“Really?” Judith’s eyes widened with interest. She loved it when people told her about their journeys, even though it made her envious. “That sounds wonderful. What have you seen?”
“I once saw a performance of Rossini’s operaIl Barbiere di Sivigliain Italy. It was magical,” Aaron said, his eyes lighting up with the memory. “Afterwards, I walked back to the inn and passed the Spanish steps. It was so warm and lovely, I found myself humming the melodies all night.”
She wondered if he had been alone when he hummed those melodies, or if he had the company of a woman, but she knew she could not dare to ask such things. Besides, she ought not to care. They weren’t courting, after all.
“Italy sounds enchanting. Tell me more about your travels. What else have you seen? Tell me about Italy.”
Aaron chuckled and looked across at the dance floor. On the edge, couples already lined up in anticipation of the next dance. “You will miss the next dance.”
“It is the English Country Dance, which I am supposed to dance with Lord Wortham Stowe, but he is over yonder, asleep.” Judith nodded her head toward the chair the young man in question reclined on, his mouth open.
They weren’t near enough for her to be certain, but she was sure he was snoring.
“Very well then, I suppose we can use this time for a story. Italy is indeed enchanting. The art, the architecture, the food… Oh, the food! I’ve had the most exquisite pasta, fresh and bursting with flavor. And the gelato, Lady Judith, it’s like tasting a piece of heaven.”
Judith laughed softly, imagining the vibrant streets of Italy filled with the aroma of delicious food. Her mouth watered as she thought of it, and she placed a hand on her stomach, wishing she had something to eat before leaving Worcester House.
“It sounds divine. I would love to visit one day. Indeed, my mouth is watering right now.”
“You must visit,” Aaron said, his gaze lingering on her face. “There’s a certain romance in the air there, something that inspires and captivates.”
She felt a flutter in her chest at his words, the atmosphere between them charged with a subtle tension. “I can see how it would be inspiring. Have you been anywhere else that captivated you like Italy?”
“France has its own charm, especially Paris. The city is alive with art and music. I attended a concert at the Opéra Garnier once. The grandeur of the place is breathtaking.”
Judith sighed dreamily. She imagined herself walking along the narrow avenues of Paris, flowers blooming and the thrilling sensation of love in the air.
”I have read so much about these places in books but never seen any of them.”
“Have you not traveled at all, then?” he asked, though he sounded more surprised than judgmental.
“To Scotland,” she revealed.
“Ah, one of my favorite places in the realm. I love the Highlands. It is so quiet there, one can be alone with one’s thoughts and not see a soul—aside from the occasional goat.”
She giggled, imagining him in the Highlands, sitting on a blanket with nothing but a herd of goats walking by.
“I have been to the Highlands,” she said, happy she could finally share a tale of her own.“On my first visit, I was accompanied by my mother, my father, and Oliver—this was before my youngest brother was born,” she continued, her eyes sparkling with mirth. “We stayed in a quaint, little village, surrounded by rolling hills and picturesque lochs. One morning, we decided to go for a hike to see a famous waterfall.”
Aaron listened intently, his curiosity piqued.
“Now, my mother had always insisted on proper attire, even for hiking.” Judith smiled as she remembered her mother and her desire to always have her family look her best. She hadn’t been a superficial woman, just someone always prepared for every eventuality. “So there I was, in a ridiculous ensemble of sturdy boots, a long skirt, and a bonnet that kept flopping into my eyes. We hadn’t been hiking for more than an hour when we encountered a herd of sheep.”
Aaron chuckled, imagining the scene. “I can sense a turn in the story,” he jested.
“These weren’t just any sheep,” Judith said, grinning. “They were the most stubborn, determined sheep you’ve ever seen. They stood right in the middle of our path, and no amount of coaxing would make them move. My father tried shooing them away, my mother waved her bonnet in the air, but they just stared at us as if we were the most amusing spectacle they had ever seen.”
She paused, laughing at the memory. “Finally, in a fit of frustration, my brother decided to chase them. He ran at them, yelling and flailing his arms. The sheep, naturally, were unimpressed. They scattered a bit, but then regrouped and began following him!”
Aaron burst into laughter. “They followed him?”
“Yes!” Judith exclaimed, giggling. “He ran up the hill, thinking he had won, only to look back and see the entire herd trotting after him. He panicked and started running faster, which onlymade them more determined to keep up. By the time he reached the top of the hill, he was out of breath, and the sheep were calmly grazing again, as if nothing had happened.”
Aaron wiped a tear of laughter from his eye. “That’s hilarious. Oliver never told me this story.”
“And he will deny it if you tell him you know about it,” she snorted.
Aaron shook his head, still chuckling. “I can imagine,” he said, his eyes sparkling as he looked at her in such a way that her face grew hot at once.
