Caught in the Storm of a Duke's - Abby Ayles Page 0,45

He had invited her into his special place, and he had shared that sacredness with her.

If Abigail would never forgive him, and she would be within her rights.

He should send them away, Lady Judith and her maid, but he could not bring himself to do so. And it had nothing to do with being a man of his word.

Perhaps, he was learning to be selfish. Perhaps, he was simply tired of hurting.

He could not deny that he relished the warmth and light she brought to his life, the happiness, the comfort … how she made his heart beat faster.

He was only a man. A man who was starting to realize just how much he missed feeling something other than pain and sadness.

Three years.

That was how long it had been since the accident. Three years living in misery. He had mourned, he had wept. Was it not enough? Could he not allow himself this joy?

Even if it only lasted a little while.

Surely, Abigail would understand. She would come to forgive him.

And if she did, what about Judith?

He began to tremble as he heard that voice. The one that only spoke in his mind. He closed his ears, not wanting to listen, but he did anyway.

If Abigail would forgive him, would Judith? He knew more than anyone, the pain of losing a loved one.

Would he not be the cruelest of men if he let her come close, if he allowed her to love him, only to leave her forever in a few years?

He was not long for this world. He ailed still. His days were numbered, he felt it in his bones.

Perhaps that was all the more reason to revel in what joy he could in the time he had left.

Yet, it would be wickedness to bring pain to others, especially the woman he was starting to care for, in exchange for a few years of bliss.

What would he do? Was he destined to live in misery for the remainder of his life? Betided by woes? Why had fate brought Lady Judith to him? Why had it filled him with hope and a glimpse of the life that would never be his?

What great sin had he committed to suffer so?

His bones began to grow weak. He could hear them crack as they shrunk, causing him to curl into a ball.

It was coming again … the darkness that would one day claim him for good. He could feel it. It was near, so near.

Everywhere hurt. His joints ached. It was impossible to keep his eyes open.

The shadows were certain to be lingering and he could not look at them, would not.

His breath paused and he felt he didn’t have much time left. With the last ounce of strength, he could muster, he reached for the bell and rang it.

He would come, now. His friend, Thomas, would come.

Once he heard the bell, his butler would come running, knowing something was amiss. He would take care of his master—and all would be well.

For now.

Stephen continued to struggle through labored breaths, trembling still, teeth gritted lest he cried out in pain.

Just then, he heard the door to his chamber open and footfalls hurried to his side.

“Your Grace!” Thomas cried.

Those were the last words Stephen heard before his world went blank.

***

It was a dreamless sleep. No beauty, no ugliness. Only seemingly endless nothingness.

When Stephen finally came to, it was a new day and the sun was out, shining in all its glory.

Its golden rays spilled into his chambers from the open windows, telling him that Thomas had been there that morning to let in the light and air.

He slowly rose to a sitting position, careful not to upset the bones in his body that were bound to still ache.

Memories of the events of the night before flooded him and a sigh escaped his lips. It was a broken one, filled with despair.

The fits had started when he had first woken after the accident. He had slept for two weeks after they had found him in the wreck.

In those weeks, he had remained oblivious to the world around him, as he fought for his life.

Eventually, he had come to. He had awakened with no memory of the incident, for it was filled with such pain that his mind had forced itself to forget.

The physician and his staff had tried to shield him from the ugly truth.

However, as days went by and they would not let him leave his chambers or see Abigail, when he watched them speak in