Chapter 18
Chapter 18
Isabella was on her knees, scrubbing the floor, when Margaret lightly tapped her on the shoulder, shaking her from her thoughts.
"Oh my!" Isabella gasped in shock. "You scared me then."
"So sorry, Isabella. I just wanted to let you know that Lord Berkshire is waiting for you in the library."
Isabella's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Daniel. Even more so when she noticed the flicker of jealousy in Margaret's eyes. It was a fleeting look, but one that made Isabella's heart ache with guilt. Isabella knew this situation was not entirely fair to her, or any of the other staff members. Yet, she had to do what Daniel wanted. He was in charge, after all.
She put her head down and walked toward the library quickly, excited to see what Daniel had in store for her today.
"Isabella," he greeted, his voice gentle the moment she stepped inside. "I wondered where you were. It is not like you to be late for our meetings."
Heat burned in her cheeks. "I am terribly sorry. I got caught up in work."
"Well, I am glad that you are here. I have something for you."
Curiosity piqued, Isabella took the book from his outstretched hand, her fingers brushing against his. She felt a jolt, a reminder of the connection that always seemed to linger between them. She looked at the cover, her eyes widening as she read the title: The Noble Heart.
"It is a story about forbidden love," Daniel explained, his voice low and filled with a mixture of anticipation and uncertainty. "It is a rather scandalous publication, but I thought you might like it. I would love to hear your thoughts after you've read it."
A flush crept up Isabella's neck. The implications of such a story, given their own unspoken connection, were not lost on her. "Thank you, Daniel. I shall read it."
His eyes held hers for a moment longer as if he wanted to say more, but instead, he simply nodded. "I look forward to discussing it with you. Perhaps today, instead of reading with me, you would like to take the time to read it alone."
Isabella nodded. She would miss her time with Daniel, but she could not read this with him around. It would be too complicated.
"Yes, I think that would be best."
Isabella walked back to her room, the book clutched tightly in her hands. Her thoughts swirled with a mixture of anticipation and anxiety. The title alone had already set her heart racing.
She settled into her modest bed, the room's quietness enveloping her as she opened the book. The first few pages captivated her instantly, drawing her into a world of nobility and servitude, of forbidden glances and secret rendezvous. The parallels to her own life were both thrilling and unnerving.
Certain passages from the text stood out to her, captivating her.
Though their love was a secret, hidden in the shadows of the grand estate, every glance they shared spoke volumes. The lord's heart ached with the weight of his feelings, knowing that society would never accept their union.
She knew her place, as a servant in his household, but in his arms, she felt like an equal. Their love was a rebellion against the rigid confines of their world, a beacon of hope in an otherwise dark reality.
Yet, as much as the story captivated her, it also terrified her. The scandal, the potential ruin, the impossibility of their love—it all felt too close to her own reality.
Was this a warning from Daniel? Or something else?
She found herself avoiding Daniel, unsure how to articulate the tumult of emotions the book had stirred within her. Especially as she reached the end of the novel.
He wanted to hear her opinion, but she was far too afraid to give it.
Days passed, and their stolen moments in the library were filled with comfortable conversations about other topics, but the book remained unmentioned. Daniel's growing impatience was palpable; his eyes lingered on Isabella, questioning, whenever their conversations steered away from the one subject they were both avoiding.
Finally, one morning, as they sat in the library, Daniel's patience seemed to reach its limit. "Isabella," he began, his tone gentle but firm, "have you finished the book?"
Isabella felt a knot tighten in her stomach. "I have," she admitted softly.
"And?" he prompted, his gaze searching her face.
She took a deep breath, gathering her courage. "It is a beautiful story, Daniel. But also heartbreaking. The risks they took, the scandal they faced...it is overwhelming."
Daniel leaned forward, his eyes intense. "Do you think their love was worth it?"
Isabella looked down at her hands, twisting them nervously. "In the book, they found happiness despite everything. But in real life...it is not so simple."
He reached out, gently lifting her chin so their eyes met. "What if it could be?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "What if love could transcend all those barriers, just as it did in the story?"
Isabella's heart ached at his words, the longing in his eyes reflecting her own. She wanted to believe it could be so simple, that love could overcome everything. But reality felt so much more daunting. She shook her head slowly. "Daniel, I…I do not see how it can. The scandal, the judgment from society, the way that we would both be treated…"
His grip on her hand tightened, his voice filled with urgency. "Isabella, I have come to realize that living without you would be a far greater tragedy than any scandal. I care for you deeply, more than I have ever cared for anyone."
Was he really saying what she thought he was?
Isabella's breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding in her chest. Daniel's confession was everything she had dared to hope for, yet feared to acknowledge.
"Daniel…" she began, her voice trembling with emotion. "I…I care for you, too. More than I ever thought possible. But your position, your title…"
"Mean nothing without you," Daniel interrupted, his eyes blazing with determination. "I know this world expects me to choose someone from my own class, but my heart has made its choice. It belongs to you, Isabella."
Tears welled in Isabella's eyes, her resolve crumbling under the weight of his words. She had spent her life learning to hide her emotions, to be practical and cautious, yet here was Daniel, offering her everything she had ever wanted, but never dared to dream could be hers.
The silence in the library was thick with emotion, broken only by the soft crackling of the fire in the hearth.
"I am not a lady," Isabella whispered, her voice barely audible. "I am just a maid. The world will never accept us. Plus, you will be expected to have a noble-born heir…"
A shadow passed over Daniel's face. He took a deep breath, looking down at their intertwined hands. "Isabella, there is something I need to tell you. Something I have kept hidden from almost everyone."
Her heart pounded in her chest, a sense of foreboding creeping in. "What is it?"
He looked back up at her, vulnerability stark in his eyes. "I cannot have children. An illness in my youth left me unable to father any. It is a secret that I have carried for years."
Isabella gasped softly, the weight of his revelation settling over her. "Oh, Daniel..."
Isabella felt a pang of empathy and understanding wash over her as she absorbed Daniel's words. She could see the pain in his eyes, the burden of carrying such a secret, and the fear of how it might change her feelings for him.
Daniel closed his eyes, leaning into her touch. "It has been a struggle," he admitted. "Especially knowing how much importance society places on heirs and lineage. But none of that matters to me if I cannot share my life with someone I truly love."
Isabella's heart swelled with a mix of emotions. There was relief, knowing that they were more alike than she had initially thought, but also a deep sense of sorrow for the pain he had endured. She had always seen him as the perfect picture of confidence and charm, but now she saw the vulnerability beneath the surface. It only made her love him more.
"Thank you for trusting me with this," Isabella said, her voice steady despite the emotions coursing through her. "I promise you, Daniel, that your secret is safe with me."
He nodded, gratitude shining in his eyes. "I know, Isabella. And I want you to know that my feelings for you are genuine. I do not care about what society expects. All I want is to be with you."
Isabella hesitated for a moment, letting the weight of his words sink in. She felt a profound sense of joy and freedom, as if a burden she hadn't even known she was carrying had been lifted. But the practical side of her was still cautious.
"The children at the orphanage," she said thickly, the emotion weighing down on her. "They need love and care. We can fill that void in our lives together. They can be our children, in a way. We can give them the love and family they have been missing."
"Isabella," Daniel murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. He shifted closer to her, his gaze locked on hers, and she felt her breath catch in her throat. The air between them was taut with tension, charged with unspoken emotions.
She watched as he leaned in, his face mere inches from hers. She could feel his breath on her skin, warm and comforting, as if drawing her into an embrace that promised everything she had ever longed for. Her heart raced, each beat echoing the anticipation and yearning she felt.
"Daniel..." she breathed, her voice a soft plea, a quiet acknowledgment of the moment they both knew was about to unfold.
The world around them seemed to blur, leaving only the two of them in a cocoon of their own making. She could see the depth of his feelings reflected in his eyes, and it filled her with a sense of belonging she had never experienced before.
As Daniel moved closer, their eyes fluttered shut, their lips almost touching in a kiss that promised everything—a future, a love that defied all odds, a bond that transcended every obstacle.
But just as they were about to close the distance between them, a sudden knock at the door shattered the intimacy of the moment.
Startled, they pulled back slightly, the reality of their surroundings crashing down around them.
The door creaked open, and Michael entered the library.
"My apologies, Lord Berkshire," Michael said, his voice steady yet insistent. "You wanted me to remind you about the showcase you need to attend this afternoon…"
Isabella felt a pang of frustration at the intrusion, but she quickly schooled her features into calm composure. She glanced at Daniel, noticing the brief flicker of disappointment in his eyes before he turned to address Michael.
"Yes, of course," Daniel replied, clearing his throat as he tried to shake off the spell that had enveloped them just moments before. "Thank you for the reminder, Michael. I had almost forgotten."
Michael nodded, his eyes briefly darting between Daniel and Isabella, as if sensing the unspoken tension in the room. "Shall I have your carriage prepared, my lord?"
"Yes, please do," Daniel said, dismissing him with a slight nod.
As Michael left the room, the door closing softly behind him, the silence in the library felt deafening. Isabella lowered her gaze, her cheeks flushed with both embarrassment and longing.
"I should get back to work," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Daniel reached out, gently grasping her hand.
"Isabella, wait," he urged, his voice full of earnestness. "I am sorry for the interruption. I…"
"It is all right," she interrupted, forcing a small smile as she looked up at him. "You have duties to attend to, and so do I."
Daniel hesitated, a conflict of emotions flickering in his eyes. He squeezed her hand gently before releasing it.
"We will talk later," he promised, a hint of resolve in his tone.
Isabella nodded, stepping back and giving him a small curtsey before exiting the library. As she walked down the corridor, her mind raced with thoughts of their almost kiss, the feelings it had stirred within her, and the uncertainty of what lay ahead.