Page 20 of The Scarred Duke's Bride
Freya frowned. “Leaving for where?”
Mrs. Beecham shrugged. “He did not inform me. I am tasked to summon you upstairs so that Diana can help you change into your traveling clothes. A coach awaits you.”
Freya’s heartbeat accelerated with anxiety. She didn’t want to go but knew that making a scene would not help.
Slowly, she got to her feet and followed Mrs. Beecham.
* * *
Eric was enjoying the wine and the food and the fact that his wedding was a success. True, the bride’s father had arranged most of it, but that was as it should be. He saw the governess come to whisper in Freya’s ear and knew immediately that something was afoot, especially since she left the table shortly after.
He did not have long to wait before the Duke’s butler tapped him on the shoulder and asked for a word.
“The carriage is ready, sir, to transport you to your honeymoon. I trust your bags are packed?”
Eric huffed with irritation. “Asa matter of fact, they are not. I was under the impression that we would have to wait a few days before leaving.”
“Indeed, it was a matter of the bride’s trousseau which has now been resolved. Therefore, there is no need to wait.”
He narrowed his eyes at the butler. “And what ofmyattire?”
“Of course, we shall be happy to pass by your home and collect it. I trust you had packed your bags to get ready for your move to Stark Manor?”
As a matter of fact, Eric had never quite unpacked the bag that he’d come ashore with, and it contained most of his clothes. He didn’t really want to admit that to the butler, however, so he said nothing.
Mr. Silver nodded as if he had read Eric’s mind. “We shall be ready to go presently.”
With a sigh of irritation, Eric turned back to the dining room, leaving the butler to stand by himself in the hall.
ChapterEleven
“Bath? Why Bath?” Eric asked as he peered out of the window.
Freya also leaned forward to look outside. She had never been to Bath before. To her mortification, she was quite excited to be in a new place. She wasn’t about to tell anyone that though.
Opposite her, Mr. Silver sat sphinxlike, not bothering to take in the scenery. “His Grace thought that you might benefit from taking the waters,” he said to Eric, “but aside from that, there is little else to do here but, er, socialize with each other at this time of year.”
Freya blushed taking his meaning. She glanced at Eric, wondering whether he was complicit in her father’s plans for them. She was glad to see he looked just as displeased as she was. He had said he would give her time, and she meant to hold him to that.
“Silver, do you not think that it is none of your business what a man and his wife do?” Eric asked.
“His Grace has set me a task, and I mean to complete it. If you have any objections, you can take them up with him,” Silver replied haughtily.
Freya snorted derisively. “Do not even act like you’re not enjoying yourself,” she murmured half under her breath.
“I am merely assisting the Duke in his endeavors and nothing more, I do assure you, Mrs. Campbell.”
Freya turned up her nose at him before turning away to stare at the passing scenery. She had not been aware that there were so many hills in Bath. Night was falling, and the streets were fairly empty. She looked forward to seeing them in the daytime and to learning exactly what these waters were and why people loved to take to them.
The carriage arrived at a massive pair of gates and stopped. Without any preamble, the gates were opened, and they rode into the compound.
“Whose residence is this?” Freya asked.
“This is one of your father’s properties, Mrs. Campbell,” Silver said. “We shall be staying here for the duration.”
The carriage stopped, and Eric alighted before holding out his hand to help Freya alight in turn. She murmured a word of thanks, looking up at the veritable mansion in surprise. She knew vaguely that her father owned various properties across the country, but he had never given them more details than that. That this magnificent mansion belonged to him was certainly unexpected.
Silver began to walk towards the massive front doors. “Follow me,” he said.
