Page 31 of The Scarred Duke's Bride
She even smiled at him. “Of course, if you wish to see them. I expect you’ll have a lot of work, looking over the books and such.”
“I suppose I shall. But even I can make some time for leisure. We might not have had much of it in the Navy, but it was always important to have some rest between all the work.”
She made a non-committal sound as the door opened, and her sister came running out. “Freya! You’re back.” She threw her arms around Freya, hugging her tight.
Eric could not help but smile even as he thought wistfully of his brother and how much he missed Alexander. His eyes widened in surprise as William appeared at the front door, also smiling.
What on earth is he doing here?
He alighted from the vehicle and made his way to his brother. As soon as William saw him, he trotted down the stairs to greet him, his smile widening into a grin. “Eric. You’re back early. Mama said you’d be gone for at least a week.”
“I did not know you’d be here when I arrived,” Eric noted, ignoring his brother’s curiosity.
“Yes, His Grace asked us to escort Isabella home and remain here with her until you arrived.”
“Oh, he did? How kind of him,” Eric said sardonically.
“Isabella was glad of the company although she insisted that she isn’t a baby and could manage quite well on her own,” he confided. He leaned in, lowering his voice. “I think she might have been scared to travel with just her governess though.”
Eric suspected that the Duke had his own sinister reasons for sending his family along with Isabella. Perhaps he meant to remind Eric what was at stake.
It’s not as if I can forget,he thought resentfully with an acidic glance at Freya. He was trying his best, but the arm wringing had him a little impatient. He knew full well what Freya was bracing herself for. He had to look at his own face in the looking glass every day. He knew his scar must fill her with horror.
I wonder if I should offer to wear a bag over my head?
His bitter amusement did nothing to assuage the bile that rose in his throat. Many men had been injured in the war, some, far worse than he. But ego or not, he knew he’d been a handsome man before his injury, one who was well sought after and never short of prospects.
Now people found it hard to look him in the face.
One thing he could say for Freya, she did not flinch when she had to gaze upon his visage. If he did not know better, he would assume she barely noticed the jagged ugly line zig-zagging across his face and down his neck.
She and her sister finished twittering to each other, and Isabella turned to greet him. Unlike her sister, she could not hide her reaction to his scar. She made a face and flicked her eyes away before curtsying properly and greeting him formally. “Mr. Campbell, welcome," she murmured.
“Thank you, Lady Isabella. I am sure your sister and I will be very happy here.”
She murmured something unintelligible and then ran off back into the house, all without looking directly at him again. His brother followed her, a huge grin on his face. His mother appeared, descending the steps to embrace him. “I know you are surprised to find us here, but His Grace insisted.”
He hugged her back. “I am glad of it, Mama. I haven’t seen the two of you in too long.”
She smiled in relief. “That is good. I did not want to get in the way of your marriage.”
Eric gave her a sardonic smile. “You won’t.”
She turned to Freya, embracing her as well. “I’ve always wanted a daughter,” she said quietly. “Now, I have two.”
To Eric’s surprise, Freya’s bottom lip trembled, and she looked ready to burst into tears. Instead, she grabbed onto his mother and clung on as if she might never let go. Eric turned away, following their bags into the manor house. He stood in the curved foyer, looking around curiously. The corridor was well-lit, thanks to high windows flanking the door. The walls were also gaily colored in a summery yellow, adding to the brightness. After the foyer was a flight of stairs that curved upward, and several doors lined the corridor culminating in a large wooden door at the other end.
Eric was eager to explore it all but first, he needed to freshen up. He turned towards the door as Freya and his mother came in. “Might we be shown to our quarters?” he asked.
His mother jerked in startlement. “Of course, silly me. They have prepared the married quarters for you in the south wing, away from the rest of us busybodies.” She smiled fondly. “Come with me, I shall show you.”
Then she stopped as if realizing something. “Unless…you want to show your husband on your own, Lady Freya?”
Freya’s eyes widened as she looked from Eric to his mother. “N-no. Please do lead the way,” she said.
Eric refrained from rolling his eyes.What does the girl think is going to happen if we are left alone?
Whatever she thought, she was very much mistaken.
