Page 86 of The Scarred Duke's Bride
Eric got to his feet, turning away. “You don’t have to say that. Stark Manor will be yours one day. The will did not specify that you had to have your child with me. You could have a child with just about anybody, and they will be eligible to inherit the home. Of course, I will look after you until you are settled; you need not worry about a thing. I don’t think Silver will stop you from living at Stark Manor.”
There was a loud silence in the room as Eric waited for Freya to say something.
“You…really want me to go?” She sounded broken and disbelieving.
“I think it would be for the best. I spoke with the lawyer, and he can have the separation papers drawn up by tomorrow. By the time your mourning period is over, you will be free.” He moved to the window to look outside because he could not bear to look into her face.
“W-what if I don’t w-want to be free?”
He shook his head. “You are kind Freya. And thoughtful. You deserve everything the world can possibly offer you. I am setting you free so that you can be happy. Please don’t insult my gift with pity.”
He folded his arms, back hunched, as if that might contain the pain he was feeling. He whirled around with resolve. “I shall spend the night in the library. Goodbye, Freya.” He walked out quickly, relieved that she did not say a word.
* * *
Freya was glad she had not unpacked her bag. She simply redressed in her mourning gown, fixed her veil on her head, picked up her bag, and left. The sun had long set, and maybe it was a bad idea to travel alone in an unfamiliar part of town by herself, but she needed to get as far away as she could from Eric.
How dare he? After promising never to abandon me, he does it at the drop of a hat when I’m at my most vulnerable?
She did not know if she was heartbroken or enraged. She walked out of the front door without anyone seeing her, going around to the stables and choosing a horse. She was quite sure she could find her way to her father’s townhouse from where she was. If not, she could always ask for directions.
She picked a chestnut mare who seemed fairly docile and climbed on her back, tying her bag to the saddle behind her. Spurring on the horse, she took off at a gallop down the tree-lined lane that led to the main road. The streetlamps were spotty at best, and she had to ride for long periods of time in the dark.
If she had not felt so emotionally volatile, she might have turned back. Instead, she spurred her horse on, urging it to go faster, so she could reach somewhere lighted a lot quicker. Her horse was ready to comply and went from a canter to full gallop.
She did not see the puddle of water that someone had flung out of their house and into the street. Her horse lost her footing, slipping in the mud, and the next thing she knew, Freya was flying in the air, and she slammed into the sidewalk. She had no time to feel pain before she blacked out.
* * *
Eric woke up to somebody shaking him. He opened his blurry eyes, looking around in confusion. He vaguely remembered drowning in a bottle of whiskey before blacking out in his study chair. “What’s the matter?” he asked irritably.
“You have to wake up, Eric!” William sounded urgent.
Eric tried his best to open his eyes and straighten up in the chair. “Where’s the fire?”
“You need to come at once. It’s Freya.”
Eric frowned. What could William possibly mean? If Freya was leaving, she had every right to. He had told her to…
“Please you must come. Freya is hurt.”
Suddenly the drunkenness was gone from Eric. “What do you mean? What happened?”
William shrugged. “They brought her in on a stretcher. Lucky they recognized the horse was ours.”
Eric shot to his feet. “What do you meanbrought her in?”
William shifted impatiently from foot to foot. “Please won’t you come? She needs you.”
Eric realized that he was standing around asking inane questions when Freya washurt. He stumbled around the desk and began to make for the door. “Where is she?”
“They put her in the guest chamber on the ground floor,” William said, hurrying after him. “Mama has called the sawbones. Mrs. Burberry is seeing to her now.”
Eric walked faster. “Do you know what happened to her?”
“It was an accident, they said. She fell off the horse.”
In addition to fear and concern, Eric began to feel guilty. If Freya was out riding a horse, it was probably because he had told her to leave.
