"I said you are not to have any guests," Damien said, his gaze flickering from Samuel to Eloise. "Did Samuel bother you?"

"A little," Eloise replied as she stood up.

Damien personally placed the white hat onto Eloise’s head. "Ignore him. I’ll be getting rid of him soon."

"Brother!" Kyle whined.

Samuel rubbed the back of his head, fearing that he had placed himself in hot water. Damien already didn’t like him. "I didn’t mean to flirt with your wife. I’m sorry," he apologised.

Kyle covered Samuel’s mouth with his right hand.

"Flirt?" Damien questioned, his burning gaze settling on Samuel. "It is not a full day since I have been married, yet you came here and flirted with my wife in my estate. Tell me why I shouldn’t harm you."

Samuel’s response was muffled. He glared at Kyle and smacked his hand away. "Because I am a fool. You shouldn’t expect better from a fool. Forgive me, Lady Hawthorne. I didn’t know you were Damien’s wife."

Eloise removed the hat since there was no need for it indoors. "You were quite ready to flirt, though you knew I was married. You should be a gentleman and leave married women alone. I don’t want to be bothered."

"With all due respect, I thought you were a woman coming here to sleep with one of the brothers-"

Samuel was silenced by Kyle striking him in the back of his head.

This piqued Eloise’s interest.

"Is it a common sight to have married women here, Damien?" Eloise asked, wishing it wasn’t the case.

"No," Damien replied.

Samuel’s little interaction with Eloise cemented that Damien didn’t care for him. More than ever, Damien wanted to strangle Samuel.

"We’re leaving," Kyle said, pushing Samuel towards the door. "Do you have a death wish?"

"You did not tell me he got married. Why wasn’t I invited?"

"That was intriguing," Eloise said, thankful Samuel no longer stood before her. "We must act fast to announce our marriage to avoid this in the future. I do not want to be flirted with again."

"And I do not want to witness it, but not all men in town are gentlemen. Some men will find an interest in you because you are now my wife," said Damien.

"Like your enemies?" Eloise inquired. "Must I be concerned about your enemies?"

"No. I will place guards at your side each time you leave the estate. Most of my enemies are dead. There’s no need to keep them alive for too long," Damien said in an effort to ease Eloise’s mind.

"Must I remind you that you dropped a knife onto a man’s shoe and wounded his toes? How many men are there like that? Men, you have troubled?" Eloise asked, certain there were more.

"Do you have a few hours?"

"Damien!" Eloise gasped. Was it truly safe for her to go on an outing?

"I am joking, Eloise. I know the dangers in my life and who I must protect you from. I will not place you in harm’s way, and I assure you, anyone you must be wary of cannot simply stroll onto the estate. Samuel has been friends with Kyle since they were five," said Damien.

"I am not fond of Samuel, but Kyle is. I recently allowed Samuel to set foot on the estate after banning him for upsetting me, and he has ruined his second chance. He will be forbidden again. I can hit him," Damien offered.

"It wouldn’t make me feel better," Eloise said, rejecting the offer.

"It would make me feel better," Damien said, thinking of his feelings.

"I am certain it would," Eloise said, trying not to laugh to avoid indulging Damien. "I hope that you always have impeccable timing, Damien. Twice now you have stood where I needed you. I truly wish for it to continue."

"I will, and if for some reason I am not there, call for me. I will come to your side," Damien promised.

"What if we are standing before royals? Would you not be embarrassed?" Eloise jokingly asked. She laughed, imagining standing in the midst of a crowd and yelling Damien’s name.

"No, because I would be saving my wife."

Eloise’s laughter was disturbed by a hiccup. She clamped her hand over her mouth. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Damien smiled, suspecting Eloise was charmed by his words. "Are you in need of water, dear?"

"Do not refer to me as your dear. The carriage is here to my rescue," Eloise said, eager to leave. "I will return home as soon as I am finished with my outing. Just as I must be safe, you must be safe as well. You do not know if anyone is plotting revenge on your toes."

Damien chuckled. "I will keep them well protected. Gage and Aiden will be travelling with you today. Do not wander out of their sight."

"I will not. I am not a child who needs to be told of safety. Oh, forgive me," Eloise said, surprised by how easily she hugged Damien goodbye. "I am used to hugging while I say goodbye."

"I am not against it. In fact, I welcome it, though a kiss goodbye would be more sentimental," Damien said, turning his face slightly to the right for Eloise to kiss his cheek.

"No, but it was a good effort. I must go to meet with Millie on time. Do send for me if you find the man with the wills. Goodbye," Eloise said, waving goodbye to Damien.

Damien followed Eloise to the door to see her off.

"Bring my wife back just as she is leaving now," Damien instructed the two men.

Though Damien was the one to suggest that Eloise leave to clear her mind, he was not ready to part from her when he knew the dangers of the town.

Still, Damien could not crowd over her forever, and Eloise needed to get used to her new life.

"Good morning, Gage," Eloise greeted her guard for the day. "And your name is?" She questioned the second man.

"Aiden Crane," Aiden answered.

"It is nice to meet you. Thank you," Eloise said, accepting Gage’s hand offered to help her into the carriage.

Gage closed the door after Eloise was seated.

"She is quite nice," Aiden said, pleasantly surprised. "Is there a chance for her humble personality to rub off on the siblings?"

"Quiet before she hears you, and he is watching us like a hawk," Gage said, feeling Damien’s gaze on his back without needing to look. "We must bring her back in one piece."

"We? Didn’t he place you as her main guard? You are the one to make all the decisions concerning her safety, so if she is harmed while in your care, all the blame goes to you," Aiden said, finding comfort in this matter.

Gage did not agree. "You-"

"Gentlemen!" Eloise spoke up, bringing attention to herself. "I can hear both of you quite well. I fear that if you do not move now, my husband will come down to question you. Surely, neither one of you wants that."

"Prepare to leave," Gage said, ordering the departure.