Chapter 411: Reunion [1]

"Did you send for invitations to be made for your gathering? I set them aside for you," Damien said, opening a drawer.

"They have come already? I wasn’t expecting them to come so soon. I merely said how I wanted them to look and thought it would take some time for the designs to be painted. Perhaps I should have said they could take their time," Eloise said, regretting speaking too soon.

"They are already made, and I took a glance. They are all quite pretty with the flowers," Damien said, setting the invitations before Eloise.

"Since I want to host it inside and in the garden, I thought it would be fun to add designs of different flowers and to hand out the invitations with a flower from the garden. I also want to give it a lovely scent," Eloise said, bringing the paper to her nose. "It wasn’t added yet."

"Is it as you imagined it?" Damien inquired.

"It is, and so much more. I could sit down and come up with many designs for invitations without having an event. I will send them out soon so I know who can attend. I shall set the date for two weeks from now, as we have other matters to tend to," Eloise said.

"Are you planning to announce it then to our close friends as well?" Damien asked, helping Eloise to place the paper back in the envelope.

"I didn’t think of doing so. I wanted to keep the focus on all of us being together. As it gets further along, I will tell them before the town finds out. I just want to have a good event here, like how it used to be in the past," Eloise said, hoping with all her heart to succeed.

"It’s been quite long since the estate opened its gates for an event," Damien said, trying to think of the last one he attended. "Those events ended when my parents died."

"That is why there is pressure. I want the first event in a long time to be good, so you will be open to doing it more often," said Eloise.

"You can have as many events as you want. I don’t need to attend all of them."

"It would be wrong for you not to be present. I would understand if I were having an event for ladies, but I don’t have enough friends to host one. You mustn’t worry, as I don’t plan to host an event every week. Just every so often when we are all together," Eloise shared.

"It is your way of enforcing that we never drift away from each other," Damien said, bringing more clarity to her intentions.

"Yes. Everyone is doing something of their own and will step away at times. We should have events to bring us all together, and the estate is the best place for it. As lovely as the estate is, it is a bit lonesome when everyone is not present," Eloise said, tired of the lingering silence.

"I know there will come a day when you yearn for peace, and I shall remind you of this moment, but I support your wishes. I only ask that you take your time because there are two weeks for you to prepare. I will get Hannah to draw your bath," Damien said, leaning down to kiss Eloise’s lips.

Eloise grabbed his arm to stop him from leaving. "Do not have it prepared yet. I want to sit with you a little longer, and it will give the maids time to put away what I brought home. I want to see what you did today," she said, looking down at the papers on the table.

"I’m preparing supplies to fix some of the walls. They are old and need to be repaired before they crumble. There are also a few complaints and requests from the tenants on our land. I must visit tomorrow to see to them," Damien said, laying out the papers for Eloise.

"It must all be done before the end of the season," Eloise said, trying her best to understand what Damien shared. "Bring a chair for yourself. We can do it together."

"Yes, dear," Damien cheekily replied.

Damien did as he was told and finished his work with Eloise at his side before leaving to prepare her bath.

They both went back to their quiet routine and, slowly, the days passed one by one until it came time for the gathering Eloise was hosting.

Eloise dressed early and joined the maids in making the surroundings perfect for the guests.

"Eloise, you must take a moment to sit down and have a bit of water. It is all lovely," Iris assured Eloise. "Now that we know for certain you are with child, Damien is running around like a madman. Please sit."

"I have been sitting for some time now. I only got up to rearrange the flowers. I will be the one acting without sense if all of you keep pointing me to a chair. I am with child, not without a foot," Eloise said, continuing with the task at hand. "Joyce is near to help me."

"Very well. I promise not to speak a word of it again. The weather is working in your favour since it is quite warm outside. The wind isn’t so high as to blow away the decorations. I have been keeping an eye on the garden," Iris said.

"Thank you for the helping hand. I hope the weather will remain this good so Reece won’t have any trouble getting to us. I wish he would accept my offer to send a carriage. Do you think he is planning some big surprise?" Eloise wondered, looking away from the flowers.

"I am thinking that he might show up with a child in his arms. He could have lied to us about how far along his wife was. I am curious how well he has settled into your father’s home," said Iris.

"I had it prepared well for his arrival, and Millie would have helped him. She should soon be arriving since I sent the carriage for her. I was thinking that I should have made arrangements for her and Reece to spend the night here," Eloise said, wondering if it was too late.

"Well, depending on how late it ends, they should stay. Olivia would not allow Zayne to stay here. She would drag him out by his ears," Iris chuckled, remembering the sight of Olivia doing it.

"Is that not what happened after your visit for dinner?"

"It was." Iris nodded. "She is quite strong."

"Hannah," Eloise greeted Hannah as she arrived. "Are there any guests?"

"Yes, Lady Hawthorne," Hannah curtsied. "Countess Viola Tompkins is present, and so is Mrs Olivia Bailey."