“Why am I on your mind, Your Grace?” Her voice was steady and quiet as her gaze remained fixed on him.
Abel’s eyes met hers briefly, but the intensity in her gaze turned him away, his resolve wavering. He began to sputter again, knowing that he had been caught yet still refusing to admit the depth of his feelings. But Bridget would not be deterred.
“Tell me,” she insisted, her strength unwavering. “Why must you deny what we shared? Why must you dismiss it as a mistake?”
His gaze flickered, and his eyes did not meet hers as he spoke, “I am bound by duty, by the expectations of Society. I can in no terms marry you, as I need a perfect duchess, one who can fulfill the role expected of her.”
Abel’s words pierced Bridget’s heart like a cruel dagger, leaving her feeling deeply offended and crushed. Though a part of her acknowledged the truth in his words, she couldn’t deny the weight of his rejection.
In the stunned silence that followed, she struggled to find her voice. How could she respond to such callousness? But as the shock subsided, she snapped as a sudden rage ignited within her.
“Well then, Your Grace, I wish you the utmost success in your quest to find theperfectduchess you so desire.” Her words dripped anger. “May you find someone who meets all your lofty expectations.”
With those parting words, she turned on her heel in the direction of the ballroom, her head held high.
But before she could get much further, Abel’s voice cut through the air again, stopping her in her tracks.
“I must know before you leave,” he called out, his voice tinged with a sudden desperation. “Will you accept Lord William’s suit?”
Bridget’s eyes simmered with her rage as she swiveled around and plastered a tight smile on her face.
“It depends. I refuse to waste my time on a man unless it’s for a love that embraces me for who I am, scandalous past and all.” The sarcasm dripping off her tone was venomous. “Then again, it’s none of your business, Your Grace.”
“I realize now that it is my business, indeed.” Abel raised an eyebrow at her, his voice firm. “After all, with Olivia marrying into your family, our lives are now intertwined. Whatever you do affects?—”
“Just let me be, Abel!” Bridget let out an exasperated groan, her frustration bursting out at last. Her voice rose with each word. “I am tired of your constant interference and judgment. I donotneed your approval or your meddling!”
Her eyes narrowed, her frustration evident as her voice rose even more in disbelief. “Pray tell, how does this make any sense? You seem so irritated about my getting married, yet you certainly do not wish to marry me!”
“Oh, I am most certainlynotirritated. I merely have the desire to know who you are joining your life with. I have given you my reason why, and it stands,” Abel retorted, his voice tinged with defensiveness.
Bridget scoffed and shook her head. “You claim not to be irritated, yet your actions speak otherwise. My marriage would have little effect on you, and we both know it.” Her eyesnarrowed. “Thus, once again, if you truly have no feelings for me, why do you care about whom I marry?”
Frustration laced every word she spoke. “I demand the truth, Your Grace. Why were you so upset when you saw me dancing with Lord William? Why did you kiss me and then run away? And why, for heaven’s sake, can you not marry me?”
Her words hung in the air, each question a dangerous tug at Abel’s heart. He could see the hurt in her eyes, the confusion etched on her face. He had the answers, yet his lips refused to utter them.
“Lady Bridget?—”
Taking a deep breath, he gathered his thoughts, trying to find the right words to soothe the pain in her eyes. The last thing he wanted was to hurt her. However, before he could utter a single syllable, her impatience got the better of her.
“No more evasions,” she insisted, her voice desperate and angry. “I won’t let you off the hook this time.”
Abel sighed and shook his head, his frustration building. “Bridget, if you would just let me speak?—”
“No!” Her yell doubled the tension in the air. “Again, these are simple questions, Your Grace.”
“Bridget—” His voice trembled slightly as he avoided her gaze.
“Tell me the truth of why you had such a reaction upon seeing me with Lord William,” she demanded.
“Bridget, I am trying to explain?—”
But her voice rose again as she added, “The truth! Tell me why you kissed me and then disappeared without a word.Tellme why you cannot marry me!”
“Because I love you, Bridget!”
At last, Abel’s facade came crumbling down under the weight of his emotions. His chest heaved with the relief that overtook him nearly instantly.
