by Abby Ayles
She stole a glance at the duke and found that he, too, had his lips lifted at their corners. Their eyes met for a second, and her heart instantly warmed from the intensity of emotions she saw in his.
She looked away quickly, feeling her cheeks heat up. It was hopeless to try to hide her blush. She knew he had seen it, regardless.
“Come now, we shall start with the atrium. It is my favorite part of the house.”
At Aunt Tia’s words, Judith rose to her feet. His Grace did the same. Amy, too.
Together, they left the dining room, following Aunt Tia’s lead around the manor.
As they walked, Stephen drew close to her, leaned in, and said in almost a whisper, “You look particularly lovely today, my lady. That color yellow becomes you. You wear the dress beautifully.”
Heat crept up her neck, and her breaths became shorter.
How could he have this effect when she had barely recovered from the incident in the dining hall?
Every reasonable thought seemed to desert her. Her throat suddenly felt parched and her tongue tied.
Still, she managed to croak, “Thank you, Your Grace. The same to you, I’m sure.”
He had already stepped away from her when she finally realized what she’d said.
The same to you?
Did he wear a dress and was it yellow?
Mortification overtook her, and she willed the ground to open up and take her. Regretfully, that did not happen.
As Aunt Tia had promised, she showed them the atrium first. It was similar to that at Dunham, but not so large.
Next, she took them to the stables.
There were so many beautiful horses, and her aunt took her sweet time, showing them each one, and telling them their names.
When they were done, they walked around the manor. This time, Aunt Tia pointed out which window belonged to which chamber, drawing room, study, library, hall, and the servants’ quarters.
Finally, they went out into the garden. It was only then that Judith recovered from her embarrassment.
“Oh, I really love this garden. Its beauty comes from it being a labor of love. The countess tended to it herself, growing all the flowers from seeds and cuttings. When I married her son and joined the family, we worked here together. Since she left us, I have carried on, trying to keep her love alive.”
There was something in her voice … an emotion which told Judith that her aunt had been very close to her mother-in-law and missed her dearly.
Aunt Tia heaved a dreary sigh. “The storm almost ruined it all. I feared its beauty would be lost forever but look at the flowers surviving still and sprouting with life anew. I can hardly wait for next spring. The bloom will be full.”
She turned to Judith and the duke as she finished speaking. Eyes twinkling, she asked, “What do you think of it?”
“It is beautiful,” Judith answered. As she did, she heard the duke speak too, the exact same words as hers. She turned to him, daring to look at him for the first time since making her error.
She was startled when she caught him staring at her, his gaze filled with meaning. Her stomach squirmed, and she willed her heart to stop pounding.
“It is, isn’t it?” Aunt Tia asked, breaking the moment.
Judith quickly looked away from him, grateful for her aunt’s interruption. Flushing crimson, she made a point of taking in the entire garden.
It was large and lovely, indeed. There were so many flowers. Roses, lilies, daisies, gardenias, sunflowers, and others she could not recognize.
Little evidence of the havoc that had been wreaked by the storm remained, but it was clear that much work had gone into restoring the garden to its former glory.
The colors were so plentiful, and the air was filled with their sweet scents.
“That it is, aunty. That it is,” she replied.
The smile on Aunt Tia’s face showed that she was pleased by the response. She raised her face to the heavens, and her eyes closed as she drew in a lungful.
“I love to come here as often as I can. Ah… I shall miss it when I leave in a week’s time.”
Judith’s eyes widened. “You are leaving in a week?”
“Yes,” Aunt Tia nodded, dropping her head as she opened her eyes.
“The storm has passed, and I have finally seen you. It is time to return home to my husband. I’m certain he has grown sick of missing me, though he would never admit it. I fear if I do not return soon, he might breathe his last.”
The mischievous glint in her eyes, and the crooked smile that danced across her face, told Judith she was jesting.
Judith chuckled, loving every moment spent with her aunt more by the hour.
“In that case, I suggest you tarry no longer. You must return to Uncle Dalton lest your fears come to pass,” she jested in return.
Aunt Tia giggled, evidently enjoying herself too much. “You agree, do you not? Yes, I suppose I must.”
Judith tucked this new piece of information away safely, knowing what it meant. If she wanted to see Aunt Tia again before returning to London, she would have to go all the way to Yorkland.
She did not quite know how to feel about that. The thought of having Aunt Tia so close by had pleased her. She had begun to make plans to visit often and perhaps have the duke accompany her each time.
She turned to look at him, realizing he had been quiet for some time. The sight she saw warmed her insides.
He and her aunt had their backs turned to her and their heads close together. They looked to be deep in conversation, speaking in mellowed voices, so she could not hear what they were speaking about.
Aunt Tia was quite a small woman, barely reaching the duke's shoulders. They looked so adorable together, they could easily pass for mother and son.
Smiling, Judith watched them.
Yes, it was easy to see that Aunt Tia was growing fond of the duke, and that he found her equally as endearing. The thought gladdened Judith’s heart immensely.
Still, she knew it would be pushing her luck to imagine them together as a true family. Aunt Tia might have said the duke had become one of them, but they both knew what would really make him a part of the family.
She shook her head. I really mustn’t think such silly thoughts.
She was simply going to enjoy this wonderful time with the people who meant the most to her and cherish every moment, especially when they would soon become nothing but memories.
“Judith?”
She was startled out of her thoughts as she heard her aunt call out to her. That was when she saw they had both turned and were regarding her.
“I am afraid my head is beginning to feel heavy. Must be all the excitement from having you and Stephen around. I must go and rest now. Be a dear and continue the walk without me, would you? The sunshine is good for the body, I hear.”
Judith was still trying to recover from hearing her aunt address the duke by his given name.
How had that happened so quickly? She glanced at him and saw that he was all smiles.
Goodness, he’s smitten; evidently so. It was quite amusing to see. Pushing aside thoughts of him, she turned to her aunt.
“Of course, aunty. Shall I walk you back inside?”
Aunt Tia was quick to shake her head, holding her hand up. “No, you need not worry, I can manage on my own. I simply want you two to enjoy the fine weather we have been blessed with today. I shall see you both at lunch.”
She winked at Judith before turning to the duke. As she did, she patted him affectionately on the cheeks, further surprising Judith.
Eventually, Aunt Tia walked away, leaving them alone.
Judith watched her go, only giving the duke her attention when her aunt disappeared into the house.
She shook her head as she turned to him.
“What is the matter?” he asked.
“One would think you and my aunt have known each other for ages. You must forgive her; she is quite the free spirit and has no regard for propriety.”
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“There is nothing to forgive,” he responded as she went to stand by his side.
“In fact, it is quite refreshing to meet someone like her. I especially admire her because she does not let society’s rules stop her from living freely, fully.”
Judith smiled at that. “If only you knew how true that is.”
His brow cocked. “Oh? Why do I sense an exciting tale?”
This time, a soft chuckle slipped free from her lips.
“Because there is one.”
“Pray tell me, what do I have to do to induce you to share it with me? Shall I slay ten dragons?”
Her chuckle became a giggle. “No. Do not be silly. Seven shall suffice.”
“Very well then, I shall begin my quest at first light tomorrow.”
She lifted her gaze to see him staring into the far distance with a resolute look on his face. She wondered again at his fine figure.
If someone had told her that the dark, brooding man she had met all those weeks ago was capable of such jest and warmth, she never would have believed it.
Yet, there they were.
“May the heavens go with you, Your Grace,” she said, playing along still.
“Thank you, my fair lady. Now that I have your blessings, I am certain I shall return with the prize.”
“Have you ever considered theatrics?” she asked as she recovered from another laugh.
His answer was swift. “Never. Why?”
“I do believe you have quite the talent for it, Your Grace.”
His lips widened then, and a full-fledged grin warmed his countenance.
It made her breath catch in her throat, and she had to remind her heart to beat again. How could any man be so handsome as he?
“Indeed? Perhaps I shall begin to consider it. You do not think it too late for me to pursue that dream, do you?”
Her cheeks were starting to hurt from smiling so hard. She shook her head again.
“Not at all, Your Grace.”
He only nodded, and they paused speaking as they began to walk.
They had not taken three steps when he spoke again.
“May I ask how much longer you intend to remain so formal? Do you not think we have become close enough to discard our titles and call each other by our given Christian names?”
She stopped, quite taken aback by his words; she had never thought he would raise such a matter.
He too stopped. Turning to face her, he said, “I would rather like you to address me by my given name, just like your aunt. If you should grant me leave, I would like very much to address you by yours.”
Her heart beat wildly in her chest. Her stomach squirmed as it flooded with a thousand butterflies, and, for the longest moment, she forgot how to speak.
She had never thought the day would come when she would be able to call him by his name. She had not even dared hope for it.
“Have I asked for too much?” he asked when she did not immediately respond.
She could see it in his eyes, in the furrow of his brows, that he was truly worried.
She pulled herself out of her daze, flourishing a reassuring smile.
“Not at all. I was simply … taken aback.”
“I understand. It was quite sudden.”
She released a breath she did not realize she had been holding.
“Yes, it was.”
“So, what do you say?”
She held his eyes, those beautiful obsidian orbs that made her ever curious to know him more of him, to see him more nearly. All of him.
Finally, she answered. “I do believe I would like that too … Stephen.”
Awe filled her as the name rolled off her tongue. It sounded so right, so perfect, as though it was what she had always been meant to call him.
He seemed to be just as astonished. She watched as he took a moment to gather himself.
Releasing a deep breath, he said, “I did not realize anyone could make my name sound so beautiful, so special. Thank you, Judith. You have made me a happy man today.”
Shivers ran down her spine as his voice washed over her. Shudders rippled through her, and she fought the overwhelming urge to get closer to him, to have him hold her in his strong embrace.
Judith.
That word echoed in her head over and over again, and she was suddenly sure that if she was born to say his name, it was clear that hers had been made especially for him.
“It appears I am not the only one who can make a name sound like the most exotic thing in the world. No one has ever spoken it so beautifully. I thank you, too.”
He smiled, saying nothing more. He gave her his arm and she took it.
Now that they had reached such a point of closeness, Judith could not help but wonder why it had taken them so long.
They continued to walk in companionable silence, and she let her mind wander again.
She loved being with this man. So much so, that she suspected she might have fallen entirely in love with him.
Might?
The thought was almost amusing to her. Who was she hoping to deceive?
There was nothing to be uncertain about. She had fallen in love with him. Utterly so.
All her heart now belonged to him.
The thought could have scared her, as she had never loved before. More so, as she had no inkling what his feelings were for her.
Instead, she felt joy.
It was a new experience, and all she could do was bask in it, enjoying every moment of bliss it brought, no matter the end.
“Are you still not going to tell me that tale about Aunt Tia?” Stephen asked, breaking the spell and her thoughts.
Joyfully, she could not help but grin up at him like the besotted lady she was.
“Well, since you asked so nicely, I shall.”
Her heart flipped as his eyes twinkled, his lips reflecting the smile on her face.
“You are too kind,” he said.
“I am, am I not? Yes. You must do well to remember this kindness, for the tale I am about to tell is the best of all and known to only a few found worthy. Once upon a time…”
She went on to tell him about Aunt Tia and the adventures of her youth.
Judith could not remember having a morning more wonderful in her life.
Chapter 25
They spent two more days in Earlshire and on the fourth morning, decided that it was time to return to Dunham.
Judith sat before her vanity, preparing for the journey, when her aunt arrived.
As Aunt Tia reached her side, she smiled at Amy and said, “You may go and pack your things, dear. I shall help my niece with her hair.”
Through the mirror, Judith watched Amy drop a shallow curtsy before doing as she was bid.
The door closed behind her a moment later, leaving Judith and Aunt Tia alone.
Picking up from where Amy left off, Aunt Tia began to speak. “I cannot believe you are leaving so soon. I already miss you.”
Judith’s eyes grew heavy as she held her aunt’s gaze in the mirror.
“As do I, Aunty. Nevertheless, what are we to do? You leave for Yorkland in two days, and I only came prepared to stay a short while.”
Aunt Tia nodded. “I know, I know. Not to mention, you took a duke away from his home. There is only so long he can stay away, and I have a feeling he would not want to return without you, nor would you have him leave alone.”
Judith blinked rapidly, looking away as heat flooded her cheeks.
Aunt’s Judith’s response was a knowing smirk.
“I must admit, I was worried when I heard you were staying in his castle. The natives here speak of him in hushed voices. They say he has not left his home in years … since a terrible accident. At some point, they even feared he was dead. I heard all sorts of things; that he was stricken by a horrible malady, and that he had become as cold as ice. He lives in darkness, and all who remain in his household fear him.”
Judith could not help but notice how there was some truth
to the gossip. However, she held her peace, letting Aunt Tia continue.
Her aunt went on.
“Imagine my surprise when you told me the fine man who had come all the way with you was none other than the duke himself! Ha!” She chuckled, shaking her head.