Chapter 27

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.

"I know I've hurt you deeply," Abel said, his voice trembling as his eyes watered, "and I will spend the rest of my days making it up to you, proving my love and devotion. I cannot undo the past, but I promise you, Bridget, that I will be the man you deserve."

He took a step forward, his eyes locked on hers, his voice filled with a mix of determination and vulnerability.

"Bridget," he began, his voice quivering. "I cannot bear to be without you any longer. This is not about duty or societal expectations. I love you with all my heart, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

He reached out, his hand trembling as it brushed against her cheek. "I have been a fool, Bridget. Blind to the depth of my feelings for you. But now, at this moment, I know with absolute certainty that I truly cannot live without you. I do not wish to."

There was a sincere, yet lighthearted tone as he added, "I have loved you from the moment you attacked me for my jest at the table. Never had I met a woman so sharp and aggressive. Your fierceness plucked out my heart and trashed it on the ground, yet it wanted more."

Bridget couldn't help the laughter that escaped her lips as she shook her head at him. He smiled back at her, his eyes filled with adoration as he stared at her as though she was the only woman in existence.

His voice trembled with a mix of nervousness and determination when he spoke again, "My darling Bridget… will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

Bridget's heart raced in her chest, her emotions swirling like a tempest. She took a step closer to him, her voice filled with a mix of disbelief and longing.

"You foolish man," she whispered, her eyes glistening with her tears. "Why did it take you so long to realize what we could have? You are the one my heart waited for, has always yearned for."

Her heart nearly exploded with joy, her voice filled with a mix of awe and love. "Yes, Abel." She nodded, her arms wrapping around his neck. "Yes, a thousand times yes. I love you too, and I will marry you."

And with that, she pressed her lips to his, igniting the now familiar feeling between them, their lips entwining in a passionate kiss. Nothing else seemed to matter but that very moment as their love enveloped them, their hearts soaring with happiness and the promise of a future together.

After the minutes passed, Bridget gently pulled away, breaking their kiss with a soft smile playing on her lips. "I shall prepare the guest room for you to stay the night," she said, her voice filled with affection and anticipation.

Her hands felt his wet clothes again with a laugh. "And I'm going to have to wake the servants as well, it seems. Something must be done about this before you actually fall ill."

"That's all good and fine."

But Abel's eyes sparkled with mischief as he reached out, his hand firmly grasping her waist. She gasped softly, her heart skipping a beat as he pulled her close again and planted a slow kiss on her lips.

His voice dropped to a low, sultry tone, tinged with a hint of warning. "But just so you know, my darling," he murmured, his gaze intense. "This will be the last night we spend apart. I vow to make our wedding happen as swiftly as humanly possible."

A blush spread across Bridget's cheeks in full force, her eyes downcast with shy excitement. She nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. "Yes, it should be swift, I agree."