Something flickered in his eyes again, too fast for Bridget to read. He bowed slightly to her and said, “That is well, Lady Bridget. Good night.”
Without giving her a chance to respond, he turned on his heel and walked away, leaving her standing there, her heart shattered, and her remaining words left unspoken.
The memory was too painful for her to bear, and her tears fell faster as she remembered the coldness in his eyes.
Perhaps she could have done more? It didn’t seem like there was any way to prevent events from unfolding the way they did, and now it ripped her soul apart.
As she turned in bed, her mind shifted to the morning of his departure. She had joined her family to bid him goodbye, glaring eyes fixed on his figure, hoping her intense gaze would make him reconsider.
Considering how determined he had been the previous night, she’d known the chances of changing his mind were slim at best.
Well, leave if you want to. This is your loss, Abel.
In that fleeting moment, the world had seemed to hold its breath. Despite her icy demeanor, Bridget’s every fiber ached for him to turn around, to acknowledge her presence, and to give this thing between them a fighting chance.
But alas, fate had other plans. Abel, resolute in his decision, had climbed into the waiting carriage without so much as a glance in her direction. The carriage door closed with a definitive thud, sealing their separation.
Bridget had fought the angry tears that welled up in her eyes as the carriage pulled away, disappearing into the distance. The echoes of their stolen kiss still lingered, a bittersweet reminder of what could have been.
How could he have left like that just as she realized that she loved him? She felt her heart shatter into a thousand pieces, each shard a painful reminder of her first love slipping through her fingers.
As Bridget tossed and turned in her bed again, her heart heavy with sorrow, a sudden knock on her door shattered the silence. Startled, she rose to a sitting position. She waited till she heard a second knock before her feet touched the floor, and she went to open the door.
She raised her eyes to find her father standing there, his expression a mix of shock and disapproval.
His words cut through the air like a sharp blade as he took in her appearance from head to toe. He clucked his tongue and remarked, “Just look at the state of you, child. You appear positively dreadful.”
With her spirit dampened by the weight of her heartache already, Bridget chose not to engage in a snappy retort. She barely had the energy to give one if she wanted to anyway.
Instead, she quietly made her way back to the bed, her eyes cast downward, a silent testament to her inner turmoil.
Leonard was taken aback by his daughter’s lack of response even more than her disheveled state. He stood awkwardly for a moment, clearing his throat before taking a seat on the chair in the room.
A heavily awkward silence ensued. His gaze remained on his daughter, doing his best to try to read her expression, but to no avail. At last, he let out a heavy sigh and began to speak.
“I learned from your brother before he left for his honeymoon that you spent your time eavesdropping on his conversation and mine, late at night, when you were supposed to be asleep in your chambers.”
The accusation in his tone was a cover-up for the shame he felt. He felt it’d be better to stir up an argument than face his daughter’s worry, or worse, disappointment in his actions, head-on.
Despite his son’s plea to handle the matter gently ringing in his ears, Leonard’s pride caused him to push on recklessly, his arms crossed over his chest, ready for the fight.
“It’s a good thing that you did anyway. Now that you know the situation, you have little cause to fight the inevitable.”
He coughed awkwardly, and his tone was demanding as he glared at her quiet figure. “It’s time you play your part in securing our family’s future, Bridget. I will not let you argue against this any longer.”
Forcing an air of heavy expectation in his tone, he continued, “You must find a suitable partner—the situation demands it. Plus, you are of age. I believe I have coddled you long enough.”
He allowed his words to continue to rush out in a harsh and direct tone. “I have already informed your mother of this. We have begun looking for worthy and available men in the ton.”
“From now on—” He paused to catch his breath, raising his voice. “You shall attend balls, and youmustnot cause any more scandals. This Season, you shall find a husband. Have I made myself clear enough?”
Bridget’s heart sank as her father’s words echoed through the room. His statements were all truthful, and hurtful. There was not a word she could say to oppose any of them.
The weight of their financial predicament pressed down upon her shoulders as well, and she could feel the gravity of the situation adding to the turmoil that had already been brewing within her.
She fought off the thoughts of desire that filled her mind. Unless Abel was the man to propose, she doubted she would be able to carry out her father’s wishes in all honesty.
Nevertheless, this was the responsibility she bore as a member of her family. It was high time she stopped running from it.
