Chapter 215: Confrontation [3]
Kyle rushed up towards Damien’s study, which was usually off-limits to him, but he had to go inside without permission before Damien’s marriage was potentially spoiled.
Kyle reached the study and, without knocking, pushed the door open.
Damien quickly hid a paper about Clive’s time in jail and looked up at Kyle, annoyed. "Get out!" he ordered, not wanting to be bothered.
"Your wife is furious, crying, and she’s trying to leave the estate without informing you," Kyle rambled.
Damien stood up from his chair without needing to hear more. He wanted to question Kyle, but he preferred to stop Eloise first.
Damien ran past Kyle, heading out to the front of the estate. On his way out, Damien spotted Aiden coming inside.
"Lord Hawthorne," Aiden greeted, bowing slightly. "Lady Hawthorne sent me to fetch you. She has a carriage outside, waiting to take her away."
Damien walked by Aiden, not listening to the rest of what he said. His only interest was Eloise and what might have upset her.
Damien rushed outside to the carriage parked out front. From where he stood, Eloise was not paying attention to him. "Eloise!" he called, getting her attention.
Eloise looked away from the gates to Damien. By now, she had partially settled down, and there were no more tears in her eyes, though her face still bore the faint flush of distress. She still wanted time away from the estate.
After some thought, Eloise decided it wouldn’t be fair to leave without speaking to Damien.
Damien opened the carriage door and entered, sitting beside her. "What happened?" he asked, scanning her appearance with concern.
"I didn’t get very far in my outing with Rosalie. We were stopped by a woman who informed me of her time with Quinn. Of how they shared a bed. She claimed he sought her out because she looks like me. I don’t see the resemblance," Eloise said, her gaze dropping to her lap, fingers twisting the fabric of her gown.
The news surprised Damien. It surprised him that Quinn’s feelings would lead him to go so far.
"I came home early to confront him about it, and he confessed that it was when he was drunk. That he didn’t intend to do it. Part of me can give him the benefit of the doubt that it was not intentional, but there is an uncomfortable feeling that comes with knowing," Eloise said, glancing back towards the front door where Kyle stood.
"It angers me that I asked if there was more we needed to resolve between us before this, and he said no. It troubles me that I don’t know what else could be hidden. I want to trust Quinn, but right now, I need some time away," Eloise said, her voice trembling faintly.
Damien swallowed his anger at what Eloise shared. He restrained himself from storming out of the carriage to confront Quinn because he needed to be at Eloise’s side now for the sake of their marriage.
"What does that mean for us and our marriage?" Damien asked, most concerned about them.
Eloise placed her hand over Damien’s. "It doesn’t change anything about our marriage. Right now, the place I consider home doesn’t feel comfortable, so I want to leave for a day or two. I still have my father’s home, and you are welcome during that time."
"I just need a break from all the feelings and all that comes with the estate. I promise you that I don’t intend to be away forever, and you may come to me. If it displeases you, I am willing to stay," Eloise said, willing to compromise though her heart longed to get away.
"No. Go where you find your comfort," Damien said, wanting what was best for her. "I shall join you with some of our belongings shortly."
Eloise smiled, grateful that Damien understood her need to leave. She leaned forward, placing her right hand on his cheek, whispering, "Thank you," before kissing his lips. "I know this is much to place on you on short notice."
"Eloise," Damien softly spoke, covering her hand on his cheek with his own. "That is not the case. I would find it strange if you just brushed it off. I haven’t properly done my part to make the estate comfortable for you."
Eloise frowned, disliking that Damien guilted himself. "Damien, this doesn’t have anything to do with you. You have done right since I arrived. You made me feel wanted and helped me to get used to this being my home. I didn’t mean for you to blame yourself."
Eloise touched her forehead, trying to think of how it had all become a mess so quickly. Had she acted too rashly despite her feelings?
Damien held Eloise’s hand and lowered it from her face. "I am speaking about more than just your trouble with Quinn. Go to your father’s home. Let Millie offer you some company until I come to you. I will bring what we need for the night."
Damien kissed Eloise on her forehead to calm her. "I shall be with you soon."
"Are you certain we are all right?" Eloise asked, now the one concerned. "I can forgive Quinn for his actions and move on, but just not right now. We can all get along once I have completely settled from it and forgotten it."
Damien stroked Eloise’s hair, his fingers brushing through the soft strands. "I am quite tired of you pushing it all to the side and letting it go because they are my siblings. Enough is enough."
"It is good that you will be out of the estate. Aiden," Damien said, looking back outside the carriage. "Guard my wife well. No one is to enter that home while she is there."
"Yes, Lord Hawthorne," Aiden answered.
"I will bring Gage with me. Stay put at your father’s or Millie’s home. Don’t get sidetracked and go on an adventure. Promise me that you will be where I can find you," Damien said, waiting for Eloise’s assurance.
Eloise nodded and said, "I will stay put."
Damien shared one last intimate kiss with Eloise before stepping outside the carriage and closing the door. He stepped back as Aiden moved to sit at the front.
Damien stood still, watching as the carriage headed towards the gates. Only when it was out of sight did he turn around to return inside.
Kyle waited by the door. "I do not think she needed to leave. All they needed was a proper talk. I thought you would have stopped her. Damien!" Kyle exclaimed, caught by surprise as Damien grabbed his shirt.
"It is not for you to decide what she should and shouldn’t do. I am quite tired of all three of you," Damien said, seething with anger.
