Chapter 399: Doctor visit [1]

Damien returned to the estate and parted ways with Quinn immediately to meet with Eloise.

Nearing his chamber, he spotted Hannah knocking on the door with a tray in her hands.

"Is that for my wife?" Damien asked, making his presence known.

"Lord Hawthorne," Hannah curtsied. "Lady Hawthorne requested some medicine and tea since she wasn’t feeling well."

Damien opened the door and held it for Hannah to enter. "Set the tray down. I shall give it to her."

Hannah did as she was told and hurried out to give the pair privacy.

Damien closed the door behind Hannah and quietly approached the bed. "Eloise, your medicine is here," he said, sitting in front of her. "Hannah brought it along with the tea you wanted."

"Damien?" Eloise softly called back in response. "When did you return?"

"Just now," Damien answered. "Are you feeling unwell? You didn’t tell me before. I wouldn’t have left."

"I am not terribly sick. I just feel uneasy from all the planning I did. Iris and I finished the plans for the gathering already, so after today, I won’t have to worry. I’m taking the medicine now so I don’t get too sick," Eloise explained.

"You must stop placing so much work on yourself. Didn’t we agree to take time to plan the gathering so you wouldn’t become like this? I left you at home and came back to you being ill," Damien said, worry evident in his voice.

"I assure you that I am fine. With Iris’s help, it wasn’t too much work. It must be nearing the time for me to bleed, which means that all our efforts have been for nothing," Eloise said, disappointed. Her heart sank at the thought.

"I care more about your well-being. You must drink the medicine. I’ll have a doctor come to look at you. I’ll join you in getting checked so you aren’t alone," Damien said, hoping to convince Eloise. "It is nearing the time when the flu goes around. We must be careful."

"Then I can’t say no to it. We should all be seen by a doctor to make sure we are in good health. That reminds me to look at the storage of medicine we have. We must have enough for when the flu starts," Eloise said, making a mental note.

"For now, you must drink this," Damien said, pouring the medicine into a small cup for Eloise. "It smells awful."

"The awful ones usually work best for me. I should have told Hannah to bring an apple to eat afterwards. I didn’t get to enjoy the fruit earlier," Eloise said, now craving its sweetness. "I won’t send for her now to trouble her."

Eloise brought the cup to her lips and swallowed the medicine. She grimaced as the bitter taste lingered on her tongue.

"Have some water first before drinking the tea," Damien said as he stood up to get the water jug on the table. "Send for the dressmaker. I want to have coats made for you and Jane. You should also refrain from getting close to anyone who shows signs of the flu."

"I wish I had taken the medicine before you returned, since you will now have everyone on their tiptoes about the flu. I am already nervous when anyone gets sick. I fear for the servants," Eloise said.

"I must keep you well," Damien said, returning to Eloise with the cup of water.

"Is it because my mother died from being so ill? Whenever my uncle tried to present me to suitors, he had to assure them that I wouldn’t share the same fate. I do worry about becoming so ill," Eloise said, looking down at the glass of water. "I wonder if my body is weak."

"Have you ever fallen terribly sick? So sick you needed to stay in bed?" Damien asked, growing more concerned.

"Only once during the winter, but that was because I was helping my father with work. I kept pushing myself to help him and didn’t speak up about how I felt. I was in bed with a high fever and was too weak to move, but I only had little fevers after," Eloise said, thinking of the past.

"Then you mustn’t worry. Everyone gets sick from time to time. You’ll have the best care here at the estate with the finest doctors around the kingdom," Damien promised, determined to ease her fears.

"I know I will be well, which is why I am not worried. How did your talk with Camille go? She is still well, right?" Eloise asked, suddenly worried she might be dead.

"I did not touch her. In fact, my talk with her did not last very long. She has not realised her mistake, and she is more interested in putting on an act than caring for her children. She sent them to be with Hayden’s parents and shows interest in remarrying," Damien shared.

"A second marriage? So soon?"

"I am not the least bit surprised. I only hope she would be wise enough not to have more children. I care only for the well-being of her children. They might be better off not being raised by her," Damien said, agreeing with Quinn.

"I do feel sad for the children. It would have been wise to leave town for a few days. I never understand how anyone could have children and not care for them as they should. Have they never bonded?" Eloise wondered, curious about how Camille had become this way.

"Most have children because it is their duty, not because they are ready. It is quite complicated the more money and power are involved. While I do feel sorry for the children, I am not in any position to meddle," Damien said, hopeful Eloise wouldn’t either.

"It is very unfortunate. Hopefully, there will come a day when her senses return, and she will think about the children. I hope to be a good mother," Eloise said out of the blue.

"Do not compare yourself to Camille."

"I would never do so. I have secretly been reading books concerning motherhood, and there is much to do. I merely hope I can do all of it," Eloise explained.

"Those books are all written by men. I wouldn’t try to live up to their expectations for what mothers should do. I should get rid of those books," Damien muttered.

"But then there wouldn’t be any left. There aren’t any written by women. My only hope would be to find a mother and ask questions. I should go to Viola," Eloise considered.

"You would go to the woman who threatens her children each time they write of coming to see her? You truly are sick," Damien said, placing the back of his hand against Eloise’s forehead.

Eloise chuckled and pushed Damien’s hand away. "She is still a mother regardless of her responses. I shall speak to her when she visits."