Chapter 15

Bridget's heart raced as she stood in her bridesmaid's dress, the delicate fabric rustling with every nervous movement. The weight of her family's financial troubles remained heavy on her mind, casting doubt on the path she had chosen.

She fidgeted anxiously, her mind consumed by the question of whether she was truly making the right decision.

Knowing that time was slipping away, she had positioned herself in a strategic spot, a place where she knew Abel would pass by. Her eyes darted back and forth, searching for any sign of his familiar figure in the hallway. Each passing moment felt like an eternity, her anticipation mingling with desperation.

And then, there he was, at last, striding purposefully in her direction. Bridget's heart skipped a beat as she caught sight of him, her breath catching in her throat. She stepped forward, her hands trembling with fear and urgency.

The hall was deserted enough, she had double-checked. Yet, worry lingered in her thoughts as she raised a hand of acknowledgment his way.

She opened her mouth to speak, but as her gaze locked with his, the words seemed to dissolve into thin air. She watched his eyes widen slightly at the sight of her, a flicker of appreciation dancing within them.

A smile, wide and radiant, graced his handsome face when his eyes roamed over her, causing her cheeks to flush.

"I must admit… you clean up nice, Lady Bridget."

Bridget averted her eyes from the intensity of his gaze, doing her best to keep her cheeks from flaming even further. Thankfully, as her mind recalled the mission at hand, her expression fell again.

Abel's smile faltered as it dawned on him that something was amiss. With genuine concern etched on his features, he broke the silence. "Is something troubling you, Lady Bridget? You seem distant."

She fully snapped out of her trance at this, her heart pounding in her chest. Finally, she opened her mouth, and everything came pouring out like a torrent.

"Your Grace, there is something my family wishes to keep a secret from you, but I cannot bear to. We are facing dire financial issues—we're on the brink of ruin. The marriage between Olivia and Elliot—we seek to use it as a means to secure our family's future."

Her voice quavered with emotion as she pushed on, "Desperation can drive even the noblest of families to make choices they had never considered. My family fears losing everything—that is the reason we have resorted to such methods."

Her hands trembled as she avoided Abel's gaze, her voice filled with anxiety. "You must understand, Your Grace." She continued, her words tumbling out in a rush, "Please, believe me when I say my brother would never trick Lady Olivia. He truly loves her, and it was she, as a matter of fact, who proposed the idea of a quick wedding, knowing it would alleviate our burdens."

With a sorrowful tone she carried on, "Still, Your Grace, I understand if you're angry or disappointed, but we had no other choice, and that is the truth. It was never intended to deceive you or your sister. We?—"

"Lady Bridget, please, calm yourself. I've known about your family's financial struggles from the beginning."

Bridget's jaw dropped slightly, her eyes widening in shock as the Duke interrupted, putting her rambling to a stop, his voice steady and relaxed.

"I made inquiries about the man my sister was to marry, of course, and this truth did not escape my notice."

Bridget's breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding with a mix of surprise and apprehension. "You… you knew? And you said nothing?"

His gaze softened as he reached out to cup her trembling hands in his own. "I kept my knowledge hidden because I needed to see the truth for myself. I needed to witness Olivia and Elliot's love firsthand."

A gentle smile graced his face again. "And now, I am certain that they are meant to be together. There's nothing to it. As long as my sister is happy and safe."

He eyed her for a moment before he asked, "You didn't know, did you?"

Her eyes darted to his, and suddenly feeling desperate to prove her integrity to him, she nodded vehemently. "I only found out last night." A sad laugh escaped her lips. "No one deemed it of importance to let me know the family was edging on financial ruin."

"Well then." Abel's handsome smile sent shivers down her spine as he stepped closer. "Thank you for deeming it of importance to share with me as soon as you heard, despite the probable consequences."

A sense of relief washed over Bridget, enveloping her in a comforting embrace. She squeezed his hand gently and smiled back. She couldn't deny she found herself drawn to this man. She felt an overwhelming sense of ease in his presence.

"You don't have to thank me for doing what's right, Your Grace. I would have done this regardless of when I discovered it." A small laugh left her lips as she spoke, "I tell you, it is difficult being the youngest lady in the house. They do this all the time—keep me out of the loop."

She shook her head as the memories returned. "They did this with the issue with my sister. I was terribly confused and hurt for a while. Alas, I only learned the full story months later."

The seconds passed in silence as her mind wandered off. With a soft sigh, she spoke again, her voice filled with nostalgia and longing. "My sister was truly a remarkable woman."

Her smile was sad as she continued, "She showed me what love could truly be like, just as Olivia is showing you with my brother. It would have been nice for you to have known her as well…" she trailed off, letting her words hang in the air before a quiet question escaped her lips. "You've heard Virginia's story, haven't you, Your Grace?"

Abel hesitated, his eyes searching her face before he nodded slowly. "Yes, your brother shared with me bits and pieces of how everything unfolded—the parts he remembers."

A mix of emotions flickered across Bridget's face. At last, a smile tugged at her lips. "She was the best of us. My father's golden child. She used to be everything he'd wanted in a daughter. I couldn't and still can't compare."

She laughed and shook her head. "So, yes, it was indeed a surprise to everyone when her reckless love was discovered. Still, she fought hard, all by herself. Sometimes, I wish…"

She let out a wistful sigh and raised weary eyes to him, her voice barely above a whisper. "I wish my sister perhaps had someone like you to protect and understand her, Your Grace. Like you do with Olivia. Perhaps life would have been much easier."

Abel's expression softened, his eyes filling with surprise and warmth. He was touched by Bridget's words, the depth of her emotions evident in her voice.

However, he chose to remain silent, not wanting to interrupt her train of thought and allowing the weight of her words to settle between them.

Seated on a chair in the hallway beside her, Abel listened attentively as she went on to share more of her sister's story.

The dimly lit hallway cast dancing shadows on the walls as they continued their intimate exchange. Their voices, hushed yet full of intensity, filled the air.

There was an unspoken understanding between them even in the short moments of silence. Time was all forgotten, and their shared similar experiences, though unique, ended up weaving tapestries of empathy and compassion between them.

The silence they shared wasn't uncomfortable. After all her worries and sleepless nights, this had gone better than she could have imagined.

"I've been meaning to ask," Bridget said, shattering the silence, "did you finish that book?"

Abel narrowed his gaze at her suspiciously. "Pray, tell. Why are you asking? This hardly seems like the right time to talk about books."

She'd never felt freer. It was almost as if a heavy boulder had been lifted off her soul. "How little you know. This is the best time to talk about books. So… did you finish reading it?"

Abel chuckled. "I did." He looked away, choosing to say nothing more.

"And? What did you think? Do you maintain your stance that it was a fanciful waste of time?"

"I… No, I don't. I think it's one of the best books I have ever read. There, I said it," he huffed indignantly.

"Surprise, surprise, Your Grace," she teased. "Just as I said. You really need to listen to me more."

"And here I was hoping you wouldn't gloat too much. And I am happy to disappoint you. What can I say, I'm a predictable man." He let out a soft laugh that melted her heart, the sound barely above a whisper.

"Typical," she said, still smiling.

Abel raised a hand. "I have one problem, though. The romance aspects and scenes were a little overhanded. Made it a little predictable, but it was still a good read."

Bridget laughed. "I think I know what the problem is." Abel raised an eyebrow questioningly. She chuckled and said, "You desperately need to fall in love, Your Grace. That's the only solution I can find to your very dire situation."

"And what would that solve?"

"For one, it would help you enjoy romance books more. Give you a little perspective, at least."

"No, thank you," Abel said, shaking his head. "I do appreciate the offer, but I respectfully pass."

Bridget leaned in closer. "Do you believe in love, Your Grace?" The hallway fell silent again as her question echoed in the air.

Abel chuckled softly. "I'm walking my sister down the aisle today despite everything, am I not?"

Bridget pursed her lips and shook her head at him. "That's not at all what I mean, Your Grace." Filled with anticipation, she summoned the courage to clarify her question.

Her cheeks flushed, and her tone fell to a whisper as she went on, her voice barely audible. "Have you truly never felt a longing for someone? An inexplicable desire that consumes you whenever you're near them?"

Abel's eyes shifted away from hers in a nearly guilty manner. "Not at all." He got up from his chair and let out a short laugh. "We've spent a lot of time here. It's best we leave."

Bridget got to her feet as well, but she was still unsatisfied. She stood in his way, forcing him to look at her.

"Answer me before we leave. You've mentioned quite a few times how you dislike the idea of romance. Would that be because you've never experienced it yourself?" She paused. "Or have you?"

"Why are you demanding this of me at this time, Lady Bridget?"

The warning in Abel's tone was clear, yet Bridget found herself inching closer to him. She fixed her gaze on his as she continued, "I'm talking about having experienced the feeling which words cannot capture the intensity of."

This time, she heard instinctive warning bells ringing at the back of her head, but she didn't want to stop. "Having every fiber of your being yearn for their presence… for their touch."

"No, Bridget."

His response was a low, husky murmur, sending shivers running down Bridget's spine. She searched his face, convinced he was not telling her the truth.

"Are you certain, Your Grace?"

Heavy tension filled the air, and her breath hitched as he suddenly took a step closer and leaned in, giving her barely any time to realize what was happening.

As Abel's lips met hers, a surge of electricity coursed through Bridget's body, instantly igniting the fire that had been smoldering for far too long. Her feelings burst before her like bright night lights, and suddenly, everything until that moment made sense.

The world around them faded into insignificance as she surrendered herself to the intensity of their passion. Their lips moved in perfect harmony, their breaths mingling in a dance of shared longing.

Abel's hands found their way to Bridget's waist, pulling her closer as though he couldn't bear to have even an inch of space between them.

Unable to stop herself, Bridget buried her fingers in his hair as well, pulling him towards her. They were lost in each other, their bodies pressed together, fitting like two puzzle pieces that had found their match.

At last, the first wedding bell rang, interrupting the spell. They parted, and Bridget's face flushed a deep shade of crimson as she opened her eyes, her pupils dilated with shock and surprise, mirroring the look in the eyes of the man before her.

The weight of the moment hung heavy in the air, leaving them both breathless and unsure of what had just transpired. The struggle was clear on their faces as they tried to process everything.

As the realization of the gravity of his actions settled in his mind, Abel abruptly pulled away, his expression now a mix of confusion and regret.

Without giving her a chance to speak, he turned on his heels and hastily retreated, leaving her standing there, her heart pounding and her mind a whirlwind of emotions.

How could he just leave like that?

The kiss felt magical to her, almost as if her entire soul had been yearning for it for years. She'd never felt anything quite as profound as this before.

She put her fingers on her lips, remembering the sweetness of the kiss. She still felt breathless, her heart pounding in her chest.

The room lurched, and she reached out, putting her hand on the wall, her legs feeling as weak as jelly. Her stomach twisted into several knots, squeezing tighter with every passing second.

It was easy to pretend and deceive herself that she had not noticed the intense passion that had been building between herself and the Duke in the last week.

Her insides told the true story, though. She had loved every moment of that kiss, and deep down, she wished it had never ended.

She watched Abel's retreating figure, his back straight and his footsteps solid and sure. She fought down the urge to chase after him. She wanted to stand on a tower and scream out of joy.

She wanted to do something. Anything. And yet he had left. She had been caught in the intensity of their connection, the depth of their shared desire.

He had kissed her with unrestrained passion, filling her mind with longings she had never had before. This was such a brand-new experience for him. She couldn't understand why Abel had reacted as strongly as he did. Did he think it was a mistake?

She couldn't make sense of that. How could he think it was a mistake? Bridget was certain of what she had felt. The hunger, the unbridled desire.

As she watched him leave, an unexpected realization hit her.

I am utterly and irrevocably in love with him.

The realization was breathtaking, and she shivered at the thought.

His actions had thrown her into doubt, uncertainty clouding her thoughts. What had they begun? And more importantly, where did they go from here?