Caught in the Storm of a Duke's - Abby Ayles Page 0,84

backwards and returned to the stone he had been sitting on when she arrived.

“How much more did you hear?”

“Nothing I did not already know,” she answered, her shoulder lifting in a shrug. “Apparently, your dinners have become popular, and so has the fair lady you often introduce as your guest. There are speculations that she could be your wife.”

Judith chuckled as she sat by his side.

“They suspect you remarried secretly, that she is the reason for your improved demeanor, and the better ambience in Dunham.”

His brow cocked, and she smiled even wider.

“Indeed. They are quite perceptive, I must say. They were not so far from the truth. Ah … how could I forget? They also said that you had been in involved in the accident that took your family, but somehow, you alone survived.”

She said the last part solemnly, her heart breaking for him.

Nothing was said for a very long moment. Judith held her peace, aware that it was not her place to break the silence.

Finally, he spoke, but only after drawing a long breath and releasing it in a ragged stream.

“I suppose I should have known the truth could not stay hidden forever. We tried to make certain the truth of my health never left the walls of Dunham, and for good reason. Yet it appears it already has … seemingly a long time ago.”

Judith said nothing. No words came to mind. She did not think any would suffice.

“Yes. I was in an accident that took my wife and unborn child. They died, but I lived. A part of me still believes it should have been the other way round. I should have been the one who died.”

The sincerity in those words shook her. She could not fault him for wishing death upon himself. Sometimes grief was too grave to bear.

“I was terribly injured. I had numerous broken bones. A few bruised organs. It took some time, but I eventually returned to full health, or so it appeared.”

He went on to tell her how he had awoken with no memories of the incident at first, and how he had remained that way until the day he finally remembered.

“That was when the seizures first began.”

Judith listened as he told her everything. How it made him suffer, how they had tried to find a cure to no avail. How he had learned to live with it. How he knew it would claim his life one day.

“It is always so terrible. Everything hurts. It feels as though I am being torn apart from the inside. My vision clouds, and when the shadows and darkness finally take me under, I remain there for long hours. Sometimes for days. I always knew it would kill me. It was only a matter of when. I thought it was fitting. I might not have died, but I was suffering even as I lived. I was suffering for being the one who was left behind. So, I spent my days in darkness and despair, waiting for the day death would call my name. I always longed to answer…”

He turned to her then, holding her gaze. “Until you.”

It was not until he finished talking that Judith realized she was crying. Tears were flowing down her cheeks and her dress had become soaked with them.

“You are doing it again,” he said, with a sad smile on his face. “You are crying for me.”

The tears had been silent but, as she tried to talk, she began to sob.

“How could I not? You have been dealt such a terrible hand. Your tale is so sad, it breaks my heart. I cannot believe how much you have suffered. You do not deserve this! No one does!” she cried.

He made to dry her tears then, but she pulled away holding on to her chest as she cried even harder.

It hurt. It hurt too much to see anyone suffer so, especially the man she loved.

As she cried, she felt his arm come around her shoulders.

Nothing else was said. He simply sat by her side, holding her until she slowly recovered.

When she had calmed, he pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to her.

“Thank you,” she muttered as she accepted it.

Slowly, she dried her face. When she was done, she folded the handkerchief and put it away.

He finally said, “Seeing you cry for me will always feel so strange and new, no matter how many times it happens. I have never seen anyone so sad on my behalf. It hurts me to see you this