since we are to be secretive," Damien explained.

"We are not doing a good job at being secretive since Iris has already figured it out. She wanted me to distract you by attempting to make your heir," Eloise shared, her cheeks warming at the memory.

Damien turned Eloise around to face him. "Why did you not think it was a good idea?"

"Because I do not think I should use a child to distract you at this time," Eloise said, though her heart softened at his gaze.

"You would not be using a child," Damien said, caressing her face as he spoke. "You would be using the act of a child to distract me. I would take the offer if not for knowing those three will stumble upon us."

"In the meantime," Damien continued, "I have a surprise for you. Some of my mother’s jewels."

"Were they not to go to Jane? I am more than happy for Jane to take all of them," Eloise said, not wanting to overstep.

"Jane is the one who spoke of dividing it equally to give to present and future wives or daughters. Wear them as you wish. Come with me," Damien said, holding Eloise’s hand to take her to the bed where he had set the jewels.

Eloise sat down on the bed and watched as Damien opened a jewellery box. She was stunned at the sight of the gleaming treasures.

"My father spoiled our mother. He gave her a collection that even the queen would envy, and she wore all of them. Here," Damien said, placing the necklace he fondly remembered his mother wearing quite often.

Eloise gently touched the jewels as they sat on her neck. "They are all lovely. I will wear one to honour her and keep the others safe to be given to a daughter should we have any. With this many, a daughter would never be without jewels."

"Did she truly wear all of these?" Eloise asked.

"She did," Damien answered. "And I can vaguely remember events she wore them to. Sometimes, she would wear them at dinner after he had gifted them to her. She didn’t miss the chance to show them off."

"She was very loved. I will cherish them all and keep them safe to pass down," Eloise said, feeling protective of what Damien handed to her.