Page 94 of The Scarred Duke's Bride
“Yes, just stretching our legs. We’re fine.”
Eric reached out a hand to help them up the embankment and escorted them back to the carriage. The smaller carriage containing William, Isabella, and the lady’s maids had also come to a stop. Isabella came up to them. “Is everything all right?”
“Yes. Yes.” Freya reached out and squeezed her hand. “Let us get back on the road. I cannot wait to reach the inn and lie down.”
“Are you tired?” Eric asked, looking around anxiously. “Perhaps we can find somewhere closer to stop.”
“No, it’s fine. Let us keep to our itinerary.”
She climbed into the carriage and collapsed onto the seat, eyes closed. Isabella climbed in, and Mama Campbell went to sit with William in the other carriage. To Freya’s surprise, Eric also climbed into the carriage and sat opposite Freya. He held out his hands. “Give me your feet.”
Freya’s eyes widened. “I beg your pardon?”
“Give me your feet.”
Slowly, uncertainly, she raised one foot and handed it to him. He grabbed her boot and began to undo the laces as she watched, nonplussed. He put her stockinged foot on his thigh and then gestured for the other. She lifted her other foot, and he gave it the same treatment. Then he took hold of her first foot and began to massage it. With a sigh, she leaned back in the seat and closed her eyes.
She was surprised at how pleasurable it felt as he dug into her flesh, squeezing and kneading. She was enjoying herself so much that she almost moaned out loud. He seemed to pay minute attention to every inch of her foot and each touch sent tendrils of feeling up her legs before fanning out to every nerve in her body.
She arched her back, pursing her lips so as not to let out a sound.
“It feels good, does it not?” he asked softly.
“Ooh,” she groaned in reply. Her back pain was slowly dissipating.
He dropped his hand up her leg under her skirt and then back down to circle her ankle, squeezing it gently. She hummed in contentment, her head thrown back, eyes closed, she smiled.
“You look as placid as the Madonna, my darling mother-to-be," he murmured softly.
Freya’s smile widened, but she didn’t say a word. She was too busy enjoying the massage. The carriage jerked as the wheels went over a pothole, and she was flung to the side. Her eyes flew open, and she threw her hands out to break her fall, but Eric was already there to catch her. His arms were tight around her waist, and he pulled her towards himself, depositing her in his lap.
“I think this is the safest place for you," he whispered in her ear.
She giggled. “Yes, it seems roads have no love for me these days. I cannot travel on one without getting hurt.”
“I’m sorry, but I feel it’s too soon to be joking about that. At least, let your head injury heal completely.”
She laid her cheek against his. “Poor dear. Are you very worried about me?”
“How could I not be? Look how accident-prone you are.”
She put her hands around his neck. “Perish the thought. Just because I fell off a horse one time does not mean that I am accident-prone.”
“And what of just now? When you almost fell out of the door?”
“I did not!" she protested.
“Oh? And what would you call it? Because I saw you almost flying. Had I not been fast enough to catch you, you would have landed in the middle of the field.”
She threw her head back and shouted with laughter. “You are so dramatic. You have missed your calling Sir. You should have tried out for Drury Lane instead of the Navy.”
Eric was grinning from ear to ear. “Tuh. And who says I can’t do both?”
Freya smiled into his eyes. “Well, if you’re intending to start a new career, you are headed in the wrong direction. We are leaving London behind us.”
“Yes well…” he rubbed her belly, “there are things more important than my career afoot. I do not want to miss a second of them.”
Freya’s cheeks hurt from how hard she was smiling. She leaned in and put her forehead against Eric's, her gaze meeting his from beneath her lashes. She pushed in slowly until their lips were touching. He slanted his mouth over hers, his tongue sliding across her lips, seeking entrance into her mouth. She patted her lips and let him in, and they kissed softly yet intently for an interminable time.
