Startled by such a request amidst the chaos, Evelina turned to him, her heart still racing. “Huh?” she stammered, her tone betraying her unease.
Lord Batony chuckled. “You seem out of sorts today, Miss Balfour,” he noted. “I said, tell me about yourself,” he repeated, his words a gentle yet demanding prompt in the midst of it all.
Struggling to compose herself under his expectant gaze, Evelina nodded hesitantly. “Oh… uh… I…” she stammered, her mind clouded by the feel of the Duke’s piercing gaze. “What?”
Her eyes involuntarily darted back to where the Duke was standing, only to find that he had vanished.
As confusion clouded Evelina’s mind and her eyes scanned the surroundings for any trace of the Duke,
Lord Batony, now perplexed by her behavior, followed her gaze.
“Is everything all right?” he inquired, concern etched on his face. “Who are you searching for? Your young sister? I believe she’s over there—you have nothing to fear.”
Evelina, attempting to regain her composure, turned her focus back to Lord Batony, psyching herself up to offer a convincing explanation for her distracted state.
However, as she turned to him, she was met with those familiar dark green eyes again, only a step away from her. She gasped. “Y-Your Grace?”
Gabriel simply nodded at her curtly, his demeanor cool and authoritative, before turning sharply to Lord Batony beside her.
His eyes exuded dominance as he greeted the man in a low tone, “Good day, Lord Batony,”
The intensity of his gaze caught the Earl off guard, leaving him confused by his hostile demeanor.
“Good day, Your Grace,” Lord Batony, evidently startled, returned cautiously as he watched him closely.
Gabriel continued to stare at him, his expression stoic. However, irritation flickered in his eyes as he looked the man up and down.
Attempting to lighten the atmosphere, Lord Batony tried for small talk. “Oh, well, lovely weather we’re having, is it not?”
However, Gabriel’s stony silence only heightened the tension.
The Earl fell silent too as he sensed the Duke’s hostility, the once amiable interaction now overshadowed by his glare.
Evelina, a silent witness to the escalating tension, felt a wave of horror wash over her. She continued to stare in shock, unable to take her eyes off the cold-hearted man who seemed unaffected by the tension in the air. A single stare was enough to show his disdain.
Finally, breaking the strained silence, his voice cut through the awkwardness. “I wish to speak with Miss Balfour on a matter of importance. We shall be taking our leave now.”
With a subtle yet commanding gesture, he placed a hand on the small of her back, nudging her forward gently.
Evelina let out a short gasp before obediently following him, her steps quickened by a mix of surprise and apprehension.
The Duke’s imposing figure trailed closely behind her, The poor Lord Batony was left behind, bewildered and somewhat intimidated.
As they walked, Evelina was too consumed by her thoughts to care about the eyes that followed them or the whispers. The gentle pressure of Gabriel’s hand on her back made her skin tingle with an intensity she had never experienced before. She could sense him behind her, his breath fanning her neck, sending shivers down her spine.
Is he standing too close? Does he have to stand so close?
His proximity was electrifying, a magnetic pull that she couldn’t resist. Despite her obliviousness to whatever those feelings were, the intensity of the moment was undeniable, stirring foreign emotions. However, irritation simmered beneath her confusion.
At last, they came to a halt a good distance from everyone else, almost hidden by the bushes.
When Gabriel finally withdrew his hand, Evelina couldn’t contain her bewilderment. She swiveled around to face him, her gaze full of hurt and accusation.
“What was that?” Her voice trembled slightly, disbelief etched on her face. An incredulous laugh escaped her lips as her eyes searched his face for answers. “Honestly, Your Grace? That man could’ve asked me to court him at any moment.”
She pressed for honesty, her heart racing not just from his touch but from the emotional whirlwind unfolding before her, “So, could you explain to me, why did you do that? What am I doing here?”
Gabriel cleared his throat, yet he didn’t look her in the eye. “I only wanted to inquire about your next lesson with Eliza,” he offered, his voice slightly strained. “Do you plan on continuing with the outdoor lessons?”
