Chapter 34

CHAPTER 34

" J udy," Oliver called as he followed his sister, who'd stumbled out of the room on unsteady legs. "What is this all about?"

"I… I should have told you, but I was so confused and…"

"Do you love him?" Oliver asked, surprising her because she'd expected a lecture of some sort, at the very least.

Did she love Aaron? Yes. But…

"Oliver, please, I do not feel well. I need to take the air, please let me."

He sighed deeply but walked her to the garden door to let her out.

"Very well, but you must make a decision, Judith. If this wedding needs to be canceled, then we will do it, but I need to know what you want. Do not make decisions based on anything but what you want and what is right for you," he urged, shocking her once more.

Given that this had all started because of him, his words meant a great deal to her. How people could change.

As she made her way into the garden, she pondered what happened over the last few days. If Oliver could change so much, surely so could Aaron. Maybe everything he'd said was true. But did that matter now? Wasn't it too late?

The cool air hit her face, but it did little to calm the storm inside her. She gasped for breath, her heart pounding in her chest.

Aaron loved her.

The words echoed in her mind, clashing against the reality of her situation. She loved him too, but there was Graham. Kind, dependable Graham, who had done nothing but care for her.

Her thoughts were a whirlwind of elation and shock. Aaron's confession had turned her world upside down. She felt as if she were standing on the edge of a precipice, unsure of whether to leap or step back. The garden, usually a place of solace, now seemed fraught with uncertainty. The scent of blooming roses mixed with the earthy aroma of the freshly watered ground, but it offered no comfort.

The front door creaked open behind her. Judith turned around, her breath catching as she spotted Graham stepping into the garden. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes held a depth of understanding that pierced through her inner turmoil.

"Lady Judith," he said softly, coming closer. His presence was like a gentle anchor, stabilizing her chaotic emotions for a brief moment. "I overheard some of what Aaron said to you in the great hall before you went into the parlor."

Her heart sank, guilt washing over her. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came.

Graham reached out, gently taking her hand in his. His touch was warm and steady, a stark contrast to her trembling fingers.

"We need to talk," he said, guiding her to a stone bench near the blooming roses.

They sat in silence for a moment, the tension between them palpable.

"My Lord, I—" Judith began, but he held up a hand to stop her.

"Judith, Aaron is right," he admitted, his voice steady but filled with quiet resignation. "I care for you greatly, and I think we could have a wonderful life together, but I don't love you. Not in the way a husband should love his wife. I think, in time, I might grow to love you, and perhaps you could grow to love me as well. But there are no guarantees."

Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision. "I'm so sorry. I never wanted to hurt you."

He shook his head, a gentle smile on his lips. "You don't need to apologize. This isn't anyone's fault. We entered into this arrangement thinking it was the best for both of us. But sometimes, things don't work out the way we plan."

She looked down, her hands shaking in her lap. The delicate lace of her dress seemed to mock her with its fragility.

"So, you do not want to get married anymore?" she asked, though she already knew the answer.

"Not if you love Aaron. If you do not—for I did not hear what you said to him—then I am willing to move forward with this wedding. Love is not a prerequisite for marriage, after all. But if you do…"

"I do love Aaron," she confessed, the words spilling out. "I've loved him for a long time."

Graham nodded, his expression thoughtful. "I suspected as much. Then you need to do what is right for you, Judith. I'd hate myself if we got married and you were unhappy because you love someone else. I want you to be happy. And selfishly, I want to be loved as well. Or at least have the affection of my wife rather than just her respect."

Was this it? Was this engagement over so quickly and so easily? And, dare she think it, so pleasantly?

Judith's tears began to fall, and she squeezed his hand. "Thank you for understanding. You're a good man, Graham. I hope you find someone who can love you the way you deserve."

He smiled again, this time with a hint of sadness. "Maybe I will. But right now, you have someone to catch. I saw Aaron and Oliver talking after you went out, and Aaron said he was going home and would await your answer to whatever you discussed there."

She looked at him in confusion until he nodded toward the house.

"Aaron's leaving. You should go after him."

Her heart leapt into her throat. She stood up, her legs shaky but determined. "Thank you, Graham. Truly."

"Go," he urged gently. "Don't let this chance slip away."

With one last grateful look, Judith turned and rushed toward the house. She burst through the door and saw Aaron just as he was about to leave. His back was to her, his shoulders slumped as if the weight of the world rested on them.

"Aaron!" she called, her voice breaking.

He froze, then slowly turned around. The pain in his eyes was evident, but there was also a glimmer of hope. The soft light from the hallway cast shadows on his face, highlighting the depth of his emotions.

Judith took a deep breath, her emotions a tangled mess of fear, love, and desperation. "Aaron, wait."

He took a step toward her, his eyes searching hers. "Judith, I'm so sorry for everything. I?—"

She shook her head, cutting him off. "No, Aaron. I need to say this. I love you. I've always loved you. And I don't want to spend another moment pretending otherwise."

Relief and disbelief washed over his face. He crossed the distance between them in a few strides, taking her hands in his. His touch sent a jolt through her, a reminder of the connection they shared.

"Judith, do you mean it? After everything I've done…"

She nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks. "Yes, I mean it. I was afraid too, but I don't want to live in fear anymore. I want to be with you."

Aaron's eyes shone with unshed tears. "I love you, Judith. I promise I will spend the rest of my life making it up to you, proving to you that we can be happy together."

Judith smiled through her tears, a sense of peace settling over her for the first time in weeks. "I believe you, Aaron."

He pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly as if he would never let go. Judith buried her face in his shoulder, feeling his heartbeat against her own. The world around them seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them in that moment of pure, unadulterated love.

At that moment, Judith knew they would face whatever challenges came their way, together. The warmth of his embrace, the steady beating of his heart against hers, told her that this was where she belonged. No more doubts, no more fears.

"Aaron," she whispered, her voice muffled against his chest. "I was so scared. Scared that you didn't truly care, scared that I would end up alone."

He pulled back slightly, looking into her eyes with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat. "I was scared too, Judith. Scared of becoming my parents, of repeating past mistakes. But I know now that we can forge our own path, make our own happiness."

Judith nodded, her fingers clutching the fabric of his coat. "I believe in us. I want to build a future with you."

He smiled, the expression lighting up his face in a way that made her heart swell with love. "And I want to build that future with you. From this moment on, we face everything together."

As they stood there, wrapped in each other's embrace, Judith felt a weight lift from her shoulders. She had made the right choice. And for the first time in a long while, she felt hopeful about the future.

She glanced toward the house, where Graham stood watching from a distance. He gave her a small nod—a gesture of encouragement and understanding. She knew she would always be grateful for his kindness and selflessness.

Turning back to Aaron, she felt a surge of determination. "Let's go inside. We have a lot to talk about and plan."

He nodded, taking her hand in his. "Yes, we do. But as long as we're together, I know we can handle anything."

They walked back toward the house, hand in hand, ready to face whatever the future held. Together.

As they entered the drawing room, Judith felt a sense of peace wash over her. She had found her place, her home, and it was with Aaron. No matter what challenges lay ahead, she knew they would face them side by side, their love a beacon guiding them through the darkest of times.

The future was theirs, and they would embrace it with open hearts, ready to write the next chapter of their lives together.