“I cannot marry you because I am in love with you.”
The garden fell into a hushed stillness as his words bounced around the center, each syllable echoing in Bridget’s ears.
Her heart raced, her mind struggling to comprehend the magnitude of what she had just heard. She was stunned and breathless, excitement filling her system.
Her voice barely above a whisper, she asked, “You love me? Truly?”
Abel’s eyes met hers, his gaze filled with a mix of longing and resignation. He nodded, a heavy sigh escaping his lips.
“Yes, Bridget. I love you. I love you with every fiber of my being.” His jaw tightened. “But I made a promise to myself, a vow I cannot break. I swore I would never marry the woman I love.”
At those words, Bridget’s heart plummeted, her mind spinning with confusion. Her heart wrestled with conflicting emotions as she stood before him, uncertain how to respond.
“Do you understand now? We cannot be together. You must stay away from me, find someone who can give you what you deserve.”
Bridget remained silent. She knew she should heed his warning, distance herself from this confusing man even without his warning. Yet, the pull between them was too strong, the desire to understand his reasons overpowering her better judgment.
Her legs acted of their own accord, and she took a step forward, her gaze never leaving his. She wanted to hear those three words once more—she didn’t care about anything else.
Her heart fluttered with each step she took towards him, her eyes locked on his with an intensity that spoke volumes.
Abel’s voice was filled with longing as he implored her, “Lady Bridget, I beseech you, do not do this. You must return to the safety of the ballroom.”
Yet, his own feet remained rooted in place, unable to resist the magnetic pull between them either.
Bridget’s voice trembled as she took another step towards him. “I want to hear you say it again, please. Tell me that you love me.”
“I warn you, you must not do this.” There was no denying the lust and longing in his gaze despite the warning in his voice. “Lady Bridget, I beg you.” His eyes burned with desire as he watched her. “Do not take another step. If you do, I will kiss you.”
At this, Bridget hesitated, her eyes filled with nervousness and anticipation. Her heart raced, its rhythm matching the intensity of the moment.
She knew the risks, the potential consequences of succumbing to their desires, but she no longer cared.
Summoning every ounce of courage, she took that final step, her gaze fixed on Abel’s. But before she could land, he closed the distance between them, his lips meeting hers in an instantly passionate and electrifying kiss.
In a flash, they were entwined in each other’s arms, their bodies moving in perfect synchrony. Lost in the intensity of their kiss, time and place were forgotten.
Abel’s hands, guided by desire, hastily explored every curve and contour of her body, eliciting soft moans that escaped her lips without her even realizing.
The desire between them was palpable, their wants mirrored in their movements. Bridget succumbed to his intensity, letting him take her in whole. She could sense his reciprocated desire, a burning hunger that matched her own.
The pleasure coursing through her veins was unlike anything she had ever experienced before. It was as if the world had ceased to exist, and at that moment, for the first time, she felt truly alive.
“What atrocity!!”
“It’s Lady Bridget Fadden!! And the Duke of Galway!”
“Your Grace?!”
The sudden interruption shattered the blissful bubble that Abel and Bridget had created. Startled, they sprang apart, their eyes widening in alarm as they faced the three older ladies from the ball who had caught them in this compromising position.
The women, all married and of high society, stood there with a mix of shock and judgment etched on their faces. Behind them, their daughters cowered, their eyes telling of shock and accusation as well.
It was clear that these women had ventured out to find Abel, hoping to secure introductions for their eligible daughters. Their desperation to marry off their daughters to the Duke was evident.
Bridget’s heart pounded as the weight of the situation pressed upon her. The scandal that would inevitably ensue would spread like wildfire through the ton.
Right as she expected it, the shock on the women’s faces quickly turned to disdainful glares directed at her—the woman who had dared to entangle herself with the esteemed Duke.