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It didn’t matter how fast he rode; he could not escape the bitter truth that had lodged itself in his heart. He would learn that love and cruelty could coexist in the same man.

“Hector, for the love of God, stop!”

The urgency in her voice caused him to pull Blueberry to a stop, confused at why she would snap at him like that.

“What is it, woman?” He turned around to glare at her, completely unsurprised to find her glaring back as she approached him on her horse.

“Why must you insist on being so difficult?” Juliet questioned, her brows furrowed in concern.

“I beg your pardon?”

“A ditch, Hector,” she pointed ahead of him at a spot a few meters away from where they stood. “You were headed for a ditch. I called you to warn you.”

Hector suddenly saw the pit that lay right in his path. Had he continued to ride forward in the direction he’d intended, he would have fallen into it and certainly injured himself greatly in the process.

He turned back to her and saw her gentle concern.

“Are you all right? That would have been truly disastrous had I not gotten to you in time.”

She was far too good for him. Had he been in her shoes, he would have gloated that he had saved her from grave injury, but Juliet cared only for his well-being. She had a goodness inside ofher that he didn’t want to taint. Hector wondered how he could prevent himself from hurting her and tarnishing her soul.

His close brush with danger had shaken him, and his impetuous reaction to seeing her reminded him of the fine line that existed between control and chaos. It was a line his father had overstepped on many occasions and that Hector feared he might one day traverse himself.

It is the reason you must avoid me, dear Juliet. I cannot do to you what he did to my darling mother.

“I had no idea you held me in such high regard, Duchess, that you would risk your own well-being to save my life.” He smiled.

“Perhaps I did it for my own benefit. It would be sad if I were to be widowed so soon after our wedding. In addition, I must remark that your response was a poor way of extending your gratitude.” Juliet sniffed, turned her horse around, and headed to the stable.

Hector followed closely, now grinning widely.

“Many would jump at the prospect of being a young widow with a title. You would be well taken care of financially, and you would be able to take another husband after my untimely demise.”

“What would I do with another husband when I can barely manage the troublesome one I have now, dearest Duke?” She smiled sweetly.

Juliet was truly a fascinating person, full of charming details that he had not let himself appreciate.

He thought of the times he’d heard her laugh, the way it had softened the hard edges of his world, and how, for a brief moment, he had felt something akin to happiness.

But then he remembered how he continuously pulled back and let his fears keep him from reaching out to her. His father’s act was a heavy burden which Hector had carried for so long that he feared it had become a part of him.

As they reached the stables, Hector made his decision. He could not let his past dictate his future. He would not allow the ghosts of his father’s sins to haunt his marriage or poison the fragile bond that had formed between himself and Juliet.

He had to do right by her. He had to be better man and husband than his father.

“Take care of the horses,” Hector instructed the stable boy. “Ask the kitchen to give you some apples as a treat for them. They did well today.”

The boy nodded and hurried off. Hector stood there for a moment, the cool breeze tossing his hair. He decided he wouldno longer pull away from Juliet. He was clearly doing a poor job of hiding his true feelings, and it was high time he stopped pretending otherwise.

He would let her in and see the man he was, flaws and all. As his sister had said, perhaps they could find a way to heal each other’s wounds.

As he left the stables, he saw Juliet waiting for him outside.

“Why are you still here? It is quite cold this evening. You will catch your death if you stay here.”

She looked up at him and smiled. Her cheeks and the tip of her nose were cherry red from the chilly air.

“I was thinking we could walk back together.”