Chapter 161: Old friend [4]
"I keep it a secret so as not to hurt her, but I know I have to share it with her one day. All that I do is to protect her," Damien said.
"I’m sure Eloise knows that. She might get angry with you for a moment, but then realise you are only protecting her. Eloise likes to walk the right path, while you see the reality of this world. She can’t spare her cousin’s feelings and still get revenge on Clive," said Viola.
"Tell me, what has become of her uncle’s wife? Is she facing punishment or being ousted?" Viola asked, hoping the wife suffered as well.
"Agatha seems to be focused on paying off her debts and marrying off her daughter. She tends to speak ill of Eloise, trying to tarnish her name, but she isn’t much of a threat. I am focused on her husband," Damien shared.
"Then leave her to me. It will take a woman to deal with her. At the very least, my return to the capital will not be a boring one. Though Eloise has never once taken my name, I shall address her as my family," Viola firmly informed Damien. "Because that is how I see her."
"I don’t mind you speaking of Eloise as your family. It will help her with her peers, but now that I see how she lives here, I am wondering whether she must enter our world. She prefers a quiet way of living," Damien said, still uncertain.
"Not every lady needs to be tossed into social events and made to meet her peers. I realised it and distanced myself. It helped me not to hate being a countess and saved my marriage."
"Your marriage with the old fool?" Damien inquired, the corner of his mouth lifting.
Viola chuckled, the sound pleasant to her ears. "I know that it might not sound like I love my husband, but I do. I’ve been married for over thirty-five years. It is inevitable that his presence sometimes drives me mad, but I love that man. I would leave him here, but not the marriage."
Viola glanced at Damien. "It is sweet of you to think you will always enjoy being at her side. Distance doesn’t always mean your marriage is in trouble. You should enjoy a moment alone so you don’t lose yourself. Just make certain your eyes don’t wander."
"It is good advice, but don’t go telling my wife about being away from me. We haven’t been married a year," Damien said, not ready to entertain the idea.
"I won’t tell her to part from you, but I might steal her away when I go to the capital. It is a great shame that you both lost your parents so young. I remember your father very well. He always wore a smile, especially when he was at your mother’s side," Viola said, the fondness of old memories softening the lines of her face.
Damien looked down, unable to stop the heaviness growing in his chest.
"They loved each other very dearly. I could take one look at you without knowing your last name and know that you are his boy. I am glad that Eloise led me to see what has become of you," Viola said, her curiosity now satisfied.
"I apologise," Viola said, realising she had opened old wounds. "I didn’t mean to open up old wounds. I was merely thinking about the past."
"It’s fine. You may speak of them, but I don’t like to dwell on their deaths. They did leave too soon," Damien said, his voice quieter than before.
"You had to become a man faster than others. It appears you are doing well. I say this in case no one has told you recently."
Viola glanced in the direction Eloise had gone. "Eloise should be back any moment now. I hope we can keep what was said between us. I will speak to Eloise at a later time."
"I will keep it between us for now, but I must share it eventually. I can’t keep too many secrets from my wife," Damien said, falling into step beside Viola as they made their way to where they would sit.
"Finally, someone around me marries a spouse I can stomach. You don’t have the faintest idea how long I have waited. My children made awful choices. I am partly relieved they don’t come to visit this old girl," Viola said, leading Damien towards the balcony, the bright afternoon light spilling through the open doors ahead.
"Old girl? That is not fitting for you," Damien said, a rare smile for strangers pulling at his lips.
Viola chuckled. "I welcome the compliment, but I know what I am. I don’t mind being an old girl. I’m proud to have reached this age. I’ve outlived many of my peers. I’ll tell you the secret to looking so youthful."
Viola motioned for Damien to lean closer, lowering her voice as though sharing something precious. "I only worry about my household, not the other troubles in town."
Damien snickered. "Then I am set to look dashing in my later years."
"I believe the good men age wonderfully. All the bastards’ evil deeds eventually catch up to them and spoil their faces. Then they are left alone with no one at their side," Viola said, the memory of a particular man coming to mind. "We are to sit here," she said, gesturing towards the table that had been set up.
Damien’s gaze moved to a table in the corner of the balcony, stacked with many boxes.
. "I assume those are the wedding gifts. Have you prepared them for more than one couple?" Damien asked, genuinely surprised by the amount. "Allow me to help you," Damien said, stepping forward to pull out Viola’s chair.
"I meant every word when I said Eloise is my family. I don’t know what gifts she received after your rushed wedding, but I intend to shower her with my own. Some are for you. The little black boxes in the corner," Viola said, her eyes moving fondly over the collection.
Damien smiled, finding it quietly amusing that the small black boxes were nearly hidden beside the towers of white ones. "I thank you for thinking of me. Perhaps one day I can come to you to hear some tales about my parents, or my sister could visit. She is the one who most needs to hear them."
"Well, as long as she is as pleasant as Eloise, I will sit with her. I enjoyed my days sitting with Eloise and wouldn’t mind starting fresh with another young lady. No one can replace Eloise, of course," said Viola.
Damien reconsidered immediately. "Knowing my sister and her antics, it is best you don’t meet just yet."
"Oh, don’t worry. I know how to straighten out a young lady. It only takes one day," Viola said with great certainty in her voice.
