Chapter 229: Family planning [2]
Dinner continued with light conversation.
When it ended, Millie offered to clean the dishes before returning to her home, which was well guarded by Aiden and the other men stationed outside. Should her son return, he would not find an easy path to Millie.
Eloise warmed water for Damien and her own bath, as there were no servants present to help them. It was a tedious task, for the pot used to heat the water could only hold so much. Steam curled upwards as she refilled it again and again, setting it back over the crackling fire.
Now alone in the small home, with Millie having retreated next door, Damien joined Eloise in the kitchen. He stood behind her, watching as the pot bubbled with the last of his bathwater.
The home was quiet now that it was only the two of them, and again, Damien got the feeling that they were a couple married for more than a year, reuniting after being away from each other all day.
There was no one to return to get in their way or spoil the moment. No siblings or other relatives.
Damien slipped his arms around Eloise’s waist, pulling her gently back against him. "It would be a waste of time to put on more water for your bath after mine. Why don’t we save ourselves the trouble and share one? I am kind enough to offer."
"Of course, I am joining you. It would be quite a hassle to prepare more water for myself. I could have troubled Aiden and the others to lift a larger pot, but I didn’t wish to burden them," Eloise said, placing her hand over Damien’s.
"I apologise for the wait. If we were at the estate, you would already have had your bath. The basin here is a bit small, so it will be uncomfortable for us both. If you had to, do you think you could survive a simple life like this?" Eloise wondered.
"No. I’m used to being catered to. I work hard to keep the estate and land in order, so I wouldn’t need to face this kind of life. And now, you won’t need to face it either," Damien promised. He worked hard to provide for his siblings and now for Eloise to get what she needed without trouble.
"I hope you aren’t asking me to turn to this kind of life, because I won’t," Damien added, preferring the comforts of his estate.
Eloise chuckled as she turned to face him. "Never would I ask you to walk away from the estate for this. I am used to it, and you are not, but I do like seeing how easily you adapt for my sake. Other than having to boil so little water at a time, it is not all so bad."
"Hmm. I noticed you are cleaning quite frequently. We should employ a maid here to keep the home tidy in your absence. You don’t want it filling with dust. I can send someone from the estate every other day, or place someone here permanently," Damien suggested.
"I don’t know how to feel about a stranger inside my father’s home. It did need a bit of cleaning," Eloise admitted, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "But I planned to give Iris this home so she would have somewhere to go."
"I suppose I should have someone keep it clean for her. As long as the maid only tidies, then I am fine with it. Do you think Millie would be open to looking after the home? She is already next door," Eloise considered.
Eloise thought money would do well with the money.
"You know her best, so you must decide. I will pay her well, and we both trust her, so it is fitting. That takes care of one matter," Damien said, bracing his hands on the counter behind Eloise, caging her within his arms.
"There is another matter to take care of?" Eloise asked softly.
"When were you going to speak to your dear husband about wanting many children? We spoke of needing an heir, but never of more. I’m quite interested in hearing your thoughts," Damien said, his voice low with curiosity.
"I’ve always liked children," Eloise admitted, meeting his gaze. "They are lovely, and I always thought my own would be wonderful. I was saving this for when we spoke again about having children. I didn’t take you for someone who would want many."
"I would have as many as my wife wants," Damien replied, anticipation warming his tone. "Eventually, it will only be the two of us in the estate. We wouldn’t want to be lonely in such a large place, would we?"
"I thought you preferred how quiet it is."
Damien leaned down, brushing a kiss against Eloise’s neck. "See, that is the lovely part about having an estate. There are plenty of places to hide from our children should we want peace."
Eloise chuckled, amused by his plan. "That sounds dreadful, Damien. How many children are you planning to have that you think we would need to hide from them?"
"I don’t have a number in mind, but if we were to go by the number of bedchambers-"
Eloise covered his mouth before he could finish. "There are so many bedchambers on the estate that even with two tours, I have not seen them all. We are not having that many children. Do you wish to see me suffer? It is a dance with death when bearing children."
Damien chuckled, lowering her hand from his lips. "I don’t truly expect us to have so many that we trip over them. Just enough to satisfy our hearts and fill our home."
"This is quite the surprise from you," Eloise said, resting her hands on his shoulders. "I assumed that someone raised with many siblings would not be too fond of having many children."
"Our children would not be my siblings, and they would come one by one. When do you think you would be ready to start planning for our first?" Damien asked, imagining them having a little family.
It never crossed his mind before, nor did he yearn for it, but now with Eloise, Damien thought of the day it wouldn’t just be the two of them.
"Have we not started already? When we made love, I thought of what might come from it. That was my readiness to have a child with you, should it bloom from that time. But isn’t it too soon? Would your siblings be prepared for it?" Eloise inquired.
"That isn’t my concern. We could always ban them from coming to our side of the estate," Damien suggested.
Eloise laughed, knowing well that he would seriously consider it.
"It takes time to have a child. Even if we try for one now, we might not succeed until months later. I won’t pressure you. I only need to know how you feel," Damien said, awaiting a proper answer. "Are you fully ready, or do you worry about others?"
