“I am not sure, Father.”
After sending his daughter off to bed, Gabriel made his way to the library, where today’s lesson had taken place. His mind raced with questions as his legs carried him down the hall.
Evelina had likely gone home already. There was no reason for him to go searching, yet he found himself hoping to see her.
Right as he turned the corner, and approached the library door, a figure emerged from the room, and to his surprise and delight, it was her, her presence casting a sudden intensity in the air.
Their eyes met, and a familiar wave of emotion surged through Gabriel, reminiscent of the unspoken connection they had shared at the recent party.
He felt his body immediately rocked with the thought of taking a step closer, wanting to have her in his arms again, to be able to smell her enticing scent, and feel strands from the tips of her soft hair on his arm wrapped around her waist.
Evelina appeared slightly flustered in his presence, her greeting stumbling out.“Good evening, Your Grace. I-I hadn’t been expecting to meet you here,” Her voice wavered slightly, her eyes avoiding his intense gaze.
Gabriel pressed his tongue against the corner of his cheek as he shifted on his feet. A realization took note; he did not like that she seemed uncomfortable in his presence.
A small silence ensued as he struggled with the unexpected yet pleasant encounter as well. Then he attempted to ease the tension, calculating his words as he spoke.
“Miss Balfour , I had not been expecting to find you still roaming about the house. Eliza’s lessons have concluded for the evening, have they not? What business have you been carrying on about in the library all this while?”
Evelina’s expression shifted in surprise, and a small frown, accompanied by hint of defensiveness settled into her features. “Your Grace, I was merely reviewing Eliza’s work before departing.”
She paused before she added, “I assure you, I neither touched anything nor overstepped any boundaries.”
Gabriel’s eyes widened in a slight panic. “I had only meant—I-I did not mean…” His words grew difficult as her eyes narrowed further in upset at him.
He took a steadying breath before finding his words at last. “My apologies. I was not implying any wrongdoing on your part. Your dedication to Eliza’s education is commendable, as always.” A small, genuine smile curved his lips as he added, “As a matter of fact, I have sought you out today to acknowledge your impressive work.”
“Oh…” Different emotions flashed across Evelina’s face at his words, from surprise to suspicion to curiosity. “I suppose… Well, thank you, Your Grace. She makes it easy—Eliza is a lovely girl.”
Her lips curled into a radiant smile, accentuated by the soft glow of the candlelight.
A serene hush enveloped them. Lost in the moment, Gabriel found himself spellbound by her ethereal beauty. Their eyes met, and he couldn’t have uttered a word even if he wanted to.
In that instant, he noticed a subtle shift in her demeanor. Her eyes flickered with uncertainty, confusion, and a touch of shyness.
Seeming to sense the shift in the atmosphere, Evelina cleared her throat, pulling him out of his trance. Her eyes flicked to the darkening sky beyond the large window opposite them, a subtle signal of her impending departure.
I don’t want you to leave…
“Eliza shows remarkable progress in her studies. It is indeed truly a pleasure to witness her growth,” she remarked, before letting out a soft chuckle. “The hour is late. I believe I will get to see more of the said growth tomorr?—”
Seizing the opportunity to prolong their conversation, Gabriel spoke with a sincerity that surprised even himself, “I find myself eager to hear your insight. Would you join me in my study, to discuss her progress?”
Evelina’s eyes widened slightly, surprise and a tinge of something more profound flickering in them. “Your Grace, Iwould be… quite pleased to continue this discussion. Your interest in her education is truly heartwarming.”
And so the two found themselves in the quiet intimacy of his study, amidst the scent of old books and flickering candlelight.
“Have a seat,” Gabriel urged softly, a rare warmth in his voice.
Evelina, with a delicate grace, settled into the chair, her gaze meeting his with a tinge of curiosity. “Thank you, Your Grace.”
Gabriel observed her, noting the shift in her demeanor. A hint of discomfort tugged at his heart again.
“I understand you might be hesitant to speak with me about this. Nevertheless, I feel I must ask.” He swallowed past the lump in his throat. “I wish to know how to foster a stronger relationship with my daughter. You, for example, have done such a wonderful job with her in so little time.”
He tried to keep the saltiness out of his voice as he added, “But you won’t always be here. I shall have to step up and fill the void that your absence would leave.”
Evelina lightly raised an eyebrow at this, but she did not interject. She seemed to sense that he had more to say, so she stayed quiet.
