"It appears your admirers will be the ones to spoil the night. You are so charming that you manage to have even the married ladies approach you. Should I have saved myself the trouble and married a simple man?" Eloise wondered, pretending to consider it. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

"A simple man wouldn’t have been able to help you with your troubles," Damien replied.

"No, he wouldn’t have. It is good that we will leave before I must meet with any ladies. I could see it in her eyes that she was plotting to embarrass me. We are at a lovely ball and dressed nicely, yet others are focused on toying with others," said Eloise.

"It is the reality of these balls. The ladies have it harder. I am more concerned about letting you sit with ladies than be approached by men. These bastards," Damien muttered as the royals came towards where they stood. "I will do most of the speaking."

Eloise held her breath.

Seeing the royal family up close was intimidating. Many people would go their entire lives without ever laying eyes on the royals, yet here she stood.

Eloise curtsied when the royals’ entourage came to a stop before her and Damien. She didn’t look up until she was addressed.

"Lord Hawthorne. What a pleasant surprise," greeted Maximus Evercrest the Third. "And this must be Lady Hawthorne. Raise your head so I may get a good look at you."

Eloise did as she was told and raised her head. "Your Majesty," she greeted the king.

"You went after a pretty one, Lord Hawthorne. A shame you didn’t aim for more power and marry a young lady whose name matched your own. I was hoping one of my daughters would catch your fancy," Maximus said, still disappointed.

Eloise found the king to be rude to mention this in her presence.

"It is not too late for Lord Hawthorne to take a princess as his first wife. Surely Lady Hawthorne would understand the importance of Lord Hawthorne having more power," said Sloane Evercrest, the queen.

"Don’t insult my marriage," Damien said, moving to shield Eloise. "I will only have one wife."

"One wife, you say," Maximus said, a cruel thought coming to mind. "I shall keep that in mind. Lady Hawthorne appears to be a lovely young lady. A beautiful one," he said, taking in Eloise’s appearance. "I see why you selected her."

"You should have brought your wife to the palace sooner. Your marriage has been a popular conversation amongst us. The queen and I have been trying to put forward a list of ladies for you," said Maximus.

"I only discuss marriage plans with my family," said Damien.

Eloise got a glimpse of the king’s face and noticed how angry he looked at first. To her surprise, the king laughed.

"Of course you wouldn’t turn to us for help. Fortunately, you have two other brothers we can help. Your brother Quinn is at the right age to marry one of my daughters. I hope to see them in the palace soon," Maximus said.

"And I hope to see Lady Hawthorne soon. She should join me in the palace for a talk in the morning. Other ladies will be accompanying me," Sloane said, taking a long look at Eloise.

Sloane had questions about the woman before her. First, she wanted to know how Eloise and Damien came to be married, and why there wasn’t a grand wedding. Damien could certainly afford one.

"I wish we could accept, but my wife and I are going out of town tonight. We didn’t get to enjoy the days after our wedding. We want to be alone, so another time, she will accept the invitation," Damien denied the offer.

"Do you always speak for your wife, Lord Hawthorne? Perhaps she wants to sit with the queen and leave town with you another day. It would be rude to reject an invitation from the queen. They don’t come easily," Maximus said, testing if Damien would back down.

"It would also be rude to disturb newlyweds. I heard you stepped away from your duties for a week after you married the queen. I need time alone with my wife," said Damien.

"Well, it can’t be helped. The Hawthorne estate will need its heirs. Lady Hawthorne should do her best to provide you with sons quickly. I look forward to hearing the good news," Maximus said, trying to get one last look at Eloise.

Eloise released the breath she was holding when the royals walked away. "Thank you," she whispered, grateful Damien took charge. "They are a bit intimidating, but it went without argument."

Damien faced Eloise and held her hand. "Do you want to be alone for a moment?"

"That would be lovely. I cannot believe I stood before the royal family," Eloise said, touching her chest. "Can we step outside for a moment?"

"Come with me," Damien said, leading Eloise outdoors.

Damien took Eloise to a balcony where they could look down upon the gardens. "You must breathe."

"I am trying to. I didn’t anticipate them speaking of you marrying a princess. I didn’t know you were considered to take a princess as your wife," Eloise said, surprised by the news.

"Why does it matter? I will always only have one wife," said Damien.

"Still, it is news you should share in advance, so I am not surprised before the king and queen. I don’t want to be surprised by what anyone shares. It is all I ask for," Eloise said, wishing Damien would understand.

"Very well. I will give you a list of ladies who were considered to become my wife. Though I believe all that matters is knowing that I chose you."

"As lovely as that is, you must have missed how the queen faintly smiled after mentioning the princess. She knew that I wasn’t aware, and for them to speak of the princess being the first wife meant I would be demoted," said Eloise.

Eloise didn’t want to become Damien’s second wife, or worse, his mistress.

"You are worried for nothing. I won’t take another wife or a mistress if it is what you are thinking. Even if you and I never married, a princess was never an option. Don’t spoil your night," Damien said, reaching for Eloise to pull her close. "You are the only one I considered."

Eloise rested her head on Damien’s shoulder. "I hate these silly feelings."

"Well, I am enjoying them," Damien replied.

Eloise looked up to gaze at the garden below them. "You are right. There is a couple out in the garden. Are they not afraid to be seen?" she asked, trying to get a good look, but she could not make out the faces. "They are bold."

"Would you dare to be so bold?"

Eloise playfully tapped Damien’s back. "Don’t push your luck."