The Possessive Lord's Contract Wife

Agatha stepped out of the carriage, feeling both embarrassed and foolish for wasting the money she had earned to greet Olivia, only to be turned away.

"There is always good work around the town. I cannot employ you, as it would only bring gossip for Iris. I urge you not to speak out, not to go running to your peers, and not to share old stories about Iris. This is her time," said Olivia.

Agatha knew very well that speaking too much could place Iris in a bad light. She was only concerned now about how she would survive without anyone at her side.

"I could recommend you to a few homes where you could find good work, but I wouldn’t tell them that you are Iris’s mother," Olivia suggested, but she lacked faith in Agatha.

Agatha scoffed. "You’re trying to come off as though you’re so kind and you don’t care about her background, but then you don’t want me to speak of being her mother."

"It is not because of your status and lack of finances. It is what you have done thus far," Olivia corrected Agatha. "It is about how you’ve treated your husband’s niece, who is now Lady Hawthorne. It is how you supported your husband."

"I am very close to Lord Hawthorne. You are against his wife; therefore, you and I could never be close. You should be wise and place your daughter’s happiness before your own. I am ready to depart," Olivia said, looking away from Agatha.

Olivia leaned back in her seat. "And don’t you dare go to my son’s home again. I will make sure you truly suffer if you bother him."

Agatha stepped back as a guard came forward to close the door. She was soon left alone as the carriage moved off, its wheels rattling against the stone road.

Agatha watched the carriage for a moment before turning back to the mansion Olivia lived in. She had always envisioned herself living in such a place thanks to her children’s marriages.

The sight of it now only filled her with bitterness.

"How dare she," Agatha muttered, still offended by the way Olivia spoke to her. "I am happy for my daughter."

If not for the lack of money, Agatha would not have shown up and embarrassed herself.

"I must speak to her son," Agatha said, certain he would offer her money. "That girl has been bewitched," she whispered, speaking of Iris.

Agatha held her bag close to her chest and started to walk away. She needed to return to town to give back the dress she wore now.

Agatha dragged her feet along the stone path. Her thoughts moved from Iris to Clive’s death.

Only now did Agatha remember a guard wanting to speak about Clive, but she had turned him away since she didn’t care at the time.

Agatha’s pace slowed as an ache formed in her chest. She clutched her dress where the pain lingered.

"You bastard," Agatha cried, her body hunched forward. "You selfish bastard."

It was unfair that Clive would tarnish their names and get to leave so easily. That he would leave her with nothing to survive on.

Agatha dropped to her knees, forgetting that the dress didn’t belong to her. The rough ground pressed against her skin.

Clive was cruel. He was an awful husband, yet she could not help crying for him now, as he was the only one who wouldn’t have left her. The realisation twisted painfully inside her, making her sob harder.

While Agatha broke down before Olivia’s home, at the Hawthorne estate, Iris had distanced herself from the group as she needed a moment alone.

Eloise lingered close, waiting for when Iris would need her.

Eloise tidied a vase full of flowers near Iris’s chambers.

"Are you trying to distract yourself?" Damien asked, drawing close to Eloise. "You know that when she wants you, she will send for you, right?"

"I know, but I just want to be close. It is giving me the chance to explore this side of the estate. I had fresh flowers placed this morning since the previous ones had been dying. We’ve been having bad news every other day, but the estate doesn’t need to look so depressing," Eloise said, gently adjusting a flower.

"Oh, so that’s why I’ve been seeing the maids carrying around flowers. I should have known that it was your doing. I thought Zayne was trying to decorate so he could have his wedding here," Damien said.

"Zayne has already left, and he didn’t speak to me about having the wedding here. I think he speaks of it to bother you," Eloise assumed. "We didn’t have our wedding here, so why would Zayne have his here?"

"He would go to you to sway me. He has asked to borrow the countryside home so he can go there with Iris after the wedding. I will allow him to do so and to take the carriage."

Eloise looked up, knowing what Damien’s true intentions were. "You are being kind so you can get him from your side."

"I am doing it out of the kindness of my heart as his childhood friend. I am also going to offer him a good bottle from the storage. I have thought ahead for their wedding gifts. Have you done so?" Damien asked, certain she hadn’t.

"My apologies for not being as fast as you are. There was plenty on my mind, but I shall soon decide on their gifts. Is there no work for you to do?" Eloise asked, eager to get rid of Damien.

"No. Were you not the one who wanted me not to have work to do?"

"No. I didn’t want you to have any more fires to put out, not that you wouldn’t have your duties in the estate. Your brothers are still here, so why don’t you go bond with them?" Eloise said, hoping one would come now.

"That’s not very kind of you to chase your husband away. I handled my business quite fast so that I might come to your side," Damien said, inching closer to Eloise.

"It is not my father who has died. Quite frankly, I am relieved that my father’s killer is finally gone. So, you may go elsewhere and give someone else your attention. I assure you that I will not get jealous," Eloise said, turning her attention back to the flowers.

"You are quite moody this morning. Unfortunately for you, no one else entertains me more than you do, so I will stay at your side for a little longer. I know that you secretly enjoy that I am here now. No need to hide it," Damien said, taking a risk by kissing Eloise’s cheek.

Eloise looked up at Damien. "One day you are going to find yourself in a bad position for troubling me. I hope you remember this moment."