“Yes. We should be married within the week.”
“Indeed. Such a torturous task. Don’t you agree?”
Her vision blurred and her heart broke. No excitement showed in his eyes, and pain laced his throat. No hint of his teasing grin was there, either. Obviously he didn’t want to marry her. He’d even called it torture. Her worst nightmare had come true. He blamed her. As much as she loved him, she couldn’t marry him when he didn’t return her love. She wouldn’t be like his parents, and she’d save him from the same fate.
She had to leave. Not just here, right now, but leave the manor. She couldn’t bring shame to the Worthington family. Hopefully, the Dowager would understand.
Standing, Judith swiped the tears from her eyes and faced Trey. “We should be married quickly, but we won’t. I cannot let it happen this way, Trey. I will be gone first thing in the morning and you will never have to worry about me again.”
Judith darted out of the gazebo, not wanting to face Trey. Lifting her dress above her ankles, she quickened her steps and ran. He called her name, but she ignored him and focused on the side doors.Almost there.
Her tears blurred her vision, but she didn’t wipe them in her pursuit to get inside the house and separate herself from Trey. Her legs shook, but she pushed herself forward. She couldn’t become weak now.
The doorknob was within reach. She stretched her hand and held her breath. But a large hand grasped her arm, stopping her flight.
“Judith!”
Trey’s voice came out forceful. Demanding. She looked over her shoulder at him, and realized his voice didn’t portray the worry on his face.
“Good heavens, woman. Have you gone insane?”
She shook her head and tried to pull her arm away, but he held it tightly.
“What possessed you to say what you did back there?” he asked.
Taking a deep breath for courage, she straightened her shoulders, ready for battle. “I will not let this happen, Trey. I’ll not marry a man who thinks of marriage as torture.” She swallowed the knot in her throat. “And I’ll not let what happened to your parents happen to us.”
Trey’s eyes widened. Within seconds, the look of surprise left his face and he grinned. “Oh, my sweet Judith.”
He pulled her against his chest. She wanted to fight him, to pound her fists into his solid muscular frame and sob until she relinquished all her tears, but his caring voice stopped her. The emotion illuminating from his blue eyes eased her fears.
“Forgive me for using the wrong word, my love. I don’t think of marriage to you as being torturous. The reason I said it that way was because I was being humorous.”
“Humorous?” Her voice shook slightly and she looked up at him. “You showed no expression of humor, Trey.”
He stroked her cheek as he stared deep into her eyes. “Forgive me again. The shock of what’s happened is still very real. I cannot believe I said what I did last night.”
“Do you wish to take your words back? Tell me your feelings now. Don’t hide them any longer.” She gripped his shirt, praying he’d say what she wanted to hear.
“No. I don’t wish to take my words back.” He kissed her forehead and rested his mouth against her hair. “Judith, I could not let Mr. Cutler take you, even if it meant causing scandal.”
“I didn’t want to leave with him.”
“I know.”
“But I worried you would think…” She swallowed the knot in her throat again.
“What?” He pulled back and looked down at her.
“I didn’t want you to think I was forcing you, or trapping you.” Her eyes watered again.
“Why would I think that? I know you are not trapping me. I said what I did of my own free will.” He stroked her bottom lip with his thumb. “I said what I did because I didn’t want you to leave me.”
Her chest tightened with happiness, making it harder to breathe. She couldn’t jump to conclusions. “I will not leave you, Trey,” she whispered. “I—I love you.”
Groaning, his mouth swept down and captured hers as his arms circled around her. She held onto him as she answered his passionate kisses with urgency. He pushed her against the door.
She sighed and met his urgent kisses. Immeasurable pleasure swept through her. He loved her and wanted to marry her!
