Page 35 of The Scarred Duke's Bride
Eric entered the study and closed the door softly behind him. He’d just bid goodnight to his mother after talking for a long time. Following dinner, they’d all retired to the music room where Freya and Isabella had entertained them with many a song while they digested their dinner amid brandy, port, and desserts.
Eric could feel his heart breaking for the two of them; they seemed nothing less than two orphans left adrift on the ocean of life with nobody to cling to but each other. His instincts to protect rose up in him unbidden, and he found that as much as he wanted his family to get everything they deserved, he also wanted these two women to be safe and happy.
I can give them what they need.
He resolved to make sure that their inheritance was not threatened but strengthened.
I will do what I have to.
He knew that he couldn’t do it alone. He needed help. Once the girls had stopped playing, Isabella and Freya excused themselves. William was falling asleep where he sat. Eric sent him to bed before turning to his mother with a sigh. He held out his hand, and she put her own in it at once.
“What troubles you, my boy?" she asked tenderly.
He laughed wryly. “Hardly a boy, am I?”
“To me, you always will be.”
He pushed his lips acknowledging the truth of the statement.
“What’s wrong Eric?”
He looked up at her frowning. “I feel as if I am failing this marriage. I’m at a loss as to what to do.”
His mother held up her hand in a quelling gesture. “Do not tell me the intimate details, I don’t want to know. Every marriage is different. What I do know is that the expectations that you start out with rarely match the reality of your situation. So what you feel is the failure of the marriage is probably the failure of your expectations. Be patient. Learn about your partner. You will find that in the end, something better might come of it than you were imagining.”
Eric felt that his mother could not be more wrong. He had walked into this marriage with no expectations — just the hope that they could carry on together peacefully. He knew now that that was not meant to be.
“We cannot be in the same room without fighting,” he confessed with shame.
His mother just smiled, “That means that there’s a tremendous amount of passion between you. That is a good thing.”
Eric huffed, giving his mother a skeptical glance. He felt quite sure she was just trying to console him. “How is it a good thing to fight all the time? We can barely agree on anything.”
“It takes two to fight. If you do not wish to fight with her, then don’t. If she says something to provoke you, refuse to be provoked. Do not say things that you know will anger her.”
“I don’t Mama!” he cried in frustration, “She just takeseverythingI say askance.”
Mrs. Campbell reached out to wrap a hand around his and squeeze. “I know it feels hopeless at the moment, but when next you speak to her, just pause and think before you say anything or respond to anything. If you think that she is provoking you, clarify what she is saying first. Make sure that it is not just your mind twisting things to suit what you expect.”
“I am not doing that; I promise you, Mother.”
She nodded. “If you are doing the best you can, then you have the right to ask her to do the same. In marriage, the most important thing is to ask for what you need, and never expect the other person to just know. Remember that both of you have never been married before. You are both in new territory.”
Eric felt his mother’s words very profoundly.
“You have given me much to think about, mother. Thank you.”
Her smile widened, “I am happy that you are finally home for good my son. This marriage will be good for you, you’ll see. I see how you look at each other. There is great potential for love.”
Eric refrained from snorting derisively. He decided to change the subject. “Enough about me, mother. Tell me how you have been, you and William. I have missed you both terribly.”
They spent the rest of the evening gossiping quietly together. It was a balm to Eric’s soul. When his mother yawned one too many times, he’d urged her to go to bed.
“You should go too,” she told him. “Don’t leave your bride alone for too long.”
He had nodded his acquiescence, escorting her to the stairs before making his way to the study. He still had a lot of work to do, and he wasn’t ready to face Freya yet. He’d rather go to bed when he was sure she was fast asleep.
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