Page 39 of The Scarred Duke's Bride
Eric shook his head in bemusement. “What a strange life.”
Mrs. Campbell laughed. “You do not know the half of it, my boy.”
He stood up, clicking his fingers at the footman. “Bring my tea to the study, please. I have letters to write.”
He nodded to his mother and walked off. She just smiled, indulgently.
ChapterSeventeen
Freya startled awake, surprised that she had even been asleep. She did not remember succumbing. She looked around in confusion, wondering what had woken her up. Someone knocked on the door again, and she realized that that was it. “Yes? Come in.”
The door opened, and her lady’s maid came in clutching a tray. “I have brought some more Willow bark tea, hot chocolate, and biscuits. You have also received a letter,” she said breezily, placing the tray on the table beside the bed.
Freya’s stomach roiled at the thought of drinking more Willow bark tea. She would rather endure the cramping pain. The hot chocolate was welcome though, and she perked up at the thought of a letter.
That was until she remembered what she had written to her husband and cringed. She still had no idea what had come over her.
Why did I bring it up? I should just have kept quiet and had a nap. It is clear that I was not thinking straight.
She snatched the letter off the tray, looking over the handwriting and praying that it was anyone else but Eric’s. To her chagrin, she recognized the writing from the contract they’d signed. With trepidation making her insides quake, she undid the seal and opened the paper, her eyes flying over the page.
Dear Freya,
I thank you for your letter alerting me to your condition and concerns. I am sorry that I was not present at the time before you fell ill, so we could discuss this in person. I understand I am not going to see you for some time although I would be happy to visit if you would allow me to. I find, to my surprise, that I shall miss you.
Freya stopped reading with a gasp. She did not understand why he would say that.
This must come as a surprise to you as well. I am filled with amused chagrin even as I write. My mother told me that it is important that we have effective communication for a successful marriage, and so I am trying it out.
As to what it means for our union going forward, many ladies do not conceive immediately after marriage. Some take months, others, years. It would be unreasonable for your father to expect an heir to be conceived after only a few weeks.
“You act as if you have not met him. He will most definitely expect an heir after two weeks,” she murmured to herself.
“I beg your pardon my lady?” her lady’s maid asked from where she was cleaning out the fireplace.
Freya blushed scarlet, having forgotten she was not alone. “No, nothing. I am not saying anything.”
She went back to the letter.
I feel sure we have at least a month before His Grace begins clamoring for results. You are right about him knowing. The butler informed me that he apprised His Grace of the situation right away.
“God damnit!” Freya hissed and then looked up and waved a dismissive hand in the face of her lady’s maid’s inquiring look.
While I was rather taken aback by Silver’s intrusive methods and that your lady’s maid is also his informant, I am glad that we now have this information as we move ahead with OUR lives. It will be useful for future planning.
For now, I wish you well, and should you need anything from me please feel free to ask.
Freya squirmed uncomfortably, her stomach flipping in response to that offer.
What if…?She closed the thought before it could bloom to fruition. Just because her body seemedparticularlyinterested in his touch at the moment did not mean that she was ready for it. It was simply her courses making her feel like throwing caution to the winds.
In any case, even if I offered, I doubt he would be interested. Not with me bleeding and casting up my accounts all over the place. He would be disgusted.
She put the letter aside and stood up, beginning to pace from one end of the room to the other.
“Can I fetch you something else?” her lady's maid asked.
“Thank you, no. In fact, you may leave me now.”
