How could he be in love with me? He never showed this.
When did this happen? And why now? Why does it have to be on this very day that he comes to confess?
Is it his intention to confuse me? Surely he could not be so cruel as to play tricks on me…
Despite doing her best to rationalize, as well as imagine the worst from all possible angles, the expression on the face of the man before her quenched the fires of doubt as they came.
“Evelina…”
Gabriel’s voice, a blend of warmth and uncertainty, tugged at her heart, drawing her out of her thoughts. Her name rolled off his tongue like a soft melody, stirring the emotions within her that she for so long had struggled to contain.
“I know this must be very confusing, Evelina, but I-” His admission hung in the air, heavy with sincerity and vulnerability.
“Stop,” Evelina’s cheeks burned with a deep blush as she interjected, her voice a confusion of embarrassment and longing, “Just stop… saying my name in that way.”
“Hm?” Gabriel’s brows angled curiously for a moment. Then a flicker of amusement danced in his eyes, noting her reaction, his demeanor a mix of realization and intrigue.
“In what way, Evelina?” He cocked his head to the side as he gently inquired, his words doused with a slight playfulness, only ending up intensifying the swirling emotions within her.
Watching him closely, Evelina couldn’t deny the effect he had on her. The tenderness in his tone, the care with which hepronounced her name, sent shivers down her spine, awakening a cascade of sensations she struggled to comprehend.
Control yourself, Evelina. You must.
Her gaze flickered away from him, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions, as she attempted to regain her composure through measured breaths.
However, before she could fully steady herself, Gabriel’s voice once again pierced the fragile silence, bringing all her attempts to a halt.
“It was not my intention to barge in on the eve of your wedding to reveal my feelings,” His tone was tinged with regret. “I must admit, I had not paid attention to the invitation letter when it arrived.”
Her brows raised in accusation as he carried on, “If not for Eliza even, I would not be here. I would have missed your wedding, expecting I had ample time to convince you of my feelings.” A smile filled his handsome face as he continued, “I am honestly so thankful to the heavens that I-”
Evelina’s frustration bubbled to the surface, her tone laced with a blend of incredulity and hurt as she cut him short, retorting sharply, “If what you say is true today, one would assume you’d have bothered to pay attention to the date of the woman you claim to love getting married, is it not?”
Gabriel’s sigh echoed in the room, a heavy exhalation as he shook his head guiltily. “I could not bring myself to look at it,” His tone fell as he raised his eyes up to her, seeming to plea for understanding, “doing so would have solidified the situation, and I had simply not been ready for that.”
Evelina kept her eyes fixed on him, searching for any sort of pretense behind the truth in his gaze. Yet, his deep, green eyes were more open and sincere than she’d ever witnessed of them before, leaving her at a complete loss for words.
“Evelina,” Her breath caught in her throat once again as he cautiously took a step forward, his eyes fixed on her still. “I need you to know, I’m absolutely in love with you. I have not felt for anyone the way I feel for you. So I cannot stand by and watch you get married to the earl, I won’t let you go.”
His proximity sent a shiver down her spine, her breathing coming in hitches at the sudden closeness. Her heart began another series of pounding in her chest as she regarded him.
Should I not just…
Despite the magnetic pull between them, she fought to maintain composure, resisting the urge to surrender to her feelings commanding her to run into his arms shamelessly.
With a steadying breath, she managed to her throat, steeling herself, a mix of apprehension and determination in her eyes as she spoke, “Before anything else, I want to know. Everything. Explain it to me. I need to understand.”
Confusion graced the duke’s expression despite the eagerness shining in his eyes, “I’m not sure I understand…,” he hesitated, “Still I want to answer all your questions, if you could only specify them?”
Evelina couldn’t help but laugh, marveled once again at his calmness and politeness, “I mean, this, this is all too sudden.”
“I know this, I am at fault for this very reason. Still, I am ready to respond to whatever you request of me.” She shook her head at his words.
It’s truly like he’s an entirely different person.
Would it not be better if he had approached me in his usual, demeaning manner?
That would not have rattled me nor gave me these conflicting feelings. If he had, I would not be yearning to have him wrap his arms around me this very moment.
