She finished her dinner, every bite a struggle as her thoughts were consumed by the man who refused to leave.
The butler approached her at last, concern etched on his face as he collected her plates and cutlery. “My Lady, I fear the gentleman outside has been waiting for hours. What shall we do?”
Her gaze drifted to the window, and her eyes widened in surprise to meet raindrops rolling down the glass. She had been too consumed by her thoughts to notice the heavy downpour outside.
She got up and walked to peer out a window with a view of the side of the main door, and as her eyes landed on a steadfast figure, a mix of emotions flooded her.
With a determined tone, she instructed the staff, “Retire early tonight. I shall handle this matter myself.”
Her heart pounding in her chest, Bridget rose from the table and made her way to the door. As she reached for the handle, her hand trembled with a combination of fear and longing.
She took a deep breath, hardening her heart and steadying herself, before finally opening the door.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
As Bridget stormed out into the rain-soaked courtyard, her anger raged like a tempestuous storm. She turned back, her eyes ablaze with fury, and beckoned Abel to follow her inside, calling out, her voice sharp and filled with frustration.
“This is absolute foolishness!” Her voice cracked with frustration. “Do you have no sense at all? Come inside this instant before you fall ill from the rain, Your Grace!” she exclaimed, her words dripping with irritation.
She couldn’t comprehend why he would go to such lengths, to stay out in such inclement weather, waiting for her.
Drenched from head to toe, he stood at the door with a small, victorious smile on his lips. Bridget’s anger intensified at the sight of him. Taken aback by his disconcertedness, she could hardly believe her eyes.
Shaking her head in disbelief, her voice quavered in shock and exasperation. “I cannot fathom your actions. How could you possibly stand out here at all, drenched to the bone? Genuinely, have you lost your senses entirely?”
After finally stepping into the shelter of their home, he met her gaze with a calm resolve. Bridget was still taken aback by his demeanor, stuttering and sputtering as she hurled more insults at him, not knowing what else to do.
“You absolute fool!” she spat, her voice laced with disbelief. “What were you thinking? Do you not realize the unnecessary danger you put yourself in?”
Her insults continued, and as the rain continued to fall outside, Abel stood at the door, his clothes drenched and clinging to his form.
Her frustrated insults hung in the air, but he remained silent, his gaze fixed on her with an earnest and loving intensity. At that moment, he looked more handsome than ever before, and Bridget found herself at a loss for words.
A tense silence enveloped them, each heartbeat echoing in the stillness of the room. Bridget fought against the overwhelming desire to reach out and pull him into a passionate embrace.
Just as she’d worried, his presence had left her awestruck, unable to resist the magnetic pull between them.
Breaking the silence, Abel’s voice, soft and gentle, cut through the tension. “Bridget, I am not going anywhere until you hear me out,” he declared, determination lacing his every word.
She remained silent, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. She knew she should resist, should turn him away, but faced with his handsome face and determined aura, she found herself unable to deny him.
Abel took a deep breath, his voice filled with a mix of vulnerability and determination. “There’s something I’ve never admitted to anyone before,” he began, his gaze unwavering as he spoke. “I’ve always feared having a marriage like the one my parents had.”
Bridget could see the weight of his past etched on his face, the lines of sorrow and resilience intermingling.
Abel continued, his voice trembling slightly, “I’m not sure if you are aware, but when I was just fifteen, my father passed away from a lung disease. It was a devastating blow, and my mother, consumed by grief, lost herself to sorrow. I watched as love became a weakness in her eyes, a reminder of the pain she endured.”
It was clear it was a struggle for him, but he continued, his voice filled with raw emotion, “After two years, my mother also passed away, and that was my breaking point. At such a young age, I was thrust into the responsibility of handling the dukedom and raising my younger sister.”
His eyes glistened, but they held hers. “I felt it wasn’t fair. I resented my mother for failing to stay strong. I resented them, both my parents. I resented love.”
His voice wavered, his eyes filled with remorse as he hesitated for a moment, gathering his thoughts. “I want you to know the truth, Bridget,” he continued, his words laced with vulnerability, “but please understand, I’m not offering it as an excuse for my actions. I know there is no valid excuse for all I’ve done.”
Bridget’s heart clenched at the pain etched on his face. She could see the torment within him, the weight of his mistakes bearing heavily upon his shoulders.
“I was a coward,” he continued, his voice filled with raw emotion. “I couldn’t bear to admit it to myself, let alone to you. But when I thought I would never see you again, I lost my mind. I realized the depth of my love for you, and the thought of losing you was unbearable.”
Tears began welling up in her eyes as she listened to his confession. She could feel the intensity of his emotions, his words piercing through her heart. She furiously rubbed off the trickles as the tears began running down her face.
