Page 38 of The Scarred Duke's Bride
If I had known, I might have made an effort to speak with Eric last night.
She did not know why she regretted not speaking to him so much. It was not as if they were friends. But now she found that she missed his face, wanted to see it again, wanted to know what he thought about her seeing him unclothed. Did he mind? Was their relationship changed forever? Did he even care? These were pertinent questions, and she really felt as if she might need the answers right away.
She gasped as an idea struck her. “I shall write him a letter!”
The distraction of her thoughts was working much better than trying to read had. She turned to the table and snatched a foolscap. Taking a quill from her drawer, she pulled her ink bottle closer and dipped the quill in it.
Now that she was ready to write, she had to pause, trying to think what to say, knowing that someone else might read their correspondence.
Dear Eric,
As you may know, I am indisposed at the moment as I tend to get at this time of the month. I suppose that the entire household now knows I’m not pregnant. Father definitely knows— I feel sure of it. I don’t know if this puts our marriage in jeopardy. I suppose that would not be good if what you told me was true.
I don’t know what to do about it. Have you any ideas?
Freya paused, biting the tip of the quill thoughtfully as she tried to find a way to frame the next part.
I wanted to touch on the other night when I ACCIDENTALLY walked in on you while you were bathing. I want to assure you that I saw nothing that I should not have seen — aside from your bare shoulders and chest. Also, your hips, thighs, and feet.
But that is all.
I hope that it does not make you feel uncomfortable to think about it as it was an accident and not something that I wanted to do. Perhaps you could apprise me of your feelings regarding the above? It would really set my mind at ease.
Yours
Freya.
She read through the letter again and again before nodding, sure that it conveyed what she wanted. The feelings bubbling in her chest made it urgent that she send it and receive an answer.
She pulled the bed, summoning a maid, and after sealing it with wax, handed the letter over. “Take it to Mr. Campbell please.”
The maid curtseyed. “Yes, m’lady.”
* * *
Eric expected to receive some letters that day; he was in correspondence with various business associates as well as particular friends from the Navy. What he had not expected was that one of the letters would be from his wife.
“Wha…?” He frowned, breaking the seal, his heart speeding up with anxiety as he unfolded the letter.
His eyes flew over the page as he read through it, and slowly, he began to smile.
“Who has written to you to make your face light up like that?”
His mother’s words had him looking up in startlement. “I beg your pardon. Uh, no one…uh, I mean it’s from Lady Freya. She was just apprising me of her situation.”
Mrs. Campbell’s eyebrow went up. “Does she think you do not know?”
Eric cleared his throat and coughed. “N-no, I suppose she wanted to speak with me.”
His mother’s face inexplicably lit up, and she smiled before letting out a laugh. Eric gave her a quizzical look. “What is it, Mother?”
“Nothing. It is just that our emotions can get jumbled up when we are in our menses. Heightened or just unpredictable. That must be why she’s writing to you even though you just saw each other this morning.”
Eric wanted to correct his mother and tell her that they had not in fact seen each other, but he took her point. He should not read too much into this letter.
“Should I write her back?” he asked.
“Most definitely! She might get very upset if you do not. Maudlin even.”
