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With that, she pulled William by the hand, and as they left, she heard one of the younger boys ask, “Why is his face so scarred?”

Eveline quickened her steps, but she could not help but hear Jeffery yell at the little boy.

She stole a glance at her husband, but his face was not quite readable.

“I am so sorry,” she whispered.

“I am used to it,” William said simply.

Eveline stopped in her tracks and took her husband’s hands. “But you do not have to be.

He simply shrugged. “What other choice do I have?”

“You got this scar while fighting for your country, and no one should make you feel bad for it,” she said fervently, her anger flaring.

“You are right,” William relented. “However, it does not quite affect me.”

Eveline knew that was a lie. After all, she had seen the look on his face when the woman had yelped at the sight of him.

He had looked hurt, and the smile in his eyes had dimmed. It definitely affected him.

“I do not believe you,” she responded as they resumed walking.

William sighed. “I do not want you to bother yourself with such a frivolous matter.”

“But it is not a frivolous matter,” she insisted.

“If only you had been here when I had just returned from the war,” he said, rather amusedly.

“What happened then?” she asked.

“Well, my looks had invited more severe reactions,” he explained.

“How so?”

What could possibly be more severe than someone screaming in shock at the sight of his scar?

“My scar was still fresh when I returned. It was red and rather ugly,” he said.

“And the ton did not take kindly to it?”

“Oh, they did not.” He chuckled. “Some people bolted at the sight of my scar. “

Eveline gasped in outrage.

How could they?

“I do not blame them,” William continued. “After all, people fear what they do not know.”

“That is simply inhumane!” she huffed.

Poor William!

“I became a recluse after an especially unpleasant experience when I went to the lawyer’s offices upon my return. I should have simply invited him to my home, but I wanted to go out into town. I regretted it instantly. The moment I stepped out of my carriage, mothers clutched their babies to their chests as though I was a monster who would devour the little ones.”

Eveline’s heart ached for him. Not only was it sad that he had experienced that, but it was even more heartbreaking that he had been all alone.

“You do not have to tolerate such disrespect,” she told him.