Caught in the Storm of a Duke's - Abby Ayles Page 0,75
smile, made visible by the gas lamp that remained lit, glowing softly.
“Why, you, Your Grace. Who else could it be?”
Stephen chuckled. He would have said something, but the wiles of sleep claimed him once more.
When he roused himself again, it was dawn, and Thomas was still in his chamber, but, this time, he was standing by the window, looking out over the fields.
He did not look Stephen’s way but, somehow, he knew Stephen had awoken.
“It’s a beautiful day, Your Grace. A perfect one for a ride out. What do you say?”
Stephen started to rise but his body protested, still aching from the fit.
He heaved a sigh when he finally managed to sit up.
“How bad was it?” he asked.
Thomas did not ask what he was talking about. Turning away from the window, the butler came to stand by his bed.
“Worse than it has been in a long while,” he answered.
Stephen sighed again.
Thomas was quick to add, “I think it was because you haven’t suffered any seizures in weeks. It returned with quite the tide.”
“Yes, that would explain it.”
Stephen paused as he wondered whether he wanted to hear the answer to his next question. He decided to ask, regardless.
“Did anybody see?”
“A few servants, but they know to keep their mouths shut. Thankfully, we reached your chamber before you collapsed.”
Before Stephen could say another word, Thomas rang the bell by his bedside.
“I asked Sarah to prepare your favorite. It will be brought up in a moment.”
Stephen nodded. “Thank you, Thomas.”
He was beyond grateful. He had no inkling how he could have made it through the past years without Thomas by his side.
The old man’s response was a simple nod.
There was another moment of silence, but the spell was soon broken.
“Do you want to tell me what happened?” Thomas asked.
Did he? Stephen wondered. He did not know if he was ready to share it yet.
Several times, Thomas had tried to ask him about Judith. Yet, somehow, Stephen always found a way to avoid the conversation.
At that moment, he came to the realization that he was tired. He was tired of keeping it all in and did not want to have to do it anymore.
So, he drew in a deep breath, exhaled, and told his dear friend everything.
The way she made him feel, how she had made his world better, how he had fallen hopelessly in love. All that had happened from the very beginning until the night before.
When he was done, he found that he felt lighter. He had not realized how much he had needed to let it all out.
“That is quite a lot,” Thomas said as he finished.
“Is that all you have to say?”
Thomas smiled. It was a sad one.
“I always have more to say, Your Grace. The question is whether you want to hear it.”
“Why does that sound too much like a threat?”
Thomas’s smile widened. “Because you already fear that you would not like what I have to say.”
Stephen could not say that was not the case. Still, he insisted.
“For once, please, do not let that stop you.”
Thomas held his gaze, and he tried not to look away, refusing to change his mind.
When his butler finally spoke, it wasn’t an answer.
“If you wish, but foremost, I would like to hear what you plan to do.”
“Send her away,” Stephen replied, without any hesitation.
It was not something he had consciously given any thought to, but as the words left his lips, he realized it was what he must do.
“Your Grace?”
“You heard me, Thomas. We both know she was only supposed to stay for a short while. She has stayed far too long. I promised her shelter until the roads were safe for travel. Well, she can go to her aunt’s place in Yorkland. The roads on that side of the country are safe enough now.”
“Are you sure that is what you truly desire?”
“Why not? It is what I should have done the moment those first letters arrived. I should have taken her to Earlshire and left her there. She would have been long gone by now.”
If she had not stayed for so long, he never would have fallen in love with her.
You wouldn’t have learned to smile again either, a voice whispered in his head, but he ignored it.
It was never meant to be. Happiness … forever … the things she had made him dream of having … they weren’t for him.
He had been a fool to let himself dream, regardless. Now, he had to wake up and return to reality.