“Wake up my sweet, we need to get you ready.” Mary started digging in the wardrobe.
“Where am I going?”
Mr. Butler told me you will be joining him at the Frasier’s for the day.”
She was so happy, after last night she was surprised he wanted her along. Eva ate breakfast alone. Eric finally came downstairs, escorted her to the carriage without a word, and they were off.
“Eric, I want to apologize again for what I said last night. I truly did not mean it.” Eric said nothing.
They arrived at the Frasier’s and Ben was the first to greet them. He assisted her down from the carriage and immediately noticed Eric’s foul mood.
“Come Eva, I want to introduce you to my family.”
He leaned down and whispered. “What is with Eric?”
“I said something I should not have last night. He is angry with me.”
“I see.”
“I apologized, I truly did not mean what I said, but it made no difference.”
“He will get over it soon enough, he always was a brooder.”
She and Ben entered the drawing room, “Everyone, this is Eric’s best kept secret. His wife, Eva.”
“This is my sister Evie, she is the one all this uproar is for.”
“Ben has told us so much about you. Come, we are doing some last minute preparations. Ben’s family was so nice. Soon the men went off to do their own thing and the women were busy with last minutes items making sure all was ready for the big day.
Ben rejoined the men. “So Eric, I hear your beautiful wife has a bit of a temper.”
“What did she tell you?” Eric asked.
“She told me she said something to you in anger that she truly did not mean, but you have yet to forgive her.”
“She had dinner with Nora and her family last night. When I came home she was being escorted by David across the front lawn.”
“He is sending you a message I suppose.” Ben suggested.
“A message, what message?”
“Two can play the same game, perhaps.”
“You mean he is trying to show me he can get to my wife. Fiona was not David’s wife when I perused her, and we were barely Eva’s age at the time.”
“Yes Eric, but he was in love with her, always had been.” Ben reiterated.
“I did nothing more than flirt with her and steel a couple of innocent kisses in fun. It is not the same as. Eva is my wife.”
“Fiona was infatuated with you, what did you think would happen. She had nothing more to do with David afterwards.”
“What did Eva say to you?
“I told her she could not trust him. She said from what she had heard it was I who could not be trusted.”
“Why was she so angry that she would lash out at you? What you are telling me does not justify it.
“I approached them simply held my hand out to her. When she took my hand I turned and immediately rode away without a word to David.”
Ben started to laugh. “My friend, against your better judgment and resolve I am here to tell inform you that you are in love with your lovely little wife, and she is in love with you.”
Eric’s response was nearly violent. “I do not love her! I will never love her! I needed her money. Yes, she is beautiful. Yes, I enjoying making love to her, but I will never love her!”
