Chapter 223: Sweet home [1]
"You don’t need to apologise. It seems that I am the winner in all of this, as I get to enjoy your cooking. I will stay out of the way while you enjoy your time with Millie," Damien said, lifting Eloise’s right hand to his lips and brushing a warm kiss across her fingers. "Unless you send for me to help you."
Damien wasn’t much of a cook, but to spend time with Eloise, he would cut vegetables or learn other skills if needed.
"It is kind of you to offer, but I don’t need your help. Millie and I are almost done. I have been enjoying hearing what I missed in my time away. Perhaps you could go and see that Aiden isn’t harming himself," Eloise replied, glancing back towards the doorway as a thud echoed from outside.
"I should have shown Aiden how to cut the firewood, or done it myself. Would you like a drink? I prepared well for your arrival by sending for a bottle of wine. It is not as grand as your collection, but it is better than nothing," Eloise said, her eyes scanning the room for the bottle.
It was not yet opened as it was solely for Damien’s use. Eloise figured that he would be in need of a drink.
"Just water will suffice for now. I have brought some of your belongings with me. Jane helped to pick out what you will need. I must warn you that there are pretty dresses suited for gatherings in the trunk. I only managed to convince her to leave one," Damien said, sharing Jane’s good deed.
"Well, if there is an occasion which calls for a fancy dress, I am well prepared thanks to Jane. Though I look forward to the two of us having time alone and staying inside rather than attending gatherings. I can show you around," Eloise said, slipping her arms around Damien’s waist.
Eloise preferred her outings, which consisted of just her and Damien.
"You seem to be more affectionate here," Damien observed, enjoying the new side of her.
"Do you hate it?" Eloise asked, beginning to withdraw her hands, but Damien caught them. She knew what his reaction would be and wanted to tease him.
"You should know better by now. We will need some furniture for the home," Damien said, planning to fill the home.
"In time, it will need furniture, but we have what is most important. There is a bed in my old room, but it is small. I hope you don’t mind," Eloise said softly.
"A smaller bed means we must be closer to each other. I will enjoy myself tonight," Damien replied, leaning down to capture her lips in a kiss.
The kiss was intimate, dissolving any doubts about their marriage being in a rough place. Eloise’s hand slid to the back of Damien’s neck, pulling him closer, her fingers grazing the warmth of his skin beneath his hair.
"Eloise, dear?" Millie’s voice rang out, startling Eloise.
Eloise pulled away and looked back towards the kitchen. Fortunately, Millie had only called for her.
"I am here, Millie. My husband has arrived," Eloise answered, her voice carrying through the house. She turned back to Damien, who looked positively delighted at her choice of words. "Is there something on my lips?" Eloise asked, touching them self-consciously.
"No," Damien replied, though he brushed his thumb across her mouth. "I was admiring your beauty."
Eloise pressed her palms to her cheeks, feeling the warmth that rose there. "You know how to make a lady blush, Damien. I’m sorry that I can’t be at your side for too long."
"I’ve been trying to surprise you with a big dinner. You should look around, and please check that Aiden still has his hands. Love you," she said, tiptoeing to kiss his cheek.
As she turned away, Eloise slowed, realising how naturally the words had slipped from her lips. She had said them before, but now they came as easily as breathing.
"I love you too," Damien replied swiftly, his hands sliding into his pockets as he watched her disappear into the kitchen.
Damien turned his attention to the home. There were improvements to be made, but with a few days here, they could manage the work themselves. All he needed was to send for the supplies to bring back some life to the home.
Before checking on Aiden, Damien wandered in search of Eloise’s old room, curious to glimpse her life before the estate.
The house was small, so he found it quickly. The room was painted white, with a few portraits of countryside scenes hanging on the walls. One painting depicted a home Damien recognised from his travels.
He stepped inside carefully, mindful not to dirty the wooden floorboards with his boots.
The shelves were lined with books, their spines worn from use, and a scattering of old toys hinted at Eloise’s childhood. The air carried a faint mustiness of aged paper from the books Eloise did not get rid of.
In the tussle with Clive to keep the home, Damien was grateful they had acted quickly, sparing Eloise the loss of these memories. Thanks to that, Damien got to see what Eloise once enjoyed or still did.
Though the estate was now her home, Damien preferred that her childhood belongings stay in the home to keep her childhood alive in this very room.
Damien was about to leave when a framed drawing caught his eye. The paper was stained and fragile with age, yet Eloise had kept it proudly displayed.
Damien smiled at the clumsy sketch of Eloise with a man and woman surrounded by children. He made a note to ask her about its inspiration, to learn how long ago she had drawn it.
He vaguely remembered Eloise bringing art to the estate, though her drawings had been too messy for him to decipher.
’Did I keep it?’ Damien wondered, unable to recall. Perhaps it had been misplaced, or perhaps he had been wise enough to preserve it.
Satisfied, Damien left the chamber, deciding tonight would be the time to ask Eloise his questions. As he stepped outside, Eloise’s laughter with Millie floated through the doorway.
Damien entered the yard and found Aiden still at work, cutting the firewood. There were piles off to the side as though Aiden planned to sell a few.
Damien looked at Aiden’s hands, searching for any bruises or missing fingers.
"You still have your hands and eyes. I’m impressed," Damien remarked, but he was certain that Aiden would soon injure himself as he always did.
