When neither of his daughters returned his greeting, James straightened his back and cleared his throat to dispel the awkward air.
“Look alive, that future husband of yours might be here.” He rubbed his nose, eyeing the girls’ postures. “Put on brighter smiles, for heavens’s sake.”
Evelina, unable to contain her simmering anger at this point, interrupted sharply. “What are you doing here, Father?”
Taken aback by her expression, James hesitated briefly before retorting. “And what sort of question is that? Am I not a man who can go wherever he pleases?” His tone turned snappish, revealing the strain beneath his nonchalant facade.
Evelina glared at him unabashedly, struggling even more to calm herself. Margaret’s head was bent, and she could tell her sister was struggling with the situation as well.
James glared back at his eldest daughter with growing annoyance. The truth was, he’d come to ensure the girls would be approached by the wealthiest suitors, though he had no intentions of admitting it.
As the tension between father and daughters grew, it felt as though there were repressed feelings and grudges floating around in the air. Evelina’s fiery defiance in the face of James’ false authority only heightened the silent standoff.
Heavens help me keep my composure…
“It is quite the evening already, is it not?” a sudden voice broke through Evelina’s thoughts.
She turned to find Gabriel staring at her, concern and wonder flickering in his eyes. She realized instantly that he had seen her glaring at her father, and her ears turned red, ashamed that she’d exposed her family’s dysfunctionality.
“Your Grace, it is quite a surprise to see you here,” she spoke, her tone devoid of emotions.
But before her words could settle in the air, her father butted in, his voice grating on her nerves. “Ah, it’s the Duke of Dunmore, girls!” His face broke into a smile. “It’s less of a surprise and more so apleasureto have the Duke here. Indeed, it is.”
Evelina could tell that his words were an indirect reprimand.
Gabriel only nodded in response, his eyes fixed on her. She couldn’t bring herself to look at him, however, feeling shame and sadness washing over her.
Evelina felt like an unwilling participant in a play scripted by her father. His fake cheerfulness grated on her nerves. Each word he spoke to Gabriel in an attempt to gain favor with him added another layer of discomfort to the already strained atmosphere.
“Your Grace, would you honor us with a dance with my younger daughter, Margaret? I believe she has a slot available on her card.”
Evelina’s ears perked up at this. Her heart began to thump loudly in her chest. She could tell what her father was doing—he was trying to set the Duke and her sister up. It was all so obvious now. He came to sell his daughters to wealthy suitors only.
She could not look up. The thought of Margaret on Gabriel’s arm made her chest tighten, and she knew it was not because she thought they wouldn’t look good together or the Duke would do wrong by her younger sister.
Her mind raced with confusing thoughts. She felt sick—she wanted so badly to prevent the two from sharing a dance, but she knew she couldn’t. There was no reason to.
“I must confess, I had intended to ask Miss Balfour for a dance instead.”
All thoughts evaporated, and Evelina’s head snapped up in shock. She saw her father’s stunned expression and her sister’s surprised yet pleased look at those sudden words.
Before she could fully process this request, Gabriel intervened once more, his voice cutting through the surprise in the air. With a confident demeanor, he extended his hand towards her and outright asked, “May I have this dance?”
His unexpected yet gallant gesture caught Evelina off guard, momentarily rendering her speechless. The eyes of the guests were fixed on the unfolding scene, their expressions and chatter a mix of surprise and curiosity.
Despite the onlookers’ scrutiny, Evelina found herself drawn to the Duke’s outstretched hand. In a moment of boldness, she placed her hand in his, drawing comfort from his touch.
Without a word, he led her to the center of the dance floor, their movements synchronized as they began to dance.
As the music swirled around them and all eyes followed their movements, Evelina was filled with a sudden sense of liberation. The opinions of others faded into the background as she allowed herself to be swept away by the music and the Duke’s enigmatic presence.
Every touch, every glance seemed to ignite a spark within her, heightening her awareness of his presence.
The feel of his fingers lightly grazing her skin sent shivers down her spine, while his firm grip on her waist provided a sense of security she hadn’t realized she craved.
Each time their eyes met, a sort of understanding passed between them, leaving her with a rush of emotions that left her breathless and exhilarated. She felt like she could melt into this man.
A sigh escaped her lips as he twirled her and pulled her close to him once more. She was grateful for the temporary escape from her father. Who knew where things would’ve ended up without Gabriel’s arrival?
