It had been an enjoyable day, but Eric was glad to be almost home. Eva would be waiting for him. He liked the thought of that. As he turned down the lane two figures were walking across the front lawn. It was his wife with the last person he would have wanted to find her with, David! He turned toward them. As he approached he saw David’s barely disguised glare, but Eva, she smiled cautiously, she realized he was angry. He held his hand out to her, without saying a word. She did not immediately take it.
Eva turned to David. “Thank you for seeing me home.”
She then turned and took Eric’s hand. He pulled her up before him. Eric felt her surprise when he immediately rode off without a word to her escort. Once home, he handed her down to a groom. Once he dismounted he took her by the arm and walked her in the house and straight up to her room.
“What were you doing out walking with David at this time of the evening. I would have thought you would be already abed.”
“I spent the day with Nora. She invited me to stay for dinner. It was almost dark so her father suggested David walk me home.”
“I realize you were not told before, but let me be very clear now, you are not to be out after dark without Mary, and I do not want you anywhere near David Law, alone, ever! You cannot trust him, do you understand?”
He was talking to her as if she were a child. She did not like it, not one bit. She went on the attack. “From what I hear, it is you who should not be trusted!” Oh no, why had she said that? She regretted the words the moment she realized she had said them aloud. He had given her no reason to believe he would not keep the vows they took on their wedding day. She had seen him flinch as though she had stuck him and she saw all the ground she had made with him slip away in a matter of seconds.
“What did he tell you?” Eric demanded
“Just that you placed your attention on a girl he cared for, and she no longer cared for him as a result. I am sorry Eric, I should not have said that. I was just angry with how you were talking to me.”
“You said it, so you obviously believe it!” he shot back.
“It does not matter, you were young. I said it in anger, please.” She tried to reach out to him.
He took a step back from her. “You will stay away from David, if you visit Nora, fine, but you are never to be alone with him.”
“I understand.” She assured him.
He left her room and did not return that night. She could not seem to get warm without him.
