Aiden returned inside the manor. "You sent for me, Lady Hawthorne?"

"Don’t engage with Peter for too long. It’s just going to rile him up, and he’ll create conflict I don’t need. I can ignore Peter and all that he says. Do not speak of this to Damien," Eloise ordered Aiden.

"Milday, you place me in a difficult position. I must report to Lord Hawthorne," Aiden said, stuck between a rock and a hard place.

"I am going to be the one to tell Damien when he asks about my day. My approach will be better than your own, so Damien doesn’t try to commit murder tonight. It isn’t to spare an old friend, but so when I visit the countryside in the future, Damien isn’t shunned," Eloise explained.

"Though I grew up here, Peter’s family has more history in the countryside. If he is harmed, it will destroy all that I created here. I want Damien to be part of my family here, so please, let me tell him myself," Eloise pleaded.

"I understand. As you wish. I do apologise for being a bit hasty with my approach. I didn’t think of what I might have spoiled for you," Aiden said, scratching the back of his head.

Eloise smiled to bring Aiden some comfort. "Don’t apologise. I would be pleased to know if you made him pee his pants. Peter has never been one to fight."

"I think he was on the verge of peeing. I should have checked to tease him," said Aiden.

"You should have. That alone would keep him silent. It’s a pity when you lose a dear friend, but after seeing how he acted, I am grateful that I never settled. He was only a friend to me," Eloise clarified before Aiden misunderstood. "Everyone thought we were suited for each other. I didn’t."

"I could tell at first glance that he is a man brewing with jealousy. I didn’t think he was an old lover, nor should you fear Lord Hawthorne thinking it. I will keep an eye on the gates just in case he returns. You may go back to the garden. I will shield you," Aiden promised.

Eloise pulled the hat from her head. "No. I’ve done enough. I should let the gardeners get back to their work. Perhaps I should help to prepare dinner. I haven’t cooked since I married Damien. If you need me, I will be in the kitchen."

"Do alert me of my husband’s return," Eloise said as she set the hat down. "Hannah, will you join me?"

"Yes, Lady Hawthorne," Hannah replied, following Eloise to the kitchen.

Aiden placed his hands on his hips. "Good, I won’t have to tell him," he muttered, relieved he didn’t hold the burden of delivering the news.

Aiden turned around, returning outside to guard the manor.

More than two hours later, Damien returned from his outing with Jane.

Jane exited the carriage, thrilled after a successful day of shopping. "I have to show Eloise all that you bought for me," she said.

Damien tuned out what Jane spoke of.

After a few hours alone with Jane, he was tired of hearing what she bought.

"Lord Hawthorne," Aiden greeted Damien. He pitied Damien as his dejected expression gave away that Jane wore him thin. "Welcome back. Lady Hawthorne is resting in your bedchamber."

"Did she have a quiet day?" Damien inquired as he pulled the white gloves off his hands.

Aiden avoided Damien’s gaze. "The day was well."

"You hesitated. What happened?" Damien asked, his voice stern.

Silas and Gage stopped their tasks to watch the interaction.

"You should go speak to Lady Hawthorne-"

Aiden’s voice lowered, vanishing in the wind as Damien brushed by him. He sighed, relieved that Damien hadn’t pressed the matter with him.

"You had one job, Aiden. How did you mess it up?" Gage questioned, watching as Damien strided into the manor. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Is Eloise unwell?" Jane asked, looking up at the window for Eloise’s bedchamber.

"No, Lady Hawthorne is well. Are all these boxes meant for your chamber, Miss Jane?" Aiden asked, trying to distract Jane.

"Some of them are. I bought gifts for Eloise, but now might not be the best time to show her. You can place them all in my chamber. I will show her once her talk with my brother ends. Thank you," Jane said, offering Aiden a smile before leaving.

Inside, Damien went to the chamber in search of Eloise. He opened the door without knocking.

"Oh, you’re back. I didn’t hear the carriage arrive," Eloise said, closing her book before standing up from the chair. "What happened? Did your outing not go well?"

"It went well with Jane draining my pockets," Damien answered. He inspected Eloise’s face, trying to find evidence of tears. "How was your day? Did it go without any disturbances?"

"I wish it had," Eloise said, getting up from her chair. "An old friend came by, and our reunion didn’t go as I thought it would. He was angry that I married a lord and spoke of how I changed."

"Damien," Eloise said, reaching for his hand to calm him. "I’m not upset, and neither should you be. It was a disappointing reunion, but I’ve long learned the painful lesson that people change."

Eloise rubbed Damien’s arms. "Seeing how he acted today has made me appreciate our marriage even more. I have changed in positive ways, but I cannot say the same about him. You’ve been consistent from the ball to now, and I need to appreciate it more. I love your consistency."

Damien rested his hands on Eloise’s waist. "That is all that happened? It didn’t spoil your day?"

Eloise shook her head. "I am out of town with my husband. It would be silly of me to dwell on what another man said and ruin the trip. You have no idea how happy I am that I didn’t settle and marry him because it is what others wanted."

"My day wasn’t spoiled," Eloise assured Damien. "I got the chance to see how fortunate I am, so you don’t need to go after him. I helped the cooks to decide on what to cook and helped them to prepare a bit. After a long day with Jane, you need a nice, hearty meal."

"I do," Damien said, cupping Eloise’s face gently before leaving a slow, lingering kiss on her lips. "You’ve had your break. Tomorrow must be all about me."

Damien drew back just enough to look at her, his thumb tracing a small path along her cheek. "Promise me."

"I promise," Eloise replied, giving in to the wish of her needy husband. "From morning to night, you shall have my full attention."