Caught in the Storm of a Duke's - Abby Ayles Page 0,83
thought her mad when she had remained adamant on turning around.
She could not fault him. If she did not understand her reasons for insisting, she would have thought herself mad as well.
How could she not return? After learning all that she had at the inn? How could she leave the only man she had ever loved and hope to go on with her life as though he never existed?
She simply could not.
As the carriage rolled down the roads of England, she had continued to count the minutes until she would see him again. She had scarcely kept still.
When they had finally come upon those familiar giant gates, her heart had threatened to burst from happiness.
As soon as the carriage came to stop in front of the mansion, she had gotten out, not waiting to be helped.
The servants had been surprised, though evidently joyous, to see her. As happy as she felt at seeing them, she had been even more eager to see him.
A few questions later, she had learned he was at the stream. Wasting no time, she had gotten on Enora and ridden hard after him.
When she stood only a few feet away, trying to catch her breath, her eyes locked with his. She knew without a doubt in her heart that she had been right to come back.
Mr. Beauregard cleared his throat then, murmured something to Stephen, who managed to nod, and began to walk towards her.
When he reached her, he stopped and smiled at her. He said no words, there was no need. Just a soft pat on her shoulder and he went on his way, leaving her alone with Stephen.
“Are you really here?” he asked, speaking again, “Or am I simply dreaming?”
His astonishment was palpable, and her heart went out to him. He looked as though he had suffered as much as she had. As if he had missed her, terribly.
She wanted to run into his arms and hold him in a tight embrace, but as that would be highly inappropriate, she fought to resist the overwhelming urge.
Deciding on a small smile instead, she said, “If you are dreaming, then I must be too. The last time I checked, I was not asleep. I was in a carriage, on my way to you.”
He shook his head, his disbelief still strong. “But… how… I… You should have been long gone by now.”
She nodded. “I was. As far away as Berfount. However, I happened to overhear a conversation over breakfast at the Seafarer Inn, where we had rested for the night.”
She began to go to him, taking slow, precise steps.
“After hearing it, so many things suddenly became clear.” She took another step. “Especially the reason you sent me away. The reason you refuse to speak about the dreadful incident. I knew I could not continue to Yorkland. I knew I had to return to you and demand an audience.”
As she finished speaking, she realized she had covered the distance between them, and they now stood no more than two feet apart.
She searched his eyes. Those beautiful dark eyes. Her entire being shook as she saw the intensity of emotions in them. Raw. Bare.
She had never seen them so naked, so honest, so … vulnerable.
It made her almost disintegrate, then come back together, even as her knees grew weak.
He swallowed hard.
“What did you overhear?” he asked, his voice breaking.
“If I told you, would you tell me everything? Would you trust me? Will there be no more secrets between us?”
He swallowed again. “I cannot make such promises.”
She nodded. “I thought as much. Nonetheless, I shall tell you. They said you are ill. That you suffer from … fits. And that you are not long for this world. Is this true?”
He did not need to answer. His reaction told her all that she needed to know. His eyes bulged and she saw fear in them before he quickly masked it.
“It is, is it not?” she asked again. She would not be fooled any longer.
He cleared his throat. “Judith, you should not pay heed to such idle gossip. I imagine there must be many tales surrounding me, some of them untrue.”
“This is not one of them, I wager. I know you are lying to protect me, and you sent me away to do the same, but here I am, back again. I am not leaving this time, Stephen. You might as well tell me everything now.”
He looked as if he might refuse her once again but, eventually, he sighed.