Chapter 10

CHAPTER TEN

" W hat a strikingly handsome man. Goodness, Sister! There truly must be something in the water these days. The gentlemen look so much better than usual!"

Evelina's parasol shielded her fair complexion from the gentle sun rays, while Margaret's bonnet framed her face with tasteful ribbons and flowers as they promenaded through the park.

Adorned with meticulously trimmed hedges and colorful flowerbeds, the park displayed a symphony of nature's beauty. Tall, slender trees with lush green leaves allowed dappled sunlight to dance on the gravel paths. Yet, the only tall, slender figures Margaret was interested in were the gentlemen promenading in pairs and groups.

"Margaret, do keep your voice down," Evelina hissed, her eyes fixed on the path before them, doing her best not to encourage Margaret's antics.

However, as they sauntered past a group of gentlemen engaged in animated conversation, Margaret's gaze flicked from one intriguing figure to another.

Brimming with youthful excitement, she couldn't contain her enthusiasm as she leaned in, her cheeks flushed with the thrill of gossip.

"Oh, but Sister, just take a look at Lord Harrington over there." She giggled, casting a furtive glance at the gentleman in question. "My dear friend, Lady Charlotte, told me he was embroiled in a scandal involving a stolen necklace a couple of balls ago. Can you imagine?"

She fanned herself excitedly, her eyes were wide. "However, he's doing his best to keep it all quiet." She leaned closer to her sister and lowered her voice. "Look how his fiancé a couple feet away from him is wearing multiple pearls for just a promenade?"

Evelina, doing her best to keep her composure, stifled a laugh behind her gloved hand. Her elder sister's instincts kicked in quickly after, and she gently squeezed Margaret's arm, a silent gesture to temper her exuberance.

Yet, as they continued their stroll, Margaret's eyes continued to light up with each gentleman they passed, her excitement unbridled.

"And there's Lord Ashford, rumored to have a secret engagement with none other than the Duke of Greenwich's daughter!" she added, her voice barely above a breathless murmur.

Evelina with fond exasperation and sisterly affection, playfully rolled her eyes at her sister's penchant for drama. She had always admired her sister's youthful enthusiasm and spirited nature, even if it sometimes led them down the path of scandalous tales and whispered gossip.

Margaret's eyes continued to sparkle with excitement, her eagerness infectious. "And Sir Reginald…" she whispered. "I heard he's planning to elope with a young debutante from the countryside!"

"Oh, dear sister, you truly have a frightening talent for uncovering the most hidden scandals," Evelina remarked with a soft chuckle, doing her best not to glance in Sir Reginald's direction.

Not nearly ready to stop, Margaret leaned in again and whispered, "Indeed. And have you heard about Lord Sinclair? There are whispers that he's been seen in the company of a mysterious lady."

Evelina raised an eyebrow in feigned shock, playing along with the enthusiasm for the tantalizing tales that colored the social circles they moved in.

"Oh, the scandalous Lord Sinclair," she replied in a hushed tone of her own, laced with mock seriousness. "What a scandal it would be if the rumors of his clandestine meetings were indeed true."

Margaret raised a brow and Evelina shook her head and nudged her sister lightly. "That's quite enough out of you for the afternoon."

They walked in silence for a moment that quickly felt too long. Sensing her sister's sudden shift in demeanor, Evelina turned to her sister to find unease stretched across her features, her gaze momentarily averted.

With a quizzical expression and concern evident in her eyes, she asked, "Is something the matter, dear sister?"

In a barely audible whisper and her disturbed expression in place, Margaret confessed, "The Earl of Mestucky won't stop staring at me."

Evelina's eyes twinkled mischievously as she discreetly glanced at the short, stocky man to their left, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "My dear sister, you are indeed a catch. It's no wonder the gentlemen can't help but steal glances. Are you truly unaware of your allure?"

Margaret's shook her head and made a wry expression, admitting, "I don't mind the staring as long as it's the handsome ones doing it."

Evelina's laughter bubbled forth as she chided good-naturedly, "Lady Margaret Balfour, I am certain I did not guide you to be so fixated on looks."

Undeterred by her sister's scolding, Margaret simply shrugged and flashed a wide, mischievous grin, her eyes sparkling with mirth.

Evelina shook her head in mock disapproval, yet she couldn't help but laugh at her sister's unabashed candor.

"It appears I'm not the only one being stared at today."

Evelina's brow furrowed in confusion at her sister's sudden statement clouded with mischief, breaking another short silence. She turned to her, her expression a mix of confusion and curiosity as she asked, "Whatever do you mean now?"

With a sly smile, Margaret subtly nodded towards their left.

Following her sister's gaze, Evelina's eyes landed on the Earl of Batony, who indeed seemed to be staring at her.

Ever aware of her spinsterhood, which often acted as a shield against unwanted attention, she shook her head in disbelief. "The Earl is certainly not staring at me."

"Even a blind man would be able to feel such a gaze, dear sister," Margaret stated playfully. "I bet that Lord Batony would try his luck in conversing with you today."

"As if you met a blind man before," Evelina snorted, maintaining her composure but unable to resist a witty retort, scoffed playfully at her sister's words. "Remember, it's improper for ladies to wager."

Margaret flashed her a mischievous grin. "I believe I shall take my leave—to give you space to converse with the Earl."

Before Evelina could respond, Margaret darted across the garden to one of her friends and beckoned her over, seamlessly diverting attention away from her sister.

As the two young ladies engaged in lively conversation, Evelina found herself standing at the center of the path, the only one without a pair.

Suddenly, a stir in the crowd caught her attention, and her heart quickened as she turned to find none other than the Earl of Batony approaching her.

With confident strides, he closed the distance swiftly, bowing graciously upon reaching her.

"Good afternoon, Miss Evelina. I hope you are enjoying the gathering," he greeted her with a warm smile, his eyes reflecting genuine interest in their encounter.

"G-Good afternoon, Lord, Lord Batony." Caught off guard by the sudden turn of events, Evelina struggled to compose herself and stuttered her way through her reply. "The gathering is quite delightful, thank you."

Though slightly tremulous, her voice managed a tone of polite grace as she acknowledged the Earl's presence.

The air between them seemed to crackle with anticipation as they stood facing each other, the garden around them buzzing with the sounds of polite conversation.

Evelina instinctively turned to Margaret, finding a mischievous, triumphant expression on her face as expected, causing her to burst into a short fit of giggles.

Surprised by her sudden laughter, the Lord standing before her, inquired with a hint of curiosity, "Have I done something comedic or worthy of your beautiful smile already?"

Blushing at the unexpected attention, Evelina managed to compose herself, quickly thinking up an explanation, "Oh, it was the dog." She pointed toward the animal in one of the hands of a lady of the ton.

"It made quite an adorable cute face." Her words carried a lightness, attempting to dispel any awkwardness that lingered from her spontaneous laughter.

"The dog…" The Earl, with a raised eyebrow, nodded thoughtfully and then asked, "May I join you for a walk and continue our conversation?"

Caught off guard by his request, Evelina hurriedly replied, "I would be delighted, my Lord." , unsure how else to gracefully navigate the situation unfolding before her, feeling a sense of being trapped in the unexpected turn of events.

"So tell me, do you enjoy these evening walks, my lady?"

As they strolled side by side, Lord Batony attempted to engage her in conversation, his words gentle and inviting. Yet, despite his efforts, she found herself struggling to actively participate.

Evelina stole glances at him as they walked, noting his handsome features and the height difference between them, a mere few inches that seemed to emphasize his presence.

However, her eyes couldn't help but catch on smalls detail that seemed off – his nose was somewhat crooked, and there seemed to be a mismatched pair of stockings peeking out from beneath his trousers; slight imperfections that captured her attention.

I can't judge him too quickly. I cannot afford to…

She forced a polite smile and a nod in response to the earl's attempts at light-hearted conversation.

Seeming to sense her hesitance, the man digressed with a touch of charm, "You seem lost in thought, my dear. Is there a topic you'd prefer to discuss? Perhaps we discuss the dog?"

Evelina, still feeling the weight of expectation and her own inner turmoil, managed a strained laugh at his attempt at humor, finding herself irritated by his joviality in that moment.

She mustered a response, "Oh, no, my Lord, I appreciate your company and conversation," her words were tinged with a hint of forced politeness.

Her mind raced as she questioned her behavior, perplexed by her pickiness and judgmental thoughts. There was no reason for her to be so fussy and eager to end the conversation.

As she pondered her situation, a sudden intensity in the air caught her attention. A gaze, heavy and unwavering, tugged at her, drawing her focus. Turning around, her eyes widened in astonishment as she was met with dark, familiar green eyes.

Gabriel's enigmatic gaze was directly on her, his expression a mix of disturbance and inscrutability. Shocked by his presence and the intensity of his stare, her mind began racing with questions about his unexpected appearance.

Why is he looking at me like that?

Despite her efforts to maintain composure and engage in conversation with Lord Batony, she found herself repeatedly drawn back to him, his eyes fixed on her and the earl with unwavering intensity.

Each step they took seemed to be shadowed by his watchful gaze, causing her heart to quicken its pace in her chest.

His blatant observation of her and Lord Batony's interaction sent a wave of heat to her cheeks as she became acutely aware of the eyes of onlookers following the unfolding scene.

Stop staring, Gabriel! Why won't you stop?

Whispers and murmurs surrounded them as the Duke continued to walk a few feet away, his eyes never leaving her, creating a tension-filled atmosphere that seemed to captivate those around them.

Lord Batony, in his oblivious bliss, continued to chatter excitedly, seemingly unaware of the tension. "Tell me about yourself," he urged, his cheerful demeanor contrasting sharply with Evelina's jittery state.

Startled by such a request amidst the chaos, Evelina turned to him, her heart still racing. "Huh?" she stammered, her tone betraying her unease.

Lord Batony chuckled. "You seem out of sorts today, Miss Balfour," he noted. "I said, tell me about yourself," he repeated, his words a gentle yet demanding prompt in the midst of it all.

Struggling to compose herself under his expectant gaze, Evelina nodded hesitantly. "Oh… uh… I…" she stammered, her mind clouded by the feel of the Duke's piercing gaze. "What?"

Her eyes involuntarily darted back to where the Duke was standing, only to find that he had vanished.

As confusion clouded Evelina's mind and her eyes scanned the surroundings for any trace of the Duke,

Lord Batony, now perplexed by her behavior, followed her gaze.

"Is everything all right?" he inquired, concern etched on his face. "Who are you searching for? Your young sister? I believe she's over there—you have nothing to fear."

Evelina, attempting to regain her composure, turned her focus back to Lord Batony, psyching herself up to offer a convincing explanation for her distracted state.

However, as she turned to him, she was met with those familiar dark green eyes again, only a step away from her. She gasped. "Y-Your Grace?"

Gabriel simply nodded at her curtly, his demeanor cool and authoritative, before turning sharply to Lord Batony beside her.

His eyes exuded dominance as he greeted the man in a low tone, "Good day, Lord Batony,"

The intensity of his gaze caught the Earl off guard, leaving him confused by his hostile demeanor.

"Good day, Your Grace," Lord Batony, evidently startled, returned cautiously as he watched him closely.

Gabriel continued to stare at him, his expression stoic. However, irritation flickered in his eyes as he looked the man up and down.

Attempting to lighten the atmosphere, Lord Batony tried for small talk. "Oh, well, lovely weather we're having, is it not?"

However, Gabriel's stony silence only heightened the tension.

The Earl fell silent too as he sensed the Duke's hostility, the once amiable interaction now overshadowed by his glare.

Evelina, a silent witness to the escalating tension, felt a wave of horror wash over her. She continued to stare in shock, unable to take her eyes off the cold-hearted man who seemed unaffected by the tension in the air. A single stare was enough to show his disdain.

Finally, breaking the strained silence, his voice cut through the awkwardness. "I wish to speak with Miss Balfour on a matter of importance. We shall be taking our leave now."

With a subtle yet commanding gesture, he placed a hand on the small of her back, nudging her forward gently.

Evelina let out a short gasp before obediently following him, her steps quickened by a mix of surprise and apprehension.

The Duke's imposing figure trailed closely behind her, The poor Lord Batony was left behind, bewildered and somewhat intimidated.

As they walked, Evelina was too consumed by her thoughts to care about the eyes that followed them or the whispers. The gentle pressure of Gabriel's hand on her back made her skin tingle with an intensity she had never experienced before. She could sense him behind her, his breath fanning her neck, sending shivers down her spine.

Is he standing too close? Does he have to stand so close?

His proximity was electrifying, a magnetic pull that she couldn't resist. Despite her obliviousness to whatever those feelings were, the intensity of the moment was undeniable, stirring foreign emotions. However, irritation simmered beneath her confusion.

At last, they came to a halt a good distance from everyone else, almost hidden by the bushes.

When Gabriel finally withdrew his hand, Evelina couldn't contain her bewilderment. She swiveled around to face him, her gaze full of hurt and accusation.

"What was that?" Her voice trembled slightly, disbelief etched on her face. An incredulous laugh escaped her lips as her eyes searched his face for answers. "Honestly, Your Grace? That man could've asked me to court him at any moment."

She pressed for honesty, her heart racing not just from his touch but from the emotional whirlwind unfolding before her, "So, could you explain to me, why did you do that? What am I doing here?"

Gabriel cleared his throat, yet he didn't look her in the eye. "I only wanted to inquire about your next lesson with Eliza," he offered, his voice slightly strained. "Do you plan on continuing with the outdoor lessons?"

Evelina's mouth hung open, the corners twitching with rage and shock. "T-That's your response? You pulled me away from a prospect for such a flimsy reason?"

His eyes flicked to her, the look in them nearly sheepish, before they darted away again.

Evelina kept her eyes on him, caught in the storm of conflicting emotions, feeling the air grow heavier by the second. "You're not being truthful, Your Grace," she said sharply. "You're deliberately trying to sabotage me, is it? And for what reason?"

"Sabotage?" The duke's eyes flitted up to hers at last. There seemed to be a realization settling behind his gaze, then very quickly as it came, it was clouded by his usual stoic expression.

Evelina's eyes blazed with a mixture of hurt and defiance at this and she confronted again, voice trembling with roughly suppressed emotions. "Do not try to pretend, Your Grace, I know you've been against me since the day we met, and this... this is just another way to undermine me!"

"You're sorely mistaken. I had no intentions to-"

His eyes narrowed with a slight exasperation and hidden emotions as she pressed him further. However, Evelina was too enraged at this point to let him finish.

"Why did you have to interfere? Tell me!" Evelina demanded, too enraged at this point to let him finish.

"Miss Balfour, I have given you my reasons, and?—"

"I was on the brink of something good, and you just had to ruin it, all because of this inexpiable, very odd hate you have for me?"

"You think this is hate , Evelina?!" he bellowed suddenly, startling her.

For a moment, his eyes softened. But as quickly as it came, it was gone.

"Sabotage, Evelina? Really?" he scoffed. The derision in his voice was like a dagger to her heart. "That man is not who you think he is. Believe me, you would not wish to get involved with a man drowning in debt. Perhaps if you weren't so desperate, you would possess the ability to think, and to be grateful."

Then he turned on his heel and stormed off, leaving her ears ringing and heart aching in the wake of his revelation.