"I am certain you would have broken many rules. Now that you have heard what you wanted, I am going to sleep. I suggest you do the same," Eloise said, turning her back to Damien.

Not long after Eloise turned, Damien’s hand was placed on her waist to pull her towards him.

"I am helping you will not be overwhelmed by the size of the chamber," Damien defended his actions.

"I wish I could believe that was the only intention for holding me," Eloise said, but still she didn’t move. It was comforting to have a reminder that Damien was present.

Eloise couldn’t move even if she wanted to. Her back was pressed to Damien’s bare chest, and one wrong move could brush her buttocks against his lower body.

"Relax, Eloise. I am not going to harm you," Damien’s breath tickled her ear.

"You are too close," Eloise spoke softly.

"It would be quite awkward if I hugged you with too much space between us. I will release you if you don’t want me to hold you," Damien said, keeping his hand on her waist.

"I do not mind it," Eloise said, sharing her thoughts. "I just find it to be strange."

"If you enjoy it, then it is not strange. It is merely new," Damien said.

Damien brushed Eloise’s hair out of the way and kissed her neck. She flinched at first, but soon relaxed in his arms. "You looked quite lovely in that dress," he said.

"Do you wish for me to wear more pretty dresses?" Eloise asked, solely to hear his voice. Their late-night talks had become a good routine.

"You look beautiful in all that you wear. As long as you are comfortable, I do not mind what you wear. Your confidence in the dress made you appear more lovely. So lovely that I could have eaten you up right there," Damien said, leaving another kiss on Eloise’s neck.

Eloise shuddered.

Damien’s feathery touch tickled her skin, but it also brought on new, exciting feelings whenever Damien’s lips touched her skin.

"It was Beatrice who helped me to be confident in the dress," Eloise said, slowly forgetting how to speak. All she could focus on was Damien’s touch.

Damien’s arm moved upwards, and for a moment, it reminded Eloise of his actions in the dress shop. Damien’s arm was dangerously close to her bosom, but he didn’t go further.

Eloise knew that Damien was likely conscious of where he held her. He was also testing the waters to see what she would allow.

"Then, you should meet with her more often," said Damien.

"Damien, you are filling my head with thoughts which are too soon. I only just confessed to having feelings for you today. It is moving a bit too fast for me," Eloise confessed, more nervous than afraid.

Eloise wanted to bury her head under a pillow and move away until Damien’s arms could no longer reach her.

"It is natural, Eloise. The more you run from it, the more frustrated you will become. We are married," Damien said, lowering his hand back to Eloise’s waist. "But I don’t see any reason to make love to you now if that is what you are thinking. I am only touching you."

"Only? You have little idea of my thoughts and how your touch builds a warmth within me. It is not simply a touch. It is so much more to me," Eloise said, her cheeks warm. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Damien smiled, amused by Eloise’s innocent side. "It is only touching. There is plenty I could do for you without doing the deed to explain your newfound feeling, but I will wait. Until we are so close, am I not allowed to kiss or hold you?"

"You may. I must get used to these feelings and not shy away," Eloise replied.

Being held within Damien’s muscular arms was already exciting, and Eloise knew it was little in comparison to what was to come.

"Face me, Eloise," the request came out of the blue.

Eloise hesitated at first, but then shifted her body to face Damien. He stared at her, examining her face just as he did throughout the day.

Eloise knew for certain that Damien never seemed to grow tired of looking at her.

Damien brushed Eloise’s hair out of her face so he could have a good look at her. "After the palace ball, would you join me for a trip outside the town? I can take you to the countryside. I know you would enjoy seeing your friends."

Eloise perked up, eager to see her loved ones, but she remembered Damien’s duties. "Who would oversee the estate in your absence?"

"Quinn. He is the second oldest, and since he is so interested in my life, he should get the chance. We would take only Jane and go wherever you want. Wherever would make you happy," said Damien.

"Truly?"

Damien nodded. "Consider it another wedding gift. We should have had time alone after our wedding, but we were busy taking care of important matters."

"I would love to go to the countryside. I could introduce you to everyone I care for. You will like them as well. I may show you where I grew up and where I visited. Perhaps we should stay there for a day or two, then go to your countryside home," Eloise suggested.

"You remember it?" Damien asked, his hand subconsciously stroking Eloise’s hair.

"No. I have been setting aside time to learn about your family since my memories are fading. That is how I know about the countryside home. My maids have been quite helpful."

"Good to know. I will make arrangements for us to leave right after the ball. Keep it a secret from Jane for now, as I don’t have to listen to her objections."

"If she prefers to stay in the estate, wouldn’t it be best to leave her under Quinn’s care?" Eloise wondered, seeing no need to force Jane.

"Quinn hasn’t been acting as he should of late, so I will not leave Jane in his care. I cannot send her to be with our aunt because our cousins are awful. She will have to join us, but we shall have time alone even with Jane present," Damien promised.

"I am certain Jane will grow tired of us and leave us alone. I do not mind taking some time to show her around the countryside to prove that life there is not all so bad. Now, I wish the ball would come and go quickly so we can leave," Eloise said, excited to get a glimpse of her old life.

"We may skip the ball and head out of town instead if you wish," Damien offered.

Eloise shook her head. "As lovely as it sounds, I have already gotten too excited to attend the ball. I want to show my confidence so we can leave afterwards. Thank you," Eloise said, leaning forward to peck Damien’s lips.

Eloise rested her head on Damien’s chest before he asked for another kiss.