Caught in the Storm of a Duke's - Abby Ayles Page 0,88
the carriage all day.”
Judith could not agree more. Beyond that, it meant she would finally get to have a moment alone with him.
She nodded. “I should love that.”
He smiled at her.
Choosing to go right, as the village lay to the left, they began to walk.
“It has been such a beautiful day, don’t you think? Stephen asked.
Judith nodded. “It has. Warm, yet breezy. If we had been at Dunham, it would have been perfect for a ride into the fields.”
“Good thing we’ll be in Charleveaux soon enough. Then you can ride all you want.”
She chuckled at that. “Yes, I suppose I can.”
“Are you eager to see them again, your family?”
Judith thought about his question for a moment. All this time, she had been unwilling to leave Dunham, even though she missed them terribly.
Now that Stephen was by her side and she was almost certain to return to Dunham with him, she could look forward to reuniting with her family again, in high spirits.
She missed her mother’s care and her father’s indulgent smile. She missed seeing Edward ride into Charleveaux like a knight from the books she read.
She missed her chamber and the staff. She also missed the green fields and her horses.
She missed everything about home.
She nodded. “I am. I can only imagine how happy they are. They will be thrilled to see me. I shall finally get to hug mother and Edward again.”
“You are happy,” he said. “Good. I’ am glad of it.”
Silence lingered for a moment as they fell in step with each other.
Judith looked at him then, his chin raised, eyes pensive.
“Are you worried about meeting my family?”
He broke into soft laughter then. She could hear his nerves getting the better of him. The thought made her smile.
“I suppose every young man would be if he were in my shoes. They have not met me before, and I wish to ask for their daughter’s hands in marriage. I’ will also be taking her far away to a place where they will not be able to see her so often. What if they do not like me? What if they cannot let you go? You have not even debuted yet.”
“I do not think you should fret, Stephen. My father can scarcely deny me anything. As for mother, she only wishes for my happiness. Edward loves me with all his heart, and he would grant my heart’s desires. Beyond that, you are the man who saved me, remember? I am certain that, just like Aunt Tia, they love you already.”
“I want to believe that, and I shall. Thank you, Judith. I can breathe easily now. Tell me, I already know what your sister and brother are like. What about your parents?” He seemed genuinely curious.
“Ah … my parents? Just like my siblings, they are quite successful. Mother is an artist. She paints landscapes mostly and is quite well-known for her works. She has sold many pieces, in England and beyond. She has quite the gift. Father owns a successful shipping business. He might only be a baron, but he has done well for himself and his family. We have never lacked for anything.”
Stephen nodded slowly. It appeared he was taking in her words.
“Now, I see why you felt as if you fell short,” he said after a while.
“It was difficult not to feel as though I was lacking in some way. I suppose a part of me really wanted to embark on that journey because, deep down, I wanted to prove myself, to them and to myself. I wanted to show that I could be more than just the adorable last child of the Brewens.”
She paused with a sigh. “I suppose I did get my adventure, and I found love. Nevertheless, I am still plain ol’ Judith. Nothing fancy, nothing new.”
“Plain?” Stephen asked as she finished. His eyes widened and he looked as though he had never heard a more ridiculous thing. “You are anything but plain, Judith. And, as I said before, you are special.”
Her heart warmed. “I appreciate you trying to make me feel better, Stephen, but we both know the truth.”
His brow cocked. “Do we, now? It appears to me that you do not at all. You cannot even see how wonderful you are, can you?” He came to a stop then, causing her to do the same.
“You are special, my dear. You just do not see it because you are not looking deeply enough.”
She ignored the butterflies that had erupted in her belly from hearing him