The Possessive Lord's Contract Wife

Hours later, Camille sat in her bedchamber alone with Hayden, who was resting.

Most of her worries had passed as she had spoken to the court, the town guards, and even Hayden’s parents, who had agreed to take the children away and would return at a later time to see how Hayden was faring.

Most of the visitors had been sympathetic to the position she was in due to her injuries, offering words of pity that only deepened her bitterness.

Camille bit at her nail, worried about when her guard would be released from the hold of the town guards.

’If they keep him arrested, he will speak’, Camille thought, her stomach twisting with dread.

She bit at her nail until it tore off. She looked down at the jagged piece, disgusted with herself, yet unable to stop.

"It wouldn’t have come to this if you had remained the man I thought you were. It upsets me to see you sleeping so peacefully after all that you have caused me and your family," Camille said, not satisfied by the bruises that marked him.

Camille continued, "To think your parents tried to take you from my hold, as though I would make it so easy for you. After what you did, your only saving grace is that we have children together."

She stood up from the bed, wanting to wake Hayden so he could listen.

She felt powerful being the one in control, knowing Hayden couldn’t move without the servants helping him.

Camille sat down again and touched Hayden’s hand. She felt him flinch under her touch just before his eyes opened

"Don’t be scared. My guard isn’t here to hurt you. It’s just me and you talking," Camille said, tidying the blanket around him with care. "I wanted to share how much your family has bothered me. They tried to take you out of my hands."

"How could they, when I am being the perfect wife you always wanted? The wife who puts her own feelings to the side and cares for her husband. Is that not what you wanted?" Camille questioned with bitter irony.

Hayden could only stare at Camille.

If it didn’t hurt each time he tried to speak, only for no words to come, he would have long yelled at her and exposed what she had done.

"You must stop glaring at me, Hayden. I know that I am the reason you were so badly beaten, but you wanted my brother dead. My only sibling is no longer at my side because of you. I only wish to hear you speak, to hear why," Camille said, moving her hand to Hayden’s hair to stroke it.

Her touch was both tender and cruel.

Camille sighed, bothered by the silence. "The one time I wish to hear you speak, I cannot hear you. How unfortunate for me."

She stood up from the bed, as there were other matters she needed to attend to. "We’re going to be leaving soon. I’m going to take you to where your parents can’t meddle. They’re trying to keep my guard arrested, but I’ll do what I must to get him out soon."

Camille heard the faint, muffled sounds coming from Hayden as he tried to answer her.

"Enough with the sounds, Hayden. If you aren’t going to get a good word out, then be quiet. I already have far too much unnecessary noise in my ears with the children. You are fortunate to still be alive since Damien wanted to kill you. You should be grateful," said Camille.

A knock on the door startled Camille. She thought it was the court again, and she didn’t have time to prepare her act before them.

Camille took a deep breath and smoothed down the front of her dress. She hesitated before going towards the door to open it.

Relief flooded through her body after seeing it was the doctor.

"Pardon me for the intrusion. I was told I could come right up," Michael said, picking up his bag from the floor.

"It is fine. It is I who lost track of time and forgot you were to visit. The maids who are to assist you need to be sent for," Camille said, motioning for the maid behind Michael to do so. "Until they arrive, I will remain with you and my husband."

Camille made way for Michael to enter and kept the door open. She eyed him carefully as he carried the bag to the table she had placed for his visits.

Camille trusted Michael to lie to the court if needed for her sake, but she didn’t trust him not to speak to Damien.

She walked at a distance, watching every move he made. "Has the court spoken to you since yesterday?"

"No, they have not, but I know I shall soon be called upon again," Michael answered, picking up she was suspicious of him.

"Did they ask more about my husband’s injuries or about mine? I meant to ask you yesterday, but I was quite busy with all the visitors," said Camille.

"I felt it was equal for both. You must know that they seem to want the doctor from the court to come look at you. That is quite common. May I?" Michael asked, pointing at Hayden. "I want to check how he is and offer him his medicine. He will need to eat soon."

"You may," Camille nodded, though her eyes narrowed in on his bag. "Have you spoken to anyone else? Like my nephew? I’m sure Lord Hawthorne is quite interested in the matter."

"Not at all. I only go to the estate if Lord Hawthorne or one of his siblings is sick. Visitors aren’t allowed as they once were, and I am a busy man. What is done here is private," Michael assured Camille.

"I remember you being quite close to my brother and his wife. They would call upon you quite often," Camille said, trying to distract him as she tried to take note of the small bottles.

"The late Lord Hawthorne trusted me greatly with his health and that of his wife. It was an honour for me," Michael replied, trying to focus on the medicine he prepared.

Camille drew closer to Michael to see what he was doing. "No matter how much I inquired, you would not tell me what they called you for. My name might have changed, but I am still a Hawthorne by birth."

"I have not once forgotten," Michael answered, looking up at Camille. "Shall I sit and wait for the maids to arrive to aid me?"

"I think that would be best. I trust your work, but during your next visit there will be another doctor to help you. I don’t doubt your work. I merely want to give you proper help," Camille explained.

"I understand," Michael replied, setting down the medicine.

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