Aaron quickened his pace, the gravel crunching under his boots. He had to focus on the task at hand—retrieving John from Eton. But even as he tried to concentrate on the immediate problem, his thoughts kept drifting back to Judith, to the way her eyes had widened with worry, to the feel of her hand in his.
He reached his carriage and climbed in, signaling to the driver to go. As the carriage rumbled away, he looked out the window, the bleak winter landscape mirroring his mood.
The feeling of dread clung to him, a shadow that refused to be cast aside. He knew he had to keep his distance, but the more time he spent with Judith, the harder that seemed to become.
CHAPTER 18
“Well,” the elderly headmaster said with a shrug, “you can certainly see John. He is doing just fine. He fell during a riding lesson and broke his leg, but our physician has tended to it. There’s no reason to be alarmed, Lady Worcester.”
Judith looked at her stepmother, who glared at the man. “You mean to tell us we cannot take him home with us?” she asked. “We are only his sister and stepmother. Only Oliver, as the head of the household, has the right to remove John from the premises?”
“I am grateful that you are willing to let me see my stepson,” Matilda interjected, her tone sharp. “But we will be taking him home. An injured child should be with his family.”
“I’m afraid it will not be possible,” the headmaster replied. “Lord Worcester has not given instructions to allow you to do so, and since you are not his legal guardians, I cannot permit it.”
“This is ridiculous!” Judith exclaimed. “Are you saying that because we are women, we have no rights?”
She’d known this might happen. Aaron had warned them of this exact situation, but she hadn’t wanted to believe it. She’d assured herself that as John’s sister and closest living relative, she’d be allowed to take him home whenever she wanted. Alas, Aaron had been right.
The headmaster, an older man with white hair and a gray beard, shifted uncomfortably. “I do not sit in Parliament, nor do I make the laws. If you wish to see this changed, perhaps you should speak to Lord Worcester about it.”
Joanna glanced at Matilda, who looked furious.
“If you will excuse me, I have other matters to tend to,” the headmaster said, rising and motioning toward the door. “I will have somebody escort you to the infirmary.”
“This is an outrage!” Matilda declared once they were outside. “How can they act as though we have no rights?”
“Because we do not,” Judith replied bitterly. “Women do not have rights in our society. I never thought about it before because Father was always there to protect us. But now that he is gone and Oliver is not with us, I see just how helpless we are.”
“It has been an outrage for quite some time that we do not have equal rights,” Matilda continued angrily. “We should be able toown property, not just through our husbands or brothers. Can you imagine if your father had not taken care of me by way of jointure? I would have to find some family member willing to take me in.”
Judith listened, a horrible realization dawning on her. She would be entirely dependent if Matilda decided to kick her out. Yes, she could live with Matilda, but what if they had a falling out?
“It’s unconscionable,” Matilda went on, “that I should find myself in this position. And why? Because I do not have a husband.”
“All this time, I worried about nothing but love,” Judith said softly. “Marrying, because it was my heart’s desire. But now I see reality. Without a husband and without Father, I would be lost.”
“What’s the matter?” Aaron asked, approaching them.
“The headmaster won’t allow us to take John, just as you said,” Matilda huffed. “I thought surely my standing as Lady Worcester would allow me to take him home, but you were right.”
Judith looked up at Aaron. On the journey to Eaton, they had planned to remove John on their own, hoping their titles held sway, but it seemed not.
“It’s awful that this has happened,” he said, “but I promise you, I will have John with us shortly. I promise.”
Judith knew he would keep his word, but it didn’t ease her dread. She now understood her position in society and the need to prioritize practical considerations over dreams of love.
The carriage rocked gently back and forth, the rhythmic motion almost soothing as it carried them back home.
Judith watched Matilda sleep, her head resting against the window, her face peaceful despite the recent events. John lay stretched out across the seat, his leg elevated and wrapped in a splint made from wood and sturdy leather, secured with cloth bandages to keep the bones in place. His leg was carefully padded to prevent further injury during the journey.
Judith sat beside Aaron, who was engrossed in a book. She couldn’t help but smile as she glanced at him. He had been wonderful throughout this ordeal. It had been made quite clear that without him, they would not have been able to take John home. He had stepped in, presenting himself as the family’s guardian.
How odd it was to think of him as such. Oliver had told her that Aaron was to be her guardian, but she had considered this more an arbitrary title given by her brother. Knowing that Aaron actually was in charge of the family felt a little strange. A mix of gratitude and unease settled in her chest.
Aaron looked up from his book, a small smile on his lips. “I thought you were asleep.”
Judith shook her head. “I can’t. I’m too riled up.”
