In the countryside, Eloise travelled with Damien in their carriage as she gave him a tour of the passing lands.

"I have been here many years before," Damien said, observing the fields stretching out beyond the window.

"Yes, but so much has changed since then. We must get our fill of the countryside views before we return to the estate. Our days are going by quite fast," Eloise said, afraid she would blink and find herself back at the estate.

"We can stay for longer if you wish," Damien offered.

"It is kind of you, but you must get back to your land. I worry about Quinn and Kyle being left alone. If you don’t mind, when we return to the estate, I must address my troubles with Quinn. Not to argue, but to move on," Eloise said, turning to Damien.

"Do you think it would be wrong for me to address it when we have both been silent? Quinn and I haven’t spoken since he warned me about your feelings," Eloise said, worried she might stir up more trouble.

"It could go badly to bring it up after you two have been avoiding each other. In my opinion, Quinn needs to approach you and apologise. If you approach him and he isn’t ready to address his feelings, then you will have gotten nowhere," Damien said.

"I see," Eloise replied, understanding Damien’s point of view.

"Wait for Quinn to realise his mistakes and come to you. It seems I have to keep a close eye on you. Everywhere we turn, there is a secret admirer," Damien said, raising Eloise’s hand and pressing a slow kiss to the back of it, his eyes holding hers as he did.

Eloise snorted. "Oh, please. It isn’t so. It has only been your brother."

"Samuel, and now this Peter," Damien said, recalling the name.

"You mustn’t let jealousy consume you," said Eloise.

It was Damien’s turn to laugh.

"Jealousy? You wound me with that assumption. I am more annoyed because it is emotional men who can’t control themselves. Why should I be jealous when I was the one between your-"

Eloise covered Damien’s mouth with her hands. "Damien!" she gasped, warmth flooding her cheeks.

She felt Damien’s tongue press against the palm of her hand.

Damien held Eloise’s hands and lowered them, his fingers lingering around hers a moment longer than necessary. "The others cannot hear us. It appears that it will take some time before we reach the end of this ride. We should make some use of the time to become better acquainted with each other."

Eloise leaned away from Damien. "A carriage isn’t a suitable place for anyone to become familiar with each other. It is an uncomfortable setting, and the others will know what we are doing."

"Not if you keep your voice below the sound of the horses’ hooves. If I keep your mouth occupied, we won’t be caught," Damien said, placing his hand beneath Eloise’s chin and tilting her face upwards. His thumb traced a slow, deliberate path across her lips.

Temptation filled Eloise’s mind, but the fear of being caught outweighed it.

"I still think it is too risky. I am not that kind of lady, and while I wish to do what makes you happy, I would prefer to save our intimacy for the privacy of our chamber," Eloise said, nervous about how Damien would receive her request.

"I understand," Damien replied, drawing his hand from Eloise’s face. "You mustn’t feel pressured to do all that I want. I can respect your wishes."

"Thank you," Eloise responded softly. She poked her finger at Damien’s chest. "We have exposed ourselves to each other, but since we have not fully consummated our marriage, I feel I have not fully gained the confidence to have you just anywhere."

"Eloise, I wasn’t going to make love to you here in the carriage. I am not a brute. I merely wanted to kiss you and let our hands wander," Damien clarified. "I assure you that your first time would not be in a carriage."

"I didn’t think we would go that far, but since last night, I had already made up my mind that the next time we are intimate, I would like for us to see it all the way through. I must get rid of the last of my nerves," Eloise said, eager to grow closer to Damien.

"Is it odd for me to ask that we go all the way tonight? I don’t know if it is uncommon to request a night of making love with your husband," Eloise said, beginning to feel embarrassed.

"It is not odd. I welcome the honesty that you are ready. You are not rushing into this for my sake, are you?"

Eloise chuckled. "Damien, I would do many things for your sake, but lying bare before you only to make you happy isn’t one of them. This is what I want because I am certain about our marriage and my feelings."

Damien noticed Eloise poking at his chest. Any longer and she might succeed in wearing a hole through it.

Damien was tempted to hold Eloise’s hand to calm her nerves. Before he could reach for her, a confession stopped him entirely.

"I want to feel the love of the man I am falling in love with," Eloise said, her voice barely above a whisper, her nervousness written across her face.

Damien stared at Eloise, the words settling over him. "Eloise," he said, the shock of it evident in his tone.

"I have said before that I have feelings for you, and now I am quite certain that I am falling in love with you. I am falling so fast that if I were falling from the sky, I would have long since hit the ground and perished. That took a dark turn," Eloise muttered, realising she had spoiled the moment.

Damien chuckled, enjoying her thoughts.

"Eloise," Damien said, cupping her cheek in his palm. "I love you and that wonderful mind of yours that you use to overthink. We can fall and perish together," Damien said, leaning forward to claim her lips.

The kiss was unhurried and certain. The kind that left no room for doubt. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

Eloise welcomed it and went back on her word by letting her hands settle against Damien’s chest, her fingers spreading slowly as she let them wander.