Page 69 of The Scarred Duke's Bride

“Take off our clothes?” she finished for him.

He grinned. “Yes.”

Letting go of him, she turned around. “In that case, would you kindly unlace me?”

* * *

Eric lay on the bed, listening to Freya breathe in and out, her body sprawled with careless abandon over the white sheet. He had no idea what time it was, only that it had gotten dark some time ago. He debated with himself whether they should stay here or make their way to the manor. But then he remembered that nobody knew where they were.

With a sigh, he woke Freya up.

“Wha…?” She blinked a few times, rubbing her eyes and looking confused.

“It’s getting late. We should head back to the main house.”

“Oh…” she sighed, sitting up, yawning, and rubbing her eyes.

He smiled fondly at her. “Are you very tired?”

“No, but I was having the most restful sleep.”

“I’m sorry for waking you.”

“It’s no problem.” She looked around. “I think it’s because it’s so quiet here. Nobody walking down corridors or shouting. It’s just…you and me.”

“Indeed.”

“We should come back another time.”

“I concur," he agreed as he got to his feet and grabbed his breeches. Once he’d donned them, he picked up Freya’s gown from the floor. “Allow me to help you.”

“Oh, thank you.”

Once they were fully dressed, they walked out of the house, hand in hand, and made their way slowly up the darkened garden towards the house. They walked along the paths as Freya enjoyed the night air and regaled Eric with stories of which plants bloomed or were most fragrant at night.

“Your mother taught you all that?” he asked with wonder.

“Yes, she did.” She smiled. “She loved to teach me, I think. Were she not a lady, she would have made an excellent governess.”

He squeezed her hand. “I’m sure she’s very proud of you.”

ChapterTwenty-Six

To their utter surprise, they arrived at the house to find the Duke waiting.

“And where have you been? I have been waiting since this afternoon!” he growled.

“We did not know you were coming father,” Freya ventured to say.

“That’s no excuse!” he shouted.

“Do not speak to her that way, sir!” Eric said, much to Freya’s surprise. No one had ever come to her defense before. She turned to see that her father was also gawping in surprise at Eric.

She smiled. “You should have had your butler inform us that you were coming and that you would need to be attended to immediately. Since you didn’t, you cannot blame us for not knowing. In any case, did Silver not provide you with everything you needed? I thought that was his purpose.”

The Duke glared at her. “Do not think you can speak to me that way just because you have a husband, girl.”

“Speak what way, Father? Honestly?”