The Possessive Lord's Contract Wife

Days later, Eloise, Iris, and Jane returned to the estate as it was now deemed safe.

Damien stood waiting at the door to welcome the trio.

Though only a few days had passed, it felt as though they had been gone for weeks.

As the carriages rolled closer, Damien descended the steps to open the door himself.

"Welcome back," he said, extending his hand to Eloise.

"It is good to be back, and to see the estate still standing in one piece," Eloise replied, her fingers brushing his as she stepped down. "Have you been well?"

"As well as I can be," Damien answered. He helped her down before turning to Jane, offering his hand. "I hope you have been on your best behaviour."

"I have," Jane said with her chin in the air. "Countess Tompkins says I may call upon her whenever I feel the need, and she will welcome me. I have also met many ladies I had not spoken to before, thanks to her. Eloise can tell you how well I did."

"I’ll be the judge after I hear the tales. Don’t go far, Jane. Our brothers are on their way. I have news to share when we are all together," Damien said, unintentionally spoiling the mood.

Jane’s smile faltered. "Why? Is it bad news? Are you unwell?"

Her mind raced with dreadful possibilities.

"I cannot say it now. You should be all seated. The others will arrive shortly, so be patient," Damien urged Jane.

Patience was never Jane’s strength, and his tone had unsettled her. "I would have preferred you not to tell me there is news, for now you have frightened me. I shall wait in the drawing room. I hope it is not about you dying."

"I am not dying, Jane. Have you always thought me in poor health?" Damien asked, startled by her fixation.

"Yes. I thought an illness explained why you are always so cold," Jane confessed.

Damien flicked her forehead lightly. "Go inside before I give you a harsher flick."

Jane rubbed the sore spot, her eyes watering, and hurried indoors before he could strike again.

By now, Iris had stepped down from the carriage without help.

"Iris, now that you have returned, I suggest you write to that fool of yours. He is more depressed than ever. I cannot endure it any longer, so I beg you to free me from it," Damien said, closing the door behind her.

"How odd. I have been writing to him, and he has seemed perfectly fine. It appears he acts merely to annoy you, Lord Hawthorne. Still, I shall write and ask him to stop, for your sake," Iris promised, though her eyes could not hide her amusement.

"And that is how you remain in my good favour. Excuse me, my brothers are arriving," Damien said, stepping away.

Iris ascended the steps and met Eloise. "I overheard that he wished to gather his siblings. Is all well?"

"It is," Eloise assured her with a forced smile. "You may go to your bedchamber. I will stay with him and his siblings. I shall tell you what it is once it is over."

"Very well," Iris replied, departing to let the family speak.

"Brother!" Kyle shouted as he leapt from the carriage. "Why have you called us here? Is there good news from you and your wife? Is there to be a little niece running about soon?"

Damien struck the back of Kyle’s head. "Be silent. Must you always arrive with noise?"

"He cannot be silent even if his life depended on it. That is why I have been secretly gathering his belongings to rid him of my townhouse. Prepare to have him back," Quinn said, desperate to have peace.

"Do not speak as though I am absent. Now, what is it you have called us for? I am not a businessman who can be away too long," Kyle said, rubbing his head with a scowl.

"Come inside. Jane is waiting," Damien said, leading them towards the drawing room.

He stopped for a moment to hold Eloise’s hand.

"All will be well," Eloise whispered, trying to bring Damien some comfort. "I will be here to comfort you and your siblings."

Damien squeezed her hand.

The matter of Hayden’s crimes would soon spread through the town. Before that, Damien had to tell his siblings the truth of what had caused their parents’ deaths.

"Finally," Jane said, relieved when they entered. "Now, out with it. What is the news you must share?"

"Sit. All of you," Damien commanded. "This is no matter for laughter. Recently, I found evidence that our parents’ former servant played a role in their deaths."

Kyle’s grin vanished as the weight of the news crashed down upon him.

"He was paid to tamper with their carriage. A carriage some of us were meant to ride in that day, but we chose to stay behind. He is now in the custody of the court, for I handed him over-"

"Why? Why hand him over rather than kill him? Why deny us the chance to see the face of the man who murdered them? Why be so selfish as to rob us of that moment?" Kyle shouted as he rose to his feet.

"Because he is the only witness we have. He must speak before the court so the one who ordered their deaths will be exposed. The servant was approached and paid to ensure our parents would perish," Damien explained.

Kyle sat down as he lost the strength to stand.

"Based on the servant’s confession and what I have suspected of late, Hayden was the one who ordered their deaths," Damien revealed. He lowered his gaze, unable to bear the look of betrayal on their faces.

"Hayden? Do you mean our aunt’s husband? That cannot be true. Right, Eloise?" Jane asked, her fingers nervously twisting the material of her dress.

"Yes, it is so," Eloise answered quietly, her heart aching for the siblings.

"But we are family," Jane whispered, her voice breaking. "He sat here and met with our parents often. I have been in his presence many times."

Jane’s hand flew to her mouth as nausea overwhelmed her. She stood up and bolted from the room as she had a sudden urge to vomit.

Eloise followed Jane, needing to keep her well while Damien remained in the company of his brothers.

Quinn remained silent as he needed time to let the news settle, while Kyle leaned forward, his fingers tugging at his hair.

Kyle’s whimpers filled the room as he, too, had once been close to Hayden and often in his presence.

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