“I did not know he was once engaged,” Judith murmured, her voice tinged with surprise.
“It was years ago,” Lord Pembroke explained. “From what I heard, it all ended terribly, and Lady Lundgren was left to marry someone far older than her. I suppose one could have expected it, seeing how his reputation is not exactly stellar.”He nodded his head toward a young man dancing nearby. “That is Lady Lundgren’s brother.”
Judith glanced over, recognizing the tall, lanky man from earlier. Her mind raced as she continued to dance with Lord Pembroke, her movements now more mechanical than graceful.
Aaron was engaged, and he’d ruined the lady he was meant to wed, leaving her to make a bad match. Yet, he was supposed to help Judith make a good one. Was Oliver aware of all of this?
The revelation echoed in Judith’s mind, and she found it hard to focus on anything else.
Her dance partner continued to engage her in civil whiskers, but she forgot his questions as well as her answers almost the moment the exchange was completed, her thoughts consumed by this new piece of Aaron’s history.
How could she not have known about something so significant?
She was shocked that Aaron, someone she had begun to see in a different light, could have been so callous as to put a woman in such a position. Yet, as her mind spun, she couldn’t help but wonder if there was more to the story.
Was she grasping at straws? Perhaps. But the Aaron she had come to know seemed complex, capable of both charm and aloofness.
Judith knew of Aaron’s reputation as a rake, but she had started to see beyond that superficial image. He’d been so charming during their dance, and then when he’d told her stories of his travels, she’d felt almost at ease with him. Had she been foolish to allow herself to be drawn in?
He was known for being the man who could get any lady he wanted, after all.
As the dance continued, Judith’s eyes occasionally darted to Aaron and Lady Lundgren, their intense conversation still ongoing. Her curiosity mingled with an inexplicable sense of unease, and she realized how little she truly knew about Aaron’s past and the complexities that shaped him.
The dance came to an end, and Lord Pembroke offered his arm to Judith, escorting her back to the edge of the ballroom.
“Well, you are an angel indeed when you dance,” he praised and winked at her.
“You are too kind. I stepped on your foot at least once,” she said, and he let out a chuckle.
“And yet I would be remiss if I did not ask if you would do me the honor of dancing with me again next Wednesday. I assume you will be here?” he asked with a warm smile.
“I would be delighted,” Judith replied, smiling back.
“Very good, I look forward to it. Perhaps we could even dance twice?” he suggested and then shook his head as she searched for an appropriateanswer.
Two dances indicated serious interest… Was she ready for that?
“I did not mean to be forward, but a man must ask, lest he loses out. I see your dance card is quite full tonight.”
He winked at her and then departed, leaving her to make her way toward Aaron, though she felt a strange sensation in her stomach.
The revelation about his past engagement weighed heavily on her mind. She had seen a different side of him recently, but now she was unsure what to think. She spotted Lady Lundgren speaking with her brother, their animated conversation contrasting sharply with the tension she felt.
Aaron approached her, his expression softening as he drew nearer. “Judith, how did it go?” he asked, his tone light.
“Lord Pembroke is lovely,” she replied, her voice slightly distant. “He asked to dance with me again next week.”
“That’s wonderful,” Aaron said, though his tone and expression contrasted with his words.
Silence fell between them, the unspoken tension thickening the air. They looked at one another, and Judith’s thoughts raced. She wanted to ask about Lady Lundgren but couldn’t bring herself to voice the question.
Instead, she forced a smile and said, “I’m quite hungry now. I think I’ll have a piece of cake.”
Aaron’s teasing grin appeared. “The cake and lemonade here are dreadful, you know.”
She laughed lightly, though it felt hollow. “I’m so famished, I don’t care.”
“Let me go with you,” he offered, stepping closer.
