Chapter 189: Essence of Life
Claire was too shocked to move or resist. Her body just... froze.
She couldn’t even feel his lips on hers or raise her hand to push him away.
"My lady." Her guard called.
Aldrich pulled away, wiping her lips with the pad of his thumb before settling on his seat properly.
"Do you not know how to knock?"
The guard gave him what she considered a very deadly look and remained by the door.
"What are you doing?" She finally asked him.
He said nothing.
Did Yeren ask him to do this? She had to wonder.
Claire rose from her seat, prompting Aldrich to rise as well.
"I feel a bit dizzy, shall we take a walk in the garden."
Aldrich nodded automatically.
Her guard followed them at a cautious distance as they went down the stairs and out of the house.
The cool late morning breeze did nothing to soothe her palpitating heart.
Was she dying too?
The thought made her want to curl up sowhere and cry. Essence of the night was as deadly as its na implied.
"Does it have a cure?"
He glanced around at the primroses and daffodils that lined the path.
"If there is, no one has discovered it yet."
She stopped walking. Her legs were shaking so badly she could barely stand upright.
Why was all of this happening to her?
Just before she fell, Aldrich caught her behind the waist.
"Claire, it was not my intention to burden you with all this. I never expected that you would be so troubled for my sake."
Troubled for his sake?
She gave him a brief look as he helped her to the bench in the garden.
"Now, you must be wondering why I am telling you all this." He began carefully.
Claire was barely listening to him at this point.
"Since my days are numbered as it is, I have to marry and procure an heir as soon as possible. My whole life has been dictated by my father, but now, I want to live and have experiences that I may never get to have in the far future." He reached for her limp and pale hand, squeezing it soothingly. "And I want that with you... if you will have ."
She glanced up at him, noticing that a bit of colour had crept into his cheeks.
"Maria inford
of the child that you lost... and I understand that you and the King-".
She pulled away from him. "Thank you for telling
all this, Aldrich. I feel faint, I should go upstairs."
He took her hand again. "You don’t have to be ashad around . I don’t judge you for having relations with the King. We can put it behind us if you marry , Claire. I would be good to you."
She raised her head and looked into his eyes. A hint of desperation lood in his beautiful eyes.
"But you don’t love ." She covered her face with her hands. "No one does."
He patted her back gingerly. "I won’t trick you into thinking that I do, but I believe we can co to love each other with the right circumstances."
"Right circumstances?"
He nodded. "Yes, with ti, with understanding, with communication, with a son-"
"And if I don’t give you a son?"
His eyes brightened at her question and she regretted asking it. He was probably thinking she was asking because she was planning on accepting his offer.
"We will have to keep trying until we have one. I don’t begrudge having girls, but I need an heir before my clock ticks out."
His clock ticks out?
Was hers ticking as well?
"Marriage is the last thing on my mind, Aldrich. There are so many problems... and I am still recovering from-"
He placed a finger on her lips to silence her.
"Take all the ti you need, I will always be here for you. You are my best friend, after all. I regret obeying my father and cutting ties with you all those years ago."
Then he embraced her and stood to his feet.
When he offered a hand to assist her, she took it without hesitation.
They walked around the house until they reached where his carriage was waiting.
"I look forward to taking you to the ball. Please promise you would let
take you."
There was no harm in letting him take her.
"I promise." She leaned in closer. "About the selling of the house, do you think I can find a buyer at the ball."
"Of course, but only if you are wise. Everybody that is anybody in Reden will be in attendance. Penbrook is a remarkable estate, so many people would be suspicious that you are selling it." Then he raised a brow. "If you do sell it, what do you intend to do with the coin? And where would you and your sister live?"
"I plan to renovate the house at Loodswood and move back there. Living here is not very good for Aurora and myself considering everything we have been through."
He nodded. "And when the house is sold, where will you stay while the renovation will be ongoing?"
She began to speak but stopped. "I never really thought about that." She said with a nervous laugh.
"Co and live with
then."
She laughed again. "What would people think?"
"I don’t care. Or do you intend to remain a spinster for the rest of your life?"
The question tore open old wounds.
She blinked and cast her gaze to the ground.
"No. But I would if I don’t marry the man of my dreams."
His eyes widened at first, then narrowed. "You were never the type to dream about n."
"I wasn’t."
"So does that an I don’t have a chance with you?"
"It depends on fate."
A sad smile curved his lips.
"Go out riding to the town for a very extravagant dress. I will co to take you to the ball."
She waited and waved as he entered the carriage, waving until he was out of sight.
When she turned around, her guard was nowhere in sight.
But she didn’t care.
She dashed into the house and went into the dining room.
Aurora and Arlan hadn’t touched their foods.
Claire went around the table and pulled Aurora into her arms, squeezing her for comfort.
"What is it, Claire?"
"I just need to hold you, Rory."
Then she burst into tears.
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