Caught in the Storm of a Duke's - Abby Ayles Page 0,94

some herbs for you. I will also give you the recipe. Thankfully, they are herbs you can find anywhere.”

She got busy doing just that, and a short while later, she returned with a bag of ingredients and a folded note.

She gave them all to Judith, smiling graciously.

“He’ll do well to take the tea daily for now. You may add some honey if you so wish.”

“This is a lot. How much do I owe you, ma’am?”

She turned to Stephen. “Leah. You may call me Leah. You owe me nothing. Consider this a gift. I feel the need to do this for all who need it, just as I did for my dear brother.”

Stephen was overwhelmed by the magnitude of her kindness to a total stranger.

“No, I insist. I must repay your kindness somehow. You have no inkling of how much you have done for me.”

Her smile widened. “The only way I wish to be repaid is to have you take the medicine as you should and get better.”

He felt at a loss for words, but Judith came to his aid.

“He will. I will see to it that he does, you have our word. Thank you very much, Leah. We will never forget this kindness. When we pass this way again, we will be certain to visit.”

“Ah … I should like that. Very much. Come now, you must be on your way before it gets too dark.”

With those words, she ushered them out of her cottage. The sun had set completely, and the skies were dimming.

Leah walked them a few feet from her cottage before announcing she would be turning back.

Once again, they thanked her profusely. She remained gracious. With a wave and a final goodbye, she turned and returned to her home.

Stephen and Judith watched until she had entered her cottage before they continued their journey to the inn.

“I do believe she is the strangest person I have ever met…” Judith said as they walked.

Stephen nodded. “I feel the same. Strange and utterly gracious. I think that, just as you were meant to find Dunham, she was meant to find us.”

Judith’s lips lifted at their corners, “You know, that is quite a possibility. Perhaps the universe is truly working in our favor.”

It was something to think about. Sighing, Stephen replied, “Perhaps.”

***

They arrived in Charleveaux the next day, at two in the afternoon.

All of Judith’s family were outside, having seen the carriage approaching. Her father, her mother, Edward, his wife, and their child. As soon as Judith got out of the carriage, she ran to them, forgetting all manner of propriety.

It was such an emotional moment. She jumped into her brother’s arms and he caught her as though he had been doing it his entire life.

They held onto each other tightly for a long time before breaking apart and as they did, she went on to embrace every other member just as tightly.

The love they shared was as clear as day. The joy and relief at finally seeing each other again was just as evident.

Seeing them that way touched Stephen deeply and for a moment, he felt sadness, remembering the family he had lost. He had been close to his parents, too.

When they had finished embracing, she turned to him and waved him over.

He did not waste any time approaching them. As he did so, he willed his heart to be still and prepared for whatever was to come.

He finally reached them and drew to a stop.

Judith was quick to commence the introductions.

“Father, Mother, Edward, Rachel, and little Nathaniel, you must meet the Duke of Sawbrook, Stephen Dunham. I have been at his estate in Nordame all this time. I am here, alive, safe and sound, because of him.”

She paused to breathe after rushing those words. Then, she turned to him.

“Stephen, meet my family. My father, Baron Davenforth, Robert Brewen.”

Stephen lowered his head in a bow, struggling hard to maintain a calm demeanor even as his heart thumped in his chest.

“It is an honor to finally meet you, my lord. Lady Judith has told me much about you.”

He raised his head in time to catch the baron nodding. “Likewise. She would always speak of you in her letters. When she said you would be visiting with her, I was glad that we would finally get the chance to thank you appropriately for taking care of our Judith.”

Stephen slowly began to breathe easily. The baron seemed an amiable man. He had just crossed the first bridge.

“And my mother, Baroness Davenforth, Victoria Brewen,” Judith