Caught in the Storm of a Duke's - Abby Ayles Page 0,87

to Charleveaux with Stephen.

Then, they began to plan to leave for London as soon as the roads were declared good enough for the journey.

The wait seemed long, but Stephen and Judith made the most of it.

They spent almost every moment together, basking in the bliss and newness of the love they had found in each other. They took rides out to the field and visited the villages together. Stephen even threw a party for the household to celebrate their engagement.

Thomas appeared to be just as happy as the couple themselves, and Amy was simply thrilled to see her lady so joyous.

For Stephen, the more he accepted that his life had truly turned around, the more awe filled him.

He had never thought it possible that he would ever experience such depths of happiness again in his lifetime.

Sometimes, he feared he was truly dreaming, and that, one day, he would wake up and realize that Judith had never found his gates on a cold, stormy morning. That she simply did not exist, not in the real world.

This fear tried to keep him up some nights, but all he had to do was remember her smile and the intensity of emotions in her eyes whenever she looked at him.

He only needed to remember her touch, her kiss, her embrace. He could not have dreamed of those. They were real. She was real and knowing this, amazed him all the more.

As for Judith, she was at peace. It was all she had ever hoped for and more.

As soon as they met her parents and got their consent, they would be married.

She would be his, and he, hers. Dunham would be her home in truth, and she would live there for the rest of her days.

Her life had become a book and she could not have asked for a more perfect ending.

Chapter 33

At long last, the roads were declared safe enough to travel. In two days, Stephen and Judith were ready to begin their journey.

Thomas and Amy came along, acting as chaperones.

They left at first light and, as they bid Stephen’s estate goodbye, the sun began to shine in its glory.

Outside of Sawbrook, it was easy to see the devastation that had been caused by the storm and the lands that now lay to waste.

Many of the roads had been split into two. Trees had fallen, and much soil had been washed off the surface of the earth, leaving behind rocky terrains.

Judith could hardly believe that something as beautiful as rain could wreak such havoc. However, it had not been just the rain, had it?

It had been a wicked storm that had lasted for days on end and claimed a life she had known personally. She hoped it never happened again, and that no one else had to suffer the loss that Mr. Giraud’s family had.

As she thought of him, guilt returned, and she knew she owed his family a great debt.

She wondered how they were faring. It did not seem right that, while they were adjusting to life without a loved one, she had been busy finding a husband in Stephen.

Her father had promised to care for them, and she knew he would keep his word. Nevertheless, she was also aware that no amount of material comfort would ease the pain of losing a father and husband.

She would visit them as soon as she arrived in London and would beg their forgiveness. It was the right thing to do.

Stephen must have sensed her growing sadness for he reached out to her then, took her hand in his and squeezed. It was soothing, but her guilt grew. It was not comfort she deserved to feel.

Nonetheless, she kept her hand in his, unable to bring herself to withdraw it.

The ride was a quiet one, with the kind of silence Judith was grateful for.

As the sun began to set, the carriage rolled to a stop.

“We will be resting here tonight,” Stephen announced. “I am afraid we were not able to cover much distance. Because the roads are not like they used to be, we cannot move at much swiftness. It will take us a day longer than usual to get to London.”

They all nodded in understanding. One by one, they descended from the carriage.

Thomas declared that he would secure rooms for them. Amy offered to help them settle in.

As the butler and maid walked away, Stephen turned to Judith.

“Do you feel up to a walk? It would do us good to stretch our legs after being in