His breath hitched at her touch, and for a fleeting moment, the space between them felt impossibly small. It was as if everything around them faded away, leaving only the two of them in that quiet, intimate moment.
Andrew let out a soft exhale, and without another word, he reached up to remove his blindfold. As it came off, he was met with the tender weight of her hand still resting on his cheek. His eyes locked with hers, the intense blue of his gaze sending a shiver down her spine.
Lavinia's heart raced in her chest, and her breath came out in a soft gasp. Her fingers remained, almost involuntarily, still resting against his cheek. Lavinia could hear her own heartbeatthundering in her ears, and she wondered if he could hear it too, if he could feel the same electric tension that sparked between them with every breath.
"Perhaps, we should retire for the evening, Emma."
David's voice cut through the moment, sharp and startling, jolting them both back to reality. Lavinia's hand withdrew instinctively from Andrew's cheek and her fingers curled at her sides, betraying the sudden rush of nervous energy that swirled in her stomach. She turned her gaze away, unable to keep the flicker of uncertainty from her eyes as she looked anywhere but at him.
Andrew, too, took a step back, his posture straightening, though his gaze lingered on her for a fraction of a second longer than necessary. He cleared his throat, as if to regain composure.
"We should call it a night," Emma said.
"I think that's a wise idea," Andrew concurred. "Good night, everyone."
Everyone scattered in different directions, making their way to their rooms. Lavinia walked with her head down, fully aware of the color of her cheeks and how it gave away the fact that Andrew had made her feel things that should not be felt in public.
"I knew I'd find you here."
Lavinia turned quickly, her heart racing from the shock. She pressed a hand to her chest as she caught her breath. "Emma! You startled me," she said, her voice a little breathless.
Emma gave her a knowing smile, crossing the path to stand beside her. "I went to your room, but when you weren't there, I knew exactly where you'd be." She glanced around at the garden, taking in the view of it. "I knew you would be here, among the plants."
"I came to check on them," she explained softly, looking down at the carefully pruned flowers and shrubs. “The gardener's been doing a good job, but I wanted to see for myself if they're growing properly."
Emma raised an eyebrow. "Is that really the only reason you came out here, Lavinia?"
"I...couldn't sleep," she admitted, her voice softer now. "The house is too quiet, and my thoughts kept racing. The garden seemed like the only place where I could think clearly."
"So, it has nothing to do with what happened in the drawing room?" Emma asked gently.
Lavinia's heart skipped a beat at the mention of the moment between her and Andrew. She quickly turned her gaze to the flowers, trying to collect herself. "I...I'm not sure," she replied, her voice faltering. "Maybe. I just...don't know."
Emma took a step forward. "Lavinia, I saw the way you were looking at him and from where I stood, you seemed like a woman in love."
Lavinia opened her mouth to respond but closed it again, unsure of how to explain the complicated mess of feelings swirling inside her. She wanted to protest, to tell Emma that it wasn't true. That she didn't have feelings for Andrew.
But that was a lie, and deep down, she knew it.
"I'm not sure Emma," she admitted quietly. "Everything is so...confusing."
Emma audibly gasped. "Oh, my goodness! Lavinia!"
Lavinia groaned, her head falling into her hands. "Please don't make this dramatic, Emma."
Emma grinned mischievously. "Dramatic? Me? I'm just pointing out the obvious! You're standing in a garden at night, talking about the duke, and you have no idea how you feel? That's drama with a capital ‘D,' my dear."
Lavinia shot her a sharp look but couldn't suppress the smile tugging at her lips. "It's not funny," she muttered, her cheeks flushing a little at how true Emma's observation was.
"Oh, but it is! You're practically glowing. You don't have to tell me you're confused. I can see it in your eyes. You're in deep, Lavinia."
Lavinia's mouth opened, then closed again, unsure how to respond. Instead, she gave Emma an exasperated look. "I can't just fall in love with him, Emma. He's the duke. I'm...I'm nothing like him."
Emma shrugged, nonchalantly. "Nothing like him? You have more in common than you think. You're both stubborn, both have a good head on your shoulders." Emma tilted her head thoughtfully, narrowing her eyes as she looked at Lavinia. "You know, I remember you saying you could never love him. How he was a rake, and he wasn't the kind of man you could spend the rest of your life with. Would you look at how tables have turned."
"Stop it," Lavinia muttered, feeling her face heat up again. "You're ridiculous."
Emma giggled, nudging her playfully. "Ridiculous? I'm simply pointing out the obvious, my dear. You're falling for him. And you don't need to apologize for it. He's your husband!"
