Chapter 398: Cutting ties [3]

"That was fast. I thought I would be here for much longer," Quinn said as he joined Damien in the carriage. "Do you think she will listen and leave us alone?"

"No," Damien answered.

"Then why did you come here?" 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

"So I can tell Eloise that I tried, and she won’t ask me again. Camille cannot say that I didn’t make the state of our relationship apparent. Now that this is dealt with, I won’t give it my attention again," Damien explained.

"Before, you wouldn’t have come to her no matter who asked. I should go to Eloise when I need a few favours from you," Quinn said and closed the carriage door. "I’m worried for our cousins."

Quinn continued, "On one hand, I want them to be with their mother at this time, but on the other, their grandparents might care for them more than Camille. She might end up losing them if she is not careful."

"It is not a matter we can get too involved with. After all, they are her children. Any man who would settle with her while she is not caring for her children would be just as much of a fool as she is. She will find one," Damien said, certain a suitor would appear soon.

"What’s so special about marriage that she would want to jump right back into one? I would be afraid that my second husband would be like the first. Has she always been this way?" Quinn wondered, trying to remember how Camille acted before.

"I do not know," Damien replied, his gaze going to the window. "It is settled now."

"Will you keep Jane away from Camille even when she is of age to make her own decision?" Quinn inquired, curiosity stirring within him.

"When Jane leaves the estate, she can do as she pleases, as I have no control, but under my roof, I will make those decisions for her. She may long to have Camille back at her side or realise it is better with distance. I can’t predict the future," Damien said.

"Hmm. I think she won’t care too much. Jane has always been tired of living with us and turned to Camille for time with a woman. Now that she has Eloise and Iris, she isn’t asking for Camille so much," Quinn noticed.

Quinn leaned back in his seat, making himself comfortable as the carriage gently rattled along the road. "I can only hope that Camille will become wise and make the right decisions concerning her children. I’m surprised she thought I would take time to pity her like we weren’t also affected."

Damien didn’t respond as his mind was occupied with matters of the estate.

"It makes me happy that I have moved out of the estate to my townhouse. No letters are sent there to trouble me," Quinn said, relieved.

"I will start directing her letters there at once," Damien said quickly.

Quinn sprang up. "You mustn’t."

"Weren’t you going to take some of the responsibility off me? Besides, you would be better at speaking to our aunt than I am. I’ll also send all the letters from the other relatives about the family gathering. I am not attending," Damien informed Quinn.

"Well, then neither am I. I don’t want to be questioned about when I will be getting married, nor do I want to give answers about your wedding. Can’t we have a small gathering of our own?" Quinn asked, preferring the company of his siblings.

"Eloise is planning one, and no matter what day it is, you are to attend unless you want me to disown you," Damien said, turning to Quinn with a gaze that left no room for argument.

"I would not miss an invitation from my first love. Wait!" Quinn exclaimed, putting his hands up as Damien came towards him. "I was only trying to lighten the mood. I didn’t mean to upset you."

"You should be wise and not bring that up again. You are fortunate that I moved on from what you did. These days, Kyle seems to be far wiser than you are. A turn I was not expecting," Damien said as he backed away from Quinn.

"I have been giving him my opinions on his business, so do not think it is all him. I should earn some profit when his business is started. I want you to make a promise to me that when the doors open, you will join me for a drink," Quinn said, offering his hand for Damien to shake.

Damien glanced at Quinn’s hand, then looked away. "I see that you are still childish. I already planned to visit to see what he has done."

"How cruel of you not to shake my hand," Quinn said, lowering his hand with exaggerated disappointment. "Don’t take your anger over Camille out on me."

"I am not angry, but you are starting to annoy me. There is far more on my mind than Camille and Kyle’s business. If I were angry, I would have told you to be silent long ago," Damien said.

"Then, is it your wife on your mind? Since I’ve been back at the estate, all I hear are the servants whispering about you and your wife. It is not bad, as they speak of you two acting like newlyweds. There are also bets about your heir," Quinn revealed.

"What bets?"

"Of whether an announcement will come before the end of the season. I was considering joining to earn a bit of money, but then I realised it would be wrong of me to take from the servants. Don’t pout," Quinn said, watching as Damien rubbed his temple.

"It is keeping the servants in good spirits to think about a child running around. And if you did not want them speaking about a child, you shouldn’t have emptied the chamber near your own. Don’t spoil the servants’ fun," Quinn said.

"I don’t want anyone speaking of children around my wife to make her worried. You know the pressure that is placed on wives," Damien explained.

"The servants would never speak of it to her. Only amongst themselves. I would leave them be since it is keeping the estate in good spirits. You should be happy that the servants are happy to welcome the arrival of a child," Quinn said, secretly sharing the same eagerness.

"I think they are more happy to fill their pockets with money for winning the bet. If I hear of you gambling with the servants, you shall not like what will become of you," Damien warned Quinn.

"I already said that I wouldn’t take their money. That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t take the money of our siblings," Quinn whispered, planning to have his own bet.