"You just happen to find yourself in my room, of all places," he continued, his voice calm but edged with something sharper. "And, given the timing and the...circumstances, I can only assume this is yet another attempt at what so many other ambitious young ladies have tried before you." He stopped and turned, fixing her with a pointed, knowing look that caused her to hold her breath. "A clumsy, transparent ploy to find a match."
"I had no idea this was your room, Your Grace," she answered, her voice trembling despite her best efforts to keep it steady.
"But you know who I am," he said smoothly, one brow arching as he took another step closer. "I mean, you just addressed me correctly, didn't you?"
"This is a misunderstanding," she said quickly, willing herself to sound convincing. "I didn't even know you lived on this estate."
"So, what are you doing in a stranger's room?" he questioned.
"Not what you think. I wasn't looking for you. I just...happened to be here. I apologize, I'll go."
"Really?" He raised his eyebrows. "You're not going to try and pretend to have some noble reason for this intrusion? No sudden declarations of lost items or fainting spells?"
Lavinia's face burned at his words, the sarcastic bite cutting deeper than she wanted to admit. She couldn't argue, she had brought this on herself. His reaction was only natural,considering the circumstances. What else could he think of her, finding her in his private chambers uninvited? The guilt gnawed at her, mingling with the sting of humiliation.
She had underestimated the risk, and now she was paying for it. Her foolish plan had backfired spectacularly, leaving her to face not only his disdain but also the crushing realization of her own desperation.
"I think it's best I leave," she said to him in a low voice. "I apologize for the intrusion."
She turned toward the door, barely taking two steps forward when his voice stopped her.
"Stop."
The single word was enough to freeze her in place. She turned back, heart pounding as she faced him again. The piercing blue of his gaze was no longer detached, it was now cold and unrelenting, pinning her where she stood.
"Do you take me for a fool?" he asked. She turned slowly, her pulse quickening as she looked up at him.
Her breath caught. "I don't know what you mean."
"Oh, I think you do," he said, his tall frame seeming to grow more imposing as he stepped closer. "You're not the first younglady to attempt such a scheme, though I'll admit, most are far less clumsy about it. Now, you just want to...run away?"
Lavinia swallowed hard, her throat dry. She had no defense, no clever retort to offer.
Thinking about it now, Andrew was everything Lavinia wasn't. He was the kind of man who could walk into a room and turn every head, not because of his appearance—though he was undeniably handsome—but because of his commanding presence. People gravitated toward him, drawn by a combination of confidence and charisma that seemed almost effortless.
"I am sorry," was all she could say.
"Explain yourself," Andrew insisted. "If you're going to trap a man in a scandal, at least have the courage to own it."
"I am not owning anything, Your Grace."
Lavinia's heart hammered in her chest, her restlessness making it impossible to stay still. She needed to leave before this spiraled further out of control. But Andrew's sharp words rooted her to the spot.
"So, what is it, Miss Lavinia?" he asked, his tone razor-sharp. "Did you think cornering me here would lead to a proposal? That I would have no choice but to offer for you?"
The accusation stung, but Lavinia didn't flinch. She lifted her chin, meeting his gaze squarely. "I didn't corner you, Your Grace. You came here of your own accord."
Andrew arched an eyebrow, evidently in disbelief. "And yet, here we are. Convenient, don't you think?"
Lavinia sighed, frustration bubbling to the surface. "I won't insult you by pretending that I didn't come here with a purpose," she admitted, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "But you are mistaken if you think I sought to entrap...you."
He scoffed, the sound grating against her nerves. "Then enlighten me. What exactly was your purpose?"
Lavinia was slowly becoming restless. She had to leave. She had to abort the plan. She couldn't get caught with him—not like this. Being discovered in the room of a man like him, someone so far above her station and so fiercely unattainable, would seal her fate entirely.
How could she have been so reckless?
She had to get out of the room before anyone saw them, before her foolishness cemented her downfall. Yet the way he watched her, with those sharp, assessing eyes, made her feel as though escape might not be as simple as she hoped. He seemed as though he had questions. And he wasn't leaving until she answered them.
