Clearly unaccustomed to such confrontation, Gabriel struggled to maintain his composure. “Youdareaccuse me of neglect, Miss Balfour? You, a stranger, who knows nothing of the burdens I carry?”
“Your Grace, your arrogance and self-conceit blind you to your daughter’s pain.” Evelina shook her head, her anger rising at his insistence to defend his obviously poor decision. “Is this the legacy you truly wish to leave? Is this all you truly wish to imprint on your daughter?”
“You have truly forgotten yourself, Miss Balfour. Such impertinence will certainlynotbe tolerated!”
His booming voice echoed through the hall, sending a jolt through her, even seeming to rattle the windows.
Silence fell over them as they stared at each other intensely, their breaths hot and heavy following the Duke’s outburst.
Evelina instinctively let out a small gasp, and her heart pounded in her chest as he suddenly closed the distance between them, his imposing figure sending a shiver down her spine.
In the dimly candle-lit hall, his proximity only added to her unease, his hot breath tickling her face, a physical manifestation of the tension that still crackled in the air.
Her blood hummed in her veins, but she was frozen in place. She felt the intensity of his gaze, his words slow, dripping with authority and finality.
“My paintings are fine as they are and shall remain there.” His glare was a warning not to utter a response. “And that is the end of this measly discussion.”
Despite her rising anxiety, Evelina held her ground, meeting his glare with defiance. Yet, she couldn’t form any words because of his proximity. All she could do was stand there and watch this beast of a man looking back at her.
Finally, the Duke stepped back, seemingly satisfied by her lack of response. His eyes lingered on her for a moment before he delivered a condescending remark.
“It is late. One would expect you to be aware that it is unbecoming of a woman of your standing to be out at such hours.”
The weight of his disapproval and judgment hung heavy in the air, and Evelina’s frustration simmered beneath the surface as she struggled to come up with a less aggressive response. She felt nearly lethargic in the aftermath of such an argument. She couldn’t recognize herself at this point.
Suddenly, the Duke turned on his heel, his parting words laced with a veiled threat. “Remember, Miss Balfour, do not overstep your boundaries once again. After all, you wouldn’t want to be mistaken for a common thief.”
Left alone at last, Evelina released the breath she had been holding, a mix of relief and exasperation flooding her senses.
She watched the man’s retreating figure, his long strides taking him far from her in seconds, and she couldn’t help but mutter under her breath, protesting his high-handedness.
“Arrogant, insufferable, terrible, terrible man.”
CHAPTER SIX
“Could that sparkle I see in your eyes be a result of my presence? Have you truly missed me that much, Your Grace?”
Gabriel shook his head and greeted the man before him with a hearty laugh and a handshake, then gestured towards the plush armchairs.
“My dear friend, it appears your wit has not dulled since our last encounter.” He chuckled, a glint in his eyes.
Theodore Notley, the Duke of Thornfield, was the only person outside of the family that Gabriel did not find irritating to be around.
The two Dukes settled into the elegant drawing room, surrounded by the soft sunlight streaming through the large windows.
“Ah, Dunmore, always the collector of oddities.” Ever with his teasing nature, Theodore flashed a sly grin, running his eyes over the fresh paintings on the walls.
Gabriel chuckled, knowing the man’s penchant for jesting about his eclectic art collection every time he came around.
However, as Theodore continued his critique, Gabriel couldn’t help but recall Miss Balfour’s words from a couple of days ago. Her piercing remarks lingered, affecting his mood instantly.
With a grunt of frustration, he attempted to put the annoying woman out of his thoughts, as he’d been doing for days. But her image persisted in his mind, leaving him feeling increasingly irritated by the distraction.
“Do tell me, must you always acquire more ghastly portraits to haunt your guests?” Theodore quipped, a hint of amusement in his voice.
At last, his friend’s words became coherent once more, and Gabriel shook his head in mock exasperation. “Oh, but a man of refined tastes such as yourself would never understand the allure of such peculiar art,” he retorted, allowing a smile to tug at the corners of his lips.
“‘Peculiar’ is certainly a kind word to describe all of this,” Theodore snorted.
