The Sweetest Kiss (Brothers of Worthington Series) (30 page)

Tears streamed down her face and she wrapped her arms around Trey, trying to turn him toward her body. He resisted at first, but he soon let her comfort him. She hushed him and stroked his hair, placing kisses on his forehead. Her heart broke for his sorrow, and helplessness settled around her.

“Trey, you cannot blame yourself.”

He shook his head, still covering his face. “You don’t understand. I should have stopped him from dueling.” He pulled away enough to look at her. “But I encouraged my brother to fight Hollingsworth for touching the woman Tristan loved. I wanted to believe in love back then. I wanted to believe Lady Diana and Tristan’s love would overcome all. Because I believed in such nonsense, my brother was killed.”

“No, Trey. Don’t say that. You cannot think this way. Tristan made his own decisions. He could have refused to duel, but he didn’t.”

Trey pushed away from her, stood, and ran his fingers through his hair. “For several days I searched for his body in the water. I could not find him.” He pounded his fist against the nearest tree. “It was then when I realized he had died for love. The same artificial love my parents were married for, yet my father continued to insult my mother and cheat on her. The same faux love that tore my mother apart and made her cry when my father stayed out late, preferring his mistresses over her.”

“Trey, no—”

“
Which is the very reason I quit believing in it.
I refuse to give my heart to any woman and suffer the agony.” He spun around and faced her. “Judith, please don’t force the issue. You know my mind now. This emotion called love is not worth the pain.”

More tears streamed down her face, but she wondered if he could even see them in the darkness. He’d hardened his heart, and she didn’t know how to break through. Her chest ached with agony, and helplessness flooded through her.

“You know the worst part?”

She shook her head.

“Lady Diana married Lord Hollingsworth two weeks later. Apparently, she had been betrothed to him for months, yet she still led Tristan to believe she loved him.”

“I’m…sorry.”

He held out his hand. “Come. It’s late and I need to return you to your room.”

Nodding, she stood and slipped her hand into his. As they walked back to the house in silence, her mind whirled with all the information, trying to find the right words to say. Sadly, there was nothing she could come up with.

Perhaps there was no way to break through his hardened heart. Maybe they were not meant to be together. The tightness in her chest kept her from sobbing aloud, but she was on the verge. He probably wouldn’t care anyway.

When they reached the hallway, she pushed away from him and ran to her bedroom, knowing he wouldn’t follow this time.

~*~*~*~

“My dear, Miss Faraday.
Your beauty has outshone the sun today.”

Judith forced a smile, hoping she didn’t appear like she wanted to roll her eyes and gag with distaste. The insipid fop who had called on her today was terrible with his words.

“You are much too kind, Lord James. I fear I don’t deserve such a compliment.” And truly, she didn’t. She’d heard Lord James was after a woman who he could put on display—the kind he’d be proud of to have on his arm as they walked through the park.
A woman to make other men jealous.
He would have definitely approved of the gown she wore for Henry Pratt’s dinner social. But instead, she chose to wear drab brown, and pull her hair back so tight in a bun that her eyes nearly popped out of her head. She even draped a shawl over her shoulders, to keep any hint of skin from showing.

“Oh, but you are the um—” His gaze swept over her as panic laced his eyes and tightened his lips. “You are extremely lovely.” He pulled his shoulders back and grinned. “Would you care for a walk outside today?”

“Are you insane?” She laid on the theatrics and gasped, placing a hand on her chest. “The wind is blowing. It’s much too chilly to walk outside. I might catch my death out there.”

“Nonsense.
The weather is perfect.”

Judith bundled her shawl tighter. “Not for me. I fear I get cold easily.
Perhaps another time…or another season.”

“But—it will not get warmer than this since
it’s
mid-summer.”

Thankfully, Lord James left not long after that. She really shouldn’t have pushed him away, but she didn’t have any interest in him. Or any man.

Save for one.

The two weeks since Trey had confessed his feelings to her had passed in a blur. Every day Judith had a different suitor, and every day the men left with their shoulders sagging, pretty much like Lord James had done. None could make her heart pitter-patter.

Not like Trey had been able to accomplish.

Dominic has been out of town, and she missed their morning rides. She also missed talking to him. He’d be the only one to understand. Apparently, his plan to make Trey jealous enough to admit his love hadn’t worked. Now her hopes were crushed and she lingered in a foggy world without any dreams for her future.

Although Trey still resided in the dowager’s house, he was rarely around during the day. It hurt to think he didn’t want to see her, but she understood. She knew he was falling in love with her, and since this was something he didn’t want, it would be easier not to see each other constantly.

Did Isabelle know what was happening between Judith and Trey? At quiet times, Judith caught the older woman looking at her with a pained expression. Whenever Judith asked if something was wrong, the dowager smiled and shook her head. If only Judith could tell her guardian what was going on, but she didn’t dare. The dowager was unable to do anything about it, anyway.

Isabelle had been busy lately planning her own birthday ball. Judith offered to help, but the older woman refused. Although Judith wasn’t in any kind of mood to celebrate, at least it would keep her mind busy and her thoughts off of Trey. But Isabelle took over and didn’t allow Judith to do anything.

Sighing heavily, Judith rested the sewing sampler in her lap and looked out the window. Perhaps she should stop trying to thwart the dowager’s plans of finding her a husband and let her guardian pick a man. Now Judith’s life seemed dull and pointless. If she allowed herself to get to know some of these men, maybe she’d fall in love again. It would definitely take a stalwart man to make Trey disappear from her heart.

Boots echoed on the floor out in the hallway, and she swung her gaze toward the door. It wouldn’t be Trey. He usually didn’t return home until late, but her heartbeat still picked up rhythm in anticipation of seeing him. Instead, Dominic walked in the room. Disappointment washed over her, yet she was pleased to see her dear friend, nonetheless.

Instead of wearing his riding clothes, he looked as if he’d just come from a social gathering of the aristocrats. His long tailed velvet blue over-jacket matched well with the topaz stitches on his satin vest. Deep velvet trousers complimented his attire.

“The dowager told me you were in here. I hope you don’t mind a visitor.”

She set her sampler aside and stood, reaching her hands out to his. “I would love a visitor, especially you.”

He chuckled and walked toward her. When he grasped her hands, he pulled her close for an embrace. Surprised, she sucked in a quick breath, but the warmth from his body blended into hers and comforted her. He’d never been this close to her, yet right now was when she needed him the most.

Burying her face against his chest, tears filled her eyes and emotion clogged her throat. Oh, she needed this comfort.
Needed it badly.

Dominic withdrew and looked down at her with wide eyes. “What’s this?
Tears?
Did you miss me that much?”

She laughed softly. “I have missed you, but only because I have needed a friend.”

He ran the pad of his thumb across her cheek, catching a tear. “Shall we sit? I fear this might take a while.”

“It will.” She smiled and took his hand, pulling him to the couch. Once they were both sitting side by side, she took a deep breath. “Much has happened during your absence.”

His gaze wandered over her as confusion creased his forehead. “I had gathered as much. You look as if you are already married to Mr. Pratt.” He shook his head. “Those colors on you practically make you look ill.”

She nodded. “I have been discouraging suitors, and this is the way to accomplish it. I tried to do as you had suggested a while ago by trying to make Trey jealous. Instead, I made him upset. He knows I’m in love with him.”

“You told him?”

“I didn’t say the words, but I didn’t have to. He knows.”

“And?”

“As you probably expected, he tried to dissuade me. On the ride home from
Viscountess
Newby’s dinner party, Trey brought up the subject of his brother and how Tristan had given his heart to a woman, which was the reason he died. I convinced him to tell me about what really happened and why he feels this way.”

Dominic’s eyes widened. “And he did?”

“Yes.”

He clasped her hands. “This is wonderful. He trusts you enough to confide in you. Don’t you see? He’s never done this before.”

“No, Dominic. It does not matter.”

“How could it not matter? Trey opened up to you and told you things he has never told his mother. Does that not show you how much he loves you?”

A sob rose to her throat and she swallowed it down. “It didn’t work that way. He may trust me, but he’s not going to give me his heart. He told me that.” She shook her head. “I don’t know how to convince him otherwise. I have no desire to give up, but I don’t want to love him if he cannot love me in return.”

“Oh, my dear Judith.”
He cupped her face. “I promise your love will win him. Don’t give up. Eventually he will see how loving you
is
the best thing in the world.”

Biting her bottom lip, she took deep breaths, trying not to cry again. “Why don’t I feel the same? You didn’t see him that night. You didn’t see the agony in his eyes and especially in his voice.”

He nodded. “I talked to him days after Tristan died, and yes, I did see the guilt and the pain he went through. He built a wall around his heart, and it’s going to take a very special woman to break it down, but it’s not going to happen quickly.”

“I’m not strong. I cannot love him if he will not return my affection.” She sniffed. “I fear I’m not that woman he needs to melt his heart.”

“That’s not true. I know you are. I have known Trey for many years, and you are the first woman he’s ever acted this way with. The other women who have come into his life leave quickly. He didn’t care for them. He has never cared for them. He’s never been jealous of other men, either.” He winked. “Trey is a jealous man when it comes to you. I saw the envy on his face while he watched you dance with others at your coming out ball. I stood beside him as he admired you descending the stairs that evening. The man was speechless. He couldn’t stop staring like a wide-mouth bass.”

She smiled, although her heart wrenched with emotion. How she wanted Dominic’s words to be true. “So how do I tear down the wall he has around his heart if he will not let me near?”

Chuckling he stroked her ear. “I thought I had that worked out, but apparently, it was not doing what I’d hoped. Perhaps I shall have to think more on this.”

She rested her hand on his chest. “Do you know where he is now? He’s gone most of the day and does not return until late.”

“He’s been at his office in Town. I have visited him a few times there just this week, in fact.”

“He’s not…” She swallowed hard. “He’s not with his mistress, is he?”

“Oh, my dear Judith.”
Dominic rubbed her cheek. “You have no need to fear. No other woman’s company can compare to yours. Trey cannot get you out of his system, therefore, any other woman will not do.”

Once again, tears welled in her eyes. This time, she couldn’t stop them from falling in buckets down her cheeks. “How I wish that were true.”

“
Shh
…” He pulled her against his chest.

Squeezing her eyes, she held in the sobs, but the tears continued to stream.

“Please, Judith, don’t cry.” He kissed the top of her head.

“I’m sorry.” She looked into his caring eyes. “Thank you for being here. I have kept this bottled up inside me for two weeks. I’m so pleased you are with me now.”

He gave her a soft smile. “I’m your friend, am I not?”

“Yes.”

“Then I will always be here.”

He kissed her forehead again, but this time his lips lingered a little longer on her skin. When he pulled away and looked at her again, the color of his eyes was darker. She hitched a breath. Oh no. He couldn’t possibly be considering what she thought.

Dominic’s gaze dropped to her mouth, his smiling relaxing. Her heartbeat quickened. He wouldn’t try to kiss her. Not here. Not at a time like this when he just said he was her friend.

Or would he?

He stroked his thumb across her mouth, making her lips part. Lowering his head, he moved closer. She stiffened and her mind turned blank until he pressed his mouth to hers in a soft kiss. Tenderly, he brushed his lips across hers while his hands bracketed her face. He pecked lightly as if encouraging her to participate.