“Why? Your Grace? Why me? Why do you seem so certain you have fallen for me? When did this happen? And why did you not show it?” Evelina’s voice quivered slightly, betraying the storm of emotions raging within her as she finally managed to make sense of the various questions swarming her mind.
“I need to understand, to hear it all from you. Why?”
There was a smile on the duke’s face as he stared down at her, his tone low and reassuring as he spoke, “In truth, Evelina, I’ve known for longer than I care to admit. From the moment I met you, the very first day you walked into my study, there was something about you.”
His smile grew as his eyes carefully shifted across her face, causing a light blush to fill her cheeks. “And it was not just your beauty, it was more than the way your hair framed your soft features, and how even when you frowned, you remained one of the most beautiful women I’d ever laid my eyes on.”
A low laughter left his lips as he went on, “I found you adorable, intriguing. In the face of my wrath, you dared to respond, something not even many a gentlemen I had come across could do. Despite how startled and desperate you seemed, you continued to bite my hand each time I extended it in a manner you did not fancy.”
Could he be referring to me as an untamed animal? Even in such a moment like this?
Another blush filled Evelina’s cheeks. Still, she could not pull her gaze from his as he continued, “I was unfamiliar with the feeling. I thought about you for days till we crossed paths again. Because I could not place the truth why, I branded you an enemy, a worthy adversary and nothing more.”
He sighed. “But I believe I’d been slowly falling for you for a while, each passing day only intensifying the emotion.”
Evelina’s brows angled in confusion, her eyes searching his for the truth she longed to hear. “So why now? What made you come to terms with it? Tell me, Your Grace, why did you keep this hidden for so long, allowing me to believe I had no choice but to marry the Earl?” She sputtered over her words, “A-and now you come, when all this has happened, and-”
“I was a coward, Evelina,” his gaze softened, a flicker of regret crossing his features. “I had been afraid of what would happen if I acknowledged the depths of my feelings, not only to you but to myself.”
He took a deep breath, his eyes seeming to plead for her comprehension, “I’ve always struggled with opening up, with letting anyone see the depths of my heart for as long as I can remember. And as you know, the thought of marriage again was a daunting prospect, one I avoided at all costs.”
He took one last step forward, leaving only a foot’s space between them. Evelina’s heart raced as she struggled to pay mind to the content of his words, “However with you, it’s different. I am no longer afraid, I’ve realized it wasn’t duty that led me here; this is what I want, I long for you, Evelina, so much so that not a vow I made in the past can stand against this feeling.”
His gentle yet firm words seemed to echo the room many seconds after he finished speaking.
He longs for me?
Evelina felt her cheeks turn crimson once more. Still, her mind reected succumbing so easily. Her frustration boiled over, her tone edged with exasperation. “And how can I be sure you would not end up making or breaking another vow in the nearest future, Your Grace?”
His loud laughter caught her off guard, another reminder of how rare it was to witness the man in such a manner; she tried to pout at such a response to her question, yet found herself struggling, in awe at how handsome he was, so close to her.
When the mirth subsided, his smile remained unwavering, a sense of calm in his tone as he spoke, “You’ve always been so beautiful when you glare at me like that passionate, my love.”
Evelina’s eardrums nearly popped in their positions, her balance feeling terribly off as her head felt faint.
‘My love’?
Her cheeks flamed an undeniable shade of tomato paste, her eyes sparkling with delight as well embarrassment as she avoided the duke’s gaze, suddenly feeling terribly shy in his presence.
It was as though the man before her was truly a stranger, a softer and more vulnerable version; most preferable of the Gabriel she thought she knew.
If you keep speaking like this, Your Grace, I fear I’d have no other choice than to throw myself in your arms this very moment.
Her cheeks flushed even deeper at her untoward thoughts and she murmured accusingly at him, “Why are you not arguing back? You’ve been oddly paceable, it is not like you.”
Gabriel’s laughter filled the space between them, a melody that warmed her heart. “I wish for you to accept my proposal first, Evelina. Let’s start with love before diving into arguments. We’ll have a lifetime for disagreements, I’m sure, but first, let’s cross this bridge, hm?”
A soft gasp let her lips as he suddenly reached out and rubbed his thumb across her cheek gently as he spoke. Evelina’s resolve wavered, her eyes lifted to his, feeling all her skepticism wash away, hope filling her instantly.
Her cheeks continued to burn with a deep blush as she stood there, breathing heavily as his touch sent body-wracking vibrations down her system. At last, Gabriel took away his hand.
The longing that followed this was all Evelina needed. She bit her lip in a mix of nervousness and excitement.
Is this really happening?
She wondered for what felt like the hundredth time again, disbelief mingling with joy in her heart. The man she loved was asking her to be his forever.
As the weight of Gabriel’s proposal settled in her mind, a rush of emotions flooded her thoughts. The idea of spending a lifetime with him filled her with warmth and happiness, painting a picture of a future she had dreamed of but never dared to believe possible.
