Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

J udith sat in her chamber, sipping her tea and gazing out the window as the setting sun painted the sky in hues of orange and pink. The gentle breeze rustled the curtains, and she found solace in the tranquil scene outside. As she lost herself in the mesmerizing dance of the leaves, a soft knock on the door drew her attention.

"Come in," she called out, setting down her teacup.

Marianne, her loyal maid, entered the room with a concerned look on her face. "My Lady, there is a caller," she announced, her voice filled with uncertainty.

"A caller?" Judith furrowed her brow, puzzled by the unexpected visit. "At this late hour? Who could it be?"

Marianne shrugged. "I'm not sure, My Lady. The butler sent me to tell you. Shall I have them sent away?"

Judith shook her head, her curiosity piqued. "No, no, Marianne. I shall see who it is. Are they downstairs?"

"Yes, My Lady, in the parlor," Marianne replied before departing.

Judith cast one last glance out the window, the fading light casting a warm glow on her features.

As she descended the stairs, her curiosity about the unexpected caller grew. The clock in the hallway chimed softly, indicating that it was just after six o'clock, a rather unusual time for a social call. Her mind raced with questions as she made her way down to the parlor.

As she approached, she heard her stepmother's unmistakable voice. Peering around the corner, she spotted her stepmother conversing with a gentleman, though she could only see the back of his head, as he was facing away from her.

"And what about you? Are you involved in a courtship?" Matilda asked.

Judith's eyes went wide. She could not make out the guest's response but saw his head move back and forth. Something about him was oddly familiar, though she could not place him.

"Ah, well then, I am glad you are here to see my stepdaughter. Judith is highly accomplished, I assure you. She plays the pianoforte, and she is well-read. Any gentleman should be glad to have met her," Matilda said.

While Judith appreciated her stepmother's praise, she didn't like that it was addressed to a stranger.

"She is a wonderful dancer also, and a skilled conversationalist."

Judith's cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she listened, feeling exposed and vulnerable in the presence of the unknown guest.

She had to put a stop to this. She wasn't a cow at the market who had to be made to sound attractive. Whoever this man was, he would not wish to speak to her anymore after her stepmother all but foisted her on him.

Swiftly, she burst into the parlor, ready to stop her stepmother, when she stopped in her tracks. The stranger sitting in the armchair was no stranger at all.

It was the Duke of Nottingham. And he wore his telltale smirk.

Her heart sank like a stone as she absorbed the implications of their conversation.

"Your Grace," she greeted, recovering the air of poise she'd carried earlier.

"Lady Judith," he replied and rose with a smile on his face.

He wore a deep burgundy waistcoat that complemented his skin tone perfectly and made his reddish lips look redder still.

"I was just telling His Grace what a wonderful dancer you are," Matilda piped up with a beaming smile. "He is unattached," she added with a wink, and Judith wished the ground would open up and swallow her that very second.

"Lady Worcester, it is not right to say such things in front of a guest. He may be mortified by such a declaration," Judith interjected, her tone firm but not unkind.

Matilda's expression faltered, and she appeared remorseful at her misstep as she addressed Aaron.

"I beg your pardon, I meant no offense."

"There is no need, Lady Worcester," he assured her quickly, then turned his attention to Judith. "Please, Lady Judith, your stepmother spoke of you only with the highest regard. There is no need for concern, and I do not mind having my status advertised," he added, his voice warm and understanding.

"Right, well, I should leave the two of you be. Judith, I will leave for the dower house for the night. Call on me if you need," Matilda said and then made her way out of the parlor.

Judith never called on her stepmother and generally spent the evenings alone in the grand house, though she did not recall her stepmother offering before.

Shaking off the abasing experience, Judith took a moment to compose herself before turning her attention to the Duke, her curiosity unabated.

"Well, now that we are alone, may I ask what brings you to our home at this hour, Your Grace?" she inquired, her demeanor composed but with a tinge of unease lurking beneath the surface. "I was not expecting you."

"I was not expecting to be here either, but as I thought about what occurred today, I came to the conclusion that it would behoove us to have an honest conversation before the ball tomorrow. Would you care to take the air with me?"

She hesitated, dreading what he had come to say, but realized she had no choice. She was mixed up in this arrangement with him now, and the sooner she got this out of the way, the faster she could get back to her book.

"Of course," she replied and motioned behind him, where the door led out to the garden.

She noticed that his greatcoat was resting on the back of the chair, which was unusual, for normally it would have been handed to the butler. However, he slung it on now but then eyed her with a raised eyebrow.

"Should you not get your coat? It is rather cold."

"I am quite all right," she said, not wanting to bother with fetching her coat and bonnet. She did not intend for this conversation to last very long.

Alas, the second she stepped outside, she regretted it because the cold air nipped her cheeks, and she shivered. Determined not to show her discomfort and prove him right once more, she gestured toward the lake at the end of the gravel path before they set into motion.

"I beg your pardon for my stepmother. She should not have interviewed you the way she did," she started, feeling it was only polite to do so.

He offered her his arm, and she took it without thinking. It felt odd to walk arm in arm with a gentleman again, for it had been years, and somewhere inside her, a little voice whispered just how much she'd missed this.

"You need not apologize on her behalf. I was not bothered by her questions. Lady Worcester only means well. She wants the best for those in her life, which is an admirable quality."

His words came out smooth and full of genuine admiration, which gave her pause, as she'd been unaware there was any connection between Matilda and this young man.

"You know my stepmother?"

He shrugged, and the wind blew strands of hair into his face, which he swiftly tucked behind his ear. From this angle, she saw how sharp his features were and how angular his face was. He was a handsome man, she couldn't deny that. No wonder he was so popular among the ladies.

She pushed that thought aside, annoyed for allowing herself to think of him in such a way at all.

"I know her younger brother, the Earl of Marble—or rather I knew him. He has passed away, as you know."

Judith wanted to nod in agreement, but then she realized that she hadn't known this at all!

The truth was, she didn't know a whole lot about her stepmother. Matilda's appearance in the former Marquess's life had been rather sudden, but she'd found her place in the family quickly and seamlessly. And because she'd made her father so very happy, Judith had never bothered to try to question her presence. Though neither had she tried to find out much about her life.

Getting to know Matilda hadn't been something Judith ever considered, for by the time she appeared, Judith had been involved in a serious courtship, one she'd assumed would lead to marriage.

When she'd ended that arrangement, Judith had planned for another gentleman to come into her life and whisk her away. There wasn't a need to get to know Matilda, as she'd figured they'd hardly see one another…

Little had she known she'd remain in her father's home for three years, living with her stepmother.

"I did not know," she admitted. "When did he pass?"

The Duke eyed her curiously, as if her lack of knowledge truly took him by surprise.

"Five years ago. He drowned when the ship he was on sank in the English Channel. You really did not know?"

"No. I suppose Matilda and I lead very different lives and didn't really speak to one another about her past." Judith left out the fact that she'd never bothered to ask.

"It would benefit you to get to know her better, especially if you intend to stay in one another's lives. She is a kind soul, from all I know of her. Her brother was only three years my senior, thus we knew one another well at Eton and after. He always spoke very highly of his sister. She has a true, gentle and kind heart, and on the few occasions I met her prior to this, she had always impressed me with her gentle nature. Although I doubt she remembers meeting me—it was many years ago."

"She never mentioned it," Judith replied.

"In any case, let me say that your stepmother would not harm a fly. She was just curious, as any good mother would be when a gentleman caller presents himself without prior notice."

"She is not my mother," Judith said, her voice sharper than intended.

"I know. That is not what I meant. I only meant it is natural for her to want the best for you. Thus, you need not apologize for her actions. She had a tragic life. Her first husband had a reputation, and she seeks to protect those around her."

"That I do know. He was a drunkard who dallied with his servants," Judith scoffed.

"Indeed. From what I know, your stepmother was very unhappy in the marriage, and I will say that his death must've come as a relief to her. I admire that she was able to embrace marriage and life in general once more. Of course, one must do that after tragedy. There is no other way."

She looked up at him, wondering what sort of tragedy had befallen him to make such a statement. Or was it just a platitude?

"Which…" He looked at her, slowing his pace a little. "… brings me to what I wanted to talk to you about."

Here it was. The reason for his visit. Judith braced herself.

"I think that it cannot be denied that you struggled somewhat this afternoon."

Instantly, anger ignited within Judith, and she spun around. "Well, I cannot very well be blamed for that, seeing how you threw me to the wolves without any kind of preparation."

He looked sufficiently humbled by this, which tempered her rage somewhat.

"It is true. I should not have been so forward. However, you presented yourself to me as somebody entirely independent and capable of finding a husband on her own. So how was I supposed to know that it would be such a disaster?"

She took a deep breath and was about to launch into a fierce defense of herself when he raised both hands.

"Be that as it may, you struggled. And I cannot help but wonder, is it to do with your father's death? Do you hesitate to truly embrace courtship and the marriage mart, as Society likes to call it? Or is there another reason?"

Was he truly trying to understand her? Where had the compassion come from?

"I do not know what you mean. Surely it is understandable that I would not be courting and looking for a husband while in my mourning period. Indeed, it is quite early to be doing so now. We are barely out of?—"

"I understand, but we are at a time where it is acceptable for you to court again, yet I cannot help but wonder what about before your father's death? It seems to me that you have not been in a courtship in more than three years. I cannot help but wonder how the failure of your last courtship impacted you, and your father's death only compounded that? Are you perhaps hesitant about… living your life to the fullest?"

Judith spun around so quickly that the gravel crunched beneath her feet and glared at him. "What would you know of my life? I will have you know that I have purposely not courted because I was waiting for the right person."

His blue eyes narrowed, and he tilted his head slightly to the side. The sky was a brilliant crimson with hints of purple as the sun set behind him, casting an otherworldly glow on him. He was so handsome, it was almost painful to look upon him.

Judith squeezed her eyes shut, chiding herself for having such thoughts again, and when she opened them, she redirected her focus on the oak tree just to his right rather than directly at his face.

"How will you find the right person if you do not court? Again, I wonder, why have you not tried more? Why have you not gone to the theater and everything else? It seems almost as if you have used your failed courtship and your desire for love as an excuse to not embrace life."

How dare he judge her in such a manner?

"Embrace life? It is easy for you to talk about embracing life when you are a gentleman who can do whatever he wants. You can saunter off and board a ship to go anywhere in the world, as my brother did. You can charm as many ladies as you like, both here and abroad, and the worst you will get is the label of a rake, which does not hinder or harm your progress in society. I am a woman. My actions reflect on me more severely than yours."

She watched his lips press together as he took her in, and then he tilted his head slightly. "That might be true, and I am not saying that society doesn't stifle a lady, but there are things you can do. You can still dance. You can still live. I could have operated within these confines, but it seems that you have chosen to build a small world of your own away from society, living in the hope that somehow a gentleman will find you here in your home locked away rather than like in that new fairytale everyone is talking about. The one about the young lady who ate a poisoned apple and then slept."

"I think you are mixing up your fairytales. Snow White ate the poisoned apple, Sleeping Beauty slept for one-hundred years." She smiled.

"That might be right, but here we have it. A perfect example of what you ought not to do. You should refrain from correcting people you meet at a ball," he remarked, shaking his head slightly.

Judith couldn't help but snort. "But if someone is wrong, why should I not correct them?"

The Duke leaned in and said firmly, "You can, when you know them better, but no gentleman will want to be corrected by a woman he just met."

Feeling a wave of irritation, Judith sighed and wondered if Rosy and Joanna had to watch what they said around their husbands. She doubted it.

"A gentleman should not mind being challenged. Or do you? Do you mind being challenged?"

The Duke let out a hearty laugh, which once again made her bristle. "What I do or do not like in a lady does not matter."

Judith arched an eyebrow. "Then why won't you answer? Is it because it would contradict your own advice, Your Grace?"

After a moment, he conceded. "I like a lady who can stand up for herself and challenge me, but I am not the one you need to charm."

The garden was bathed in the soft, golden hues of the setting sun, casting a warm glow over the neatly trimmed hedges and blooming flowers. The air was filled with the fragrance of roses, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves, creating a serene and picturesque scene.

Aaron and Judith stood near a marble bench, the tension between them palpable.

"Your Grace, I really don't think I can do this," Judith declared, her voice wavering slightly. "Sometimes the gentlemen only want to talk about hunting and fishing. How can I pretend to be interested in things I know nothing about?"

Aaron pursed his lips and examined her from head to toe, as if he were reconsidering his promise to her brother. Indeed, he appeared rather vexed.

"First, I think you ought to call me Aaron when we are alone—we might as well drop the formalities. For another, I will need you to gather your wits about you. You cannot give up now. Or are you not as independent and strong as you had me believe?"

This jolted her backward. How dare he imply she was weak?

"I am strong and independent, Your Gr—Aaron."

"Well, good. Then you will do as I say and not sabotage our plans. Now, you need to follow my instructions, Judith. Smile, act politely, and show interest in whatever they are talking about. It's important to appear humble and engaged. People already think you're picky."

"But eye contact feels too intimate," Judith protested, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't like looking people I don't know in the eyes."

Aaron took a step closer, his expression serious. "Judith, eye contact is important. It shows confidence and interest. We need to practice."

Judith felt mortification rising within her. "I'd rather not," she murmured, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.

Aaron's expression softened even further as he reached out and gently touched her chin. She shuddered under his touch, but not in a bad way. Instead, she felt a sudden warmth spread through her. Her heart raced as he lifted her chin, his fingers light but firm.

"Look at me, Judith," he said softly.

She hesitated for a moment, then met his gaze. As their eyes locked, the world around her seemed to blur and fade away. Aaron's eyes were deep and compelling, holding hers with a magnetic intensity she couldn't resist. It was as if he was seeing right into her soul. The initial discomfort she felt melted into an unexpected warmth that flooded her chest, spreading like wildfire.

Her breath caught, and she felt a curious mix of vulnerability and connection. The blue depths of his eyes were not just looking at her but drawing her in, pulling her into an unspoken promise of understanding and intimacy.

Her pulse quickened, and she realized that this eye contact, once daunting, now felt like an open door to a deeper, unexpected closeness with him.

"Aaron," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "I do not…"

He smiled, a slow, confident smile that made her heart flutter faster. "It's not so bad, is it?" he asked softly.

Judith shook her head slightly, still captivated by his gaze. "No, it's not bad at all."

Aaron lightly brushed his thumb against her chin before he dropped his hand. "Remember this, Judith. Look the other person in the eyes and do not look away first. Let them be the ones. Do not stare either, you do not want to look as though you are bird-brained."

She nodded, unable to tear her gaze away from his. "Right. I shall not look bird-brained," she repeated, a little perplexed. "I promise."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting the garden into a soft twilight, Judith realized that something had changed between them. At that intimate moment, she had discovered a new strength within herself, a strength she hadn't known existed. And as she looked into Aaron's eyes, she knew that she could face whatever challenges lay ahead with confidence and grace.