The carriage ride back to the Benson mansion was completely silent. When the carriage finally reached a complete stop in the large stone courtyard, the doors of the mansion were already open.
Uncle Murry was standing at the top of the stairs, waiting for them. When he saw the hired carriage, a massive, warm smile spread across his wrinkled face. He walked quickly down the stone steps to et them.
"My lady, you are ho," Uncle Murry said happily as he went to welco them.
The carriage driver opened the door. Damon did not wait for the footman. He moved smoothly and got down from the carriage first. His boots hit the stone pavent with a solid thud.
He turned around and looked into the carriage. Camilla was sitting there, her feet tucked under her sapphire-blue dress.
Damon reached into the carriage and picked up her soft shoes from the velvet seat.
Then, right in the middle of the courtyard, the great General did sothing completely unexpected. He did not order a maid to help her. He did not tell her to walk barefoot.
Damon slowly bent his knees. He knelt down on one knee onto the stone pavent directly in front of the carriage door. He reached out his hand and gently took hold of her right ankle.
Camilla gasped softly in surprise. She looked down at him.
Damon carefully, and very gently, slipped the soft shoe onto her foot. He made sure it fit perfectly. Then, he took her left ankle and did the exact sa thing with the other shoe. His touch was incredibly gentle for a man who fought in brutal wars.
Murry stood a few feet away, he frowned at first. He was expecting to see only Camilla but Damon too is with her, in the sa carriage.
He watched them in silence.
Inside Murry’s mind, his heart was absolutely lting with joy.
"Oh, look at the General," Murry thought to himself, completely deeply moved by the sight. "He is one of the most powerful military commander in the kingdom, but he kneels down to put shoes on his wife’s feet. He is so completely devoted to her. Their love is truly growing stronger every single day."
As Damon finished helping her put on her shoes, he stood back up. He reached out his hand and helped Camilla step down from the carriage.
As soon as she was standing on the courtyard stones, the cool evening wind blew past them. Camilla shivered slightly. Her dress sat very low on her shoulders, leaving her skin exposed to the cold air.
Damon looked at her bare shoulders. He looked at her elegant collarbones. He rembered the half-naked n staring at her in the private room. He felt that sharp, strange feeling of possessiveness rise in his chest again. He absolutely hated the idea of anyone else looking at her skin.
Without saying a single word, Damon reached up and unbuttoned his military coat. He removed his coat from his broad shoulders.
He stepped close to Camilla and draped the warm coat directly over her. He pulled the thick fabric tightly around her, completely covering her bare skin from the cold wind and from anyone’s eyes.
The coat was huge on her small fra. It slled like clean soap, leather, and him. It was incredibly warm.
Camilla did not say a word. She was still feeling annoyed and rebellious, but she was also cold, so she accepted the coat. She pulled the large fabric closer around her chest. She turned her back to him and began to walk up the stone steps leading to the grand foyer.
Damon walked right behind her, acting like a giant, silent shadow.
As they reached the top of the stairs and stepped into the bright foyer, Uncle Murry bowed very deeply.
"My Lady, My Lord," Murry greeted them, his voice full of deep respect and hidden happiness. He was thrilled to see them coming ho together in the sa carriage.
Camilla stopped walking. She looked at the older housekeeper and smiled her usual, polite smile.
"Thank you so much, Uncle Murry," Camilla said warmly.
Murry straightened his back. He clasped his hands together in front of him. He looked at Damon, and then he looked at Camilla. He had very important news to deliver.
"The old duke has arrived," Murry announced clearly. "And he has been waiting for you two. I sent a ssage to the camp but they replied back saying you were not around."
Damon stopped walking instantly. He froze in his tracks.
His eyes widened in absolute, pure shock.
"What?" Damon asked. His deep voice cracked slightly. He stared at Murry as if the older man had just announced the end of the world.
Duke Carson was Damon’s grandfather. He was the head of the Benson family. He was an incredibly strict, powerful, and demanding man. He lived far away at the main family estate and almost never visited this military mansion unless sothing was terribly wrong.
Damon’s mind raced. Did the old Duke find out about the contract marriage? Did he find out about the fight in the lower city? Did he find out about the male escorts?
While Damon was internally panicking, Camilla was completely calm. In fact, she found his sudden fear highly amusing.
Camilla looked at Damon’s shocked face with a very unserious, highly playful look. She enjoyed seeing him lose his perfect composure.
She turned back to Murry and smiled brightly.
"I am delighted to et grandfather," Camilla lied smoothly, her voice full of fake excitent. She had never t the man, but she was ready to put on a good show.
Murry smiled proudly. "Please, follow . He is resting in the drawing room."
Murry turned around and began to walk down the hallway. Camilla took a step to follow him.
Suddenly, a large hand grabbed her arm.
Damon held Camilla back tightly. He pulled her gently but firmly into a small, shadowed alcove in the hallway, letting Murry walk ahead without them.
Damon looked down at her. His face was completely serious and filled with urgent desperation.
"Help act in front of grandfather," Damon spoke in a harsh, fast whisper.
He knew his grandfather was here to inspect their marriage. If the old Duke thought they were unhappy, he would cause endless problems. Damon needed Camilla to pretend they were a perfectly loving, happy couple.
Camilla looked at his desperate face. She leaned back against the stone wall. She crossed her arms over his military coat.
She was a smart modern woman. She never did anything for free.
"What is in it for ?" Camilla asked softly, a wicked, calculating smirk forming on her lips. She raised a delicate eyebrow. "Why should I help you?"
Damon glared at her. He knew she was taking advantage of his panic, but he had absolutely no choice. He had to negotiate.
"I will give you a wish," Damon offered quickly, his whisper low and firm. "Just one."
Camilla’s eyes lit up. A free wish from the wealthiest, most powerful General in the kingdom! She opened her mouth, fully intending to ask for a signed divorce paper imdiately.
Damon saw the look in her eyes. He knew exactly what she was going to ask for. He quickly cut her off.
"Except divorce," Damon added strictly, his eyes narrowing. "You cannot wish for a divorce. Anything else."
Camilla closed her mouth. She frowned slightly, highly annoyed that he had ruined her perfect plan. But a free wish was still a free wish. She could ask for gold, a new house, or an estate later.
Camilla nodded her head in agreent.
"Fine," Camilla whispered back. "Deal."
Damon let out a quick breath of relief. He let go of her arm.
They stepped out of the dark alcove and walked quickly down the bright hallway together. They reached the large, open doors of the formal drawing room.
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