The Possessive Lord's Contract Wife

Iris met Eloise in her bedchamber.

Eloise was still getting dressed by Hannah, who fussed over the folds of her gown, smoothing the fabric with careful hands.

"I see that you are still wearing the necklace," Iris observed, her eyes glinting with mischief. "It must have been difficult for you to decide which dress to pair it with, and that is why you didn’t sit with us this morning. Am I right?"

Eloise remained silent, her lips pressed together as Hannah adjusted the hem.

The silence was telling, and Iris’s smile widened.

"The silence tells me I am right," Iris said, settling herself on the edge of the bed. "I am curious what your dear husband can be speaking to Reece about. Did you send him?"

"I did," Eloise admitted. "I thought Damien would be able to convince Reece to leave. He must return to his wife before he finds himself in danger. Thank you, Hannah," she added, dismissing the maid with a nod. "Reece will do as your mother wants."

"Unfortunately," Iris sighed, troubled by Reece’s stance. "I understand he feels the need to obey her as the eldest, but she will only use him. I am not surprised he shared that she wanted him to abandon his wife. Why is my mother like this?"

"I do not know," Eloise replied, unwilling to add what she truly thought. "I wonder if she would be different had there been no debts. We will never know."

She moved to sit beside Iris, offering comfort.

"No, we won’t," Iris agreed, her voice low. "I understand wanting to see that she is well, but then moving on with our lives. It would be heartless to suddenly not care at all."

"I would be surprised if you suddenly stopped caring for her," Eloise said, hoping to ease Iris’s guilt. "That doesn’t upset me. I don’t hate that you love her."

"I know," Iris murmured. "And that makes you too kind. I need a distraction."

Iris exhaled, her shoulders relaxing as though releasing a burden.

"I can think of a tall distraction," Eloise teased, her lips curving into a playful smile.

Iris rolled her eyes, though her cheeks coloured faintly. "You will not want me teasing you about what I think occurred this morning. We shall leave the men out of it."

"Oh!" Iris exclaimed suddenly, turning to Eloise with renewed energy. "I talked with Jane while you were resting. Why don’t you let the distraction be planning a tea party for her in the garden? Even my mother arranged one for me, though not in the garden. I wrote to you about it."

"I do remember," Eloise said, her brows lifting. "Has Jane spoken of wanting a gathering here?"

"She has," Iris confirmed. "She longs to attend the gatherings her peers are enjoying. She is at the age where she will want to join those suitable for her. If she cannot go to others, why not host one here with her close peers?"

"The Hawthornes don’t host gatherings anymore," Eloise reminded Iris. "Rather than call it a gathering, I would simply send invitations for her peers to visit."

"It will be a gathering no matter how you twist it," Iris countered. "Surely Lord Hawthorne would do it for his sister unless he would prefer the two of you to leave the estate. You shouldn’t, not when his aunt might be seeking revenge."

"You are quite adamant," Eloise said, surprised Iris was pushing for Jane’s sake. "You must have had a good talk with Jane. I do plan to attend gatherings with her as I promised, but I have been looking into her governess first. I don’t want her rushing to do what her peers are doing. Jane is young."

"Yes, but she will need the experience of sitting among ladies before her season, when there will be more pressure," Iris explained, trying to let Eloise see another side. "She will also need to distance herself from her brothers and begin to make a name for herself. There is much to consider."

"You know more about the season than I do," Eloise admitted, noting Iris’s strengths. "So I will let you continue speaking to Jane. I must think carefully about hosting a gathering here for her. I don’t want to disrupt the estate. Don’t speak of it to Jane yet," she pleaded.

Eloise didn’t want Jane’s hopes raised prematurely.

"I won’t," Iris promised. "I only wanted to share what she felt and needed. She has plenty of dresses in her chamber that have not been worn. It seems she had plans with her aunt."

"I know she did," Eloise said, feeling sorry for Jane. "I will let Jane attend gatherings so she won’t be bored. Thank you for speaking to her. Now that I am dressed, we can join the men. I worry a little about Damien being alone with Reece."

Eloise stood up and extended her hand to Iris, helping her up. "We should see what the men are doing, and then bring Jane to sit with us."

Iris accepted Eloise’s hand, holding it even as they walked together. "That sounds lovely."

"I am going to send for Beatrice, my dressmaker, to come to the estate," Eloise said, seeking to spoil Iris. "If you are to attend events and let Zayne court you openly, you will need dresses. It will be a gift from me."

"Zayne owes me a dress," Iris confessed. "A new one, rather than those left behind by his relatives. It was an offer I couldn’t refuse. He was being thoughtful." She avoided Eloise’s gaze, embarrassed by her own admission.

"I am learning much about Zayne through you," Eloise said, her eyes narrowing with amusement. "Though he offers you a dress, that doesn’t mean I cannot spoil you. I can have a few prepared, so if there is a sudden event, you will be ready. Allow me to do it."

"I shouldn’t say no to new dresses," Iris said with a laugh. "And if they are as glamorous as the ones I have seen you wear, then I am quite fortunate. Eloise, I heard there is a little river somewhere behind the estate."

"I believe there is," Eloise replied, tilting her head. "But for as long as I have been here, I haven’t completed a tour of the grounds. Why?"

"I was thinking it would be fun to take a look," Iris said, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Do you remember the days when we would go exploring as children? I know you are dressed now, but wouldn’t it be delightful to have a dip? Or does Lady Hawthorne not have fun anymore?"

"I still know how to have fun, Iris," Eloise said, up to the challenge. "You shall see when we get there. We must bring Jane with us. Though I doubt she will want her dress wet."

"We shall see," Iris replied, her grin widening. "Let us take her and abandon the men. Their talk might be a bore anyway."