Page 71 of The Scarred Duke's Bride
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Eric woke up to find that he was alone in bed. That was a disappointment because he had some very vivid dreams that he wanted to make reality. His body was already aroused; it was anticlimactic to find that Freya was not around.
He peered grumpily out of the window. “How early did she awaken?” The sky was gray, the early morning sun hidden behind angry clouds. It looked like it just might rain. He could see people milling about below in the gardens. Suddenly, from the direction of the rose garden, Freya emerged, followed by Isabella. They seemed to be walking very determinedly towards the house. Grabbing his banyan, he slipped it on before donning his slippers. He hurried out of his room, wanting to find out what do she was up to.
He caught up with them at the bottom of the stairs leading to the dining room and knew that they were going to confront their father. He slowed down, leaning against the wall next to the dining room, and he listened.
“Good morning, Father,” Freya said.
The Duke simply grunted in response. Eric frowned in annoyance.
There was the sound of chairs being pushed and cutlery clacking against each other.
Otherwise, everything was dead silent. He was tempted to lean forward and peer into the room, but he did not want to inadvertently be seen.
“How long are you staying?”
Eric smiled at Freya’s boldness, having come to understand that when it came to her father, it certainly was not the norm.
“Are you with child? If you are, I shall leave right away.”
Eric straightened up with a frown, ready to walk into the room and confront the Duke.
“I just got married father. These things take time as you know. Didn’t you and mother wait six years before I was born?”
“Humph!” The Duke did not sound amused. Eric leaned back against the wall, smiling, now confident that Freya had it under control.
“And then between me and Isabella, you waited what? Another six years?”
Eric covered his mouth to stifle the laughter that wanted to bust out.
“Yes, well, your mother and I didn’t go about embarrassing our sires by completely disappearing during the party of the season and coming back wet and bedraggled with no explanation like a couple of ill-bred orphans.”
Eric took a step forward, feeling it was his duty to explain what happened, seeing as it was his fault that they had disappeared. “If there was anybody who behaved ill-bred, it was not us,” Freya snapped.
“And what is that supposed to mean?”
“It means, Father, that you should learn to hear all the facts before you judge the case. I can see why the district went with Somerton as a magistrate since you make up your mind even before asking a single question.”
The sound of cutlery cluttering onto a dish as if thrown was preceded by a growl. “Howdareyou speak to me in such a way!”
Eric felt that it was really time for him to intervene. He strode into the dining room. “Shedaresbecause she has probably heard you speak to her in such a way for years.” Pulling back his banyan, he pulled out a chair and sat down next to Freya. “Good morning.” He smiled at both Freya and Isabella.
Freya was staring at him wide-eyed, a blush staining her cheeks. “Good morning,” she said softly.
The Duke sneered at them both. “I see she has you wrapped around her little finger. Well, congratulations. Are you to enjoy each other’s company even more so that I may get my heir before I die?”
Eric leaned forward so that he was looking the Duke in the eye. “You may say whatever you like to me, but if you speak to my wife like that again, I will be forced to call you out.”
The Duke threw back his head and laughed. “You? A soldier? Calling out a sick man on his last legs who happens to also be the man from whom you will inherit your title? How would that look?”
“I want you to believe me when I tell you that I would not give a tinker’s damn how itlooks.”
“Oh, of course. You have no thought for others’ opinions, am I right?” The Duke sneered, “Well let me educate you,Lieutenant Commander. You are in a different world now where reputation is everything. What people think of you is theonlycurrency.”
“In that case, I don’t suppose you would like for yours to be ruined, would you?” Eric challenged.
The Duke shrugged, “As I said, I am on my deathbed. Whatever smears you put on my name, I will not have to bear them long.”
