Chapter 255: As a family [2]
By the time Damien returned to the estate, there was no one around to welcome him home. He first went to Jane’s chamber, wanting to speak to her, and when she was not there, he went to his bedchamber only to find it empty.
Hannah, who happened to be fetching a book for Eloise, noticed Damien’s arrival. "Lord Hawthorne," she greeted with a curtsy. "Lady Hawthorne is in the kitchen with your siblings."
"Thank you," Damien replied before leaving for the kitchen.
As he walked down the corridor, the sound of laughter drifted towards him. It grew louder as he neared the kitchen.
Damien paused at the door, almost reluctant to intrude and spoil the moment between them. He stood outside, listening to the voices within.
"My bread is rising. It is rising faster than Quinn’s," Jane said cheerfully.
"It is not a race," Quinn replied, lowering himself to Jane’s height to peer at the dough. "Eloise, why is my bread not rising as fast as Jane’s?"
"It is not a race, as you said. And though I gave you both the same recipe, you mixed them differently. The breads will both rise and be wonderful. They will go well with the stew I am making. Should we make some rice and steamed vegetables to go with it? Dinner could be made by the three of us," Eloise suggested in an encouraging tone.
"I do not think Damien will be so interested in eating dinner if it is made by us," Jane said, wrinkling her nose.
"Damien ate dinner when I cooked for him. As long as it tastes good, it should not be a problem. We should take wine from the storage," Eloise planned.
"For a special occasion, could I have some wine?" Jane asked.
"No," Eloise and Quinn said in unison.
Jane pouted. "A little sip would be enough."
"No," Damien’s voice cut through the air, startling everyone in the kitchen.
Eloise dropped the cloth in her hand and hurried around to where Damien stood. "When did you return? I told one of the maids to inform me of your return."
"There was no one at the door," Damien replied.
His eyes swept over the kitchen, taking in the flour scattered across the table and the lively mess of their efforts.
Eloise followed his gaze. "We are baking bread and cookies. We are waiting for both to finish. I have been watching the stew I started. I did not want it to go to rest."
"I see," Damien said, unbothered by the disorder. His voice softened as he turned to Jane. "Are you well, Jane?"
"I am. I did not mean to make you worry. Eloise did well to distract me, and I think that I am the best at making cookies. Well, aside from Eloise, since she has all the experience. Will you taste mine?" Jane asked, her eyes wide with hope, desperate for his approval.
"As long as it is not as hard as a rock, yes. I will need you to taste it first," Damien said, wary but interested.
"It will be good. We followed the recipe Eloise gave us, and she is going to write it down for me. You should try it before anyone else tastes it," Jane insisted.
"That is not going to work on me, Jane. We will try them together. I need to steal my wife for a moment, and then I will have a word with you. Both of you," Damien said, acknowledging Quinn, who stood in the corner of the kitchen.
Damien clasped Eloise’s hand, his fingers tightening around hers, and walked with her out of the kitchen.
"Did it go well with Camille?" Eloise asked, her heart anxious for his answer.
"It did not. Did you give Gage an order?" Damien asked.
"Yes, to have you return home to us. I did not want you to do anything you would regret and take you from us. If you harm Camille, this matter will not go away. This is one time you will not be able to hide from the town guards," Eloise explained her actions. "Did Gage need to stop you?"
"Yes, but not for the matter about Jane. She spoke of my father. How fortunate it was that he was not around to see what became of me. I would have thrown her from the stairs if not for her son coming forward," Damien confessed, his fury still simmering beneath his calm exterior.
"Why would she bring up your father? Did something occur for Camille to be speaking of these things now? I do not know her very well, but from speaking to the others, this seems to be a bit out of character for her," Eloise said, puzzled.
"I do not know what is causing it, and I quite frankly do not care. She has crossed a line, and I will not forgive her for it. She is banned from coming into the estate and going anywhere on my land that is not her home," Damien said, his decision final.
"I will not invite her here. I know it would be wrong to ambush you with her. Some distance might be needed for both sides. Do you think she would try to come here on her own accord after you have banned her?" Eloise wondered, her heart uneasy.
Would Camille be so reckless?
"She might, and I have already told her what would await her if she does. There is no place for her here ever. I cannot control many things that you do, but do not let anyone convince you to bring her here. If Jane speaks of making peace and inviting her behind my back-"
"Damien," Eloise cut in gently. "I understand you completely. I will not do anything to make you feel uncomfortable. I would not be pleased if you invited Agatha here, so I will not do it to you."
Eloise squeezed Damien’s hand. "I do not have any interest in speaking to Camille, even about my father getting fired. I am going to let that matter rest because clearly, there is no talking to her. I am going to do my best with Jane and as your wife."
"You can help Jane, but I do not need you to do anything more as my wife, since I love you just as you are. If I wanted to marry a lady who fit in with all the others, I would have done so. Do you expect me to change for you? To do anything different from your husband?" Damien asked, his eyes searching hers.
"No," Eloise shook her head, her heart swelling at his words.
"Then I am not going to put pressure on you to change when you do not expect me to change. I would like to be so bold as to strike those two when they bother you, but you do not want to do it," Damien said, waiting for the day she would do it.
Eloise chuckled softly. "I am not going to hit anyone. Now come taste the bread and cookies."
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