She turned to Eliza, her astonishment mirroring that of the young lady. Then, she shifted her gaze back to Gabriel, her lips curling into a grateful smile as she nodded.
“Shall we begin?”
In the sunlit garden, the game of blind man’s buff unfolded with a mix of laughter and Eliza’s light screams. It was as though the worried, timid young girl had vanished.
As Gabriel stumbled in his attempts to catch his targets, Eliza’s laughter bubbled forth, a rare display of uninhibited delight.
“Miss Balfour, look at Father’s clumsy pursuit.” She giggled, her eyes alight with joy. “He moves as though the very shadows conspire against him. Oh, it is quite a sight to see him struggle so.”
“I’ll say I’ve lost this round as well, then.”
Pulling off the blindfold in defeat, a small smile tugged at the Duke’s lips at his daughter’s infectious laughter. His eyes met Evelina’s, who observed the scene with a mix of astonishment and joy.
“So, you do smile, Your Grace,” she remarked, her voice filled with awe.
She wondered if her vision was clear, for his ears turned a light red.
“And for what reason are you taking notice of my smiles, Miss Balfour?” He smirked at her.
Evelina’s cheeks flushed, and she quickly looked away from him, her heart racing at the question. Struggling to hide the wave of embarrassment that overtook her, she turned around just to avoid his gaze.
Unfortunately, in doing so, her foot caught in a stray root, and she tripped. “Oh no!” The words left her mouth as she hopelessly felt her body angling towards the ground.
Suddenly, Gabriel’s arm shot out, wrapping around her waist and pulling her to him in a protective embrace. Their eyes locked and Evelina could barely breath. And the worst part was that she was certain it had little to do with her shock.
“Careful there, Evelina.” His voice was low, a hint of concern lacing his words as their proximity sparked a tension that filled the air instantly.
Evelina’s breath caught in her throat, her heart racing with a mix of surprise and something more profound. “Thank you, Your Grace…” she managed, her voice barely above a whisper, staring into his intense green eyes.
The outside world faded into the background for a brief moment, as if time had stopped. Eliza’s presence was forgotten momentarily in the intensity of their stare and the unspoken emotions that hung heavy in the air.
At last, reality intruded, and they both pulled away, a sudden awkwardness settling between them like a veil.
“The… day seems to have finally come to an end.” Eliza’s small voice was like a lifeline to Evelina at that moment.
Evelina agreed quickly, and after declaring it was time to take her leave, she curtsied politely and scurried away, her heart pounding in her chest.
Back at home, at last, the weariness of the day caught up to Evelina. The moon shone brightly, casting a glow over the hallway leading to her room.
As she hung her hat and gloves, a maid approached her with a gentle smile. “Good evening, Miss Balfour. You look exhausted. Shall I draw a bath for you?”
Her kind words and thoughtful offer brought a sense of relief to Evelina’s fatigued spirit.
“Yes, please. Thank you, Collina.”
“Oh, and a letter came for you today, Miss. I left it on your nightstand.”
The delicate envelope caught Evelina’s eye as she stepped into her room. Curiosity piqued, she opened it to find an invitation to a garden party hosted by the Countess of Claymont.
Her weariness disappeared momentarily as she imagined the upcoming gathering in the Countess’s beautiful garden, and the opportunity to find better prospects for Margaret.
Her heart thumped as a second thought crossed her mind.
Perhaps she’d find suitors as well.
CHAPTER TWELVE
“And what of Lord Wentworth? He is the one standing by the fountain. Do you find him agreeable?”
